Magic Travellers Network

Magic Travellers Network

The Magic Travellers Network (tel (09) 358 5600; website www.magicbus.co.nz) is a good alternative to Kiwi Experience. Like the Kiwi bus, Magic runs along a fixed route giving travellers the option to get on and off whenever they wish. Travellers have up to 12 months to complete their journey.
The various passes are restricted to a particular route and there are compulsory overnight stops. The Magic Network covers most parts of the country, but some regions including the Catlins*, East Cape and Taranaki are not covered (* Magic sell travel on the Catlins Coaster as an add-on pass). Some of the passes on the Magic Network include travel on the TranzAlpine train between Greymouth and Christchurch and the TranzCoastal train between Picton and Christchurch.
Magic Travellers Network passes covering both North and South Islands include:
Auckland to Queenstown
This pass takes you between Auckland and Queenstown. In the North Island you travel between Auckland and Wellington with stops at Waitomo, Rotorua, Taupo, Turangi and Palmerston North. In the South Island you go from Picton to Nelson and then down the West Coast to Queenstown.
Starts Auckland, finishes Queenstown.
Overnight stops Auckland, Franz Josef, Greymouth, Makarora, Nelson, Rotorua, Turangi, Wellington.
Cost $459.
Minimum trip 8 days.
Kiwi Traverse
Starting in Auckland and finishing in Christchurch, this pass combines coach and rail travel. In the North Island it includes transport between Auckland and Wellington with stops in Thames, Mount Maunganui, Rotorua, Taupo and Hawkes Bay. In the South Island it includes train travel on the TranzCoastal train between Picton and Christchurch and the Tranz Alpine from Christchurch to Greymouth. In Greymouth you pick up the coach, which takes you down the West Coast to Queenstown, across to Dunedin and back up to Christchurch.
Starts Auckland, finishes Christchurch.
Overnight stops Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Franz Josef, Greymouth, Makarora, Queenstown, Rotorua, Turangi, Wellington.
Cost $625.
Minimum trip 14 days.
Navigator
Starting in Christchurch, this pass covers both the east and west coasts of the South Island going as far south as Dunedin and Queenstown. In the North Island, this pass includes transport between Wellington and Auckland with stops in Napier, Taupo, Rotorua, Mount Maunganui and Thames.
Starts Christchurch, finishes Auckland.
Overnight stops Christchurch, Dunedin, Franz Josef, Greymouth, Kaikoura, Makarora, Mount Maunganui, Nelson, Queenstown, Taupo, Wellington.
Cost $589 ($559 ISIC/VIP/YHA).
Minimum trip 14 days.
North and South
This pass starts in Auckland and includes travel to Wellington with stops at Waitomo, Rotorua and Taupo. In the South Island it covers the west coast as far south as Queenstown and then continues up to Christchurch via Dunedin.
Starts Auckland, finishes Christchurch.
Overnight stops Auckland, Dunedin, Franz Josef, Greymouth, Makarora, Nelson, Queenstown, Rotorua, Turangi, Wellington.
Cost $569 ($540 ISIC/VIP/YHA).
Minimum trip 11 days.
Spirit of New Zealand
This pass covers most of the country including Northland and the Bay of Islands, Rotorua and Hawkes Bay in the North Island and both the east and west coast of the South Island including Queenstown and Milford Sound.
Overnight stops Paihia, Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Franz Josef, Greymouth, Kaikoura, Makarora, Mount Maunganui, Nelson, Queenstown, Rotorua, Taupo, Turangi, Wellington, Whitianga.
Cost $1,169 ($1,110 ISIC/VIP/YHA).
Minimum trip 23 days.
TranzAlpine and the North
This pass starts in Christchurch taking the scenic TranzAlpine train across Arthurs Pass to Greymouth on the West Coast. In Greymouth you pick up the coach, which takes you down to Queenstown, across to Dunedin, and then north to Christchurch and Picton. In the North Island, this pass includes transport between Wellington and Auckland with stops in Napier, Taupo, Rotorua, Mount Maunganui and Thames.
Start Christchurch, finish Auckland.
Overnight stops Christchurch, Dunedin, Franz Josef, Greymouth, Kaikoura, Makarora, Mount Maunganui, Queenstown, Taupo, Wellington.
Cost $599 ($569 ISIC/VIP/YHA).
Minimum trip 12 days.
