Our Guide to airport bus hire in Wellington

You, your guests, your co-workers, or your friends got to Wellington Airport, great! And now? For many people, it can be quite a challenge to get from A to Z in a city you’ve never been to before. And airports don’t really have a reputation for giving out good information on how to get anywhere in the city once you’ve arrived. But fear not! We’re here to help you. Once you’ve read our Wellington Airport guide, getting yourself (or anyone else) to your destination won’t be a headache any longer.

About Wellington Airport

Wellington International Airport (formerly named Rongotai Airport) is the third busiest airport in New Zealand. That’s why getting your way around there can be quite difficult sometimes, especially if you have to get to your destination quickly. Here are some things that are useful to know before your plane lands:

Taxi

A taxi will cost between $40 – and $50 to get to the city.

Public Transport

Thankfully there’s also a shuttle bus that you can take to the city centre to save you the time trying to get a taxi. The bus departs every 15 minutes between 6:30 am and 9:30 pm on weekdays, and has a reduced timetable on weekends and holidays. It departs from the southern end of the terminal on level 0, in easy language: exit the baggage claim on the ground floor and turn to your right.

Car Hire

If you’re looking for an even quicker way to get to your destination you can also hire a car at the airport. There are multiple desks from companies such as Avis, Budget and Europcar where you can rent a car on the ground floor at the main terminal. To have a bit more guarantee that you’ll have a car after landing, we recommend booking your car online in advance.

Money Exchange

If you’re coming from outside of the country it can be very useful to know where to exchange money in your currency. The airport has a Travelex outlet as well as multiple ATMs.

Internet Access

We can’t live without the internet any longer, right? Wellington Airport has you and your guests covered with a free WiFi connection all across the airport. There are also ten internet kiosks and the option for credit card charged browsing.

Family Facilities

A family-friendly parent’s room is located at the main terminal on level 1. This provides facilities for changing and disposal of nappies, as well as toilets and comfortable seats for feeding. Baby change tables are also provided in the international arrivals and departures area.

Do I need to charter a bus to or from Wellington Airport?

Charter buses are not for every kind of group. We provide group, not individual bus travel.  For individual bus travel I would recommend taking a shuttle bus from the airport. But for those who travel together with a larger group, say a bachelor party, a getaway with a large group of friends, a conference, etc. a charter bus can be a great solution that saves you a lot of time! Not to mention the headache you’ll get once having to organise transportation after landing. Charter buses are also a great option if your group has a very flexible schedule, or has to get to a destination in a very remote or otherwise hard to reach place in the country.

If you’re alone, with a smaller group and your destination is very easy to reach, we recommend getting a taxi, using the shuttle bus at the airport or hiring a car to get to your destination.

How far in advance should you book your transportation from the airport?

Transportation is one of those things that just has to happen, and most people are glad to have it done. Whenever you’re organising anything, but especially transportation we recommend arranging it as soon as possible. Are you in a pinch, and need to arrange something very quickly? Don’t hesitate to contact us!  We’re glad to help.

The different kinds of charter buses

There are many options when it comes to buses, and depending on your group size there are many perfect fits possible. One thing to keep in mind is that size is not everything when it comes to hiring a charter bus. The total cost also depends on the time of year, local gas price, how far you’ll be travelling from Wellington Airport and your driver’s total on-duty time. We listed the different options we offer in buses below:

Large Coach

The coach bus is our largest type and is suited for groups of up to 55 passengers. Our Coach buses have the most luxurious options out of all our buses, including TV/DVD, air conditioning, WiFi and electric outlets you can use to charge your devices. There is also plenty of room on the bus to store your luggage and hand baggage and there’s also a toilet on board.

Medium Coach

This is a smaller version of the large coach bus and has a maximum capacity of 40 passengers. For the rest, it’s pretty similar to the large coach bus, except that not all models have a restroom on board. You can ask us when booking if your particular model has a toilet on board.

Minibus

The minibus has seating for up to 21 passengers. This model is not typically suitable for longer trips, it is great to use as a shuttle service especially if the end destination is an urban area. They’re especially popular for transporting wedding guests to and from the reception and/or ceremony, and are also often used for getting guests to and from a conference venue. If you’re organising a conference in Wellington, and are still looking for a venue read our top 7 favourite conference venues in Wellington.

When is the best time of the year to visit Wellington?

This of course depends on your preferences. It is said of Wellington, you can’t beat it on a nice day.  The city is vibrant and fun to stroll through.  The weather can be unpredictable and very windy, but if you get a good it’s amazing.  Winter in Wellington is from June to August and can be cold and gusty, but in between the storms, beautiful. September and November are when spring falls and in December, January and February it’s summertime. In summer the city is usually overflowing with local families on school and summer breaks.

A few of our favourite activities in Wellington

There are lots of things to do in Wellington! Being the nation’s capital the city is filled with history, heritage and all things culture. But it also offers urban city life and beautiful natural scenery in and around the city. Here are our top 5 favourite activities in and around Wellington:

Wellington Electric Bike Tour

Stick to your schedule on this self-guided electric bike tour. The tour will guide you to all the biggest landmarks in Wellington such as the Weta Workshop, Te Papa Museum, Zealandia Sanctuary, and the Wellington Waterfront.

Wildlife Tour at Zealandia

This guided walking tour is an excellent way to see some of New Zealand’s most extraordinary wildlife, including rare birds such as takahe, kaka bush parrots, and green geckos.

Te Papa

The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington is New Zealand’s national museum and art gallery, making it a must-see when visiting the city.

Wellington Museum

Wellington Museum shares fascinating stories of the Wellington region. All are housed within a very historic setting, built-in 1892 heritage by leading architect Frederick de Jersey Clere.

Pinnacles Track

Pinnacles track has three shorter walking tours that are perfect for ‘’quicker’’ walks of around 45 minutes. Want to go for the full run? You can also walk the full route, which takes around 3-4 hours.

Wellington has lots to offer for many different types of groups, from wedding locations to company getaways. Looking for some more fun team activities in and around the city? Then read our list of our nine best team activities in Wellington.

We hope this guide helped you to make going from and to the airport in Wellington less of a pain. Are you looking for someone to arrange your transport from A to Z? Our variety of buses can transport you to any location in New Zealand, even if you’re south of Invercargill or north of Whangarei.