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transportation
Visitors and migrants to New Zealand have
an extensive choice of transportation available to them. Because
New Zealand is an easy place to navigate, be it around a town,
city or the length of the country, most people find it relatively
easy to find transport to fit their requirements and budget.
Suburban Transport
New Zealanders enjoy an extensive suburban bus network as an economical way to travel around a town or city.
Using suburban bus transport instead of driving your car
eliminates car parking, petrol and general car running costs. Bus
fares normally start at NZ $2.00 and increase with each ‘stage’ you travel, obviously the further you travel
the more it will cost, however you can purchase concession cards
and cheaper bus fares is available for students and senior
citizens. Many of the larger cities in New Zealand offer a free
bus service that travels a set route periodically within the
inner city area.
 Taxis are often more convenient than buses and
for this reason hiring a taxi is more expensive but with benefits
such as operating 24 hours a day along with pick up and drop off
to any destination, whereas buses are limited to the routes they
can take and timetables. Taxi companies are listed in local phone
books and you can also hail down an empty taxi or find one at a "taxi stand". Taxi charges vary depending on location
however most flagfalls start at NZ $2.00 and then $2.00 per
kilometre.
Auckland and Wellington offer suburban rail services with trains
running throughout the day. The cost of travelling via train
varies but charging is similar to suburban buses as you are
charged per stage of journey. Catching a suburban train can cost
from NZ $2.00 upwards, the longer the journey the more you should
expect to pay.
national transport
Sea, Train & Coach Travel
 The price for crossing the Cook Strait via ferry
depends on the time of year you choose to travel and if you are
transporting a vehicle. An adult travelling without a vehicle,
one way from Wellington to Picton can expect to pay from NZ
$52.00 off peak.
The Trans Scenic railroad network covers most of
New Zealand and in comparison to flying allows people a more
scenic and economical travelling experience while coach travel is
available to most destinations in both the North and South
Islands. You can purchase individual tickets for national
transport however if you plan to investigate New Zealand
extensively then a basic TravelPass could save you up to 40% on
transport costs. TravelPass allows unlimited coach travel on
specified company coaches for a specific number
of travel days within a twelve month period. The pass also allows
for one Cook Strait ferry crossing.
Air Travel
Major cities and towns in New Zealand are accessible by air on a
daily basis while many smaller areas have some type of domestic
airport. Fares can vary depending on the time of year you are
intending to fly, your destination and the company you choose to
travel with. 1 adult travelling one way from Auckland to
Christchurch should expect to pay between NZ $150 - $260, however
many companies such as Air New Zealand do offer some excellent
special prices on domestic travel.
Personal Motor Vehicle
 New and used vehicles in New Zealand are for sale both privately
or through licensed motor vehicle dealers. If you purchase a
motor vehicle through a Licensed Motor Vehicle Dealer (LMVD) you
have the benefits of a comprehensive range of mechanical cover
warrantees plus added protection under the Consumer Act.
Purchasing from a private vendor means you are buying the vehicle
in an "as is" condition, which can be risky business if
you end up purchasing a ‘lemon’.
The cost of buying a vehicle in New Zealand varies, you can purchase a new BMW 530i sedan for approximately NZ $120,000 while a second hand 1997 BMW 316i has a retail price of NZ $14,000. You can find quality used Japanese imports for around NZ $7,000 upwards.
Running costs for a vehicle soon add up! All vehicles on New Zealand roads must pass a road-worthiness test set by the LTSA, this must be done every 12 months for a new car and every 6 months for other cars and costs approximately NZ $30.00 each time. Vehicles must be re-licensed every 12 months for around NZ $210.00. Cost of petrol in New Zealand fluctuates but expect to pay NZ $2.00 per litre. Car insurance in New Zealand is not compulsory, however it is highly recommended! Shop around different insurance companies to find the best price, what you can expect to pay for car insurance depends on many factors, such as the amount your car is worth, age of driver plus previous driving and insurance records.
Cycling
New Zealand roads are very cycle friendly and many cities have
installed cycle lanes around city routes. It is compulsory in New
Zealand to wear a cycle helmet which can be purchased from NZ$
40.00. Purchasing a new bike from a cycle shop gives you the
benefits of qualified mechanics, sales support and their
expertise at helping you find a bike suitable to your
requirements. Budget to spend at least NZ $600.00 for a good
quality new bike while a decent second hand bike will cost from
NZ $200.00.
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