Queenstown bus routes and how to get from the airport to the city center

Queenstown Bus

There are five main bus routes in Queenstown, New Zealand. So as long as you know where you're going, you can get there cheaply and comfortably.

I don't think I've ever had to stand on a bus in Queenstown before, because the buses aren't that crowded, so if you're thinking of taking a shuttle or taxi because of your luggage, you might want to consider the bus as an option.

We're going to show you which buses go where around Queenstown, one by one.

1) Queenstown Bus Number

There are only 5 main Queenstown bus lines that travel to and from the Queenstown area. This is because Queenstown itself is such a small town, but these five bus routes will get you to and from most parts of Queenstown, so it's a good idea to know what they are.

Later, while looking at a map of Queenstown, I'll show you the bus routes, and I think it's helpful to understand them in color.

[Queenstown bus numbers and origin-destination].

Take a look at the downloaded map below and you'll immediately recognize the names of Queenstown's neighborhoods and bus routes. I'm guessing that downtown Queenstown and Arrowtown are probably the most popular places for you to go.

For reference, buses 1, 2, and 5 are the only buses that go to downtown Queenstown, while buses 3 and 4 do not go downtown.

And for those of you who want to see the map in detail, I've pasted it below as an attachment so you can download it if you're interested.

2) How to get from the airport to the city by bus in Queenstown

If you're traveling to Queenstown, you're probably traveling to the airport. The bus from Queenstown Airport to the city is bus number 1. As soon as you step out of Queenstown Airport, you'll see a bus stop across the street.

We're going to assume that you'll most likely be staying in downtown Queenstown (the city center), and the bus from the airport to the city is bus 1.

From the airport, you can take a bus labeled ORBUS, and the bus station is easy to find as soon as you exit the arrivals hall. Bus stops are not as well developed as in my country.

3) Queenstown bus fare to and from Queenstown Airport

The original public transportation bus fare is NZD $4 when paid in cash ($2 with a Bee card). However, if you're traveling through Queenstown Airport, or anywhere else for that matter, the cash rate is $8 for 13-18 year olds and $10 for adults.

Obviously, using the airport is considered touristy, and bus fares to Queenstown are much more expensive than going anywhere else.

In the unlikely event that you need to take a taxi, shuttle, or rental car from the airport other than a bus, please use the transportation options available at the airport page below.

4) Buses to downtown Queenstown and Arrowtown

If you're visiting Queenstown as a tourist, downtown Queenstown is probably where you'll spend most of your time during your stay, as it's where most of your accommodation is located and where you'll find the most things to see and do (Skyline, Jetboat, TSS Earn Slaw Steamer etc.) are almost all in town.

Many people come to ski or snowboard in the winter, and the buses start in downtown Queenstown. Of course, they do pick up people along the way. If you're in the neighborhood and need to get back to downtown Queenstown, you can catch the 1, 2, or 5 buses.

In my opinion, if you don't venture outside of Queenstown, the next most popular area is the Arrowtownis likely to be

During the gold rush of the early 1900s, this area is widely recognized as the place where gold was mined from running water. You can still do that today, and you'll also see the dwellings of the Chinese people who once settled and lived there.

5) What to expect when riding the bus in Queenstown

Now that you know which buses go where, all you have to do is look at the final destination written on the front of the bus when you board.

Why this is important is because you know how many buses you need to take, but you might end up on the wrong bus in the opposite direction of where you want to go, and I've made that mistake many times.

I caught the number 5 bus from the Frankton hub to get to downtown Queenstown, and sure enough, it was the number 5 bus to downtown Queenstown, but at that point it was going in the opposite direction, to the Lake Hayes estate.

Therefore, when boarding the bus at a stop, be sure to check the final destination area on the front of the bus before boarding.

Finalize

Today we've covered the Queenstown bus routes and bus fares, but if you think you'll be using the bus a lot while you're in Queenstown, we recommend getting a Bee Card, which is a much cheaper way to travel on the bus than constantly paying cash.

Buy and top up your Queenstown Bus Bee CardFor more information, please refer to my previous post. Also, if you want to know the bus route and bus schedule by entering a specific origin and destination, please use the link below.

Now that I'm down in Queenstown, I've noticed that everything is more expensive than in Auckland - accommodation, rent, necessities, etc. However, there is one thing that seems to be cheaper in Queenstown than Auckland - bus fares - and that's when I use my BeeCard.

Even if you have a car, it's hard to park it because of the limited parking spaces, and it's also very expensive, so taking public transportation buses seems to be a necessity for living here. Thank you for reading this article.