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News flash for On Board with Orbus, your source of news and information about Dunedin and Queenstown bus networks, Queenstown Ferries, and the Bee Card 🐝🚍
 
Welcome to our April edition, which includes important Easter weekend and ANZAC Day information.

If you have any feedback on what you'd like to include, email comms@orc.govt.nz. 

Bus driver wages now $30 per hour

The Otago Regional Council has increased the wages for bus drivers from $27.76 to $30 per hour in Queenstown and Dunedin — the third pay increase in just seven months.

We have now delivered more than 30% in pay increases since last August, from $22.75 up to $30.

The move is just one way to attract and retain bus drivers to Otago during a nationwide shortage, as well as acknowledge their work.

Across Aotearoa New Zealand, the public transport sector remains short of several hundred drivers, which has been impacting timetables and service deliveries for almost a year now. Thanks for your patience with us!  

As more drivers come on board with our operators, especially with the wage increase, we can keep improving the service.  

Read the full story here.

Update about the Queenstown Public Transport Business Case

Last month we told you about the work we’re doing on developing a 30-year plan to inform future public transport investment decisions for Queenstown.

We are working together with our Way to Go partners Queenstown Lakes District Council and Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency on a business case. 

Originally, we planned to consult with you around this time, but we have agreed that there’s more value in doing consultation later in the programme when more analysis has been undertaken to help us refine options. 

We’re doing some more work to get this ready for you. We will get back to you soon. 

Learn more about the business case here.
 
How do I find out if my bus is cancelled?

Check your bus alerts on the ORC website before you set out on your trip — select your area, Queenstown or Dunedin. Click on the red alerts box at the top to see affected routes.

A free phone number is also available:

Phone 0800 672 8736 for Dunedin information.
Phone 0800 672 8778 for Queenstown information.
 

🥚🐰 Easter and ANZAC Day bus schedule update 🚍

In Dunedin, the buses change around the Easter long weekend. Here are the service details:  

  1. Good Friday - 7 April 2023: Orbus not running; Rumbler running.  

  1. Easter Sunday - 9 April 2023: Orbus not running; Rumbler running. 

  1. Easter Monday - 10 April 2023: The public holiday schedule, which is the same as a Sunday schedule. 

  1. ANZAC Day - 25 April 2023:  The public holiday schedule, which is the same as a Sunday schedule. 

In Queenstown, there are no changes to the bus service over Easter weekend or on ANZAC Day. 
 

About the Rumbler
 
🚌 Otago Heritage Bus Society and their friends, the Tramway Historical Society, will be running the Suburban Rumbler bus service on Good Friday and Easter Sunday in Dunedin.

The service is FREE, but you are welcome to donate an Easter egg or similar treat, which will be donated to the Salvation Army foodbank. 

The Suburban Rumbler uses old-style heritage buses and follows the usual Orbus No 8 route from St Clair via the Bus Hub to Normanby and return.

  • Departing St Clair hourly from 9.15am to 6.15pm (last departure).
  • Departing Normanby hourly from 9:45am to 6:45pm (last departure).
Thanks again to the amazing volunteers who run this service and support many people to get around. 😄
 
An update from Queenstown Ferries 
🛥️ We've got some exciting news for all Queenstown ferry users! 😁

As of Monday, 3 April, Queenstown Ferries is trialling a new timetable for the month of April. This means that evening ferry departures are now running 7 days a week — not just from Friday to Sunday.

Thanks, Queenstown Ferries, for your hard mahi helping people get where they need to be!

Check out the new trial ferry timetable below. Find out about ferry fares and more here.

NOTE: Ferry passengers will be unable to use their Bee Card on the new evening trial services. The trip will still only cost you $5, but you need to pay by bank card for these new trial services in the evening.
 

Notice for Port Chalmers bus passengers

When cruise ships arrive in Port Chalmers, peak demand always increases for public transport from the port to the city.

We have arranged additional buses and placed posters around Port Chalmers encouraging cruise ship passengers to give priority to elderly, children and school students.

However, when cruise ships are visiting, we know it's going to be a busy day, so we recommend arriving at your stop earlier than usual. Thank you for your patience.
 

Latest diversions -
Dunedin
 

Station Road closure between Stevenson Ave and SH88 for upgrades/roadworks from 6 March for 10 weeks affecting Route 14.

You can find more details here.

Latest diversions - Queenstown


Frankton Road opposite Copthorne Stop - this stop will be moved further along Frankton Rd (to outside 87-93 Frankton Rd) until approximately April 2023 affecting Routes 1, 2 & 3.

You can find more details here.
 
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