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| Home > City Guide - Auckland - Getting Around | ||
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Getting Around Public Transport Stagecoach Auckland (tel: (0800) 103 080) operates a good bus network around Auckland, most of which leave from the Downtown Bus Centre, Commerce Street, although this will be changing by the end of 2003 (see Getting There By Rail). Buses operate Monday-Thursday 0600-2200 and Friday-Sunday 0700-2300. A flat fare in the city centre costs NZ$1.20 and NZ$1.20 thereafter, for each time passed through another zone. A ticket for ‘The Link’, a city centre loop-route bus, costs just NZ$1.20. A one-day bus pass is available for NZ$8. Tickets are available for purchase upon boarding, at stations and at visitor centres. There is a free Auckland Busabout Guide available from newsagents and visitor centres, which lists routes and fares. Auckland also has a small metro service called the Tranz Metro (tel: (0800) 802 802; website: www.tranzmetro.co.nz), with two main lines. One runs west to Waitakere and the other south to Papakura, 0600-1900 and 0545-1925 respectively. The fare from the city centre to the end of each line is approximately NZ$5-10. A Day Rover pass costs A$10 and allows for unlimited travel after 0900 weekdays and all day Saturday. A ten-trip carnet and a monthly pass are also available for A$10-64 and A$96-199 respectively. All tickets and passes are available for purchase on the train – exact change is recommended. Ferries, operated by Fullers (tel: (09) 367 9111), link the ferry terminal on Quay Street with some of the further suburbs, such as Devonport, Bayswater, Birkenhead and Stanley Bay. There are also regular services to the Hauraki Gulf islands and the Coromandel Peninsula. Ferries operate Monday-Saturday approximately 0600-2300 and Sunday 0700-2200. Ferry fares vary and fluctuate with the price of oil – the main Auckland Devonport Ferry currently costs NZ$8. Tickets are available for purchase on board, at the terminals and in visitor centres. Auckland’s Rideline (tel: (09) 366 6400; website: www.rideline.co.nz) provides further information on all public transport services. However, the main service that visitors will find useful is the Explorer Bus (see Tours of the City), which links up the major tourist attractions. The Auckland Pass costs NZ$8 and gives all day unlimited travel on the bus, ferry and link bus networks and is available from bus drivers and at ferry offices. A similar three-day pass also exists for just NZ$18. Taxis There are several private taxi companies in Auckland, with ranks situated around the city. Taxis can also be hailed in the street, although booking by telephone is the usual option. One of the biggest companies is the Auckland Co-operative Taxi Society (tel: (09) 300 3000). Taxis are metered, with a minimum charge of NZ$3. Tipping is not expected. Limousines Limousines are not common in laid-back Auckland. The Auckland Co-operative Taxi Society (tel: (09) 300 3000) does offer business-class cars for hire from NZ$65 per hour. More upmarket but still not really stretch limos, Limousine Connection Services (tel: (09) 636 9089; website: www.toursandlimos.co.nz) provides cars with chauffeurs. Rates start from NZ$150 per hour. Driving in the City Auckland is as big and busy as any other major city but driving is not the stressful experience it can be elsewhere. Drivers in New Zealand are much more courteous out in the country but still fairly tolerant in the city itself. A car is useful, because of the sprawling nature of the city and roads are in good condition and mostly well signposted. However, the Downtown area gets very congested, especially in the morning and evening rush hours and, in particular, on a Friday afternoon. Parking Downtown can also be a problem. Central 24-hour car parks include Albert Street (to the west of Queen Street and close to the waterfront), Customs Street West and Beresford Street, near Karangahape (K) Road. Metered parking is generally NZ$1-2 per hour and approximately NZ$1-3 per hour in a secure car park. Car Hire All the major international car hire companies have offices in Auckland, as well as several domestic companies. Drivers must be over 21 years of age – some companies add on a hefty surcharge if the driver is less than 25 years. A valid national or international drivers licence is required – in some cases, if the licence has been held for less than three-five years, an extra insurance excess may apply. Fully comprehensive insurance is not compulsory but is very advisable, as many local drivers in rural areas take a very relaxed attitude to driving regulations and New Zealand society is more litigious than many others. This is often included as part of the car hire deal. The main companies include Ace Tourist Rentals (tel: (09) 303 3112; website: www.acerentalcars.co.nz), A2B (tel: (0800) 616 333; website: www.a2brentals.co.nz), Avis (tel: (09) 526 2800; website: www.avis.com), Budget (tel: (0800) 652 227; website: www.budget.co.nz), Hertz (tel: (0800) 654 321; website: www.hertz.com) and Maui (tel: (0800) 737 070; website: www.maui-rentals.com), who only rent camper-vans. In the high season, rates start at approximately NZ$60 per day, for a short-term hire. Bicycle & Scooter Hire Cycling is popular in New Zealand and Auckland is a pleasant city in which to cycle – away from the centre and the rush-hour periods. A signposted cycle route runs for 50km (31 miles) along the waterfront and around the city. There are several bicycle hire companies, including Adventure Cycles, 1 Fort Lane (tel: (09) 309 5566), several branches of Hedgehog Bikes (tel: (09) 489 6559) and Pack and Pedal (tel: (09) 522 2161). Rates start at approximately NZ$25 per day. Auckland has many motorcycle hire companies, with the minimum size of bike usually being 250cc, which requires a full motorcycle licence. For smaller scooters and mopeds, an ordinary car driving licence is all that is required. Scooter hire starts at about NZ$30 per day, while motorbikes cost around NZ$100 per day. Providers include Bike Adventure New Zealand (tel: (0800) 498 600), New Zealand Motorcycle Rentals (tel: (09) 377 2005) and Te Waipounamu Motorcycle Tours (tel: (09)489 9242). |
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