Transport > Bus Travel > New Zealand > Scheduled Buses > Intercity Coachlines

Intercity Coachlines

New Zealand's major coach line operates coaches to most destinations in both the North and South Islands. Although many travellers buy individual tickets, you can save up to 40% by buying one of the passes that are available. The range of passes offered by InterCity is quite confusing with specific passes valid only on certain routes.

Discounts are available with BBH, VIP and YHA hostel cards.

Travel Passes

InterCity passes include:

Pathfinder Pass

Travel in either direction from Christchurch to Auckland, via Mount Cook National Park, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers, Greymouth, Nelson, Picton, Wellington, Taupo, Rotorua, Waitomo Caves, Hamilton and Auckland. The InterCity Pathfinder pass costs $565.

New Zealand Trailblazer Pass

Travel in either direction taking in a circular loop of the South Island stopping at Picton, Kaikoura, Christchurch, Dunedin, Queenstown, Fox Glacier, Franz Josef, Greymouth and Nelson, in the North Island the pass allows travel between Wellington and Auckland stopping at Taupo, Rotorua, Waitomo Caves and Hamilton. It also includes a loop from Auckland to the Bay of Islands and the Waipoua Forest. The InterCity Trailblazer pass costs $585.

Total New Zealand Experience Pass

This pass covers the same destinations in the South Island as the Pathfinder Pass but it covers more destinations in the North Island. Destinations in the North Island include: Auckland, Thames and the Coromandel Peninsula, Tauranga, Hamilton, Waitomo Caves, Rotorua, Taupo, Napier, Palmerston North and Wellington. The InterCity Total New Zealand Experience pass costs $729.

The above passes do not include the ferry between the North and South Islands.

InterCity Coachlines also have a range of travel passes for travel in just the North or South Island. These passes include:

Bay of Islands Pass (North Island)

The Bay of Islands Pass lets you travel between Auckland and the Bay of Islands with stops in Whangarei, Paihia and Kerikeri. This pass costs $105.

Pacific Coast Highway (North Island)

This pass follows the Pacific coast from Auckland to Wellington. Stops on this route include: The Coromandel Peninsula, Tauranga, Rotorua, Gisborne and Napier. This pass costs $209.

North Island Value Pass (North Island)

This pass allows travel in either direction between Auckland and Wellington with stopovers in Taupo, Rotorua and either Tauranga or Hamilton and Waitomo Caves. This pass costs $156.

Top Half Pass (North Island)

The Top Half Pass lets you travel between Rotorua and the Bay of Islands with stops en route in Auckland, Hamilton and Whangarei. This pass costs $145.

Milford Bound Adventurer (South Island)

The Milford Bound Adventurer allows you to travel in either direction between Christchurch and Queenstown (via Mount Cook including Milford Sound). It also includes Methven, Fairlie, Tekapo, Twizel, Omarama, Cromwell and Te Anau. This pass costs $235.

Southern Discovery (South Island)

The Southern Discovery pass allows you to travel in either direction between Greymouth and Christchurch (via Queenstown, Milford Sound and Mount Cook). This pass also includes Methven, Fairlie, Tekapo, Omarama, Twizel, Cromwell, Wanaka, Fox Glacier, Franz Josef and Hokitika. This pass costs $355.

West Coast Passport (South Island)

The West Coast Passport runs in either direction from Greymouth, Picton or Nelson to Queenstown with stops along the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island. This pass costs $125 from Greymouth, $149 from Nelson and $175 from Picton.

Flexi-Passes

Intercity's Flexi-Passes (website www.flexipass.co.nz) are an ideal option for independent travellers that don't want to be tied down to a pre-determined itinerary.

With the Flexi-Pass you buy travel time thatt can be used on Intercity and Newmans coaches as well as the Interislander ferry, the Kings Dolphin Cruise to Cape Brett and the Hole in the Rock cruise in the Bay of Islands. Flexi-Passes give you between 15 and 60 hours of travel and you can top up your pass in increments of five or 10 hours if you want to travel further.

The Intercity Flexi-Pass is valid for 12 months.

New Zealand Travelpass

Travel on InterCity buses is also included in the New Zealand Travelpass (tel 0800 33 99 66; website www.travelpass.co.nz). See our New Zealand Travelpass page for more information on these passes.

Bus Travel in New Zealand: InterCity | Kiwi Experience | Magic Travellers Network | Stray Travel | New Zealand Travelpass