New Zealand train and ferry discount/coupons needed

Rufty1

Hello, I am lucky enough to be going to New Zealand in March. As you can imagine, the trip is expensive. I am looking for any way to save money on the ferry between the two islands and for the return train journey between Christchurch and Greymouth. Thanks for your help.

knightstyle

Not sure what your plans are and how you will be traveling but we got a great deal with campervan relocation with Wicked Campers. They often want campervans moving from the South Island to Auckland. We picked one up in Christchurch and had to deliver it 5 days later to Auckland, they paid for the ferry and we paid 1$NZ a day hire plus 10$NZ a day hire was one of the highlights of our trip a few years ago.

macman

Passenger ferry or car ferry inter-island?

Rufty1

Thanks guys. We are touring in a car, so will need to pay for that on the ferry. Obviously just normal foot passengers for the train. I have heard it is possible to book more cheaply if you are in New Zealand - but the sites can tell my computer is not there! I don't really want to leave it that late as places are booking up already.

agrinnall

One of my friends who now lives in Queenstown has written a Kindle book on travelling cheaply in NZ, which includes tips on how to get discounts. I won't give the link in case people think I'm promoting it, but if you search for New Zealand Unwrapped in Amazon you'll see it, and for just over £3 it's not going to break the bank if you want to take a look.

Rufty1

Thanks - had a look though the book but cant find anything on the ferry or train which are the urgent ones now - but thanks for the thought.

Nearly_Old

Rufty1 wrote: »

Thanks guys. We are touring in a car, so will need to pay for that on the ferry. Obviously just normal foot passengers for the train. I have heard it is possible to book more cheaply if you are in New Zealand - but the sites can tell my computer is not there! I don't really want to leave it that late as places are booking up already.

We went to NZ in Nov/Dec and normally you do not take hire cars on the ferry. We deliberately travelled South to North as Avis gave a 20% discount as most people travel down from Auckland they need cars moving back north. We just dropped the 1st car at Picton, went over as foot pasengers and picked up another car at Wellington. Camper vans were going over on the ferry but didn't see any hire cars.

We pre-booked the ferry from the UK (Trailfinders) - £41 each as foot passengers. Unfortunately on the only journey we had planned to do by rail we spent 3 hours travelling 4 miles as the whole of Kiwi Rail's signalling system had failed! They had just switched to a new computerised system!

We had a fantastic time so hope that you do as well.

Rufty1

Gosh, thanks for that. There was absolutely no clue about that when I made the car booking. But searching a little deeper suggests you are absolutely right. Have to get hold of Avis now....
Many thanks, Ruth