It’s now easier for Ōamaru people to get to Palmerston and Dunedin!
The Ōamaru - Palmerston – Dunedin community shuttle is transporting people to areas between Ōamaru and Dunedin three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
To make sure you get a seat on the van please book in advance by calling 027 214 4131.
Phones are answered 9am - 5pm (outside these hours please leave your number and they'll callback).
To make sure you get a seat on the van please book in advance by calling 027 214 4131. The phone is answered 9am - 5pm seven days a week. If calling outside of these hours please leave a voice message with your name and number so the team can call you back to confirm your booking.
The shuttle leaves Ōamaru at 9.30am. It is not a door-to-door service but leaves from and returns to pick-up locations in Ōamaru, Maheno, Herbert, Hampden and Moeraki.
The van connects with the 11am Orbus Route 1 bus from Palmerston to Dunedin, arriving at the Dunedin Bus Hub at 12pm. It leaves the Dunedin Bus Hub at 6pm travelling to Palmerston, where the shuttle meets passengers then travels to Ōamaru, arriving about 8pm.
People can also take the reverse trip, travelling from Palmerston to Oamaru at 11am and returning to Palmerston at 5.45pm.
The shuttle service is a six-month community transport trial run by volunteers and supported by Otago Regional Council. The status of the shuttle after six months will depend on how well it performs and on community feedback.
It is a separate service from the St John hospital shuttle from Ōamaru.
The shuttle will initially run between Oamaru and Palmerston, but this route may change based on community feedback.
See departure and arrival times, fare information and pick-up locations below. See the Route 1 timetable here 1 - Palmerston - City if you want to depart before the Bus Hub.
Please note, we will update you on any changes during the trial.
The shuttle runs on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays (except Christmas Day).
* Shuttle arrival times are approximate. Arrival times may be affected by the number of stops booked, road works, and circumstances outside of our volunteers control. We appreciate your feedback during this trial.
| Leaves | Arrives | ||
| Ōamaru - Palmerston (Shuttle) | Leaves Ōamaru | 9.30 am | |
| Arrives Palmerston (Bond Street) | *10.55 am | ||
| Palmerston - Dunedin (Orbus) | |||
| Transfer to the Route 1 Orbus | Leaves Palmerston | 11.00 am | |
| Arrives Dunedin Bus Hub | Noon | ||
| Palmerston – Oamaru (Shuttle) | |||
| Leaves Palmerston | 11.00 am | ||
| Arrives Ōamaru (approximately) | *12.10 pm |
| Leaves | Arrives | ||
| Ōamaru – Palmerston (Shuttle) | Leaves Ōamaru |
5.45 pm (times confirmed when booking) |
|
| Arrives Palmerston (Bond Street) | *7.00 pm | ||
| Dunedin – Palmerston (Orbus) | |||
| Catch the Orbus Route 1 | Dunedin Bus Hub | 6.00 pm | |
| Arrives Palmerston (Bond Street) | 7.00 pm | ||
| Palmerston – Ōamaru (Shuttle) | |||
| Transfer from Orbus to shuttle | Leaves Palmerston | 7.05 pm | |
| Arrives Ōamaru | *7.45–8.00 pm |
Ōamaru - Palmerston shuttle (one way)
Palmerston - Ōamaru shuttle (one way)
Travel from Ōamaru to Palmerston is run by the Ōamaru-Palmerston Community Shuttle Group volunteers, with a suggested koha of $5.
If you are travelling beyond Palmerston you'll need to transfer to an Orbus bus, and the current Orbus fares will apply.
We will take calls on 027 214 4131 from 9am to 5pm seven days a week.
Leave a voicemail with your details for a callback. Please speak clearly.
You can also text requesting a callback.
All bookings are by phone as we need to chat to you about special requirements, such as luggage, travelling with young children, or with a support person. You can text us for a callback.
Sorry, no — we need to confirm all bookings two days ahead (so we can roster the drivers and vehicle). So, book by:
Yes, you can book for up to 11 people in one booking, if space is available. However, if you are booking as a group you must all be picked up and dropped off at the same place.
If you wish to be dropped off separately you will need to make separate bookings.
You all pay separately on the shuttle.
Normal calling rates apply. While the shuttle service does not charge for your call, if you are on pre-pay or limited calling hours you may be charged.
The suggested koha (donation) for the shuttle service is $5. You will need to pay the driver directly, cash payment only, please try to bring exact change.
For the connecting Route 1 bus, you can pay on the bus with a registered Bee Card or cash. You can purchase a Bee Card from the Orbus driver ($5 plus $5 top-up credit, cash only).
All standard Dunedin bus fares and concessions apply.
The suggested minimum koha (donation) for the shuttle service is $5. We can only accept cash payment, and have limited change so please try to bring exact koha.
This service is run by volunteers however, your donation covers running costs and will allow us to upgrade vehicles, including accessibility options and increase passenger comfort.
For the connecting Route 1 bus, you can pay on the bus with a registered Bee Card or cash. You can purchase a Bee Card from the Orbus driver ($5 plus $5 top-up credit, cash only).
All standard Dunedin bus fares and concessions apply.
We need to confirm all bookings two days ahead so we can roster the drivers and vehicle. So, book by:
Yes, except on Christmas Day.
The shuttle runs on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
MORNINGS
AFTERNOONS
The shuttle picks up and drops off at:
| Ōamaru | Other areas |
|---|---|
|
|
No. The shuttle does not go door-to-door but has eight pick-up/drop off points on its Ōamaru – Palmerston route (see pickup locations above). This means you will need to make your way to the nearest pick-up location.
Yes, passengers can also take the reverse trip, travelling from Palmerston to Ōamaru at 11am and leaving Ōamaru for Palmerston at 5.45pm.
Children are welcome on the shuttle. Children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by someone aged 18 years or older.
As the seatbelts installed in the vans are not fitted for children, all children aged seven or younger must have their own car seat.
We do not provide car seats (or booster seats).
The van is not wheelchair accessible.
We will do our best to accommodate everyone, including a helping hand where needed, or storing walking frames. Unaccompanied passengers must be able to board and disembark, transfer to the Orbus. Passengers traveling with a support person, who might require a little additional time, should inform us at the time of booking.
Passengers must be on time, as we are meeting a scheduled bus service. The driver cannot wait.
If the shuttle arrives early at a pick-up point, we will wait for you. If we miss the Orbus connection due to unforeseen circumstances, we will take you to Dunedin.
For passengers going from Palmerston to Ōamaru, if we miss the connection and must drive the shuttle to Dunedin, we will call a driver to pick up any Palmerston passengers and take them to Ōamaru, so they don’t have to wait so long.
In consideration of other passengers, we can allow only official service dogs on the shuttle.
Volunteers from the Ōamaru-Palmerston Community Shuttle Group, supported by Otago Regional Council.
No, this is a separate service from the St John hospital shuttle. To book the St. John hospital shuttle please phone 0800 103 046.
No, it is a six-month trial. We are monitoring it, and the status of the shuttle after six months will depend on how well it performs and on community feedback.
There may be changes to the schedule during the trial. We will update you about any changes.
Call us Mon–Fri 8am–5pm
Orbus Dunedin
Orbus Queenstown
