FAQ

You will be travelling on an ‘Electronic’ Ticket which is emailed to you, so there is no need to have a ticket.

It is strongly recommended that you print out your ‘E-Ticket/Itinerary/Voucher’ and include it with your other travel documents. Failure to do so, may result in disruption of your travel plans and/or additional fare/s to be paid.

Valid photo ID may be required on check in.

You are entitled to check in 2 pieces suitcases per person with a maximum total weight of 40kgs (or 20kgs per suitcase) per person.

Size must be no more than 200 linear cm (height plus length plus width).

Each fare paying passenger can take one small hand bag and/or personal items such as camera, coat, etc, on board. Passengers are responsible for all carry on luggage.

Unaccompanied luggage will not be carried on any long distance passenger train services, bus or on any Cook Strait ferry service.

All luggage should be covered by independent insurance.

Bicycles can be carried on any long distance passenger train, bus or Cook Strait ferry service but will incur a charge for each sector travelled.

There is a limit of one bicycle per passenger. Bicycles need to have removable pedals, folding handlebars and chains to be covered.

Passengers are advised to pre-book their bicycles in advance as space is limited. Bicycles that have not been pre-booked, carriage of the bicycle can not be guaranteed.

Animals or pets are not permitted on any long distance passenger trains or bus journeys except for seeing-eye dogs.

Long distance passenger train or bus services do not carry un-accompanied luggage or freight.

Pets (except for see-eye dogs) are not allowed in the passenger areas of any Cook Strait ferry.

Other animals can be carried on any Cook Strait ferry but are subject to the terms of carriage of the ferry operator.

Cook Strait ferries do not carry un-accompanied luggage.

Train, Ferry & Coach staff are highly trained in supporting passengers to make their trip enjoyable.

Under New Zealand law all long distance passenger train and bus services are non smoking services.

There are short smoking stops at various points within your journey where you can stop, stretch your legs.

On Cook Strait ferry services, there is a smoking area on each ferry. 

It is recommended that you have travel insurance when travelling, to cover your luggage, personal belongings, medical/hospital care and trip disruption and trip cancellation.

If you have medical insurance in your own country, please check with your medical insurer as to what level your insurer will cover you to before leaving your country.

If you require travel insurance or require to top up your medical/travel insurance, please contact your professional travel agent for advice.

Seating assignment on all long distance passenger trains services is done on ‘Check In’ on the day of travel.

Seating requirements can be requested at the time of a reservation being made. Any seating request can not be guaranteed unless it is for medical reasons.

Final check in time for all long distance passenger train services is 30 minutes before schedule departure time.

Final check in time for foot passengers on a Cook Strait ferry service is 45 minutes before schedule sailing time.

Final check in time for bus service is 15 minuts before scheduled departure time.

No. Meals and/or refreshments are not included your train fare. You can pre purchase meals before you travel if you wish, please contact us for details.

Each train has a Cafe Carriage, where you can purchase alcoholic/non alcoholic drinks, snacks and light meals.

Train Services
A Child is from 2 years up to 14 years travelling with an Adult.
A Child under 14 years must be accompanied by an adult or guardian 18 years and over and can not travel by alone.
If a Child aged between 14 to 15 years travelling with an adult or family, a ‘Child’ fare applies. If travelling alone, an ‘Adult’ fare applies.

An infant is a child 1 month to 23 months travelling with an adult (Over 18 years) being a parent or guardian.
An infant must be carried on the adult’s lap in order to travel free. If a seat is required, then a ‘Child’ fare must be paid for. Infants must be named at time of booking as passenger numbers are limited.

Bus Services
A Child is for a child 3-12 years travelling with an Adult.
A Child under 7 years must be accompanied by an adult or guardian 18 years and over

An Infant is a child 0-3 years travelling with an adult (Over 18 years) being a parent or guardian. An infant must be carried on the adult’s lap in order to travel free. If a seat is required, then a ‘Child’ fare must be paid for. nfants must be named at time of booking as passenger numbers are limited.

Yes, a NZ$ 3.00 booking fee will apply to all online reservations/bookings.

All long distance trains and ferry services have toilet facilities onboard.  InterCity bus and coaches do not have onboard toilet/washroom facilities except for the Starlighter over night services.

