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NZ Intercity Cabs

Hospital & non-emergency medical transport

In a medical emergency always dial 111. For non-emergency appointments, discharges and inter-hospital moves, a pre-booked private car is calmer and more comfortable than a shuttle or public transport.

Get an upfront price and book online in a couple of minutes — no waiting for a callback. We cover every major public and private hospital in New Zealand, carry family members at no extra cost, and can wait during appointments on request. Booking in advance secures the best rate and driver availability.

Transfers to major New Zealand hospitals

Choose a hospital to open the booking form with the destination filled in, then add your pickup address for an upfront price before you book.

Travelling from a hospital instead? Open the booking form and set the hospital as your pickup — the same fixed price applies in both directions.

What to expect on a medical transfer

  • An upfront price, booked online

    See the full fare before you commit — no meter, no surprise surcharge if the clinic runs late on the way in.

  • Waiting time you can add

    Ask the driver to wait during a short appointment, or book the return leg for later the same day.

  • Arrivals checked by a person

    Give us a flight number and we check the arrival time before pickup, then meet you inside with a name board.

  • Door to door, no parking

    You are dropped at the entrance you need and collected from the same spot — useful after sedation or day surgery.

Who books non-emergency medical transport with us

  • Patients travelling for treatment

    Dialysis, chemotherapy, radiation and post-operative check-ups where driving yourself isn’t safe or allowed. The same driver takes you in and brings you home.

  • Families and carers

    Book on someone else’s behalf, pay by card and list the patient as the passenger. Carers and support people travel at no extra cost — the price is per vehicle.

  • Out-of-town referrals

    Regional patients sent to a city specialist — Whangārei, Hamilton, Rotorua, Taupō, Tauranga and further afield to Auckland, with rest stops built into the drive.

  • Clinics, insurers and rest homes

    Practice managers and care coordinators can book repeat appointments and be invoiced rather than paying by card each time.

How the price works

1. Enter both addresses

Home address and hospital entrance. The fare is calculated on the actual route, not an estimate you find out about later.

2. Add waiting or a return leg

If the appointment is short, keep the driver on site. If it runs longer, book a separate return pickup for later the same day.

3. Confirm and travel

The quoted price is the price you pay. Nothing is added for traffic, roadworks or a clinic running behind on the way in.

Need a driver for a full day of appointments in one town? See hourly car hire. Travelling between cities for treatment? See intercity transfers.

Planning a hospital trip

  • Allow extra time for admissions — book the pickup 30–45 minutes earlier than the appointment slot for city hospitals with limited drop-off access.
  • Tell us the ward or clinic entrance when booking so the driver goes to the right door instead of the main reception.
  • After sedation or day surgery, hospitals usually require a responsible adult to accompany you home — your support person travels free in the same car.
  • Discharge times move. Book the pickup you expect and message us if it changes; we reschedule rather than charge a new fare.
  • Folding wheelchairs, walkers and oxygen concentrators fit in the standard car. Tell us about heavier equipment and we send a van.

Featured routes

Frequently asked questions

Is this a medical emergency service?

No. For any medical emergency dial 111 immediately. Our hospital transfers are for pre-booked non-emergency appointments, discharges, and inter-hospital moves.

Which hospitals do you cover?

Every major public and private hospital in New Zealand — Auckland City, Starship, Middlemore, North Shore, Waitakere, Waikato, Tauranga, Rotorua, Wellington Regional, Hutt, Christchurch, Dunedin, Nelson and every other DHB hospital.

Will the driver help with wheelchair transfers?

Our standard cars carry folding wheelchairs. For heavier equipment or a full accessible van, please tell us when booking.

Can family members ride along?

Yes — the fare is per vehicle, not per passenger. Bring anyone you need.

Can the driver wait during an appointment?

Yes. Add waiting time when you book and the driver stays with the car, so you are not searching for a ride after treatment. Waiting time is quoted upfront with the fare.

Do you meet patients arriving by flight?

Yes. Tell us the flight number when booking and we check the arrival time before the pickup, then meet you in the arrivals hall with a name board.

Can someone else book and pay on the patient’s behalf?

Yes. Family, a practice manager or a care coordinator can book online, pay upfront by card and add the patient’s name and phone number as the passenger. We can also invoice organisations on request.

