The community favourite service, which uses restored historical buses, will return on Dunedin’s St Clair - Normanby route (number 8). It will depart hourly from St Clair from 9am to 6pm, and the other direction from Normanby from 9:30 to 6:30pm.

As no Orbus services will operate, the bus hub will be closed, with the Suburban Rumbler operating via the Octagon and George St.

Andy Langford, Otago Heritage Bus Society Chairman, said the Society was pleased to be able to bring the bus back in 2021, marking a decade of rumbling in Dunedin.

"We were facing the difficult decision of cancelling this year's bus service following a collapse in passenger numbers over the past two years due to Covid and the lack of cruise ship visitors.

"We are grateful to the Regional Council for their support."

ORC Implementation Lead Julian Phillips said the Suburban Rumbler Christmas service was an asset to the city.

“The Orbus service takes a rare break on Christmas, but the Suburban Rumbler keeps Dunedin moving on a day where a lot of people are travelling to be with family. We’re proud to support the Society and help liven up Christmas for the passengers who will take a ride on a classic piece of transport history.”

2021 will be the eleventh year running that the Otago Heritage Bus Society has run volunteer services on Christmas Day.

You can find the Suburban Rumbler Christmas service timetable below.

Note:
Octagon Stand 1 (to St. Clair) refers to the typical Cruise Ship bus stop in the centre of the Octagon. 

Octagon Stand 2 (to Normanby) refers to the bus stop outside iSite.