The North and South Islands are linked by modern ferries operating between Wellington and Picton, carrying passengers and vehicles across Cook Strait. Reservations on all ferry services are highly recommended, particularly for visitors taking their vehicles. The TranzAlpine runs between Christchurch and Greymouth through spectacular landscapes of gorges and river valleys and across the snow-capped Southern Alps. There are also express services between Auckland and Rotorua, Auckland and Tauranga and Wellington and Napier. There are dining cars on some trains, but there are no sleeping cars on overnight services.
All services are one-class travel only.
It is issued for periods between 5 days and over 8 weeks and can be bought outside New Zealand from any InterCity Coachlines office, Tranz Rail travel centre or accredited travel agency. The 'Best of New Zealand Pass' incorporates all train and ferry services as well as selected coach services and the Taeri Gorge Railway for travel over 180 days. Traffic drives on the left. It is advisable to make reservations for seats. There are regional bus networks which serve most parts of the country and are on the whole friendly and cheaper than the larger companies.