InterCity
Corporate brand
UnclaimedInterCity is New Zealand's principal long-distance bus network and a major passenger-transport and tourism brand.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
InterCity is a New Zealand passenger-transport brand descended from the long-distance road and rail operations of New Zealand Railways. It began using the InterCity name in 1987, when the Passenger Business Group of the New Zealand Railways Corporation adopted the brand for long-distance rail and coach services. After the rail assets were transferred to New Zealand Rail in 1991, the long-distance bus operations and the InterCity name were acquired by InterCity Management Limited, a consortium of major private coach operators. The business subsequently operated through a franchise model in which local coach companies ran defined routes, generally in regions where they already had operating bases. InterCity developed into the country's principal long-distance coach network. Its services connect approximately 600 towns and communities, linking major cities with regional centres and tourist destinations. The brand is particularly important in a geographically dispersed country where intercity travel depends on a combination of road, ferry and regional transport services. Its core offer consists of scheduled coach travel, ticketing and connections across New Zealand rather than urban public transport. The wider group expanded beyond scheduled buses into tourism and marine transport. In 2006, the group acquired Kings Dolphin Cruises in Paihia, creating a platform for Bay of Islands sightseeing. A joint venture involving GreatSights and Fullers Bay of Islands followed in 2007, and the group later consolidated its interest in those businesses. These activities gave the corporate group a portfolio spanning long-distance buses, premium sightseeing coaches, ferries, cruises and guided excursions. Related brands have included GreatSights New Zealand, Fullers GreatSights, Gray Line New Zealand, awesomeNZ.com, Auckland Explorer Bus and, for a period, Skip Bus. The corporate structure and name changed several times. The business was known at different stages as InterCity Coachlines, Coachnet NZ, InterCity Group and InterCity Holdings. In 2019, the group adopted the name Entrada Travel Group. Ritchies Transport and Tranzit Group are the principal owners of Entrada, with each reported as holding 46 percent; the remaining ownership is not specified in the supplied reference material. InterCity remains the group's core scheduled coach brand, while the other businesses address domestic sightseeing, cruise and ferry markets. InterCity has also been involved in notable brand-protection litigation. In 2014, the Auckland High Court found that competitor Nakedbus had used Google advertising triggered by searches for the INTERCITY trademark and had engaged in misleading conduct that could confuse customers about an affiliation. The judgment treated InterCity as a distinctive and well-known New Zealand brand rather than merely a descriptive phrase. In November 2018, the group launched Skip Bus as a lower-cost express service between major North Island destinations. Skip was later suspended from 25 March 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and had not resumed according to the supplied material. InterCity's present identity is therefore centred on its established nationwide long-distance coach network, supported by the broader Entrada portfolio of tourism and marine experiences.
History
InterCity's history is rooted in New Zealand's former state railway and road-transport system. In 1985, New Zealand Railways combined its passenger rail and road operations within the Passenger Business Group of the New Zealand Railways Corporation. The InterCity name was introduced in 1987 for long-distance rail and coach services, creating a unified identity for interregional passenger travel. A major structural change occurred in 1991, when the rail-based assets were transferred to New Zealand Rail. The long-distance bus business and the InterCity name were acquired by InterCity Management Limited, a consortium formed by seven substantial private coach operators: Whangarei Bus Services, Bayline Group, Ritchies Transport, Tranzit Group, Guthreys Coachlines, Nelson SBL and PTL Route Services. The resulting operation used franchises, with individual operators generally responsible for routes near their established geographical bases. Four of the original franchisees remained over time, while SDK Ltd later took over Northland operations previously associated with Whangarei Bus Services. The corporate business changed names during its development, including InterCity Coachlines, Coachnet NZ, InterCity Group and InterCity Holdings. The ownership model also evolved around the principal operators Ritchies Transport and Tranzit Group. The group maintained InterCity as its core scheduled coach identity while building a tourism portfolio. Expansion into tourism began in 2006 with the purchase