QUEENSTOWN BUSES: HOW TO BE A GOOD BUS RIDER

As someone who relies on Queenstown buses to get around town on a near-daily basis, I’ve got a good grasp of the Queenstown public bus system.

And as tourism returns to town, by crikey there are some frustrating moments with passengers getting on the bus who have absolutely no clue what they’re doing. It’s selfish getting on public transport without having any idea how it works.

That said, catching the bus is still a great way to get around Queenstown.

This post will give you the rundown on Queenstown buses for first timers allowing you to avoid feeling like a clown and making sure the buses run efficiently.

BEFORE GETTING ON THE BUS

Download the Transit App from the Apple Store or Google Play store. It’s easy to use once you’ve played around with it for a couple of minutes. It’s great for getting live updates on how far away your bus is. Particularly when you’re hustling to get to the bus stop in time and if it hasn’t shown up at its scheduled time (this can happen at peak times). And you can see updates about canceled services on the app which they’re reasonably good at posting updates on.

If you’re unsure what bus to catch or where the nearest bus stop is, enter your location and destination on Google Maps. The app is synced with the buses and you’ll get the best options near you.

GETTING ON THE BUS

• Make sure you have your Bee Card ready to tap on. Don’t wait for the driver to open the doors before you start fumbling through your bag.
• Acknowledge the driver when you get on.
• Tap your Bee Card (all the buses have the same set up for tapping on and off).
• Find a spare seat. If there are no seats left, move towards the back of the bus to stand.

DON’T HAVE A BEE CARD?

1. Get a minimum $10 minium ready for the driver.
2. When you get on the bus, ask the driver “Can I please buy a Bee Card and put the rest on the card as credit”. Once you’ve been given the Bee Card you still need to Tap on for the ride. Sometimes the bus drivers wont have any Bee Cards available, in which case you’ll need to pay the regular cash rate which can be annoying.

GETTING OFF THE BUS

1.Have your Bee Card in hand ready to tap off
2. Once the bus has come to a stop make your way efficiently to the back door
3. Tap off.
4. Say thanks to the driver…I’ve noticed this is happening less with the opening of the borders. Be a nice human 🙂

That’s the basics of getting on and off the bus in Queenstown. You shouldn’t need to ask the driver any questions about where you’re going or if that bus goes here there or everywhere. That’s all stuff you can look up in advance.

The rest of this post will contain other bits and pieces you may find helpful.

BUS ETIQUETTE DO’S AND DON’TS

• Don’t play music/watch videos without headphones. I’ll never understand how people think this is ok…no one wants to hear your music/Instagram reels.
• Take your rubbish with you! Again a no brainer, but often people feel like it’s easier to leave it to others.
• If there’s a spare seat, sit in it. If you start standing, others who get on will stand and that slows down the whole getting the bus from A to B.
• If you can see that seats are in short supply, take your bag off the seat next to you so someone can sit there.

OTHER BITS AND BOBS ABOUT THE QUEENSTOWN BUSES

• There is an Airport surcharge. If you’re a cheapskate (like me), walk to the Frankton Bus Terminal and catch the bus from there.
• discounts fares require cards to be registered (this is for students and seniors).
• You can share a card. If you’re catching the bus with someone else, you can ask the driver to charge your Bee Card for the fare.
• You can transfer buses for free if you tag on within 45 minutes of tagging off the previous bus. Remember to tag on and off both times.
• There are USB charging points on the bus (maybe half the seats have them). And they do seem to work most of the time.
• The buses have free WiFI you can connect to (it’s not exactly fast but works). Look for the Orbus Network.
• Bikes can be taken on the bus. Every bus has a bike rack on the front that can hold two bikes. They’re super easy to use as per the video below shows. If the bike rack is full when it arrives at your stop, you’re out of luck. But this hasn’t happened to me yet.

FAQS ABOUT QUEENSTOWN BUSES AND BEE CARDS

Can I use AT HOP card in Queenstown?

No. Bee Cards are the only cards you can use on the Orbus service in Queenstown.

What are the alternatives to catching Queenstown buses?

• Walking
• Rideshare
• Hitchhiking
• Car
• Biking

Where can I buy a Bee Card?

The easiest place to buy them is with cash when you get on the bus/ferry. Alternatively, Otago Regional Council in Frankton, or the i-Site office & RealNZ kiosk in town also have them.

What happens if you forget to tag off?

You’ll be charged the default fare, which in Queenstown is $2.

Do I need to register my Bee Card?

No, you don’t have to. But if you do, you can top up your credit online. And if you’re eligible for discounted fares (a.k.a. 5 to 18 years old and/or a SuperGold card holder), you’ll need to register online at BeeCard.co.nz.

Can you use EFTPOS on the bus?

No. If you don’t have a Bee Card, you can use cash to pay the driver.

Does the Queenstown Ferry accept Bee Card?

As of October 26th, 2022 you can tap on and off the Queenstown public ferry with your Bee Card. At the time of writing, the ferry costs $5 with a Bee Card (you can’t get a free transfer though).

Are the Queenstown uses reliable?

As I write this in early November 2022, there are services regularly canceled services, usually on the #1 bus between the Remarkables Shops and Sunshine Bay/Fernhill. I’d recommend checking the Transit App before you head to the bus stop to make sure the bus hasn’t been canceled.

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For me the Queenstown bus network is great. Getting from Queenstown to Arrowtown for a couple of dollars? That’s a great deal.

If you have any questions about catching the bus around Queenstown, leave a comment below or email jub@churnewzealand.com.