New Zealand Travel: Explore the Long White Cloud

Air New Zealand’s “grabaseat” feature puts “ludicrously low fares up for grabs.” Find the lowest fares on Air New Zealand flights between select cities in New Zealand. Check back daily for the day’s best prices. Air New Zealand also has a neat, interactive “How far can I go?” feature that shows you how far you can travel within and out of New Zealand for any given price. Begin by selecting your departure city, and then use the slider on the right side of the page to adjust the price range. Keep in mind that prices are listed in New Zealand dollars.

InterCity Coachlines is a private bus service shuttling passengers to Cape Reinga, Invercargill and every major city in between. Take a look at the route map, check timetables, buy tickets, learn about the different bus passes offered, and more.

Stray allows travelers to see NZ by bus at their own pace. Stray passes cover a variety of routes that hit major spots all over the country and allow travelers to get on and off the bus whenever they’d like. Take a look at the different routes, find one that’s in your price range, and buy a pass. There’s also an explanation of how Stray buses work.

Magic Travellers Network is another backpacker bus service that allows flexible travel, so that visitors with passes can spend an extra few days in the destinations they like and bypass those they’d prefer to skip. Browse the site for plenty of information on passes, special deals, timetables and the various activities travelers can engage in while on their trip.

The Interislander Ferry takes travelers across the Cook Strait from Wellington (the capitol city, located on the southern tip of the North Island) to Picton (a small town nestled in the Marlborough Sounds). Purchase tickets for this three-hour trip, and find timetables, fares and information about ferrying your vehicle.

The Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferry is a smaller vessel than the Interislander, making for a more relaxed, lower-key journey. It departs four times daily from both Picton and Wellington, and can accommodate your vehicle. Explore the site to buy tickets, review the schedule or read up on Bluebridge’s policies.

Stewart Island Experience has a ferry service that makes trips across the Foveaux Strait from Bluff to Oban twice daily. Book tickets and explore the various services Stewart Island Experience provides.

Backpacker Board’s article on “Buying a Car in New Zealand,” overviews the financial and practical rationale behind buying vs. renting, offers tips on where to buy, and explains logistical details such as the Warrant of Fitness (WOF), registration tax, insurance and road rules. Read this good introduction and use the links to external sites for further explanations.

Trade Me is an auction and classifieds site with extensive used car listings. Search cars by make, model, price range and year, or use the “Advanced car search” for specific considerations.