Bus Travel

Popular Bus Travel Routes in New Zealand

Planning on travelling around New Zealand by bus? Learn about the popular bus travel routes in New Zealand, cheap bus transport, and buying bus travel tickets online.

• Bus Services
• Shuttles

Bus travel in New Zealand is without a doubt, one of the cheapest ways to see our beautiful country. With cheap bus tickets easily booked online, you can get to and from just about anywhere in New Zealand by bus.

Popular Bus Routes in New Zealand

If you've just arrived in New Zealand and want to see the country but are not sure where to start, simply booking a bus transport on a popular route is a great first step upon arrival in Aotearoa.

As your kick off point is likely to be Auckland, New Zealand's largest city, you're lucky to be just a few hours away by bus to much of New Zealand's natural glory.

Auckland to Rotorua
Catch a bus on the popular Auckland to Rotorua route, which takes about three hours (237 km total distance). Rotorua is home to a geothermal reserve, and features boiling pools of mud, silica terraces, mud fumeroles and volcanoes. It is a must see for any new traveller to New Zealand, its splendour won't fail to dazzle with natural beauty. Technically you could make a day trip out of this from Auckland with an earlier bus trip and return travel departing in the evening, but there's so much to take in that it's worth at least a stay overnight - or as your first stop in your tour heading south.

Auckland to Taupo via Rotorua
As a continuation from Rotorua, you're just 81km or about an hour's bus ride to Taupo, one of New Zealand's most spectacular lake regions. Again privy to volcanic terrain, craters, water rapids and falls, this region shouldn't be missed for any traveller heading south down the North Island of New Zealand.

Taupo to Wellington
You can continue your trip throughout smaller cities and towns in the mid and lower parts of the North Island from Taupo, stopping off at popular destinations such as Waiouru, Taihape, Levin and Otaki, finally arriving in New Zealand's capital city, Wellington.

Auckland direct to Wellington
Alternatively, the popular Auckland to Wellington route can be made faster via bus by bypassing the popular towns of the central North Island and heading south direct from Auckland, avoiding the smaller stops, and taking a full twelve hours from departure to destination. It's a long haul trip, but you'll meet friends on the bus along the way and see some gorgeous scenery, so don't forget to get snap-happy with your camera!

Crossing Cook Straight
From Wellington, to get to the South Island you'll need to catch a ferry across the Cook Straight to Picton. Alternatively you can catch a cheap flight to Christchurch, the South Island's biggest city and hub for bus travel throughout the south.

Picton to Nelson
If you find yourself in Picton, utilise your chance to explore the Marlborough Sounds via boat tour, and some of the magnificent wineries in the region. Then, catch the popular  bus route west to Nelson in the Golden Bay of New Zealand, which is particularly appealing in the summertime. Just 144 km and two or so hours by bus, you'll be able to explore the magnificent golden beaches and laid-back lifestyle that the Nelson region has to offer, along with many festivals and events around the summer season.

Picton to Kaikoura
Alternatively, head straight down the southern coastline and enjoy the scenic route encompassing the ocean and marine life to your left and lush forest to your right. You'll travel through Kaikoura, so don't forget to plan a stop there for a little whale watching and to enjoy some fresh Kiwi seafood. A further two and a half hours by bus will have you in Christchurch's central city.

Christchurch and Further South
Once in Christchurch, you have option galore for easy bus travel throughout the South Island of New Zealand. If you've arrive direct you can travel north via the popular routes mentioned above, or if you're continuing your travel south then you have options to travel through the plains and mountains towards the luxury and adventure capital of New Zealand, Queenstown, or down the coast to the largely student-populated city of Dunedin.

Christchurch to Queenstown
Queenstown is home of skiing, rafting, bungy jumping and of course has a fantastic nightlife scene as well. Always bustling with travelers from all over the world, it is eight hours by bus and will pass through the magnificent, vibrant blue Southern Lakes.

Christchurch to Dunedin
Dunedin is largely occupied nine month of the year by the students of Otago University, and has a great youth and arts culture and vibe to it. It is also home to a grand peninsula, shipping port and multiple kilometre stretches of sandy beaches.

Both routes lead onto Invercargill, the last big city before the ocean begins again and your next stop is Antarctica!

Busing to Festivals
Alongside the popular bus routes throughout New Zealand, you'll be able to find a bus company which offers great cheap trips to music and arts festivals throughout New Zealand. Particular festivals of interest are the Rhythm and Vines festival which takes place in Gisborne in the North Island over the New Years Eve period, and the Big Day Out which takes place in Auckland on in mid to late January each year. These are perhaps the biggest music events in we have on offer, and host a range of local and international acts - a must see for any traveller to New Zealand!

Looking for more information on bus services in New Zealand? Check out the NZS.com directory.

Do you want to write for NZS.com, New Zealand's top Web directory? We are looking for New Zealand writers for our unique new article writing program - whereby you can write and submit articles for our website, and you will earn 50% of the revenue from the advertising on your article's page. Check out the Article Authors homepage to apply now!

Travel images from Flickr: DC Rock Creek, New Zealand Lake and Dolphin.