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Orbus Public Bus Service

The Otago Regional Council, with support from the Queenstown Lakes District Council and the New Zealand Transport Authority, operates the $2 Orbus network.

The public bus service is an easy and affordable way to explore Queenstown and Arrowtown. All you need to do is get a Bee Card! 

• You can buy a Bee Card online, at the Paper Plus store in the airport terminal, at the Otago Regional Council office in Frankton (during business hours), or with cash on the bus.
• You can take two buses as part of your trip and pay only one fare. You get one free transfer if you change buses within 45 minute of tagging off the first bus. You must use your Bee Card to tag on and off both buses to get your free transfer.
• The minimum top-up for Bee Cards is $5. Bee Cards can be topped up anywhere they're sold. You can also top up online and set an automatic top-up.
• There is a one-off cost of $5 to buy a Bee Card, but once you have it, you'll have ongoing access to the $2 fare. Your Bee Card can also be used across numerous other bus networks in New Zealand.

Buses depart Queenstown Airport approximately every 15 minutes from 6.44am to 7.44pm, and every 30 minutes from 8.14pm to 12.44am.

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Bee Card rolled out on Queenstown ferries

26th October 2022 By Staff Reporter | [email protected] | @tourismticker

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Getting to Queenstown is easy whether you decide to fly, drive or catch a coach.

Queenstown International Airport  receives daily direct flights from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, and great road access on major New Zealand highways makes driving into Queenstown an easy and beautiful experience. Exploring the region once you’re in Queenstown is simple with a range of local transport options.

Where is Queenstown?

Queenstown is located in the southwest corner of the South Island of New Zealand and is very accessible with multiple daily direct flights from all New Zealand’s main centres. Direct scheduled services from Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Gold Coast in Australia are also available.

For visitors that choose to drive, experiencing the beautiful  Southern Scenic Route  through Otago and Southland is a stunning way to arrive in Queenstown or meander down the South Island from the West Coast or Canterbury, taking your time to take in the scenery along the way.

Explore the interactive map to plan your scenic journey to Queenstown, New Zealand today.

Travelling to Queenstown

Drive to Queenstown

Driving to Queenstown is a very scenic option and if you’re planning to travel by road you can drive yourself, hop on a bus or join a  coach  tour. Major New Zealand highways connect Queenstown to surrounding South Island regions and you’ll come across incredible natural landscapes and different attractions on the drive to Queenstown.

Roads to Queenstown are well-signposted from the surrounding regions. New Zealand highways are fully sealed and well-maintained but some side roads to activities and attractions may be loose gravel and require more time and care.  

If you are planning a self-drive holiday it’s good to understand that driving in New Zealand can be different to driving at home. We drive on the left-hand side of the road, meaning the driver’s seat is on the right-hand side of the car. New Zealand roads can be narrow and winding with varying conditions. It pays to take lots of breaks and leave plenty of time to reach your destination.

It is also possible to encounter sheep and cattle on rural roads in New Zealand and ice or snow on the roads in winter. It pays to give yourself extra time, check the weather forecast and understand New Zealand road rules and signs. Visit  Drivesafe New Zealand  for helpful tips and information if you are planning a self-drive trip to Queenstown.

There are daily buses to Queenstown from Wanaka, Dunedin, Invercargill and Christchurch to Queenstown as well as scheduled coach tours and backpacker tour buses. There are also many  rental car  and  motor home  depots based at Queenstown Airport.

Fly to Queenstown

Queenstown Airport  is the gateway to the lower South Island. Located 15 minutes from downtown Queenstown, the Queenstown Airport services the region with daily domestic flights operated by  Air New Zealand  and  Jetstar . It receives direct scheduled services from New Zealand’s main metropolitan ports of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

Direct scheduled services from Australia's eastern ports Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Gold Coast are also available via Air New Zealand , Jetstar , Qantas  and Virgin Australia . Getting into the town centre from the airport is easy with shuttles, taxi services, buses and rental cars available. Bus fares are just $2 if you have a Bee Card (or $4 cash) and preloaded Bee Cards can be purchased from the Paper Plus store next to domestic arrivals.

Queenstown Airport is also New Zealand’s busiest helicopter base and is frequently used for ‘flightseeing’ on fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. There are many great options available for visitors to explore the region by air .

Getting around

Getting around Queenstown is easy, whether you use the $2 public bus network , explore the region by foot or by bike on the  Queenstown Trail , or hire your own car. For an extra scenic option, hop on the Queenstown ferry network which operates scheduled daily services from Frankton to Queenstown. You can check out the ferry timetable  here . 

