Snapper Card Guide for New Travelers in New Zealand
For many Kiwis residing in the capital city of New Zealand, Wellington, the Snapper Card is a daily essential for navigating public transportation. However, if you’re new to New Zealand, you might be wondering what this card is, where to get one, and how to top it up. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about using a Snapper Card during your travels.
What is a Snapper Card?
The Snapper Card is a NFC enabled smart card that provides a cashless way to pay for public transportation in Wellington, New Zealand. It’s widely used for bus fares, and in some areas, it can also be used for train fares, parking, and even retail transactions. By using the Snapper Card, you can avoid the hassle of carrying cash and handling change, making your travel experience more convenient and streamlined.
Where to Buy a Snapper Card
Getting a Snapper Card is easy and straightforward. You can purchase one from a variety of locations throughout New Zealand. Some common places where you can find Snapper Cards include:
- Retail Stores: Look for Snapper Cards at convenience stores such as Night ‘n Day or local dairies.
- Transport Hubs: Major bus stations and some train stations may sell Snapper Cards.
- Online: In some regions, you can order a Snapper Card online for pickup or delivery.
When you buy a Snapper Card, it usually costs around $10. Note that this initial fee is for the card itself and does not include any pre-loaded credit. To get started, you’ll need to top up the card with funds.
How to Top Up a Snapper Card
Topping up your Snapper Card is a simple process, and you have several options to add credit:
- In-Store: You can add money to your Snapper Card at many convenience stores and dairies where you purchased the card.
- Note: Convenience stores and dairies have kiosk machines, where you can recharge the card by yourself, however, there are some charges involved. If you are doing with snapper kiosk machine, at the time of writing this article, it charges $0.10 (10 cents) per transaction, however, if you are asking their customer service team to do top-up on your behalf, they charge $0.25 (25 cents). For example, if you are loading up with $10, you get $9.90 from a Self-Service Kiosk, whereas you get only $9.75 when you ask them to do it for you. If you have iPhone, and NFC enabled android phone, you can top-up yourself by downloading Snapper App from your respective app store.
- Online: Some regions offer online top-up services through the Snapper website or mobile app. You can add funds to your card and manage your balance online.
- At Transport Stations: Many bus and train stations have top-up machines or kiosks where you can add credit to your Snapper Card.
You can add as little as $1 to your Snapper Card, but it’s a good idea to start with a balance of at least $10. This will ensure you have enough credit for your travels and avoid any inconvenience during your trip.
There are many benefits of snapper cards. If you are an international student, you can avail up to 25% discount, visit https://www.snapper.co.nz/concessions/ page to know more about eligibility criteria.
With your Snapper Card in hand and a little credit loaded, you’re all set to explore New Zealand with ease. Enjoy your travels!
If you are new to New Zealand, and confused snapper, feel free to comment below or reach out via contact page, happy to guide you in the right direction.