Travel passes generally offer unlimited travel within a specified period. You'll probably get your money's worth if you're determined to see a lot in a limited amount of time, but if you prefer a more leisurely pace, think carefully before you buy. Most can be bought either before you leave or after you arrive, but air passes are usually restricted to non-residents of New Zealand.

FLIGHTS

Air New Zealand and Ansett air passes both work out at around $150 per flight; good value if you are flying between the main islands but otherwise not a great saving; Air New Zealand's pass is also valid on Mount Cook Airline services. For both passes, the minimum purchase is 3 coupons ($450) and the maximum is 8 ($1140), each redeemable for one flight. You can get a refund on any leftover coupons, so long as you apply before you leave the country.

BUSES

InterCity offer fixed-route passes , with seasonal variations in pricing, such as the Coromandel Loop Pass (Thames to Coromandel, Whitianga and back; all year $37); Pacific Coast Traveller (around the east coast to Gisborne and Napier via Rotorua; May-Sept $142, Sept-May $149); North Island Value Pass (any route between Auckland and Wellington; May-Sept $95, Sept-May $99); and the Forests, islands and geysers (which combines bits of the above for a whole island experience; May-Sept $255, Sept-May $260). Prices for their South Island passes are also seasonal: options include the West Coast Passport (Nelson to Queenstown; May-Sept $109, Sept-May $125); the East Coast Explorer (Te Anau to Picton, via Dunedin and Christchurch; $119/$132); and the Milford Bound (Christchurch to Milford, via Mount Cook and Queenstown; $119/$132); a combination of the best bits of these is available as a Pathfinder ($340/$370). A combined North and South islands pass will cost $340-549.

Of the other passes available, Newmans stopover passes are good value. The deal is for either of the two islands - $95 for a comprehensive look around the North or $129 for a more limited visit to the South. You simply break your journey where you choose and book buses for the next stage, usually $3 per sector. Although it's an independent way of getting about without a car, you'll find yourself restricted by well-defined routes.

COMBINED TRAVEL PASSES

Tranz Rail's range of travel passes combine trains, buses and planes. The 3 in 1 pass is valid for travel on trains and InterCity buses and for one Interislander ferry crossing (5 days' travel over 10 days, £144; 22 days in 8 weeks, £284). The 4 in 1 version offers all the above plus one domestic flight on Ansett or Air New Zealand (5 travel days £192, 8 days £241).

Tranz Rail Scenic Throughfares are a range of fixed-itinerary tickets that connect the North and South islands, combining trains with the Interislander ferries and selected bus services, for example Wellington to Christchurch ($85), Wellington to Waitomo ($75), Auckland to Waitomo ($38), or Christchurch to Auckland ($165).