The beautiful city of Auckland is located on the North Island of New Zealand. With its surroundings dotted with water and hills, it is a place with fantastic landscapes and many attractions. It has the iconic Sky Tower, conservatories, the Auckland Domain (a park set around an extinct volcano), a pleasant promenade, museums, islands, beaches and much more. In this city you can have fun for several days. On the other hand, the city of Hamilton is much smaller, but also has a lot to offer. It is a city with gardens, caves, a zoo and museums that are also worth visiting. In this article, you will learn about the transportation options to travel from Auckland to Hamilton.
Travel options from Auckland to Hamilton
It is only 125 kilometers from Auckland to Hamilton, so there is not much distance between the two cities. You can rent a car and make the trip on your own, which is especially handy if you intend to continue your journey after visiting Hamilton and want to explore the island on your own. However, if you are going to visit several cities and want to take a guided tour to get to know New Zealand better, renting a car can be quite an expensive option. The good thing is that getting from Auckland to Hamilton by public transport is easy and inexpensive. There are options to travel by bus or train, and each means has its advantages. Read on to find out which transport option is best for you.
By bus from Auckland to Hamilton
© Zuhairi Ahmad / Shutterstock.com
As usual, you will find that the bus from Auckland to Hamilton is the cheapest option to travel. Buses are also the fastest way to travel between the two cities as the journey takes less time than the train. Therefore, price and speed are two of the advantages of traveling by bus.
Another advantage is that there are usually many buses to choose from as there are only a few departures per day. The first departure is scheduled for 7:30 AM and the last bus leaves at 8:45 PM. Such a service is offered by the well-known company InterCity Group Coachlines. They have several types of tickets to choose from, so you won’t be limited to one ticket or one price. Most buses offer a standard service that includes air conditioning and Wi-Fi. There are also Standard Double Decker buses which have one more floor but not much more differences from the standard service. It might be a good idea to choose this type of bus if you want better views while traveling.
The most expensive bus from Auckland to Hamilton is the Premium Double Decker and is a good alternative if you want to enjoy a more luxurious journey. These buses only have three seats per row, unlike standard buses which have four. In addition, the seats recline and have footrests, so you can travel with more comfort. It is also possible to travel from Auckland to Hamilton with the Double Decker Sleeper bus. It is priced close to Premium and has beds. However, since the trip is so short, it is not worth choosing this option.
Whichever service you choose, the bus will take you from Auckland to Hamilton in a time that varies from 1 hour 50 minutes to 2 hours 20 minutes, depending on the time of day. You can book tickets through the travel website 12Go.asia. The search results show all available bus options and departure times, so choosing and booking is easy.
Auckland to Hamilton by train
KiwiRail Train © Piu_Piu / Shutterstock.com
While buses are a good option and offer a lot of flexibility in terms of prices and departure times, you may prefer to travel by train. New Zealand is a very beautiful country and trains often offer much more impressive views than buses.
The train from Auckland to Hamilton is operated by KiwiRail. Trains leave Auckland Strand and arrive at Hamilton Station in 2.5 hours, so they are slightly slower than buses, but not a big difference.
The biggest downside to traveling by train from Auckland to Hamilton is that the train only leaves once a day and that’s first thing in the morning, specifically at 7.45am. As such, it’s not as flexible as the bus, so it’s a bit harder to fit a train trip into your plans. Or maybe you don’t feel like getting up early during your holidays and that’s why you prefer to take the bus.
Another disadvantage is the price. A train ticket is much more expensive than a bus ticket, although it is true that you get more for what you pay for. The seats are first class and the trains have many services on board such as air conditioning, toilets, food and hostesses.
If you don’t travel by train often, it might be more fun to go from Auckland to Hamilton with this option. Of course, the trains are more expensive and only have one departure per day, although they leave Hamilton at 10:15am, allowing you to make the most of your day getting to know the city. Buses are more flexible and cheaper, so they are a good option if you need to tailor your trip to your travel plans. It is possible to book both train and bus tickets from Auckland to Hamilton through 12Go, so making your reservation will be a breeze, whichever option you choose. You can also buy in advance, so you don’t have to worry about getting tickets while you’re on the go.