Many local activity operators also offer free transport from the town centre and hotels making it easy to get out and about and experience what the region has to offer. The compact downtown area of Queenstown means many restaurants, attractions and accommodation are within walking distance of each other.

If you prefer to self-drive, Queenstown is home to the best-known  rental car  brands from around New Zealand and the world. With car rental outlets at Queenstown International Airport, picking up or dropping off your rental vehicle is easy and convenient. Some rental companies also provide bike racks as an add-on for their vehicles if you're looking to bring your own bike with you, or you can hire a bike when you're here.

Hiring an EV is a great option to explore Queenstown sustainably and with a growing network of EV infrastructure around New Zealand, convenient charging is never far away.

Campervans  and motorhomes are a great way to explore the Queenstown region and hiring a campervan or motorhome in Queenstown is easy, with both internationally recognised and local vehicle hire companies operating in the town centre or airport.

For the ultimate convenience, there are multiple  taxi  and  limousine services  available in and around Queenstown.

Explore Queenstown Transport Options

The queenstown trail, public transportation information, queenstown ferries, how to care for this place, about the tiaki promise, support love queenstown, plan your trip.

Recharge this Autumn in Queenstown – a 6-day Travel Itinerary

Escape the hustle of your everyday life and recharge with an autumn break in Queenstown. Take it slow, explore hidden gems, and re-energise in nature.

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Exploring Queenstown by Bike

With almost endless riding opportunities and spectacular vistas around every corner, Queenstown is a dream destination for cyclists both on and off...

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Your Guide to Queenstown Walks & Hikes

Whether you feel like a relaxing stroll or a multi-day trek into the backcountry, Queenstown has walking tracks for all ages and abilities. Here's...

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How to Explore Queenstown by $2 Public Bus

Queenstown's bus network makes it easy and affordable to explore scenic spots like Sunshine Bay, Frankton, Kelvin Heights, and Arrowtown.

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Bee Card makes bus travel smarter, easier and cheaper than cash. Bee Card is a pre-paid smartcard used throughout the Bay of Plenty (and other participating regions) to pay for your journey.

Simply tag on when you board the bus by holding your card against the card reader, wait for the beep and green light before taking a seat. When you reach your destination, you do the same to tag off. The cost of the fare and the card balance will be displayed on the card reader at tag off.

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Bee Cards need to be registered to add a concession, to enable online top up, and to protect your balance if you lose your card. You can also manage more than one Bee Card online - your kids’ cards included!

Registration is quick and can be easily completed online at beecard.co.nz .

If you need assistance, give us a call on 0800 4 BAYBUS (0800 4 229 287) or visit us at the customer service counter at your local Regional Council office.

Top up your card

The easiest way to top up is online at beecard.co.nz , you’ll need to top up with $5.00 or more if you get started online. You can also top up at the customer service counter or with cash on the bus from the driver.

Start using your card

Have your Bee Card ready to tag on and off the bus. You’ll hear a beep and then you’re ready to go. The screen will tell you how much credit is left on your card, and when you are running low.

When you tag on and off, the system automatically calculates the lowest fare based on your travel. If you don’t tag off, the system will charge a higher default fare.

Need more information?

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9 WAYS TO GET AROUND QUEENSTOWN

by Jub | Sep 5, 2021

How to get around Queenstown?

Good question. Most people will use a car in Queenstown, but what about getting around Queenstown without a car?

Well, that depends. The best way to get around Queenstown is going to be based on a whole host of factors individual to your trip.

Without going into too many specifics for the infinite types of trips, I’ll discuss each Queenstown transport option, and the pros and cons.

Here are the options: 1. By Car/Campervan etc. 2. By Hitchhiking 3. By Public Transport (bus) 4. By Foot 5. By Bike 6. By Ferry 7. By Choosing Specific Tours 8. By Using Ride Sharing Apps 9. By Taxi

HOW TO GET AROUND QUEENSTOWN

1. by car/campervan etc..

Getting around NZ by car is the most popular form of transport for international visitors . So while I can’t find any stats on total tourism transport for Queenstown specifically, I’m confident renting a car is the most popular way to get around Queenstown.

But does that mean a car is the best way to get around Queenstown?

It depends. If you’re road tripping around the country/to Queenstown, it makes sense. But if you’re in Queenstown for a few days, then renting a car may not be the best option.

The traffic in Queenstown can be horrible during peak hour traffic, with trips between Frankton and Queenstown taking over 30 minutes…sometimes even an hour. And getting through town can be painful.

And in terms of parking, Queenstown is a pretty small place so parking isn’t widely available. Free parking in the city may mean you need to do a few laps around the block and then moving your car after a couple of hours, or parking outside of the town itself somewhere residential.