of Kings Dolphin Cruises, a Paihia operator of sightseeing cruises and day tours. In 2007, the group added GreatSights and Fullers Bay of Islands interests through a joint venture with Tourism Holdings. Tourism Holdings sold its remaining 49 percent stake in InterCity Holdings to InterCity Group in December 2008 for NZ$9.5 million, according to the supplied reference material. The group later developed or acquired interests in additional tourism brands and activities, including Gray Line New Zealand, awesomeNZ.com and Auckland Whale & Dolphin Safari. GreatSights had an earlier history of its own. It was formed in 1987 after the coach assets of Fourways Coachlines were acquired by companies associated with the Newmans group. It later passed through Corporate Investments Limited and The Helicopter Line, subsequently known as Tourism Holdings. GreatSights introduced glass-roofed double-decker Volvo B12 coaches on the Milford Sound route in 1996. Tourism Holdings acquired the New Zealand Gray Line franchise in 1998, which GreatSights operated until 2006. After InterCity's acquisition and integration of the business, the Newmans name was gradually removed from GreatSights sightseeing routes from 2008. A fleet renewal and brand refresh in 2016 introduced a diamond motif intended to represent the connection between land and marine operations. Fullers traces its origins to 1886, when Albert Ernest Fuller used the vessel Undine to deliver coal and other supplies around the Bay of Islands. Tourism developed from the Cream Trip service, begun in 1927, in which visitors travelled alongside the delivery operation. Over time, the business became primarily tourism-focused while retaining passenger and vehicle ferry services. It was rebranded Fullers GreatSights Bay of Islands in 2009 and shortened to Fullers GreatSights during the broader 2016 GreatSights rebrand. The Newmans Coach Lines heritage also became part of the group's history. Founded in Nelson in 1879 as a horse-drawn mail and passenger service, Newmans introduced its first motor vehicle in 1911 and retired its last horse-drawn carriage in 1918. The company expanded into tours, rental vehicles, campervans and other travel activities. After several ownership changes and route restructurings, a consortium involving Tranzit, Taranaki Coachlines, Ritchies and Bayline acquired Newmans in 1992. Newmans was integrated into InterCity Group after the Auckland power crisis in 1998. Its sightseeing identity was largely replaced by GreatSights from 2008, although Newmans coach services continued on selected South Island routes. In 2014, InterCity secured an important legal victory against Nakedbus over the use of the INTERCITY trademark in Google advertising. The court rejected the argument that the term was merely descriptive and found conduct amounting to trademark infringement, misleading or deceptive conduct and passing off. In 2016, Entrada was awarded the licence to operate Gray Line sightseeing services in New Zealand. In 2018 it launched Skip Bus, an express and lower-cost North Island service. In 2019 the corporate group adopted the Entrada Travel Group name. Skip Bus was suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic from March 2020 and had not returned according to the supplied material.
- 2019
Group renamed Entrada Travel Group
[1]InterCity Group changed its corporate name to Entrada Travel Group.
- 2018
Skip Bus launched
[1]The group launched a low-cost express bus service connecting major North Island destinations.
- 2016
Gray Line licence awarded
[1]Entrada received the licence to operate Gray Line sightseeing services in New Zealand.
- 2014
Trademark court victory
[1]The Auckland High Court upheld InterCity's trademark claims against Nakedbus over Google advertising and related customer confusion.
- 2008
Tourism Holdings exits InterCity Holdings
[1]Tourism Holdings sold its 49 percent stake in InterCity Holdings to InterCity Group for NZ$9.5 million.
- 2007
GreatSights and Fullers interests added
[1]A joint venture added Tourism Holdings' GreatSights and Fullers Bay of Islands businesses to the group's tourism portfolio.
- 2006
Entry into marine tourism
[1]The group purchased Kings Dolphin Cruises in Paihia, expanding beyond road passenger transport.
- 1991
Long-distance bus business privatised
[1]Following the transfer of rail assets to New Zealand Rail, InterCity's long-distance buses and brand were acquired by InterCity Management Limited, a consortium of private coach operators.
- 1987
InterCity brand introduced
[1]The InterCity name began being used for long-distance rail and road passenger services.
- 1985
Passenger operations consolidated
[1]New Zealand Railways combined its passenger rail and road operations within the Passenger Business Group of the New Zealand Railways Corporation.
Products and positioning
A nationwide New Zealand long-distance travel network combining scheduled coach transportation with access to a broader portfolio of sightseeing, ferry and cruise experiences.