Can you collect a patient being discharged at short notice?

Discharge times move around, so book the pickup you expect and message us if it changes. Short-notice trips are confirmed manually by a driver rather than auto-accepted.

Related transfer hubs

Get an upfront price

Hourly car & driver hire — FAQs

Hourly hire is only suitable when your travel starts and finishes in the same town. For a journey that ends somewhere else, book an intercity transfer or a day trip instead.

When is hourly car and driver hire the right choice?

Hourly hire is only suitable when your travel starts and finishes in the same town. It is designed for local running around — meetings, shopping, medical appointments, weddings, events and sightseeing within one town — with the driver staying with you the whole time.

What if my trip ends in a different town?

Book an intercity transfer or a day trip instead. Those are priced for the distance and include the driver's return leg, so a one-way journey between towns always works out simpler and usually cheaper than paying by the hour.

How much does hourly hire cost?

For pickups in Auckland and Christchurch: standard car $80 per hour, premium $110, 7 seater SUV or small van $120 and 12 seater large van $180. Everywhere else in New Zealand: standard car $95 per hour, premium $130, 7 seater SUV or small van $145 and 12 seater large van $215. Every hour includes 40 km of travel, and extra distance beyond that allowance is charged at the standard per-kilometre rate.

Is there a minimum or maximum booking length?

The minimum is 3 hours and the maximum is 24 hours in a single hourly booking. If you need a driver for several days with unlimited kilometres, contact us and we will quote a multi-day charter.

Does the driver stay with me between stops?

Yes. The same driver and vehicle stay with you for the whole booking, so you can leave bags in the car and move between stops without re-booking or waiting for another ride.

Are there extra charges on top of the hourly rate?

If no vehicle is based near your pickup point, a driver travel charge is added to cover the drive to you. The website shows it as a separate line in your quote before you pay. Tolls, parking and ferry fares are passed on at cost. Everything is shown in the quote before you pay, and the price is fixed once the booking is confirmed.

Get an hourly hire quote · Ask about multi-day hire

Private cab vs shuttle, bus, taxi, ride-share or rental car in New Zealand

NZ Intercity Cabs is a pre-booked private transfer — one vehicle for your party at a fixed price, not a shared shuttle seat and not a scheduled bus. Here is how each option actually compares, including the times another one is the better buy.

What you pay

How the price is set

NZ Intercity Cabs: One fixed price for the whole vehicle, agreed in writing before you travel.

Shared shuttle
Per seat, so the cost multiplies with each extra traveller.
Coach or bus
Per seat, cheapest of all on main-trunk routes booked early.
Metered taxi
Meter runs on distance and time — the final figure is unknown until you arrive.
Ride-share app
App estimate that can move with surge, demand and re-routing.
Rental car
Daily hire plus fuel, insurance excess, one-way drop fees and parking.

What you pay

Peak, night and holiday pricing

NZ Intercity Cabs: Your fare is locked in the moment you pay, whatever the traffic does on the day.

Shared shuttle
Usually a flat seat price, but early and late departures can be limited or sold out.
Coach or bus
Fares rise as the bus fills; cheap seats disappear on holiday weekends.
Metered taxi
Late-night, holiday and airport surcharges are common on top of the meter.
Ride-share app
Surge is most likely exactly when you need it — bad weather, events, flight banks.
Rental car
Peak-season daily rates and airport counter fees apply, plus after-hours pickup charges.

What you pay

What's already included

NZ Intercity Cabs: Driver, vehicle, fuel, road user charges, motorway tolls, child seats and wait grace.

Shared shuttle
The seat only; oversized bags or extra stops are often charged separately.
Coach or bus
The seat and a luggage allowance; anything beyond it is extra or refused.
Metered taxi
Fare only — luggage, airport access and card fees can be added.
Ride-share app
Fare only; tolls, cleaning and waiting fees are billed afterwards.
Rental car
Car only. Fuel, tolls, insurance reduction and parking are all on you.

What you pay

Value as the group grows

NZ Intercity Cabs: One price split across up to 4 in a car, 6 in a people-mover or 11 in the 12-seater.

Shared shuttle
Seat price × people; a family of four often pays more than our whole car.
Coach or bus
Still the cheapest for a group, if the timetable and depots suit you.
Metered taxi
Same car, but the meter keeps ticking through traffic and detours.
Ride-share app
Groups with luggage frequently need two cars, doubling the fare.
Rental car
Good value for a group, provided someone is willing to drive the whole way.

