Newmans coaches get a face-lift

Newmans coaches get a face-lift and fleet bolstered with new coaches

Since its inception in 1879, Newmans Coach Lines has undergone a number of changes – and now Newmans has unveiled a new-look fleet featuring the well-known New Zealand icon – a silver fern along the sides of the coaches.

It’s apt that the coaches, which were last re-branded in 1992, feature Kiwi iconography to reflect Newmans’ 100 per cent Kiwi credentials.

In addition to the cosmetic changes, Newmans will be adding five new coaches, at cost of $2.5 million giving the fleet an average age of less than 3 years old. Each coach has been built here in New Zealand to meet strict Euro 3 emission standards. Euro 3 standard engines reduce carbon emissions by as much as 66 per cent compared to previous coaches.

InterCity Group sales and marketing manager, Daniel Rode, said the new coaches reflected the fact that Newmans Coach Lines has a long history as New Zealand’s leading tourist transport provider.

“Newmans Coach Lines has been providing sightseeing tours and transport for almost 130 years, with the Newman brothers originally operating a horse-drawn carriage service. The iconic ferns on the new coaches are a tangible expression of this heritage and the service we provide across the country,” he said.

Today, Newmans Coach Lines operates the country’s largest tourist-focused transport network providing daily sightseeing and scheduled coach services linking New Zealand's main commercial and tourist centres.

Newmans Coach Lines operates more than 20 sightseeing tours throughout New Zealand to destinations including the Bay of Islands, Waitomo Caves, Rotorua, Mount Cook, Queenstown, The West Coast and Milford Sound. Their services include detailed informative commentary, the option of recorded multi-lingual commentary, and pick ups and drop offs at accommodation.

Mr Rode said the new coach designs will appeal to tourists who want a New Zealand experience, as well as to domestic passengers.

Newmans Coach Lines is part of InterCity Group, New Zealand’s largest national transport and tourism operator, which also includes InterCity Coachlines and Kings Dolphin Cruises & Eco Tours.

Over the past five years, InterCity Group has invested more than $20 million modernising its fleet to reduce its carbon footprint as part of InterCity’s commitment to becoming the world’s first carbon neutral land transport and tourism operator by 2010.

Recent independent research by the New Zealand Tourism Research Institute and Auckland University of Technology showed the main reasons passengers preferred to travel by coach between New Zealand towns and cities were value, ability to sightsee, convenience, ease and comfort.

To book your ride on the new-look coaches go to www.newmanscoach.co.nz or check the local white pages for your nearest agent.

ENDS

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