Around Auckland

The Sky City Coach Terminal is Auckland's hub for the two main bus lines, InterCity Coaches and Newmans Coaches. The terminal has secure storage lockers and a café next door. InterCity links Auckland to most other major cities at least once a day. Newmans goes to Wellington daily via Hamilton and Taupo, and to Rotorua and Napier daily. Auckland is also a jumping-off point for several of InterCity's special travel pass routes, with daily departures for trips such as "Forests, Islands, and Geysers" and "New Zealand Pathfinder."

Kiwi Experience goes to many more out-of-the-way destinations such as the East Cape. You can get a "Funky Chicken" round-trip pass that allows you to hop on and off where you please along the route. The buses depart Auckland from the Parnell office.

The Northliner Express goes to both Kaitaia and Kaikohe twice daily. It departs from 172 Quay Street, opposite the Ferry Building.

Bus Depot

Sky City Coach Terminal (102 Hobson St., City Center. 09/300-6130).

Bus Lines

InterCity Coaches (09/623-1503. www.intercitycoach.co.nz). Kiwi Experience (195-197 Parnell Rd., Parnell. 09/366-9830. www.kiwiexperience.co.nz). Newmans Coaches (09/623-1504. www.newmanscoach.co.nz). Northliner Express (09/307-5873. www.northliner.co.nz).

Within Auckland

The easily recognizable white Link Buses circle the inner city, including many of the most popular stops for visitors, every 10 minutes between 6 AM and 7 PM weekdays, and then every 15 minutes until about 11:30 PM. The same service applies on weekends but starts at 7 AM and runs to 6 PM. The route includes the Britomart Centre between Customs Street and Quay Street, and buses stop at Queen Street, Parnell, Newmarket (near the Auckland Museum), Ponsonby, and Karangahape Road, among other places. The fare anywhere on the route is $1.50, payable as you get onto the bus; you should have change or small notes. A free red-color bus circuits the inner city between Britomart, the university, and the Sky Tower every 10 minutes between 8 AM and 6 PM daily.

To travel farther afield, take a Stagecoach Bus, which is run by the same company as the Link Buses and has services as far north as Orewa on the Hibiscus Coast and south to Pukekohe. An Auckland Day Pass at $11 for unlimited travel is easily the best value for anyone planning extensive use of the buses (both Link and Stagecoach), particularly because it is also valid for travel on Link ferries between the city and the North Shore. The Discovery Pass ($14) also includes the local trains. You can buy the passes from the ferry office or the bus drivers. The information office at Britomart provides information, maps, and timetables, or you can call Maxx for transit details.

Contacts

Information Office (Britomart Transport Centre, Queen Elizabeth Sq., Queen and Quay Sts., City Center). Maxx (09/366-6400. www.maxx.co.nz).