Current Orbus routes, fares, airport buses and live tracking for Queenstown.
Orbus is Queenstown’s public bus network, linking central Queenstown with Frankton, Queenstown Airport, Remarkables Park, Arrowtown, Sunshine Bay, Kelvin Heights, Quail Rise, Jack’s Point and Lake Hayes Estate. Services run seven days a week.
Routes and timetables
There are five main routes:
- Route 1: Sunshine Bay – central Queenstown – Frankton Bus Hub – Queenstown Airport – Remarkables Shops
- Route 2: Frankton Bus Hub – Arrowtown
- Route 3: Kelvin Heights – Quail Rise
- Route 4: Jack’s Point – central Queenstown – Arrowtown
- Route 5: Lake Hayes Estate – central Queenstown
Route 1 is the one most visitors use. The current timetable runs about every 15 minutes from just after 6am until 8pm, then about every 30 minutes until after midnight. Check the latest Queenstown bus timetables and route map before you set out, as times and temporary detours can change.
Fares and payment
Queenstown buses accept Bee Card or cash only. You cannot pay a bus fare with a bank card, credit card or phone.
- Under 5: free with a Bee Card or cash
- Child, 5–12: $1.50 with a Bee Card or $4 cash
- Youth, 13–18: $1.50 with a Bee Card or $4 cash
- Adult, 19+: $2.50 with a Bee Card or $4 cash
For a trip beginning or ending at Queenstown Airport, Bee Card fares stay the same. Airport cash fares are $10 for adults and $8 for children and youth.
A Bee Card costs $5, with a minimum $5 top-up. Buy one from Paper Plus at Queenstown Airport, a Queenstown Bee Card retailer, or from the driver with cash. Drivers also accept cash-only top-ups. Remember to tag on when you board and tag off when you leave.
If you change buses, a Bee Card can give you a free transfer when you tag on to the second bus within 45 minutes of tagging off the first. Cash fares do not include transfers.
Child, youth, Community Connect and SuperGold discounts require a registered Bee Card with the correct concession loaded. New cards and online top-ups can take up to 12 hours to update, so sort this before the bus is due rather than at the stop.
Getting to and from Queenstown Airport
Route 1 runs between the airport and central Queenstown via Frankton Bus Hub. If you are arriving by air, buying a Bee Card at Paper Plus before boarding cuts the adult airport fare from $10 cash to $2.50.
Suitcases are allowed when there is room, at the driver’s discretion. Buses can fill at busy times, so leave a buffer before a flight.
Plan and track your bus
Use the Orbus Journey Planner for the best route and connection, or the free Transit app for live arrivals, journey planning and service alerts. You can also track buses on the live map.
Queenstown traffic has moods of its own, particularly in winter and around Frankton. Timetable times are a guide, so check live arrivals and allow extra time for an important connection.
Accessibility, prams and bikes
Orbus’s regular fleet is low-floor, with space for wheelchairs and prams. Buses can kneel and drivers can deploy a ramp where needed. Wheelchair users have priority in the accessible area.
Prams are welcome, although you may be asked to fold one when the bus is busy. Bikes travel free on the exterior rack, subject to space and size limits. Read the current accessibility information or guidance on luggage, bikes and other items before travelling with bulky gear.
Contact Orbus Queenstown
Call 0800 ORBUSQT (0800 672 8778). Customer service hours are Monday to Friday, 8am–5pm, with limited support outside those hours. For lost property on a Queenstown bus, call Ritchies on 03 441 4471.
