Transport > New Zealand & Pacific Islands > New Zealand > Coach travel > Scheduled coaches > Naked Bus
Naked Bus
Naked Bus (tel 0900 62533 (0900 NAKED)) is a new coach operator that has a nationwide network with coach services to most destinations in New Zealand. What makes Naked Bus a good deal is that – like Megabus in the UK and USA – they operate with a yield-management pricing system just like budget airlines such as easyJet and Ryanair. So basically you can ride the bus around New Zealand with prices starting at $1 per trip (plus a 70c booking fee) as long as you book far enough in advance. Although booking everything so far in advance can kill the spontaneous carefree spirit of independent travel, the cost savings make it a real bargain.
Some of the buses are old minibuses operated by affiliated companies, but newer full-size coaches operate on many routes.
It is always best to book Naked Bus online, as their phone number is an expensive 0900 number.
Naked Passport
Naked Passport is Naked Bus's travel pass, which covers bus and coach travel throughout New Zealand. It is a simple pass that lets you buy multiples of five trips and is valid for 12 months from the first day of travel.
Unlike the Intercity Coach Pass, the Naked Passport is priced per trip as opposed to per hour of travel. This makes it a much simpler pass, but it is obviously better value when you make longer trips. It is the cheapest of any of New Zealand's travel passes, but it doesn't cover ferry travel between the North and South Islands.
| Pass name | Number of trips | Price | Price per trip |
|---|---|---|---|
Ponga |
5 |
$157 |
$31.40 |
Rimu |
10 |
$260 |
$26 |
Totara |
15 |
$330 |
$22 |
Kowhai |
20 |
$370 |
$18.50 |
Nikau |
25 |
$437 |
$17.48 |
Kauri |
30 |
$497 |
$16.56 |
Unlimited |
As many trips as you can make in one year |
$597 |
|
