New Zealand Travel Hack: Explore BOTH Islands by Bus in 1 Month

‼️ PSA: After a month of NZ travel, here’s my ultimate InterCity FlexiPass guide—cheap, flexible, and ferry-included! Save this! 👇 📌 What’s FlexiPass? For: Solo travelers, backpackers, and lazy planners who hate driving! Perks: ✅ Hour-based travel (use anytime in 12 months) ✅ Covers 600+ towns + FREE Cook Strait ferry (normally $65!) ✅ Book as you go—no rigid schedules! 💰 Pricing & Buying Tips Price Tiers: 10-hour minimum (the more hours you buy, the cheaper per hour—e.g., 70 hours = $7.38/hour). Savvy Combos: ✔️ Long-haul routes: Auckland → Queenstown for *$1 (but FlexiPass saves more!). ✔️ Ferry hack: Normally $65 → only 2 FlexiPass hours! (Save $50+). 🗺️ Where It Works North Island: Auckland, Rotorua (geothermal parks!), Hobbiton, Wellington. South Island: Christchurch, Queenstown, Wanaka, Tekapo, Milford Sound (tour add-on!), glaciers. ⚠️ Exclusions: Remote areas (e.g., Coromandel) need local transport. ⏳ Hour Deduction Rules 1️⃣ Rounded up (e.g., 4h10m = 5 hours). 2️⃣ Ferry = flat 2 hours (steal!). Top Up & Check Balance: Online: Credit card/PayPal, instant. Auto-top-up: Set a threshold (e.g., $10 → auto-add $20). 🚍 How to Use 1️⃣ Buy & Activate: Get code → redeem on net 2️⃣ Book Seats: Peak season? Book 1 week ahead! (Open seating). 3️⃣ Ride: Arrive 15 mins early (look for blue InterCity buses). Luggage goes underneath. 💡 Local Pro Tips 1️⃣ Off-peak travel: Easier bookings + emptier buses. 2️⃣ Driver-guides: South Island drivers give scenic commentary + photo stops! 3️⃣ WiFi: North Island = yes; South Island = patchy. 4️⃣ Tours: Add GreatSights day trips (extra cost). 🔥 Verdict: FlexiPass = KING of NZ budget travel! Perfect for hitting major spots + spontaneous detours. Plan hours wisely, use the ferry, and save enough for a flight home! ✈️ #NZTransport #BudgetTravelNZ #SouthIslandByBus #FlexiPass #SoloTravel #NoCarNeeded