- Download our Moving to New Zealand Guide (PDF)
New Zealand is a small country with well-connected urban areas. When it comes to day-to-day travelling, expats will find that all New Zealand cities, and most towns, have buses that are convenient to use. Auckland and Wellington even have city-suburban rail services.
On the other hand, those travelling long distances or to more rural cities will find public transport lacking; indeed, most people in New Zealand own a car for convenience's sake.
Despite the occasional narrow mountain road, it's easy to get around New Zealand by car. The North and South islands are connected by ferries that cross the Cook Strait several times daily. These ferries are used to transport both cars and people between the islands.
Public transport in New Zealand
Cities in New Zealand are compact and pedestrian-friendly, with excellent public transport options. Comprehensive maps and timetables for the different modes of public transport are usually available for free at libraries, convenience stores and stations. Fares and timetables for buses, trains, ferries and dedicated school buses are also accessible online for most cities.
Trains
The state-owned KiwiRail operates both freight and passenger trains in New Zealand. The company provides long-distance services across the North Island and the upper part of the South Island, as well as operates interisland ferries.
It's easy to purchase single tickets and multiple-ride passes both online and at train stations across the country. Single tickets can typically be purchased when boarding a train, except in Auckland, where tickets have to be bought in advance. Auckland also offers commuters a prepaid smart card for travel on different modes of transport called the AT HOP card.
Buses
Buses in New Zealand form the backbone of the country’s various public transport networks. They are often the primary or only mode of transit in cities such as Christchurch, Hamilton and Dunedin. Local bus services are typically contracted to private companies. The largest of these companies is NZ Bus, which operates services under different brand names in Auckland and Wellington.
It is usually possible to get single-ride tickets and multiple-ride passes. Buses in Auckland also accept the AT HOP card.
There are many private bus companies in New Zealand that offer intercity travel. While some of these are primarily aimed at tourists, expats will find that it should still be possible to find affordable one-way tickets between towns and cities.
Taxis in New Zealand
Expats will have access to a wide range of taxi services in New Zealand. There are a plethora of operators in different areas of the country. Commuters can also use single taxis, group transport and shuttle options. New arrivals who want to get to know their surroundings can also take advantage of services such as day-tour packages.
The most reliable way of getting a taxi in New Zealand is to book in advance with a local service, either by phoning the company directly or booking online. That said, taxis can be hailed off the street or found at taxi ranks, especially in larger cities. Government bodies such as Auckland Transport provide taxi information online.
App-based rideshare services such as Uber and Zoomy are also active in New Zealand. Many expats prefer using rideshare apps as they allow for automatic credit card billing, and greater control over their route.
Useful links:
- Uber and Ola are globally known ridesharing apps.
- New Zealanders also use local ridesharing service, Zoomy.
Ferries in New Zealand
Owned by KiwiRail, the Interislander ferry service has three vessels that regularly travel across the Cook Strait between Wellington on the North Island and Picton on the South Island. An alternative service is the Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferry, which is run by Strait Shipping Limited, a privately owned company.
The journey takes around three hours, and it's possible to transport goods that range from cars to livestock. Ferries offer onboard services such as WiFi, restaurants and play areas for young travellers.
Useful links:
- Interislander has everything expats need to plan and book their ferry trips.
Driving in New Zealand
It is possible to get just about everywhere on both islands in a regular car. Crossing between the North and South islands on a ferry is also fairly easy.
Road rules in New Zealand are similar to those in the UK, and cars drive on the left-hand side of the road. Driving in New Zealand is not usually stressful, except perhaps during rush hour in big cities. Drivers exploring the country should exercise caution, as many roads in New Zealand's rural areas vary in condition and can be narrow or winding.
Driving licences in New Zealand
If their home country's driving licence is in English, expats can drive with it in New Zealand for up to a year. Otherwise, they will need to carry an official translation of their licence or acquire an international driving permit. After living in New Zealand for more than 12 months, expats need to convert their licence to a New Zealand driving licence.
Expats with valid overseas driving licences can convert their licences by applying at specialist overseas conversion sites. Applying for a licence conversion requires the usual things, such as proof of identity, an eye test and having one's photo taken. People with certain medical conditions must provide a medical certificate proving their ability to drive safely. Those from countries without centralised licencing authorities (e.g., India, Pakistan and Tonga) must provide extra documentation as evidence of validity. Depending on where their licence was issued, expats may also have to take written and practical tests.
Useful links:
- See the NZ Transport Agency website for more details.
Domestic flights in New Zealand
Travelling between cities using domestic flights in New Zealand is often cheaper, especially when travelling from one island to the other. Regular domestic flights operate between large airports in Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch and Queenstown, as well as smaller regional airports. The larger airports also have shuttle buses that run from town to the airport. Several airlines offer domestic flights in New Zealand, including Air New Zealand, Jetstar, Air Chathams and Golden Bay Air.
Expat Health Insurance
Cigna Global Health Insurance.
Medical insurance specifically designed for expats. With Cigna, you won't have to rely on foreign public health care systems, which may not meet your needs. Cigna allows you to speak to a doctor on demand, for consultations or instant advice, wherever you are in the world. They also offer full cancer care across all levels of cover, and settle the cost of treatments directly with the provider.
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