Wayward Wanderer
This pass covers most of the country stopping at more or less the same places as the Spirit of New Zealand; except it doesn't include Abel Tasman National Park, Te Anau and Milford Sound in the South Island. It also doesn't go north of Thames on the Coromandel Peninsula.
Overnight stops Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Franz Josef, Greymouth, Kaikoura, Makarora, Mount Maunganui, Nelson, Queenstown, Paihia, Rotorua, Taupo, Turangi, Wellington.
Cost $899 ($854 ISIC/VIP/YHA).
Minimum trip 20 days.
Magic Adventure
Essentially this pass is the same as the Wayward Wanderer except that it doesn't include any destinations north of Auckland. It covers the North Island south of Auckland including Rotorua, Taupo, Hawkes Bay and Wellington and the east and west coasts of the South Island as far south as Dunedin and Queenstown.
Overnight stops Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Franz Josef, Greymouth, Kaikoura, Makarora, Mount Maunganui, Nelson, Queenstown, Rotorua, Taupo, Turangi, Wellington.
Cost $739 ($702 ISIC/VIP/YHA).
Minimum trip 16 days.
Magic passes covering the North Island only include:
Auckland to Wellington
This pass covers transport between Auckland and Wellington with stops in Waitomo, Rotorua, Taupo, Turangi and Palmerston North.
Start Auckland, finish Wellington.
Overnight stops Auckland, Rotorua, Taupo, Turangi, Wellington.
Cost $209.
Minimum trip 3 days.
Coromandel Bus Plan
This pass is a good add-on for travellers that want to see the Coromandel Peninsula, but who are travelling on passes that only stop in Thames. It picks you up in Thames and goes to Coromandel Town, Whitianga, Hahei, Hot Water Beach and Tairua.
Start/finish Thames.
Overnight stop Whitianga.
Cost $80.
Minimum trip 2-3 days.
Northern Discovery
The Northern Discovery pass allows you to take a round-trip between Auckland and Wellington with stops in Thames, Mount Maunganui, Rotorua, Taupo, Hawkes Bay, Wellington, Turangi and Waitomo.
Overnight stops Auckland, Mount Maunganui, Rotorua, Taupo, Turangi, Wellington.
Cost $359.
Minimum trip 6 days.
Northland Escape
This pass makes a good excursion from Auckland to the Bay of Islands. It includes stops at Dargaville, Opononi, Paihia, Russell and Whangarei.
Start/finish Auckland.
Overnight stop Paihia.
Cost $92.
Minimum trip 2 days.
Top of the North
This pass covers the central North Island with return transport between Auckland and Taupo. Stops include Thames, Mount Maunganui, Rotorua, Taupo and Waitomo.
Start/finish Auckland.
Overnight stops Auckland, Mount Maunganui, Rotorua, Taupo.
Cost $209.
Minimum trip 5 days.
Total Northland
The Total Northland pass is a return trip to the Northland region starting and finishing in Auckland. It goes right to Cape Reinga at the northern-most tip of the North Island and includes Dargaville, Opononi, Paihia, Russell and Whangarei.
Start/finish Auckland.
Overnight stop Paihia.
Cost $155.
Minimum trip 3-4 days.
The following Magic passes only include the South Island:
Southern Discovery
This pass covers a circular route taking in both the east and west coasts of the South Island, going as far south as Christchurch and Dunedin.
Overnight stops Christchurch, Dunedin, Franz Josef, Greymouth, Kaikoura, Makarora, Nelson, Queenstown.
Cost $425.
Minimum trip 9 days.
TranzAlpine Experience
The TransAlpine Experience starts and finishes in Christchurch and includes the scenic TranzAlpine train journey from Christchurch to Greymouth on the West Coast. From Greymouth, you travel by coach down the West Coast to Queenstown, then across to Dunedin, and back north to Christchurch.
Start/finish Christchurch.
Overnight stops Christchurch, Dunedin, Franz Josef, Greymouth, Makarora, Queenstown.
Cost $395.
Minimum trip 7 days.
Wild West Coast
The Wild West Coast pass includes travel on the West Coast of the South Island between Nelson and Queenstown.
Start Nelson, finish Queenstown.
Overnight stops Franz Josef, Greymouth, Makarora, Nelson, Queenstown.
Cost $210.
Minimum trip 4 days.
