Wellington And Around Intercity Transportation

• Flights: Wellington International Airport (☎385 5123) spans the Miramar Peninsula in the southeastern suburbs with international flights to Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne on Qantas or Air New Zealand (ANZ; ☎474 8950 or 0800 737 000). ANZ has an office at the corner of Lambton Quay and Grey St. and covers most domestic destinations; it flies to Auckland (1hr., 1-2 per hr., from $100) and Christchurch (45min., 1 per hr., from $80). Soundsair (☎801 0013 or 0800 505 005; www.soundsair.com) flies to Picton (25min., 6-8 per day, $79). The Stagecoach Flyer (☎801 7000) runs service every 30min. between the airport, downtown Wellington, and Upper Hutt ($2.50 between the airport and downtown).
• Trains: Railway Station, on Bunny St. at Waterloo and Customhouse Quay, is also home to the bus depot. The Travel Centre books for TranzScenic and InterCity. Open M-F 7:15am-5:30pm, Sa-Su 7:15am-12:15pm. TranzScenic (☎0800 872 467; www.tranzscenic.co.nz) provides daily service to Auckland (12hr., 8:40am, $94-157) via Palmerston North (2hr., $19-38), National Park (5hr., $50-84), and Hamilton (9hr., $66-132). TranzMetro (☎801 7000; www.tranzmetro.co.nz), a regional commuter line, leaves from the Railway Station. There are 4 regular lines including routes up Hutt Valley, the Kapiti Coast, and the Wairarapa. The Wairarapa Line offers limited service to Masterton (1hr., M-F 5 per day, $13). A taxi to downtown costs $8-15.

• Buses: InterCity/Newmans (☎385 0502; www.newmanscoach.co.nz) runs daily from the Railway Station to: Auckland (11hr., 4 per day, $45-100) via Hamilton (9hr., $67-80); Napier (6hr., 2-3 per day, $35-59); New Plymouth (6hr., 2 per day, $35-59) via Wanganui (4hr., $18-35); Palmerston North (2hr., 1-6 per day, $14-28); Rotorua (7hr., 5 per day, $43-85) via Taupo (6hr., $34-72). InterCity runs a night bus to Auckland and points between (daily 6:50pm, $10-15). Freeman’s Lotto and Cafe, 23 Lambton Quay, sells tickets for White Star Coach Services (☎478 4734; www.whitestarbus.co.nz), which runs to New Plymouth (6hr., 1-2 per day, $45) via Palmerston North (2hr., $20) and Wanganui (3hr., $27).
• Ferries: Bluebridge (☎0800 844 844; www.bluebridge.co.nz), opposite the Railway Station on Waterloo Quay. This former freighter runs to Picton (3hr.; 2-3 per day; $45, cars from $120). InterIslander (☎0800 802 802; www.interislander.co.nz) operates the Lynx, a high-tech, high-speed catamaran, which departs from Waterloo Quay in downtown Wellington for Picton (2hr.; 2 per day; $35-68, cars $115-215). The InterIslander, inconveniently located in Aotea Quay, north of town on SH1, runs daily to Picton (3hr.; 6 per day; $35-65, cars $115-215). There’s a free shuttle for the InterIslander from Platform 9 of the Railway Station 40min. before each scheduled departure and back to the station upon ferry arrival. Advance bookings are essential; fares drop with significant lead time. Ask about 1-day or 3-night excursion fares.
• Hitchhiking: While Let’s Go does not recommend hitchhiking, travelers report that riding from Wellington can be difficult. The Aotea Quay or the Railway Station are the best bet. The old main road (where SH1 and SH2 branch a few kilometers north of the ferry station on Hutt Rd.) is also known to be a successful spot, although it is a 3-4km walk from downtown. Many say it’s best to take the train to Paraparaumu (on SH1) or Masterton (on SH2) and catch a ride from there.