On this page you'll find all bus and ferry fares on the Orbus network. You can pay by using a Bee Card preloaded with credit, or with cash when buying a bus ticket from a bus driver on board a bus.
The changes include ending the free child fare and increasing the adult fare (in Dunedin and Queenstown) and increasing the youth fare (Dunedin).
Please note:
You can only use cash or a Bee Card to pay for your bus fare.
Bank and credit cards cannot be used on buses to pay for a bus fare.
Note that Bee Cards can be purchased for $5 with a minimum $5 top up, either on the Bee Card website or in person at a Bee Card retailer.
| Age group | Bee Card fares until 28 September 2025 |
Bee Card fares from 29 September 2025 |
Cash |
| Under 5 | Free (no Bee Card required) | Free | Free |
| Child 5–12 years | Free with registered Bee Card | $1.50 | $3 |
| Youth (13–18 years) | $1.20 | $1.50 | $3 |
| Adult (19+) | $2 | $2.50 | $3 |
| Community Connect | $1 | $1.25 | $3 |
| SuperGold (65+) | Peak: $2 | Peak: $2.50 | $3 |
| Off-peak: Free with SuperGold concession loaded onto a registered Bee Card | |||
You can only use cash or a Bee Card to pay for your bus fare.
Bank and credit cards cannot be used on buses to pay for a bus fare.
| Age group | Bee Card fares until 28 September 2025 |
Bee Card fares from 29 September 2025 |
Cash |
| Under 5 | Free (no Bee Card required) | Free | Free |
| Child 5-12 years | Free with registered Bee Card | $1.50 | $4 |
| Youth (13–18 years) | $1.50 | $1.50 | $4 |
| Adult (19+) | $2 | $2.50 | $4 |
You can only use cash or a Bee Card to pay for your bus fare to/from Queenstown Airport.
Bank and credit cards cannot be used on buses to pay for a bus fare.
| Age group | Bee Card fares until 28 September 2025 |
Bee Card fares from 29 September 2025 |
Cash |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 5) | Free | Free | |
| Child (5–12 years) | Free when you tag on with your registered Bee Card | $1.50 | $8 |
| Youth (13–18 years) | $1.50 | $8 | |
| Adults (18 years+) | $2 | $2.50 | $10 |
| SuperGold (65+) | Peak: $2 | Peak: $2.50 | $10 |
| SuperGold (65+) | Off-peak: Free with SuperGold concession loaded onto a registered Bee Card | $10 | |
Please note there are no concessions on the ferry.
| Bee Card fare per single trip | Bank card fare per single trip | |
|
Infant (under 5 years) |
Free (no Bee card required) | Free |
|
Child (5–12 years) |
$10 | $14 |
|
Youth (13–18 years) |
$10 |
$14 |
|
Adults (18 years+) |
$10 |
$14 |
|
Community Connect |
$10 |
$14 |
|
SuperGold (65 +) |
$10 |
$14 |
Grab yourself a Bee Card to get bus fares that are cheaper than paying with cash.
A Bee Card is the prepay travel smartcard for Otago and other regions of New Zealand.
You can go to an ORC office or a Bee Card retailer to buy a Bee Card ($5, plus $5 minimum top up), or ask your bus driver to purchase one (cash only). You can also order a Bee Card online.
Remember to register your Bee Card by going online here so it's easier to manage your card, see your balance and top up online.
A bus transfer is when you travel on a bus and then get off this bus to take another bus to continue your journey.
If you're a Bee Card holder taking two buses in a single trip, you may only pay for a single fare when you transfer from your first bus to your second bus within 45 minutes 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 45 minute transfer window starts when you tag off the first bus with your Bee Card. This means you have 45 minutes to tag on to the second bus in order to pay just a single fare with your Bee Card. Remember to tag off from the second bus.
Discounted bus fares are available for children aged 5-12 years and youth aged 13-18 years.
The cheaper fares are only available with a registered Bee Card with a concession loaded onto it.
Community Connect provides Community Services card holders with half-price adult fares on public transport with a registered Bee Card.
You must link your valid Community Services card to your registered Bee Card to get this concession.
If you are aged 65+, you are entitled to reduced fares or free fares during certain times of day with a SuperGold Bee Card.
Bee Cards are used in many regions within New Zealand, so it's highly useful if you plan on travelling around the country.
You do need to have a registered Bee Card and a valid SuperGold card to get the SuperGold card concession in Otago.
Everything you want to know about using Otago public transport in one easy location.
Learn everything about the Bee Card, such as why you should get one, how to get it registered and how to use it.
Contact our team if you have any questions about fares or anything Orbus-related such as timetables and routes. You can call, email or DM the team on our socials.
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