What is the best Auckland to Rotorua bus option?

Transportation from Auckland to Rotorua

There are two main possiblities to go from Auckland to Rotorua:

• With a SKIP bus starting at NZ$15 one way, NZ$30 round trip,
  
• With an Intercity bus starting at NZ$29 one way, NZ$58 round trip,
  
• With an Air New Zealand flight starting at NZ$140 one way, NZ$280 round trip.
  

Auckland to Rotorua bus tours

The cheapest way, but not the fastest, to travel from Auckland to Rotorua is to use a bus tour, either from the main national company, Intercity, or from the new outsider, SKIP Travel, which both takes 4h with a stop midway.

Using Intercity, a one way bus shuttle transfer between the two cities of Auckland and Rotorua, can start at NZ$29, to what you must add a dollar for booking online.

The same trip using SKIP Travel, which passes by the exact same bus stops, costs a little less, starting at NZ$15, but also taking in consideration that an extra dollar will be added to the bill for any online booking.

Getting from Auckland to Rotorua by plane

Using a plane, the fare will be a little higher than the bus, somewhere like ten times higher. But it will also be much faster, as the flights between Auckland and Rotorua only lasts 45 minutes.

Intercity Auckland to Rotorua bus

Using the Intercity  Auckland to Rotorua bus   tour which takes four hours, it is generally comfortable.

The boarding in Auckland happens under the Sky Tower, and buses are generally there 15 minutes before boarding.

The bus is comfortable, but without any bathroom. However, a stop occurs approximately middway, for about fifteen minutes, at a bus stop with bathroom facilities and snack options.

They do advertise a free WiFi on board, but, on our visit, it was not working for most of the trip.

SKIP Travel Rotorua to Auckland bus

The new company SKIP Travel, which is breaking prices in New Zealand and offering comparable level of service as its main competitor, offers trips starting and finishing at the exact same locations than other bus companies.

Also arriving fifteen minutes before boarding, the level of comfort is good enough, without toilets onboard, but with a stop mid way at a bus station with bathroom and snacks options.

The buses used by the company are clean and relatively recent, and the overall bus trip from Rotorua to Auckland is a pleasant experience.

Auckland to Rotorua bus options

To summarize, there are two different  Auckland to Rotorua bus   options, both of them similar in terms of service, but very different in terms of price, with one being nearly twice as expensive as the other:

• With a SKIP bus starting at NZ$15 one way, NZ$30 round trip,
  
• With an Intercity bus starting at NZ$29 one way, NZ$58 round trip.
  

Have you tried the Auckland to Rotorua bus? Let us know in comment how was your experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best bus services for traveling from Auckland to Rotorua, and what factors should travelers consider when choosing a bus service?

The best bus services offer comfortable seating, reliability, and reasonable prices. Travelers should consider factors like duration, departure times, and additional amenities like Wi-Fi.