Change is coming to most Dunedin bus timetables and routes on 1 October 2026.
Click on your route below to read an overview of what will change.
The changes will show in the online bus timetable soon, so you can view stops and times for your route before they come into effect. Your Transit app will show the new timetable from 1 October.
Major changes
Route 1 Palmerston to Dunedin will have some timing changes and more trips servicing Warrington.
Route 1: Palmerston to Dunedin
Palmerston retains four return trips to Dunedin on weekdays. From 1 October, there will be three weekend trips, with one trip including the new Ōamaru extension.
Route 1 Extension: Ōamaru to Dunedin
From 1 October, a new electric bus will provide one return service each day between Ōamaru and Dunedin, stopping at Maheno, Hampden, Palmerston, Waikouaiti and Waitati.
This will be our biggest change on 1 October 2026. Go to the Route 1 Changes: Ōamaru to Dunedin and Palmerston to Dunedin to view all the details on the updated Route 1.
Route 3 will be disestablished and replaced by the following routes:
Route 3 (Ocean Grove to Ross Creek) will be replaced by Route 30 (Ocean Grove to Helensburgh)
Route 3 (Ross Creek to Ocean Grove) will be replaced by Route 35 (St Clair Park to Ross Creek)
All frequencies will remain the same, but timetables will change.
If you previously caught the Route 3 bus to Ocean Grove, you'll now catch the Route 30 bus.
If you previously caught the Route 3 bus to Ross Creek, you'll now catch the Route 35 bus.
October 2026
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Map of the Orbus Route 35: St Clair - Ross Creek. This bus route replaces Route 3 (Ross Creek to Ocean Grove) from 1 October 2026.
October 2026
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Downloadable image of the Orbus Route 35 map: St Clair - Ross Creek. This bus route replaces Route 3 (Ross Creek to Ocean Grove) from 1 October 2026.
October 2026
PDF | 1 MB
Downloadable image of the Orbus Route 30 map: Ocean Grove - Helensburgh. This bus route replaces Route 3 (Ocean Grove to Ross Creek) from 1 October 2026.
October 2026
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Downloadable image of the Orbus Route 30 map: Ocean Grove - Helensburgh. This bus route replaces Route 3 (Ocean Grove to Ross Creek) from 1 October 2026.
Route 14 will still be a 30-minute frequency with minor timing changes. However, there will be an added trip in each direction on school days only, to provide additional services before and after school. These extra trips will be slotted in between the normal trips, creating a brief 15-minute frequency for a short period in the morning and afternoon.
Route 50 will be disestablished and replaced by the following routes:
Route 50 (Helensburgh to St Clair Park) will be replaced by Route 30 (Helensburgh to Ocean Grove return)
Route 50 (St Clair Park to Helensburgh) will be replaced by Route 35 (St Clair Park to Ross Creek return)
All frequencies will remain the same, but timetables will change.
If you previously caught the Route 50 bus to Helensburgh, you’ll now catch the Route 30 bus.
If you previously caught the Route 50 bus to St Clair Park, you’ll now catch the Route 35 bus.
Route 70 will be disestablished and replaced by the following routes:
A new Route 71 (Brighton to Green Island return). This will be a 40-minutes peak and 60-minutes off-peak timetable.
On weekdays, this new Route 71 will extend into South Dunedin with two trips in the morning and two trips in the afternoon servicing King's/Queen's High School. These trips will replace Route 40, and will each take a different route – one will go via hill suburbs and one will go via the motorway between South Dunedin and Green Island.
A new Route 72 (Abbotsford loop). This will be a 20-minutes peak and 60-minutes off-peak timetable.
On weekdays, this route will extend to the Dunedin Bus Hub via Kaikorai Valley Road, with two trips in the morning and three trips in the afternoon travelling past Kaikorai Valley College, Otago Boys' High School, Otago Girls' High School and Trinity Catholic College (stops for these schools will be on Kaikorai Valley Road, Stuart Street and York Place). This will replace Route 39.
Route 77 will have some timing changes; it will now operate every 20 minutes at peak — as opposed to 15 minutes currently.
Peak-time buses will be more reliable due to more time between trips.
It will remain a 30-minute off-peak frequency.
There will be better connections with the new Routes 71 and 72.