But, if you’ve got a full list of things to do in Queenstown that’ll see you hopping all over the area, along with a couple of road trips, you can’t beat the convenience of a car.

If you are planning to use a car, consider the parking options when booking accommodation in Queenstown. Life will be a lot easier for you if there’s ample parking on site…this is a perk of many airbnbs in Queenstown .

p.s. If you’re looking for paid campervan parking in Queenstown, the Boundary Street carpark is the most popular.

p.p.s. The ticketing officers in Queenstown are active! Some friends seem to like collecting parking tickets :/

Back to the top

2. BY HITCHHIKING

If you’ve done any hitching before, you’ll be glad to know hitchhiking in and around Queenstown is easy. I hitch around Queenstown fairly often and never wait long.

Elsewhere in Queenstown, I have friends who regularly hitchhike between Queenstown to Sunshine Bay for work. And during winter in Queenstown , people regularly hitch up to the Remarkables and Coronet Peak (you get better parking spots with more people in your car).

My one pro tip is, if you’re going to be hitching in the winter, make sure you leave some time to get back before dark if you’re coming from the likes of the Routeburn Shelter as the traffic can drop off towards the end of the day.

I may have learned this the hard way :p

RELATED POST: HOW TO GET TO THE ROUTEBURN TRACK

3. PUBLIC TRANSPORT (A.K.A. BUS)

I’m a big fan of using public transport to get around Queenstown (it’s a cheap way to get to/from Queenstown Airport too).

The key details to know about the buses in Queenstown are:

• Purchasing a Bee Card means all bus rides, regardless of distance/time will be $2
• There are five bus lines in Queenstown ( route map here ).
• You’ll sometimes need to transfer bus services, with the Queenstown hub and Frankton Terminus the regular places to do this.
• The timetables on Google Maps isn’t always 100% correct so verify on the official site .

Lots of people who come to stay at Queenstown hostels are surprised at how good the public transport is.

If you want to know more about all of this, I’ve written a guide to being a good passenger on the QT Buses .

You can find me walking and/or running around Queenstown a lot. Friends are always mentioning they saw me walking/running the other day here, there, and everywhere.

Anyway, Queenstown isn’t a big town, even by NZ standards. With a population under 20,000 in the urban area which is about 630/km square metres in size. The tourist population swells that dramatically. But still, it’s not a large area.

Particulary the downtown area where all the bars/restaurant, and many Queenstown activities are.

So if you’re here for a relaxing few days and plan to just nosey around and not get too adventurous, walking around Queenstown as your primary form of transport can be practical.

And if you decide to stay in Fernhill, Queenstown Hill, and Golden Heights walking is still a solid option. People will even walk the Frankton Track if they do need to go out there for some shopping.

I’ve ridden around Queenstown a few times to get from A to B, and it’s a popular way to get around Queenstown for locals and visitors.

I find drivers are tolerant of cyclists in Queenstown, and there’s plenty of places to park your bike while you’re in town/out and about (friends will often ride to trailheads, go for a hike , and ride home).

If you’re bringing your bikes to Queenstown, definitely consider using them to get from place to place or to explore the Queenstown Trail , in addition to all the mountain bike tracks.

If you’re considering renting a bike/e-bike in Queenstown , look into accommodation options with free bikes you can use.

6. BY FERRY

The Queenstown Ferry route ( source )

Yeap, Queenstown Ferries offers a regular ferry service throughout the day between Queenstown Bay and Frankton with a stop in Kelvin Heights (Bayview) and Frankton Marina on the way (see above).

RELATED: FUN THINGS TO DO IN FRANKTON

If you’re planning to stay in Queenstown for a while, you might want to stay a little out of town and choose Kelvin Heights in which case the ferry could be the best way to get around town. Or if you’re staying at the Hilton Resort & Spa , the ferry stops there.

It’s not going to be a great option for everyone, but there are concession tickets available and it means you don’t need to deal with the crazy traffic and parking situations Queenstown often finds itself in.

The ferry service is canceled from time to time if the lake conditions aren’t great, but that’s quite rare.

The Queenstown ferry fares are:

• $10 one-way
• $60 for a 10-trip concession

They only accept payment by card.

Another service is Queenstown Water Taxis which can help you get to some of the more obscure places on the other side of the lake.

7. BY CHOOSING SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES/TOURS ETC.

If you’re not a big DIY travel planner and would rather book tours and activities that include transport, Queenstown is a great destination for you.

There are dozens of attractions/activities you can book online that include pickup/dropoff from your accommodation such as:

• Scenic flights with Air Milford
• LordOfTheRingsTours.co.nz
• Queenstown Jet Boat

Get Your Guide has over 50 options available when you filter for ‘Hotel pickup possible’.

