For someone who only recently got the P-plate for driving, driving around New Zealand during winter was not an option. Surprisingly, getting around NZ by bus was a pleasant experience; buses departed on time, almost comparable to Swiss trains. The best part would be the informative commentaries and pit stops that the drivers made, at times even better than the destination itself. So if you're looking for a flexible and relaxing trip in not having to worry about self-navigation, you'd want to book with InterCity - the main bus company in NZ. If you're looking to hit the slopes without self-driving, there are unfortunately limited shuttle bus options, mostly departing once a day at unearthly hours (like 7am) also because it takes about an hour or so to get to the slopes, unlike Niseko Japan where you can literally reach the lifts in a few minutes depending on where your accommodation is located.
