InterCity Coachlines

InterCity Coachlines

New Zealand's major coach line operates coaches to most destinations in both the North and South Islands. Although many travellers buy individual tickets, you can save up to 40% by buying one of the passes that are available. The range of passes offered by InterCity is quite confusing with specific passes valid only on certain routes.
Discounts are available with BBH, VIP and YHA hostel cards.
InterCity passes include:
Pathfinder Pass
Travel in either direction from Christchurch to Auckland, via Mount Cook National Park, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers, Greymouth, Nelson, Picton, Wellington, Taupo, Rotorua, Waitomo Caves, Hamilton and Auckland. The InterCity Pathfinder pass costs $480.
Trailblazer Pass
Travel in either direction taking in a circular loop of the South Island stopping at Picton, Kaikoura, Christchurch, Dunedin, Queenstown, Fox Glacier, Franz Josef, Greymouth and Nelson, in the North Island the pass allows travel between Wellington and Auckland stopping at Taupo, Rotorua, Waitomo Caves and Hamilton. It also includes a loop from Auckland to the Bay of Islands and the Waipoua Forest. The InterCity Trailblazer pass costs $615.
Scenic Explorer Pass
This pass covers the same destinations in the South Island as the Trailblazer Pass, but it covers more destinations in the North Island. Destinations in the North Island include: Auckland, Thames and the Coromandel Peninsula, Tauranga, Hamilton, Waitomo Caves, Rotorua, Taupo, Whakatane, Gisborne, Napier, Palmerston North and Wellington. The InterCity Scenic Explorer pass costs $628.
Total New Zealand Experience Pass
This pass covers the same destinations in the South Island as the Pathfinder Pass but it covers more destinations in the North Island. Destinations in the North Island include: Auckland, Thames and the Coromandel Peninsula, Tauranga, Hamilton, Waitomo Caves, Rotorua, Taupo, Napier, Palmerston North and Wellington. The InterCity Total New Zealand Experience pass costs $636.
The above passes do not include the ferry between the North and South Islands.
InterCity Coachlines also have a range of travel passes for travel in just the North or South Island. These passes include:
Pacific Coast Highway (North Island)
This pass follows the Pacific coast from Auckland to Wellington. Stops on this route include: The Coromandel Peninsula, Tauranga, Rotorua, Gisborne and Napier. This pass costs $209.
Coromandel Trail (North Island)
This pass allows travel via the Coromandel Peninsula terminating either in Rotorua, Tauranga or back in Auckland. This pass costs $101 Auckland to Rotorua or $85 Auckland to Tauranga.
Coromandel Loop (North Island)
This is a shorter route allowing you to travel around the Coromandel Peninsula.­ It is ideal if you have transport to the peninsula via another travel pass but no other way to explore it. It departs from Thames and costs $54.
North Island Value Pass (North Island)
This pass allows travel in either direction between Auckland and Wellington with stopovers in Taupo, Rotorua and either Tauranga or Hamilton and Waitomo Caves. This pass costs $147.
Twin Coast Discovery (North Island)
This pass starts in Auckland and finishes in Auckland. It covers the top of the North Island including Dargaville, Waipoua Forest, Omapere, Paihia and Whangarei. This pass costs $99.
North Island Combo (North Island)
This pass combines the North Island Value Pass and the Twin Coast Discovery Pass. It costs $245.
Forests, Islands and Geysers (North Island)
The Forests, Islands and Geysers travel pass departs Auckland for Paihia, Great Barrier Island, and the Coromandel Peninsula and continues to Rotorua via Tauranga. From Rotorua, you may continue either back to Auckland via Hamilton and Waitomo Caves, or south to Wellington via Taupo. This pass includes flights on Great Barrier Airlines between Paihia, Great Barrier Island and Whitianga on the Coromandel Peninsula. This pass costs $341.
East Coast Explorer (South Island)
This pass allows you to travel from Picton to Queenstown or Te Anau, or Queenstown or Te Anau to Picton. It also includes Blenheim, Kaikoura, Christchurch, Ashburton, Timaru, Oamaru, Dunedin, Milton, Alexandra and Cromwell. This pass costs $149.
Milford Bound Adventurer (South Island)
The Milford Bound Adventurer allows you to travel in either direction between Christchurch and Queenstown (via Mount Cook including Milford Sound). It also includes Methven, Fairlie, Tekapo, Twizel, Omarama, Cromwell and Te Anau. This pass costs $179.
Southern Discovery (South Island)
The Southern Discovery pass allows you to travel in either direction between Greymouth and Christchurch (via Queenstown, Milford Sound and Mount Cook). This pass also includes Methven, Fairlie, Tekapo, Omarama, Twizel, Cromwell, Wanaka, Fox Glacier, Franz Josef and Hokitika. This pass costs $320.
The Southern Experience (South Island)
The Southern Experience pass allows you to travel around the South Island in a return trip from Christchurch to Christchurch or Picton to Picton. The pass includes Kaikoura, Tekapo, Oamarama, Twizel, Mount Cook, Cromwell, Queenstown, Lumsden, Te Anau, Milford Sound, Wanaka, Haast, Fox Glacier, Franz Josef, Hokitika, Greymouth, Westport and Nelson. This pass costs $395.
South Island Extreme (South Island)
The Southern Experience pass allows you to travel around the South Island in a return trip from Christchurch to Christchurch or Picton to Picton. The pass includes Blenheim, Kaikoura, Ashburton, Timaru, Oamaru, Dunedin, Alexandra, Cromwell, Gore, Lumsden, Te Anau, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Wanaka, Haast, Fox Glacier, Franz Josef, Hokitika, Westport, Murchison and Nelson. This pass costs $440.
West Coast Passport (South Island)
The West Coast Passport runs in either direction from Greymouth, Picton or Nelson to Queenstown with stops along the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island. This pass costs $104 from Greymouth, $149 from Nelson and $169 from Picton.
New Zealand Travelpass
Travel on InterCity buses is also included in the New Zealand Travelpass (tel 0800 33 99 66; website www.travelpass.co.nz