Intercity services do stop regularly for comfort breaks on route.

All Great Sights and most Newmans services have a onboard toilet/washroom facilities.

Bottled water and snacks are allowed however hot food and drinks are not for safety reasons.

Long distance bus and coach services do not drop you off at your accommodation. Most stops in major cities are within close proximity to all the main backpackers and hotels.

If you have special requirements, require accessibility assistance please call us to discuss your needs so we can help make your journey as comfortable as possible.

For train travel, mobility-impaired passengers, wheelchair hoists provide access to the café car from platform level. Up to 2 spaces for wheel chairs are available in the cafe car, and each cafe car has a disabled public toilet as well as a hearing loop for hearing-impaired passengers.

Passengers travelling on InterCity, Great Sights and Newmans services must be able to stand on their own legs when assisted by the driver.

InterCity, Great Sights and Newmans drivers will not be in a position to carry passengers on and off buses or coaches.

Passengers who require somebody to lift them on and off the coach must arrange for this assistance at pick up and drop off points.

Drivers are not permitted to participate in carrying on passengers due to health and safety reasons.

A minor is deemed by InterCity Group to be someone aged 7 -12 inclusive. A minor is deemed to be unaccompanied if they are not accompanied by a person over the age of 18 years. No child less than 7 years old may travel alone.

InterCity Group will carry unaccompanied minors on InterCity and Newmans Coach Lines services provided that an unaccompanied minor form has been completed fully, has been signed by at least one legal guardian, a copy held by InterCity Group and a copy held by the unaccompanied minor. It is important all legal guardians read and understand the unaccompanied minor form before signing it.

A booking for an unaccompanied minor cannot be confirmed until an unaccompanied minor form has been fully completed. Ticketing a booking without an unaccompanied minor form being completed may result in cancellation of the reservation or a refusal of carriage.

An unaccompanied minor must carry a copy of the fully completed unaccompanied minor form when travelling on any InterCity or Newmans service.

The driver will request to see the unaccompanied minor form before accepting the minor for travel. Where possible InterCity and Newmans drivers will seat unaccompanied minors in rows 2-5. This is not guaranteed and is a stated intention only.

InterCity Group reserves the right to refuse carriage should the correct forms not be completed and held prior to travel.

Click to download the unaccompanied minor form (Adobe Acrobat format (file size 45 KB)

An unaccompanied minor must carry a copy of the fully completed unaccompanied minor form when travelling on any InterCity or Newmans service.

The driver will request to see the unaccompanied minor form before accepting the minor for travel.

A train ‘Travel’ day can be – one way ‘Point to Point’ train like Auckland to Wellington, return ‘Same Day’ day travel like:

• Christchurch/ArthursPass/Christchurch, Christchurch/Greymouth/Christchurch, Christchurch/ Kaikoura/Christchurch or Christchurch/Picton/Christchurch).
• or one way ‘Ferry/Train’ travel from Christchurch to Wellington, Kaikoura to Wellington, Wellington to Kaikoura or Wellington to Christchurch.

To make individual train, bus or ferry travel reservations, please contact our New Zealand Travel Team. Details will be shown on your pass.

You can change a train, bus or ferry travel date up to 24 hours prior to departure, subject to availability.

No. The Rail or Bus Passes do not include the extra items like bikes, extra luggage, etc. You will need to book and pay for these costs separately for each train, bus, coach and/or ferry sector travelled.

The cost for a bike or extra luggage on a bus, coach or train service is NZ$10.00 per travel sector travelled and NZ$15.00 per ferry sailing/crossing per item.

A Rail or Bus Pass cannot be transferred to another person.

You will be emailed your travel e-ticket/Itineraries of your travel sector/s containing the departure dates, departure/arrival times and check-in times to the email address that was given in the original purchase of your Pass.

Yes, you can turn up to the with your Rail or Bus Pass numbers, however you are not guaranteed a seat on the train or ferry service if you have not made a prior booking or reservation.

A Rail or Bus Pass does NOT guarantee a seat on The Auckland to Wellington train,the Christchurch to Picton train or the Christchurch to Greymouth train services,any regional, long distance or foot passenger space on a Cook Strait ferry service unless a reservation has been made.