Time and route

Who else is in the vehicle

NZ Intercity Cabs: Only your party. We never pool bookings.

Shared shuttle
Strangers, whose addresses set the route order.
Coach or bus
A full coach, with scheduled stops at towns you may not need.
Metered taxi
Your party only.
Ride-share app
Your party only, unless you choose a pooled fare.
Rental car
Your party only.

Time and route

Departure time

NZ Intercity Cabs: The exact minute you choose, 24 hours a day, including 3am starts.

Shared shuttle
A pickup window, not a time — usually 15 to 45 minutes wide.
Coach or bus
Fixed timetable; on many rural routes that means one service a day.
Metered taxi
Now, if a car is free. Advance bookings vary by operator.
Ride-share app
Now, if a driver accepts. Long intercity jobs are often declined.
Rental car
Whenever you like, once the counter is open and paperwork is done.

Time and route

Route taken

NZ Intercity Cabs: Direct, with stops added only because you asked for them.

Shared shuttle
Indirect: every other passenger drop-off is on your journey.
Coach or bus
The published route between depots, plus rest stops.
Metered taxi
Direct, though the meter rewards traffic and long ways round.
Ride-share app
Direct, subject to the app routing and driver acceptance.
Rental car
Yours to choose, if you are confident on unfamiliar NZ roads.

Time and route

Door to door?

NZ Intercity Cabs: Yes — your street address, hotel lobby, ward door or wharf gate at both ends.

Shared shuttle
Yes, but after other addresses are served.
Coach or bus
No. Depot to depot, so you still need transport at each end.
Metered taxi
Yes, within the operator’s local area.
Ride-share app
Yes, in the cities where drivers are active.
Rental car
Yes, plus finding and paying for parking at the other end.

Time and route

Stops, detours and sightseeing

NZ Intercity Cabs: Add photo stops, lunch or an extra pickup — the same trip can be booked as a private tour.

Shared shuttle
Not possible; the run is set by the other bookings.
Coach or bus
Only the scheduled rest stops.
Metered taxi
Possible, but every waiting minute is on the meter.
Ride-share app
One or two stops in-app; long waits are not supported.
Rental car
Complete freedom, at the cost of doing all the driving.

On the day

Flight, ferry and cruise delays

NZ Intercity Cabs: We track your arrival and adjust. 60 minutes wait grace on international arrivals.

Shared shuttle
You may be moved to a later run if you miss your allocated window.
Coach or bus
Miss the bus and you wait for the next scheduled service.
Metered taxi
Fine at a rank, but the queue at 6am or after a big arrival can be long.
Ride-share app
Availability at airports and small towns drops sharply outside peak hours.
Rental car
After-hours returns and late pickups depend on the depot’s opening hours.

On the day

Who is driving

NZ Intercity Cabs: A named, P-endorsed local driver confirmed before the day, briefed on your trip.

Shared shuttle
A company driver, allocated on the day.
Coach or bus
A professional coach driver you never deal with directly.
Metered taxi
Whoever is next on the rank.
Ride-share app
The nearest app driver, known only once the job is accepted.
Rental car
You — after a long-haul flight, on the left, often in the dark or rain.

On the day

Luggage, gear and child seats

NZ Intercity Cabs: Bags, golf clubs, skis and bikes by arrangement; child seats supplied free on request.

Shared shuttle
Standard bags only; extra items may be refused or surcharged.
Coach or bus
Hold allowance per ticket, with size and weight limits.
Metered taxi
Whatever fits the car that turns up; child seats rarely available.
Ride-share app
Boot space is a lottery; car-seat options are limited in New Zealand.
Rental car
Whatever fits, once you have hired and fitted the seats yourself.

On the day

Long-distance comfort

NZ Intercity Cabs: Hybrid or EV cabin, coffee and comfort stops planned in on runs over three hours.

Shared shuttle
Full van, limited legroom, stop-start progress.
Coach or bus
Comfortable, but fixed seating and set breaks.
Metered taxi
Fine for short hops; few operators take long intercity work.
Ride-share app
Drivers commonly cancel multi-hour trips mid-booking.
Rental car
Rest breaks are your responsibility — fatigue is the real cost on a five-hour drive.

