Here’s our June newsletter - a busy time for public transport in Otago! Read about an innovative new public transport service for Mosgiel, bus route and timetable changes coming to Dunedin and Queenstown and the latest patronage figures.  

We also have tips on catching the bus in winter and updates on electric buses and the Regional Public Transport Plan. Read on!

If you have any feedback, please email comms@orc.govt.nz.

Change is coming to some Queenstown and Dunedin bus routes and timetables from 30 June.

Queenstown
In Queenstown, services will be expanded, some frequencies increased and there will be better connections, including an Arrowtown – Arthur's Point - Queenstown – Jack's Point route via Malaghans Road (Route 4). 

Updated routes aim to increase capacity on buses travelling between Arrowtown, Queenstown and Jack’s Point, and provide better journeys for passengers. 

Queenstown timetables will reflect more accurate travel times for all timetables, based on traffic volumes at peak and off-peak times, with minor tweaks to times on Routes 1 and 5.

Find out more here.

The Queenstown ferry will continue its existing timetable.

Dunedin
The changes in Dunedin will provide better connections for passengers travelling from southeastern areas of the city into South Dunedin.

The updated routes into South Dunedin will mean services that currently travel along the full length of Andersons Bay Road into the city, via the Oval or the one-way system, will instead travel on Macandrew Road via King Edward and Princes Streets.

South Dunedin trips will be faster by avoiding the southern end of the one-way system, and more convenient as passengers will travel through South Dunedin’s main shopping area.  

Mosgiel’s Route 77 will travel via Hillside Road and Princes Street to the city, providing a direct connection between Mosgiel, Green Island and South Dunedin.

Some timetables will be updated to reflect travel times, considering traffic volumes at peak and off-peak times.

Find out more information here.

Electric and large buses for Mosgiel

Along with Orbus On Demand, a fleet of 13 new electric buses will be launched on 30 June to service Mosgiel – Dunedin routes (Routes 70, 77 and 78).

The fleet includes six 75-passenger buses, introduced to increase capacity during peak times and allow for further bus-use growth in Mosgiel. One of the larger buses started servicing Routes 77 and 78 earlier this year to give drivers experience in the new vehicles. 

All buses in the Mosgiel fleet are wheelchair accessible. They are being stabled at Go Bus’s depot in Dukes Road, Mosgiel, which has been upgraded to include electric charging stations for the new fleet. 

The launch of Orbus On Demand and the new fleet is the final step in moving all Mosgiel buses to zero emissions, enabling ORC to deliver cleaner more sustainable public transport for the region.

Find out more about our electric buses here.

Bus passenger numbers up

Bus passenger numbers across ORC’s Dunedin and Queenstown Public Transport services continue to increase, but to a backdrop of falling revenue as NZ Transport Authority subsidies decline.

From July 2024 to March 2025, Dunedin passenger numbers rose by 4% to 2,611,577 trips and in Queenstown rose by 3% to 1,489,729 trips.

ORC continues to see a steady increase in patronage, with more older and younger people using buses in Otago, especially on the Dunedin network.

For the six months to December 2024, there were 1.73 million Dunedin passengers, but the NZTA subsidy reduced by more than $443,000, to $159,069.

The subsidy reductions are across public transport services around the country.

Total Mobility patronage is also up – there was a 17% increase in patronage for the three-quarter period, rising to 105,996 trips.

Find out more here.

Take care catching the bus in winter

Now cold weather has really kicked in, our bus operators are regularly assessing road and driving conditions and informing us of delays, changes and cancellations.   

We then share this information with our bus users via regular bus alerts. 

You can also track your ride and plan your trip with the Transit app, which is free to download from the App Store and Google Play and easy to use. Download the Transit app for free. 

Please take care while walking to and from your bus stop. Here’s some helpful tips: 

• If it’s dark at your stop – use your phone to wave down the driver.   

• Roads and footpaths may be slippery – don’t rush to your stop, leave a few minutes earlier. 

• Put down your phone – look where you’re going. 

• Get a grip – avoid shoes with slippery soles. 

Valuable feedback on public transport plan