Auckland and Around Local Transportation

• Public Transportation: In 2003, Auckland introduced the City Circuit, a free bus service that carves a path between key inner city points. Runs every 10min. daily 8am-6pm. The Link bus runs a complete loop through the central city in 1hr. Stops include: the Auckland Museum, Auckland University, K’Rd., Newmarket, Parnell, Ponsonby, QE II Sq., the Railway Station, SkyCity, Victoria Park (every 10min.; M-F 6am-7pm, Sa 7am-6pm; every 15min. M-F 7-11:30pm, Sa 6-11:30pm, Su 7am-11:30pm; $1.60). The tourist-oriented Explorer Bus (☎0800 439 756; www.explorerbus.co.nz) offers hop-on, hop-off service with live commentary on various Auckland sights. An additional satellite bus operates Oct.-Apr. Buses leave from the Ferry Bldg. Departs daily Oct.-Apr. every 30min. 9am-4pm; May-Sept. every hr. 10am-4pm. Day pass $30, children $15. Ordinary city buses run by Stagecoach (www.stagecoach.co.nz) are a bit more challenging to negotiate but cheaper; full schedules available on the website. Fares are calculated by the number of stages traveled, and range from Stage 1 ($1.60, children $1) to the all-day, unlimited-travel Auckland Pass ($11), also good on Northshore-Downtown Fuller ferries. Explorer and Stagecoach buses are concentrated at the Downtown Bus Centre, which may feel unsafe at night, or across from QE II Square, both on Customs St. Rideline (☎366 6400) provides info on the Auckland public transportation system. Open M-Sa 7am-8pm, Su 8am-6:30pm.

• Ferries: Ferries leave from Prince’s Wharf behind the Ferry Bldg., across from QE II Sq. Contact Fullers (☎367 9111) for schedules. To: Devonport (round-trip $9, children $4.40); Rangitoto ($20/11); Waiheke ($28.50/14.30). Summer ferries depart from Mechanic’s Bay to Great Barrier Island (round-trip $105/50).
• Taxis: Alert Taxis (☎309 2000), Auckland Co-op Taxis (☎300 3000), and Discount Taxis (☎529 1000) can be found at Victoria St. East and Queen St., and on K’Rd.
• Car Rental: Ace Rentals, 39-43 The Strand (☎303 3112), in Parnell. Economy cars in summer from $55 per day; in winter $34 per day. Discounts for long-term rentals (20 days or more). Unlimited mileage, insurance, AA coverage, and tax. Omega Rental Cars, 75 Beach Rd. (☎ 0800 525 210 or 377 5573), or at the airport (☎275 3265). Budget cars from $39 per day (4-day min.). Unlimited mileage, insurance, and AA service. One-way rentals to joint offices in Christchurch, Nelson, Picton, Queenstown, and Wellington available. Maui Rentals, 36 Richard Pearse Dr. (☎0800 651 080; www.maui-rentals.com), 2km from the airport. Campers in summer from $124 per day, with toilet and shower $162; reduced prices in winter. Worldwide chains Avis (☎526 2847 or 0800 655 111), Budget (☎976 2222 or 0800 652 227), and Hertz (☎0800 654 321) have offices at the airport. Spaceships, 31 Beach Rd. (☎309 8777), offers minivans with cooking areas, refrigerators, A/C, water and pumps, extending double beds, and DVD players. High-season $129 per day, low-season $49.
• Car Buying and Selling: If you’ll be in New Zealand for a while, you might consider buying a car. The cheapest way is to keep your eyes open for postings by backpackers on bulletin boards. Car auctions are another option: Turners Car Auctions (☎525 1920; www.turners.co.nz), at the corner of Leonard and Penrose Rd. in Penrose, sells budget cars. Call for auction times. Hammer Auctions, 830 Great South Rd. (☎579 2344), also in Penrose, sells cars M-Th at 6pm, F at 1pm, and Sa at 11am. Car fairs are another way to buy or sell a car; Sell it Yourself, 15-17 Silvia Pk. Rd., Mt. Wellington (☎270 3666; open daily 8am-6pm), and Manukau City Park and Sell, at the Manukau City Centre (☎358 5000; open Su 9am-1pm), are possibilities. On Beach Rd., opposite the many car rental agencies, sits Auckland City Car Fair (☎021 932 287; carfair@ihug.co.nz), which is put on every Sa (9am-late), is free for buyers, and charges sellers $20. Or you can try guaranteed buy-back services such as New Zealand Guaranteed Buy-Back Vehicle Associates, 825 Dominion Rd. (☎620 6587), in Mt. Roskill (open M-Sa 8am-6pm). Alternatively, Budget Cars Sales, 12 Mt. Eden Rd. (☎262 6530), will take you to the warehouse to view and buy a car. Open daily 8am-7pm. For more information on short-term car purchase, see Buy-backs.
• Car Resources: Automobile Association, 99 Albert St. (☎966 8800, 24hr. breakdown line 0800 500 222), in Central Auckland. Open M and W-F 8:30am-5pm, Tu 9am-5pm; Nov.-Apr. also Sa 9am-1pm. Pick up free road maps and The Road Code of New Zealand ($25), a worthwhile investment for motorists new to the country. The Driver’s Guide indicates all of Central Auckland’s one-way streets and parking areas. Parking officials ticket regularly, and motorists can expect to pay up to $200 if caught in violation of parking laws.
• Bike and Motorcycle Rental: Adventure Cycles, 1 Laurie Av. (☎309 5566 or 0800 335 566; adventurecycles@xtra.co.nz), in Parnell. Mountain bikes from $25 per day, $100 per week, $230 per month; touring and racing bikes $20/90/200. Open M-Tu, Th-F 7am-7pm. New Zealand Motorcycle Rentals, 35 Crummer Rd. (☎360 7940; www.nzbike.com), in Ponsonby. Motorcycles and scooters from $95 per day. Unlimited mileage, insurance, and 24hr. service. Open in summer M-Sa 8:30am-5pm.