Temporary bus service for Jack’s Point to Wakatipu High School

During school term until the end of Term 1 2027, an extra service will depart Jack’s Point at 8am and Frankton Library at 3.15pm, travelling via Hanley's Farm in both directions.

It is available to anyone with a topped-up Bee Card. Cash fares and Bee Card top-ups are not available onboard, and the service does not stop at Frankton Bus Hub.

Bee Card information

Catching the bus with the Bee Card is simple and cheap. As well as access to cheaper fares in nine regions around New Zealand, including Otago, and an easy tag on tag off system, you can register your card to top up online, enjoy concessions and manage multiple cards.

If you or your child will be taking the public bus to school, make sure everything is ready before the school term starts:

  • Get your Bee Card at www.beecard.co.nz or from any of these Bee Card retailer locations (Note the Bee Card is $5 and you need a minimum $5 top-up).
  • Register the Bee Card online at www.beecard.co.nz.
  • Once the Bee Card is registered, load it with a child or youth concession to get cheaper fares. 
  • Make sure your Bee Card has funds loaded onto it, to avoid having to top up with the driver on the first day of school. Top your Bee Card up here. You can also set up an auto top up, and share accounts so other people can top up your card.
  • If you don't have a Bee Card on day one of school starting, you can pay for your Orbus service with cash. If you catch a second bus as part of your journey to/from school, you may be eligible for a free transfer . Without a Bee Card, you will have to pay for both buses. 

Get your Bee Card – and register it!

A Bee Card is the prepay travel smartcard you should have.

Get a Bee Card and register it to get cheaper fares through a Child or Youth concession.

Learn more about the Bee Card

Logan Park HS, Bayfield HS, Dunedin North Intermediate

You can catch a public bus to get to and from Logan Park High school, Bayfield High school and Dunedin North Intermediate. You may need to transfer buses but use your Bee Card to transfer within 45mins and it's free.

Kaikorai Valley College, Otago Boys HS, King's & Queen's HS

You can catch a public bus to get to and from Kaikorai Valley College, Otago Boys High school, King's & Queen's High school. You may need to transfer buses but use your Bee Card to transfer within 45mins and it's free.

Queenstown school buses

Find bus route information below for the public buses that can accommodate students going home in the afternoons after school finishes during a school term.

Temporary bus service for Jack’s Point to Wakatipu High School

To help manage current overcrowding on Orbus services between Jack’s Point, Hanley’s Farm and Wakatipu High School, a temporary bus service will operate during school terms from Monday, 7 September 2026 until the end of Term 1, 2027 while longer-term options are assessed.

This service has been introduced to help meet demand from Wakatipu High School students. However, it is a public bus service and is available to anyone travelling with a topped-up Bee Card. Please note that cash fares and Bee Card top-ups are not available on board.

This service does not stop at Frankton Bus Hub. It operates directly between Jack’s Point, Hanley’s Farm and Wakatipu High School in both directions.

When does it run?

  • Morning: The bus departs Jack’s Point at 8am, Monday to Friday during school terms, travelling through Hanley’s Farm and onto Wakatipu High School.

  • Afternoon: The bus departs the Frankton Library bus stop at 3.15pm, travelling directly to Hanley’s Farm and Jack’s Point.

Where will it stop?

  • The service only stops at designated bus stops in Jack’s Point and Hanley’s Farm.

  • From Hanley’s Farm, the bus travels directly to Wakatipu High School.

  • It does not stop at any other bus stops along the route, including the Frankton Bus Hub.

Is this a free service?

No. Students will need to pay a standard Bee Card child fare for this bus service.

Bee Cards must be topped up in advance

  • Bee Card is the only way to pay. Cash fares are not accepted on this bus service.

  • Bee Cards cannot be topped up on the bus.

  • Students must ensure they have sufficient Bee Card credit before boarding.

  • There is no need to tag off. The driver will tag students on when they board and provide a printed ticket.

How do I buy or top up my Bee Card?

  • Order a card or top up online at beecard.co.nz. Please allow up to 24 hours for credit to load.

  • Buy a card or top up at these Queenstown Bee Card retailer locations:

    • Otago Regional Council Queenstown office, Ground Floor, Alta House, Terrace Junction, 1092 Frankton Road. Monday to Friday: 8am to 1pm; 2pm to 4pm (EFTPOS only).

    • Paper Plus at Queenstown Airport.

    • Watersports NZ kiosk at Earnslaw Park, by the Queenstown Ferries stop.

    • Hilton Queenstown.

    • Watersports NZ kiosk at the blue shed (Frankton Marina).

Boarding the bus

To help everyone board safely and efficiently:

  • Students should form an orderly queue before boarding.

  • Each student will present their Bee Card to the driver to be tagged on.

  • Students will then receive a printed ticket.

  • Boarding and getting off the bus is through the front door only.

  • There is no rear door, so students need to get on and off one at a time in single file.

This service won't appear on bus tracking

Because this is a temporary service, it will not appear on the Transit app or the Orbus Queenstown website.

Other regular services are available

Regular public bus services will continue to operate, including:

  • 7.53am service from Jack’s Point.

  • 3.24pm and 3.50pm services from the Frankton Library bus stop.

Students should know which service they are catching and have a topped-up Bee Card ready before they travel.

For more information contact Orbus Queenstown at transport@orc.govt.nz or phone 0800 672 8778.

Ministry of Education school bus information

The Ministry of Education may provide some school transport options, which includes a bus service in some areas. This is different from the public transport provided by Orbus which is available to anyone and not for the exclusive use of students.