Withers Coachlines

About this operator

Withers Coachlines is a family-owned coach and charter company based at 414 South Road, RD4, New Plymouth. It has been providing transport services in Taranaki since 1975, and in more recent years has extended its focus to national tour and charter work.

The business is still run by the family: founders Clarry and Chris Withers remain involved in day-to-day operations alongside sons Greg and Blair and daughter Julie.

Coverage

Withers has vehicles and drivers based in New Plymouth, Auckland, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown, and offers charter services to destinations throughout New Zealand. That spread of bases is useful for programmes that start in one centre and finish in another.

Services

• Charter for groups of any size — corporate events, conferences, social functions, sports groups and weddings
• Coach tours — pre-planned packages around Taranaki and across New Zealand, plus custom itineraries built to a client brief
• Wedding transport
• School runs
• Rental vehicles — self-drive minivans, VIP cars for groups of up to four, and caravan hire

Vehicles are described as including reclining seats, TV/video, and on some coaches onboard restrooms and drinking water, depending on requirements. Withers notes that drivers are matched to each group according to destination and group dynamics.

For conference and incentive planners

The useful combination here is coach charter plus VIP cars from one supplier, which suits programmes that need bulk delegate movement and separate executive transfers on the same day:

• Delegate transfers between accommodation and venues in New Plymouth and across Taranaki
• Airport transfers for arriving and departing groups
• Off-site dinner and function shuttles
• VIP and executive transfers using the VIP car fleet for speakers and senior guests
• Multi-day incentive touring, including the Round the Mountain and city sights itineraries, or custom routes nationwide

Accreditation and sustainability

Withers holds a Qualmark Silver award and is a member of the Bus and Coach Association and Tourism Industry Aotearoa. The company states it runs EURO 5 and EURO 6 emission vehicles and that its drivers are trained in Safe and Fuel Efficient Driving (SAFED).

See other event transport operators serving Taranaki.