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Here’s our first On Board with Orbus newsletter for 2026, which includes info on how to catch the bus to school, Waitangi Day bus timetables, more electric buses coming to Dunedin, busy cruise days in February, the Frankton Bus Hub, and waving down the bus.
If you have any feedback on what you’d like us to include, please email comms@orc.govt.nz.
Welcome back to school on the bus!
Public buses are an affordable way to get to and from school this term. Orbus fares are only $1.50 for children and youth ages 5 to 18 with a registered Bee Card, for a single trip. They will need to top up their Bee Card. The cash fare is $3 in Dunedin and $4 in Queenstown. Learn more about the Bee Card here.
Check out this How to Catch the Bus guide with lots of information about catching a bus and planning your journey.
Find the latest timetable information for Dunedin and for Queenstown.
Please note: demand is always high at this time of year with the return to work, tertiary institutions, and schools. Please be patient and plan ahead, as buses are likely to fill up quickly.
Waitangi Day buses
On Waitangi Day (Friday, 6 February), Dunedin buses will run to the public holiday timetable (Sunday timetable), and in Queenstown, buses will continue to run on their normal timetable.
See our website for public holiday timetables for Dunedin and Queenstown.
Improvements to Dunedin buses
We’ve signed new contracts with Go Bus Transport, which will mean improvements to Dunedin buses from October this year.
Routes receiving the new electric buses will be Balaclava/Logan Park (route 63), Concord/University (37), Port Chalmers/City (14), Waitati, Warrington, Waikouaiti, Palmerston (1), Portobello/Harington Point/City (18), St Clair/Normanby (8), Corstorphine/Wakari (33) and St Clair Park/Helensburgh (50).
- Thirty-seven new electric buses.
- Introduced during the first year of the contract.
- 61 out of Dunedin’s 79 buses, or 77%, will be electric.
- All Dunedin buses expected to be electric by 2028.
- Larger and more comfy buses on our longest trip — Route 1 (Palmerston – City) .
- More peaks trips on Route 18 (Portobello – City) .
Busy cruise days
Cruise ship season is in full swing, with 81 cruise ships expected to arrive in Port Chalmers before 9 April 2026.
Extra buses are running on Route 14 between Port Chalmers and the city to meet demand; however, on the busiest days, you will need to plan to make sure you get the bus.
Busiest days in February:
- Wednesday 5 February
- Wednesday 12 February
- Sunday 16 February
Please check here for a schedule showing additional buses, visit the Orbus Dunedin Facebook page, or call the customer service team on 0800 ORBUSDN (0800 672 8736).
Temporary roadworks near the Frankton Bus Hub (golf course side)
From now until Monday, 10 February, the golf course car park will temporarily shift back to its old location.
During this time, access to the Frankton Golf Centre car park will be via entry and exit points on both sides of the Frankton Bus Hub, adjacent to the golf course.
Traffic management and signage will be in place. However, please be patient, as buses may experience minor delays when entering and exiting this area.
For the latest Orbus updates, visit orc.govt.nz/orbusqt or use the Transit app.
Waving down your bus
When you’re waiting at the bus stop, stand at the curb and make sure you’re visible to the driver as your bus approaches. Waving at the driver makes sure they will pull over to let you on. A clear signal from you is a great help to the driver!
