Wheelchair accessible transportation options vary from city to city in New Zealand. Below you will find a New Zealand City Accessibility and Transportation video as well as my individual city comments.
The Auckland airport is wheelchair accessible but the airport infrastructure is 50 years old and poor for a major city. Not all jetliners have jet ways, and some airlines (even Air NZ) occasionally use trucks with hydraulic lifts to put wheelchairs on planes. The Queenstown airport is small but wheelchair accessible. There are no jet ways, and they too use trucks with hydraulic lifts to put wheelchairs on planes.
So leave plenty of time if making a connecting flight since loading and unloading wheelchairs may take an extended period of time. Airport elevator signage for wheelchair access is poor but signs do exist. There are wheelchair accessible restrooms in both airports. accessible.
Wheelchair Jimmy Recommended
New Zealand City Accessibility and Transportation Overview
Wellington
Buses: All City buses and airport buses appear wheelchair accessible.
Taxi: No wheelchair accessible taxis.
ChristChurch
Buses: Some, not all, of the the touring Red Buses from Akaroa are wheelchair accessible (fold down ramp). Call Metroinfo 366 88 55. Visit Website
The CityLine bus is not wheelchair accessible
Taxi: No wheelchair accessible taxis.
Dunedin
Buses: Most City buses appeared wheelchair accessible with fold down ramp. Most buses leave from The Octagon downtown.
Taxi: CityUnited Taxis Dunedin provides wheelchair accessible taxis and vans as well as airport transfers. CityUnited also provides tours. We used a CityUnited mobility van which had a hydralic lift and held 6 persons. Our driver Mike was great! Visit Website
Coastal Train Trips: Spectacular Pacific Coastal and Taieri River Gorge train trip is wheelchair accessible with one important caveat:Wheelchair users have entry onto the train only at Dunedin; there are no accessible exits until the train returns to Dunedin. There is an accessible restroom within the Dunedin Railway Terminal and onboard. The Dunedin Railway Station fully wheelchair accessible. Visit Website
Auckland
Auckland is a big city (similar to Seattle) with many steep hills although the wharf area is quite level. Getting around much of Auckland requires a vehicle.
MetroLink Buses: All the MetroLink buses I saw were wheelchair accessible. Visit Website
City Link Buses: All the CityLink buses I saw were wheelchair accessible. Visit Website
Kiwi Rail: This is a small, limited commuter rail system; I do not believe it is accessible: Not convenient for tourists as it's service is limited. Visit Website
Tour Buses: There are multiple tour buses but few are wheelchair accessible. Auckland Explorer city sights buses have some wheelchair accessible buses. Richies (Ritchies.co.nz) have some accessible bus tours. Visit Website
Taxis: I found no wheelchair accessible taxis anywhere in Auckland.
Queenstown
Queenstown is a small, charming town which is quite level and easy to walk or roll around. Several great activities such as the Shotover Jet Boats, AJ Hackett's Bungy Jumping and wineries are located a few miles outside town and require a vehicle to access.
Buses: No wheelchair accessible buses
Rail: No wheelchair accessible rail service.
Taxis: I found no wheelchair accessible taxis anywhere in Queenstown.
Rotorua
Taxi: No wheelchair accessible taxis
Napier
Buses: The city has several wheelchair accessible buses (large power wheelchairs may not fit onto the Napier "accessible" buses)
Taxi: No wheelchair accessible taxis