Booking and admin

Confirmation before the day

NZ Intercity Cabs: Written quote, booking reference and driver details ahead of travel.

Shared shuttle
Booking confirmation with a pickup window.
Coach or bus
A ticket for a numbered service.
Metered taxi
Nothing until a car appears.
Ride-share app
Driver and vehicle appear only at dispatch.
Rental car
Reservation confirmation, then counter queues and paperwork.

Booking and admin

Business receipts and invoicing

NZ Intercity Cabs: GST receipt, monthly invoicing and account billing for corporate travel.

Shared shuttle
Standard per-seat receipt.
Coach or bus
Standard ticket receipt.
Metered taxi
Printed or emailed docket, quality varies.
Ride-share app
Automatic app receipt.
Rental car
Hire agreement plus separate fuel and toll charges to reconcile.

Booking and admin

Changes and cancellations

NZ Intercity Cabs: Terms shown before you pay, with a real person to call if plans move.

Shared shuttle
Advance notice required; late changes usually forfeit the seat.
Coach or bus
Depends on fare type; the cheapest tickets are non-refundable.
Metered taxi
No commitment either way.
Ride-share app
Cancellation fees after a short grace period.
Rental car
Free cancellation is common, but one-way and early-return fees are not.

When another option is the better choice

We would rather you booked the right trip than the wrong one with us.

  • Shared shuttle: You are travelling solo on a light budget and do not mind a wide pickup window and a few detours.
  • Coach or bus: You are one or two people on a main-trunk route, the timetable suits you, and you booked early for the cheapest seat.
  • Metered taxi: You need a car right now for a short hop across town and have not planned ahead.
  • Ride-share app: You are inside a big city at a normal hour with light luggage and no fixed deadline.
  • Rental car: You want the car for several days of independent exploring, not just the journey between two places.

Everything else — early flights, cruise all-aboard times, families and groups, rural addresses, hospital appointments, business travel and long intercity runs — is what we are built for. Get a fixed price or read how our private shuttle service works.

Other services we provide

NZ Intercity Cabs is more than a point-to-point taxi. The same drivers and vehicles handle every kind of pre-booked journey across New Zealand, all at a fixed price agreed before you travel.

  • Intercity & long-distance transfers

    Fixed-price private cars between any two New Zealand towns, including Auckland to Hamilton, Rotorua, Taupō, Tauranga, Whangārei and Wellington.

  • Airport transfers

    Flight-tracked airport pickups and departures for Auckland, Hamilton, Rotorua, Wellington and Christchurch airports with meet-and-greet on request.

  • Day trips & private tours

    A driver and car for the whole day — Hobbiton, Waitomo, Rotorua geothermal parks, Waiheke, Coromandel and the Bay of Islands.

  • Corporate & business travel

    Executive transfers, client roadshows and monthly invoicing with GST receipts for company accounts.

  • Cruise ship transfers

    Ports of Auckland and Tauranga pickups timed to berthing and all-aboard calls, including shore-excursion day hire.

  • Hospital & medical appointment transport

    Non-emergency, door-to-door rides to hospitals and clinics with help at both ends and a driver who waits.

  • Event, stadium & wedding transport

    Match days, concerts, weddings and functions with drop-off close to the gates and a pre-agreed pickup point afterwards.

  • Group travel & people-mover vans

    Up to 6 passengers with luggage, plus multi-vehicle fleets for larger parties, ski gear, golf clubs and school groups.

  • Hourly car & driver hire

    From $80 per hour (standard car), $110 premium, $120 for a 7 seater SUV or small van and $180 for a 12 seater large van, with 40 km included per hour and a 3-hour minimum. Pickups outside Auckland and Christchurch are $95, $130, $145 and $215 per hour. A driver travel charge is added to your quote when no vehicle is based near your pickup point. Hourly hire is only suitable when your travel starts and finishes in the same town — it is designed for local running around, meetings, shopping, weddings and events within one town. For a one-way trip between towns, or a journey that ends somewhere else, book an intercity transfer or a day trip instead, which is priced for the distance and includes the driver's return leg. Get an hourly quote.

Not sure which service fits? Tell us your plan and we'll quote the right option, or see how booking works. Ready now? Book a transfer online.