Long-distance bus network · 1987
InterCity
The core brand is New Zealand's long-distance coach network, serving approximately 600 towns and communities. It provides scheduled connections between major cities, regional centres and tourist destinations, with routes operated through a franchise structure involving local coach companies.
Sightseeing coach tours · 1987
GreatSights New Zealand
GreatSights provides premium sightseeing coach services and day tours from centres including Auckland, Rotorua, Christchurch and Queenstown. Its destinations have included the Bay of Islands, Waitomo Caves, Hobbiton, Rotorua, Aoraki, Te Anau and Milford Sound.
Ferries, cruises and tours · 2009
Fullers GreatSights
Based in the Bay of Islands, Fullers GreatSights operates sightseeing cruises, passenger and vehicle ferries, and land excursions. Offerings have included the Cream Trip, Hole in the Rock and dolphin-watching cruises, Cape Reinga and Ninety Mile Beach tours, and connections between Paihia, Russell, Opua and Okiato.
Sightseeing tours · 2016
Gray Line New Zealand
Gray Line New Zealand is the group's licensed premium sightseeing operation, offering branded tours within New Zealand. Entrada received the New Zealand operating licence in 2016.
Low-cost express bus · 2018
Skip Bus
Skip Bus was introduced as a lower-cost express service between North Island destinations including Whangārei, Auckland, Hamilton, Rotorua, Taupō, Tauranga and Wellington. Operations were suspended in March 2020 and had not resumed according to the supplied material.
Cruise service · 2014
Hauraki Blue Cruises
The 44.5-metre Ipipiri catamaran operated overnight and lunch cruises, as well as charter events in the Hauraki Gulf under the Hauraki Blue Cruises name. The operation ceased in July 2017.
Controversies
2014
Nakedbus trademark and advertising dispute
The Auckland High Court found that Nakedbus had infringed the INTERCITY trademark and engaged in misleading or deceptive conduct by targeting searches for InterCity and presenting language that could suggest an affiliation. The court rejected the claim that INTERCITY was merely descriptive.
Marketing campaigns
- 2010Qualmark environmental programme
New Zealand
The group's Bay of Islands operations received an Enviro Gold rating from Qualmark, while the coaching division also held a Qualmark Gold rating.
Outcome. The ratings provided external recognition for the group's tourism and environmental operating standards.
- 2007CarboNZero participation
New Zealand
InterCity joined Landcare Research's CarboNZero programme as part of the group's environmental efforts.
Outcome. The group later withdrew after the New Zealand Government introduced an emissions trading scheme.
Brand decisions
2019
Adoption of the Entrada Travel Group nameStrategyBackground
The corporate portfolio had expanded well beyond the original InterCity coach operation.
Action taken
InterCity Group changed its group name to Entrada Travel Group while retaining InterCity as the principal bus brand.
Aftermath
The new name represented the group's combined transport, sightseeing, ferry and cruise businesses.
2018
Launch of Skip BusProduct launchBackground
The group wanted to offer affordable and faster express connections between major North Island cities.
Action taken
It launched Skip Bus, a lower-cost express coach service.
Aftermath
The service was suspended from March 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and had not been reinstated according to the supplied reference.
2014
Pursuit of trademark protectionOtherBackground
Competitor Nakedbus used Google advertisements triggered by searches for the INTERCITY trademark.
Action taken
InterCity pursued legal protection of its mark and challenged the advertising and associated website presentation.
Aftermath
The High Court ruled in InterCity's favour, recognising the mark as distinctive and protecting it against confusing use.
2007
Joint venture for GreatSights and Fullers businessesM&ABackground
Entrada's predecessor expanded its exposure to domestic tourism through a partnership with Tourism Holdings.
Action taken
The group added GreatSights and Fullers Bay of Islands interests through a joint venture.
Aftermath
The arrangement broadened the group from intercity buses into premium sightseeing, cruises and ferry operations.
2006
Acquisition of Kings Dolphin CruisesM&ABackground
The group sought to expand from scheduled road transport into tourism and marine experiences.
Action taken
It purchased the Paihia-based Kings Dolphin Cruises business.
Aftermath
The acquisition established a platform for the group's later Bay of Islands cruise and sightseeing portfolio.
Sources1 sources
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