There are also several Magic passes that encompass both islands and include a domestic flight. These passes are ideal if your time in New Zealand is limited but you want to see as much as possible. Magic coach and jet passes include:
Kaka Pass
This pass includes coach travel from Auckland, via Waitomo, to Rotorua; a flight between Rotorua and Christchurch and travel on the TranzAlpine train from Christchurch to Greymouth. In Greymouth you take the coach down the West Coast to Queenstown, across to Dunedin and back up to Christchurch.
Start Auckland, finish Christchurch.
Overnight stops Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Franz Josef, Greymouth, Makarora, Quenstown, Rotorua.
Cost $725.
Minimum trip 9 days.
Kea Pass
This pass includes a flight between Auckland and Christchurch as well as travel on the scenic TranzAlpine train between Christchurch and Greymouth on the West Coast. In Greymouth you join the coach, which takes you south to Queenstown, across to Dunedin and back up to Christchurch.
Start Auckland, finish Christchurch.
Overnight stops Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Franz Josef, Greymouth, Makarora, Queenstown.
Cost $599.
Minimum trip 8 days.
Kokako Pass
The Kokako Pass includes travel on the TranzCoastal train between Picton and Christchurch and the TranzAlpine from Christchurch to Greymouth. You then take the coach down the West Coast from Greymouth to Queenstown, then across to Dunedin and up to Christchurch. This pass also includes a flight between Christchurch and Auckland and coach travel from Auckland to Wellington, via Waitomo, Rotorua, Taupo and Turangi.
Overnight stops Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Franz Josef, Greymouth, Makarora, Queenstown, Rotorua, Taupo, Turangi, Wellington.
Cost $889.
Minimum trip 12 days.
Tui Pass
This pass includes a flight between Auckland and Christchurch and coach travel around the South Island. Destinations covered include both the east and west coasts of the South Island, taking you as far south as Dunedin and Queenstown.
Start Auckland, finish Christchurch.
Overnight stops Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Franz Josef, Greymouth, Makarora, Queenstown.
Cost $630.
Minimum trip 10 days.
Weka Pass
This pass includes a flight between Auckland and Wellington, the ferry from Wellington to Picton and coach travel on the South Island. Coach travel on the South Island goes from Picton to Nelson and Westport, then down the West Coast to Wanaka and Queenstown, across to Dunedin and up to Christchurch.
Start Auckland, finish Christchurch.
Overnight stops Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Franz Josef, Greymouth, Makarora, Nelson, Queenstown, Wellington.
Cost $619.
Minimum trip 9 days.

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This is the northern portion of the Funky Chicken pass. It takes you to Auckland, the Coromandel Peninsula, Rotorua, Waitomo, Taupo and Wellington on the North Island.
Overnight stops Auckland, River Valley, Rotorua, Taupo, Wellington & Whitianga.
Cost $335.
Minimum trip 8 days.
Sheep Dog
This pass takes you from Auckland to the Coromandel Peninsula, down to Rotorua, Waitomo, Taupo, Tongariro National Park and Wellington, across to Picton, then onto Nelson, Abel Tasman National Park, Westport, down the west coast to Wanaka, Queenstown, then up to Christchurch via Twizel.
Starts Auckland, finishes Christchurch.
Overnight stops Auckland, Christchurch, Franz Josef, Mahinapua, Nelson, Queenstown, River Valley, Rotorua, Taupo, Wanaka, Wellington, Westport, Whitianga.
Cost $563 ($535 ISIC/VIP/YHA).
Minimum trip 13-15 days.
Slim's East Cape Escape
This circuit takes you to the rarely visited East Cape region. It includes East Cape, New Zealand's most eastern point, as well as Gisborne and Napier.
Starts/finishes Rotorua.
Overnight stops Gisborne, Napier, Rangitukia, Rotorua.
Cost $260 ($247 with another pass).
Minimum trip 4 days.
Southern Roundup
The Southern Roundup is the southern portion of the Funky Chicken pass. It takes you to Picton, Nelson, the West Coast, Wanaka, Queenstown, Christchurch and Kaikoura on the South Island.
Overnight stops Christchurch, Franz Josef, Kaikoura, Mahinapua, Nelson, Queenstown, Wanaka, Westport.
Cost $395.
Minimum trip 10 days.
Southlander (Bottom Bus)
Kiwi Experience's Southlander pass is also known as the Bottom Bus and is operated independently of Kiwi Experience. It links Queenstown, Invercargill and Dunedin and includes the Catlins region between Invercargill and Dunedin. A three-hour cruise on Milford Sound is included in this pass.
Overnight stops Dunedin, Queenstown, Riverton, Te Anau.
