Getting Around New Zealand - Buses, Planes and Sheep

Travel to and from New Zealand

Air is obviously the only one way in and out of New Zealand. The vast majority of flights arrive in Auckland, although Christchurch has direct connections with the Los Angeles, Singapore and Australia, and Wellington with Australia only. Return flights from the major North American and European hubs start from around $1400 USD. For not all that much more you can buy round-the-world tickets through One World or Global Explorer, so if you are planning to go anywhere else in the Pacific, Australia or Asia, these are a good option to consider.

Travel within New Zealand

New Zealand appears a small country on the map, but much of it is mountainous, and it takes longer to get from place to place than you might think.

With so many empty spaces, the best way to get around New Zealand is by private car, especially if you want to explore the wild reaches beyond the main highways. Serviceable vehicles can be picked up from around $500 USD and many backpackers buy one for the duration of their stay, then sell it on when they leave. Check the hostel notice boards for someone selling a beaten-up Toyota.

A rental is another good option, especially if you’re sharing with a few others. You can get a basic sedan or hatchback from around $25 USD a day.

Hitching is also quite easy and safe (though stick to the one guy/couple./two girls rule) and will give you a chance to get away from the tourist trail and chat to salt-of-the-earth truckers and farmers.

Buses and minibuses travel between all the larger towns and to tourist destinations and charge around $1 USD/10—15km. From all but the main cities there are usually only a couple of departures per day, so you may have to get up early.

There are tourist-oriented trains that run from Auckland to Wellington, Christchurch to Greymouth, and Christchurch to Picton. They are pricey and cater more to middle-aged sightseers but showcase some spectacular scenery if you can foot the bill.

To get from the North to the South Island, you can take the Interislander ferry either as a foot passenger or with a vehicle. The journey across Cook Strait takes about three-and-a-half hours and is recommended. It can be rough and vomit-inducing if the weather is bad but on a clear day there are stunning views across to the South Island’s snowy Kaikoura ranges that appear to rise straight out of the ocean.

The only internal air routes with any competition (and therefore tolerable prices) are between Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. If you book two or three weeks ahead you can get a one-way flight for around $50 USD, but a late booking or travel during peak times will set you back double that.

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