New Zealand Guide
Getting around
New Zealand is a relatively small country and getting around is easy, with some form of public transport going to most destinations, though sometimes limited to one or two services per day. Most out-of-the-way places are accessible with will, flexibility and a little ingenuity.
Internal flights are reasonably priced if booked well in advance, but you'll appreciate the scenery better by travelling at ground level. The cheapest and easiest, though slowest, way to get around is by using buses (coaches or shuttle buses). The rail service, by contrast, is limited and expensive.
For getting off the beaten track having your own wheels is a boon. Rental cars and campervans can be remarkably good value for two or more people but if you are staying in the country for more than a couple of months, it's more economical to buy a vehicle. New Zealand is renowned for its green countryside and cycling is an excellent way to see the country.
Competition on the ferries connecting the North and South islands means passenger fares are good value, though transporting vehicles is pricey. Planes and boats give limited access to offshore islands and the parts of the mainland that remain stubbornly impenetrable by road, though an increase in specialist tours makes getting into the wilds ever easier.
Travel passes
If you're doing a lot of travelling by bus and train, there are savings to be made with travel passes. Tranz Scenic's Scenic Rail Pass ( 
0800/872 467, 
www.transzscenic.co.nz ) gives unlimited travel on Tranz Scenic trains for a week ($309, children $205). The pass also includes one Interislander ferry passage between the North and South islands.
InterCity/Newmans offer their own Flexi-Pass, allowing you buy bus travel by the hour – the more hours you buy the better the savings. You would typically need 45 hours ($454) to cover one of the main islands, more like 60 hours ($585) for a full tour, and if that's not enough you can top-up your pass with, say, 10 hours ($110). The Flexi-Pass is valid for 12 months and journeys can be booked online or by free-calling 0800/222 146. Travellers wanting to move around pretty quickly might be better off with one of the New Zealand Travel Passes ( 0800/339966, www.travelpass.co.nz ). The 2-in-One travel pass has various options from 5 days of travel in a year ($399) to 15 days in a year ($871) and includes a Cook Strait ferry crossing. Slightly more expensive variants also throw in a train journey and a domestic flight.
Finally, the backpacker tour buses offer lower prices in return for older buses and – in some cases – a more boisterous time.