The main coach operator is InterCity, which has scheduled bus services to most major cities and towns in New Zealand. There are also many smaller bus companies that offer frequent bus services within a limited regional area. The biggest of the smaller coach operators include Northliner Express in the Northland Region, and Atomic Shuttles in the South Island. The smaller companies usually offer a cheaper service, although InterCity services are included in several travel passes making them a popular option with many backpackers.

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. Check our InterCity Coachlines page for details on the various InterCity passes.

Northliner Express

Northliner Express (website www.northliner.co.nz) is a regional bus company that is particularly good for travel north of Auckland. They are a good choice if you want to go to the Bay of Islands.

Northliner Express offer the following travel passes:

Bay of Islands Pass

Good for a return trip between Auckland and the Bay of Islands. You can get on and off at destinations along the way within a one-month period. This pass costs $105. Valid one month.

Top Half Pass

The Top Half Pass is good for travel between Rotorua and the Bay of Islands with stopovers at destinations along the way within a one-month period. This pass is good for travel on the following routes: Rotorua-Hamilton-Auckland-Bay of Islands-Auckland if purchased in Rotorua or Auckland-Bay of Islands-Auckland-Hamilton-Rotorua if purchased in Auckland. This pass costs $145.

Atomic Shuttles

Atomic Shuttles (tel (03) 319 5641; website www.atomictravel.co.nz) is the largest of New Zealand's small bus operators with an extensive route network on the South Island that rivals InterCity's services.

Other coach & shuttle bus operators

There are a lot of small bus companies that operate scheduled services to regional New Zealand. Many of these companies operate door-to-door shuttle bus services that are often cheaper than the services offered by InterCity. Shuttle bus services are particularly widespread in the South Island.

Scheduled shuttle bus services on the North Island include:

Bay Xpress

Bay Xpress operates a daily coach service linking Wellington with Napier.

Tel 0800 4 BAYXPRESS (0800 422 997)

Website www.bayxpress.co.nz

Dalroy Express

This coach line runs express services between Auckland and the Taranaki region with daily buses in each direction between Auckland and Hawera via New Plymouth with connecting services from Hamilton to Rotorua and Taupo and from Auckland to Paihia in the Bay of Islands.

Tel (06) 755 0009

Website www.dalroytours.co.nz/express.htm

Go Kiwi Shuttles

Go Kiwi operate door-to-door minibuses on the Coromandel Peninsula with connections to Auckland, Tauranga and Rotorua. They offer a 15% discount if you have a BBH, VIP or YHA card.

Tel 0800 446 549

Website www.go-kiwi.co.nz

Guthrey's Express

Guthrey's Express operates four daily bus services connecting Auckland and Rotorua via Hamilton. There are also two daily services linking Taupo and Rotorua and a twice-daily service between Auckland and the Bay of Islands.

Tel 0800 759 999

Kiwi Traveller

Kiwi Traveller offers a scheduled service between Wellington and Rotorua with stops in Palmerston North, National Park and Taupo. The full journey between Wellington and Rotorua costs $80. Tickets are valid for six months so you can hop on and off en route. This service runs every day.

Tel 0800 500 100

Website www.kiwitraveller.co.nz

Scheduled shuttle bus services on the South Island include:

Akaroa French Connection

Akaroa French Connection operates a daily shuttle bus service linking Christchurch with Akaroa on the Banks Peninsula.

Tel 0800 800 575

Website www.akaroafrenchconnection.co.nz

Akaroa Shuttle

The Akaroa Shuttle also operates transport between Christchurch and Akaroa.

Tel 0800 500 929

Website www.akaroashuttle.co.nz

Backpacker Express

In addition to running bus services between Queenstown and Glenorchy, Backpacker Express is mainly in the business of transporting people hiking the Greenstone, Caples and Rees/Dart Tracks.

Tel 03) 442 993

Website www.glenorchyinfocentre.co.nz

Budget Buses & Shuttles

This company operates two daily door-to-door shuttle services between Christchurch and Timaru.

Tel (03) 684 9391

Catch-a-Bus

Catch-a-Bus operate a door-to-door shuttle service between Dunedin and Te Anau and also between Christchurch and Dunedin.

Tel (03) 363 1122 (Christchurch), (03) 489 4641 (Dunedin), (03) 249 8900 (Te Anau).

Citibus Newton

This Dunedin-based company runs a coach service that connects with the Taieri Gorge Railway at Middlemarch, making it possible to take the scenic train ride between Dunedin and Middlemarch and continue by coach to Queenstown.

Tel (03) 477 5577

Website www.transportplace.co.nz

Coast to Coast

Coast to Coast operate a daily shuttle service between Christchurch and Hokitika and Greymouth on the West Coast.

Tel 0800 800 847

Website www.coast2coast.co.nz

The Cook Connection

The Cook Connection runs coach services from Timaru and Oamaru to Mount Cook. They offer a 10% discount if you have a BBH, YHA or student card.

Tel 025 583 211

Website www.cookconnect.co.nz

Deluxe Travel Line

Deluxe operate buses mostly in the Marlborough region with services linking Blenheim and Picton.

Tel (03) 578 5467

Website www.deluxetravel.co.nz

East Coast Express

This small coach company operates a daily service linking Picton and Christchurch.

Tel 0508 830 900

Hanmer Connection

Hanmer Connection runs daily buses from Hanmer Springs to Christchurch, Kaikoura and Greymouth.

Tel 0800 37 378

Kiwilink

Kiwilink operate an extensive network of routes in the northern South Island with services connecting Picton, Blenheim and Nelson with Golden Bay and the Abel Tasman Track. They also operate connections to both the northern and southern trailheads of the Heaphy Track.

Tel (03) 577 8332

Lazerline Coaches

Lazerline Coaches operate a daily coach service between Christchurch and Nelson via the scenic Lewis Pass.

Tel (03) 388 7652 or 0800 220 001

Methven Travel

Methven Travel operates several daily shuttle services linking Methven with Christchurch and Christchurch Airport. They offer discounts if you have a backpackers card.

Tel (03) 302 8106

Website www.methven.net.nz

Mount Aspiring Express

Mount Aspiring Express run two daily services between Wanaka and Mount Aspiring National Park.

Tel (03) 443 8422

Website www.adventure.net.nz

Topline Tours

Topline Tours runs a daily coach service linking Queenstown and Te Anau.

Tel (03) 442 8178

TrackNet

This company specialises mostly in transport to the main hiking tracks including the Kepler, Milford, Routeburn and Greenstone Tracks. They also operate several daily coach services linking Queenstown with Te Anau and Milford Sound.

Tel (03) 249 7777

Website www.tracknet.net

Wanaka Connexions

Wanaka Connexions run daily services linking Dunedin with Queenstown and Wanaka.

Tel (03) 43 9122

Website www.wanakaconnexions.co.nz

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