Cost $299 ($285 if purchased with another pass).
Minimum trip 3 days in summer, 4 days in winter.
Whole Kit & Kaboodle
This pass covers most of the country except the East Cape, Hawkes Bay and Taranaki. It takes you from Auckland up to Cape Reinga, to Paihia in the Bay of Islands, to the Coromandel Peninsula, Rotorua, Waitomo, Taupo and Wellington in the North Island. On the South Island it goes to Picton, Nelson and Westport and then down the west coast and in to Wanaka, Queenstown, Te Anau, Milford Sound, Invercargill and through the Catlins to Dunedin and then up to Christchurch and Kaikoura.
Overnight stops Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Franz Josef, Kaikoura, Mahinapua, Nelson, Queenstown, Paihia, River Valley, Riverton, Rotorua, Taupo, Te Anau, Wanaka, Wellington, Westport, Whitianga.
Cost $1108.
Minimum trip 24-28 days.
Kiwi Experience has several passes that include a domestic flight. These passes may be a good idea if your time in New Zealand is limited. They include:
Butterfly
This pass is for travellers who want to see Auckland but spend most of their time exploring the South Island. It includes a one-way flight from Auckland to Christchurch and coach travel on the South Island that allows you to visit Kaikoura, Picton, Nelson, the West Coast, Wanaka, Queenstown and Twizel.
Starts Auckland, finishes Christchurch.
Overnight stops Auckland, Christchurch, Franz Josef, Kaikoura, Mahinapua, Nelson, Queenstown, Wanaka, Westport.
Cost $619 ($604 ISIC/VIP/YHA).
Minimum trip 11-13 days.
Dragonfly
This pass includes a one-way flight from Auckland to Nelson and coach travel on the South Island that allows you to visit Kaikoura, Picton, Nelson, the West Coast, Wanaka, Queenstown and Twizel. Coach travel on the North Island consists of the run between Wellington and Auckland stopping en route at Taupo, Rotorua and Waitomo.
Starts/finishes Auckland.
Overnight stops Auckland, Christchurch, Franz Josef, Kaikoura, Mahinapua, Nelson, Queenstown, Rotorua, Taupo, Wanaka, Wellington, Westport.
Cost $772 ($733 ISIC/VIP/YHA).
Minimum trip 14-16 days.
Fruitfly
This pass is designed for travellers flying into Auckland and out of Christchurch with only a couple of weeks to see New Zealand. It allows you to see Auckland, the Coromandel Peninsula and Rotorua before flying to the South Island and visiting Franz Josef glacier, Wanaka, Queenstown, Twizel and Christchurch.
Starts Auckland, finishes Christchurch.
Overnight stops Auckland, Christchurch, Franz Josef, Mahinapua, Queenstown, Rotorua, Twizel, Wanaka, Whitianga.
Cost $668 ($563 ISIC/VIP/YHA).
Minimum trip 10-12 days.
Goldfly
This pass is for travellers who want to visit Auckland and also see the southern part of the South Island. It includes flights from Auckland to Dunedin and Christchurch to Auckland. This pass includes the Bottom Bus from Dunedin to Invercargill via the Catlins, then on to Te Anau, Milford Sound, Queenstown, Twizel and Christchurch.
Starts/finishes Auckland.
Overnight stops Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Queenstown, Riverton, Te Anau.
Cost $830.
Minimum trip 6 days.
Housefly
This pass is for travellers who want to see Auckland but spend most of their time exploring the South Island. It is essentially the same as the Butterfly pass but with a return flight (instead of a one-way flight) from Auckland to Christchurch. Coach travel on the South Island allows you to visit Kaikoura, Picton, Nelson, the West Coast, Wanaka, Queenstown and Twizel.
Starts/finishes Auckland.
Overnight stops Auckland, Christchurch, Franz Josef, Kaikoura, Mahinapua, Nelson, Queenstown, Wanaka, Westport.
Cost $836 ($821 ISIC/VIP/YHA).
Minimum trip 12-14 days.
Wizfly
This pass is similar to the Gold Fly but it only includes a one-way flight from Auckland to Dunedin. This pass includes the Bottom Bus from Dunedin to Invercargill via the Catlins, then on to Te Anau, Milford Sound, Queenstown, Twizel and Christchurch.
Starts Auckland, finishes Christchurch.
Overnight stops Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Queenstown, Riverton, Te Anau.
Cost $601.
Minimum trip 5 days.