Whakatane Getting there & around

Getting there & around

Air New Zealand (07-308 8397; Whakatane airport) has daily flights linking Whakatane to Auckland, with connections to other centres.

InterCity (07-308 6058; www.intercitycoach.co.nz) buses stop outside the i-SITE and connect Whakatane daily with Rotorua ($31, 1½ hours) and Gisborne ($41, three hours), with connections to other places. All buses to Gisborne go via Opotiki.

Naked Bus (www.nakedbus.com) runs daily services to Auckland ($39, 5½ hours), Hamilton ($39, 3½ hours), Tauranga ($11, one hour), Gisborne ($29, three hours), Waitomo ($59, 4½ hours) and Wellington ($49, 10 hours). Substantial fare savings can be made by booking in advance.

The local Bay Hopper and Beach Runner (0800 422 928; www.baybus.co.nz) run to Ohope (several daily, $2.50), Opotiki (Monday and Wednesday, $7.50) Tauranga (Monday to Saturday, $12.50), Kawerau (Tuesday and Friday, $6).

GKM Shuttles (0800 007 005) to/from the airport cost $20 per adult for the first adult, with discounted prices per additional passenger. Taxi services are available from Dial a Cab (0800 342 522).

White Island Shuttle (0800 733 529; return adult/child $60/35; Mon-Sat) runs a shuttle service for their tours that can be used by non-tour people. The shuttle departs Rotorua from pre-arranged pick-up points between 7pm to 7.30pm, and returns to Rotorua around 4pm.