Half price fares until 30 June 2023

You don’t have to do anything if you're an everyday bus user – the half price fare will be automatically applied when tagging on and off. If paying with Cash on the bus, your driver will apply the discount. 

If you're new to Orbus and the Bee Card, find out more here with the Bus 101. 

Central Government has made the decision to reduce fares on public transport by 50%. The duration of this scheme will end on 30 June 2023. Unless further decisions are made by central government, it is expected that regions will return to their normal fare prices and structures from 1 July 2023. Otago is currently running a flat fare trial of $2, at the end of this trial, there may be changes to the fares, but more detail will be available on this once the trial comes to an end. 

Check the timetable at www.orc.govt.nz/Orbus or Transit app to see when the next bus will be along.

Our buses are already pretty full during peak travel times (morning 7.30 – 9 am) and afternoon (2.45 – 5.30 pm). We are asking people to travel off peak which is during the middle of the day or the evening if they can. 

We are trying to manage capacity, but because of driver shortages (exacerbated by COVID), we cannot supply additional buses on busy routes. We are asking people to travel off peak if they can so that those who have fixed hours to get to work/school will get there.  

Let us know which route you are on, so that we can try to respond to feedback.

Click here for contacts. 

Yes. The driver will keep an eye on capacity.

Since the government announced half price fares, our team has been working to make this happen. The setting of fares is the responsibility of Public Transport Authorities like the ORC. For such a significant change, it has to be presented and endorsed by our council (this happened nationwide across councils), which we have done. We have then been sorting out ticketing, finances and capacity/demand. Nevertheless, we are limited with drivers and buses for a variety of reasons, including recent additions to support school students who previously used Otago Road Services.   

We are letting people know that our buses are already pretty full and, because of Covid and a national driver shortage, we can’t currently provide any extra services

Yes, Total Mobility journeys are also included and will have the additional discount applied on top of the current subsidy.

Fares are still free for Supergold passengers on weekdays in off-peak times – between 9am and 3pm; after 6.30pm; all day during weekends and public holidays.

Any trips outside these times will be $1 with your card and $1.50 if paying by cash.

Remember you can top up your card by paying cash to your driver, or on the 2nd floor of Otago Regional Council in Philip Laing House and at the DCC customer services desk.

Don’t forget to tag on and tag off!