8. BY USING RIDE SHARING APPS

The two ride sharing apps operating in Queenstown are Uber and Ola (no YourRide).

While they can be great in some places, I’ve not had great experiences with them in Queenstown. If you’re going to use them, avoid:

• doing so during peak traffic times.
• getting picked up from side streets, choose a main street as your pick-up location.

If you’re in a group, they can be a time and cost-effective way to get around.

I have yet to catch a taxi in Queenstown. I’ve never been a fan of catching taxis as it is, and I’ve heard of some of the Queenstown taxi fares involved are ludicrous.

I’m not going to mention the taxi companies here, as the ride-sharing apps are a cheaper option and there are much better ways of getting around Queenstown.

If you do happen to catch a taxi, ask your driver for the local’s rate.

And there we have it, all of your options for how to get around Queenstown.

If you’ve got any questions about your Queenstown transport plans, drop a comment below or email [email protected] and I’ll get back to you with any tips/advice/thoughts I can think of 🙂

WHAT TO READ NEXT: THE BEST DAY TRIPS FROM QUEENSTOWN

Hey, it’s Jub here. I’m the guy behind Chur New Zealand, helping you have the best time hiking, trekking, walking…whatever you want to call it…in NZ. I’m based in Queenstown and am always out and about exploring trails, old & new. If you have any questions, reach out.

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Yes, you’ll need to top up a minimum of $5.00 when you order a Bee Card through this website.

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If you are 65+ you are entitled to reduced fares with a SuperGold Bee Card.

You do need to have a REGISTERED Bee Card to get the SuperGold card concessions in Otago. Bee Cards are used in many regions within New Zealand, so highly useful if you plan on travelling around our country. You need a New Zealand address to register - but you don't need to wait to have a card sent to you, pick one up in person. 

SuperGold Card holders

To receive concession fares and free off-peak bus travel you need to load your SuperGold information on to your Bee Card.

Use your SuperGold Bee Card for free off-peak travel:

• weekdays 9am-3pm and after 6:30pm
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SuperGold concessions are not available for the ferry service in Queenstown.

To receive your SuperGold concession you will need to register your Bee Card and load your details. You can do this in person or online. If you are unable or unsure about registering your card online, ask a friend or family member to help or contact the ORC for help.

Register your Bee Card

Community services card holders (community connect).

If you have a SuperGold card AND a Community Services card, you will need two Bee Cards . This is because the Bee Card system only allows for ONE concession on a Bee Card and you are entitled to two concessions.

Depending on the time of day you wish to travel, you will either use your SuperGold concession Bee Card (free off-peak travel), or your Community Connect concession Bee Card (half price adult fares). Use a sticker or marker pen to add a dot to tell the difference between your Bee Cards.

Use your Community Connect Bee Card half price bus travel during these times:

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Use your SuperGold Bee Card for free bus travel outside of these times.

Community Connect concessions are not available for the ferry service in Queenstown.

To get free off-peak bus travel with your SuperGold card, or discounted bus travel with your Community Services card, you need to register you Bee Card(s) and add your card details to the Bee Card. 

To find out more or to get help registering your card, call or visit the Otago Regional Council:

Dunedin: 0800 ORBUSDN ( 0800 672 8736 ) 144 Rattray Street, Level 2, Philip Laing House We are on level 2, accessible by lifts. It's very close to a number of bus stops by the Exchange

Queenstown: 0800 ORBUSQT ( 0800 672 8778 ) 1092 Terrace Junction, Frankton (above Westpac)

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• Add date of birth and SuperGold client number.

Frequently asked questions

No. But drivers can sell Bee Cards ($5), issue travel tickets (with or without your Bee Card) and top up Bee Cards with cash (minimum $5). They cannot help you register your card. You will need to call the ORC to do that. 

Yes, though we recommend that every passenger has their own Bee Card.

If you’re travelling with a friend of family member who doesn’t have a card, you can get them discounted travel with your Bee Card. Tag your own card on, and then talk to the driver about using your Bee Card to pay for your friend/family member.

The driver will give them a paper ticket. If you have a paper ticket you don’t need to tag off. Only tag off if you have tagged on.

The only available tickets for this are adult and child. 

If you need to take two buses as part of your journey, you may still only pay for one fare. When a Bee Card user changes buses as part of their commute, they get a free transfer, so long as they change buses within 45 minutes.

That means you should tag on your next bus within 45 minutes of tagging off your last bus. Remember to tag off the second bus too.

If you started your journey in the free travel period, ie before 3pm, you won't get charged if you catch your usual second bus within 45 minutes of getting of your first. 

This is only available to people using a Bee Card. 

Page last edited 26 February 2024

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