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Queenstown town centre
Photo: Destination Queenstown

Getting around

Getting Around Queenstown

Buses, ferries, airport transfers, taxis and parking — how to move around the Wakatipu, with links to official timetables and fares.

Short version: Central Queenstown is walkable. For everywhere else, the Orbus bus network runs on a flat fare with a Bee Card, all routes meet at the Frankton Hub, and Route 1 connects the airport with town. Lake ferries and shuttles fill in the rest.

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Orbus — the public bus network

Queenstown's buses are Orbus, run by the Otago Regional Council. Five colour-coded routes fan out from the Frankton Bus Hubinterchange, connecting the town centre, the airport, Frankton, Arrowtown, Kelvin Heights, Jacks Point and Lake Hayes Estate. Timetables and route maps change from time to time — always check the official page before you travel.

Route 1

Remarkables Shops to Sunshine Bay

Runs through the town centre, Frankton and the airport — the route most visitors use to reach the airport (ZQN).

21 stops — show list
  1. Red Oaks Drive
  2. Remarkables Park
  3. Airport
  4. Frankton Bus Hub
  5. Marina Heights
  6. Perkins Road
  7. Battery Hill
  8. Sherwood Manor and Gold Ridge Hotels
  9. Frankton Road, Rotary sign
  10. Hensman Road / Oaks Shores
  11. The Oaks Club
  12. Frankton Road, opposite Copthorne Hotel
  13. Blue Peaks
  14. Stanley Street Bus Hub A, Liquor King
  15. Steamer Wharf / Crowne Plaza
  16. Rydges Hotel
  17. Heritage Resort, heading uphill
  18. Cameron Place
  19. Lordens Place
  20. O'Learys
  21. Treetops

Route 2

Arrowtown to Frankton Hub via Events Centre

Connects the Frankton interchange out to historic Arrowtown.

10 stops — show list
  1. Adamson Drive (Reed Park)
  2. Arrowtown Primary School
  3. Centennial Dr, 12
  4. Ramshaw Lane, 47
  5. Malaghans Road, towards Frankton
  6. Mora Wines, towards Frankton
  7. Amisfield Winery
  8. State Highway / Hawthorne Drive
  9. Queenstown Events Centre
  10. Frankton Bus Hub

Route 3

Quail Rise to Kelvin Heights

Serves the Kelvin Heights peninsula and the eastern suburbs.

17 stops — show list
  1. Quail Rise, near Snowshill-Lane
  2. Quail Rise, near Portree Drive
  3. Tucker Beach Road
  4. Hawthorne Drive, behind Pak n Save
  5. Shearers Drive, towards Joe's Garage
  6. Grant Road
  7. Frankton Bus Hub, golf course
  8. Red Oaks Drive
  9. Remarkables Park
  10. Robertson St
  11. Douglas St
  12. Willow Place / Kawarau Fall
  13. Loop Road (East)
  14. Loop Road (West)
  15. Mincher Road (Kelvin Heights)
  16. Bay View (Kelvin Heights)
  17. Kelvin Heights (Four View / Grove Lane)

Route 4

Jacks Point to Arrowtown via Wakatipu High and Queenstown

Links the southern Jacks Point growth area through town to Arrowtown.

30 stops — show list
  1. Jacks Point Terminus
  2. Jacks Point Rise, opposite 66
  3. Jacks Point Rise, 12
  4. Jack Hanley Dr, opposite Pumptrack
  5. Jack Hanley Dr, 63
  6. Howden Dr, opposite 13
  7. Hanleys Farm, Jack Hanley Dr (playground)
  8. McBride St, Frankton
  9. Hawthorne Drive, Library
  10. Frankton Bus Hub
  11. Marina Heights
  12. Perkins Road
  13. Battery Hill
  14. Sherwood Manor and Gold Ridge Hotels
  15. Frankton Road, Rotary sign
  16. Hensman Road / Oaks Shores
  17. The Oaks Club
  18. Frankton Road, opposite Copthorne Hotel
  19. Blue Peaks
  20. Stanley Street Bus Hub C, Courthouse
  21. Boundary St
  22. Gorge Rd, past Warren Park
  23. Industrial Place, towards Arthurs Point
  24. McChesney Rd
  25. Atley Rd (Queenstown Top 10 Holiday Park)
  26. Arthurs Point (Coronet Hotels)
  27. Manse Road (to Arrowtown)
  28. Arrowtown (Ramshaw Lane)
  29. Centennial Ave, opposite Jack Reid Park
  30. Adamson Drive (Reed Park)

Route 5

Lake Hayes Estate to Queenstown

Commuter link from Lake Hayes Estate into town.

24 stops — show list
  1. Lake Hayes Estate / Nerin Square
  2. Onslow Rd, opposite 64
  3. Red Cottage Drive, opposite 35
  4. Erskine Street, 24
  5. Sylvan Street, 32
  6. Kawarau Park, Jones Ave
  7. Jones Ave
  8. Stalker Rd
  9. Tucker Beach Road
  10. State Highway / Hawthorne Drive
  11. Hawthorne Drive, behind Pak n Save
  12. Shearers Drive, towards Joe's Garage
  13. Grant Road
  14. Frankton Bus Hub
  15. Marina Heights
  16. Perkins Road
  17. Battery Hill
  18. Sherwood Manor and Gold Ridge Hotels
  19. Frankton Road, Rotary sign
  20. Hensman Road / Oaks Shores
  21. The Oaks Club
  22. Frankton Road, opposite Copthorne Hotel
  23. Blue Peaks
  24. Stanley Street Bus Hub C, Courthouse
Live timetables & route maps (ORC)
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Next departures

Scheduled times from the Orbus timetable — not live. Buses can run early or late; confirm on the official timetable.

No more scheduled departures from this stop today. See the full timetable.

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Bee Card & fares

Orbus uses a flat fare — one low price to anywhere on the network — and the cheapest way to pay is a reusable Bee Card, tagged on and off each trip. The same card works on the ferries and on the Dunedin Orbus network. Change buses within the transfer window and your connecting trip is free — a single fare covers the journey. Children and youth travel at concession rates on a registered card.

  • • Buy and top up a Bee Card, then tag on and off; it is the cheapest way to pay.
  • • No Bee Card? You can pay the driver in cash when you board (have the fare ready). Cash fares are a little higher than the Bee Card fare.
  • • One flat adult fare per trip; free transfer if you change buses in time.
  • • Concession fares for children (5–12) and youth (13–18) on a registered card.
About the Bee CardCurrent fares
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Lake Wakatipu ferries

Passenger ferries cross Lake Wakatipu between the town centre (Steamer Wharf / Main Town Pier), Frankton Marina and the Kelvin Heights peninsula — a scenic, traffic-free alternative to the bus. The ferry is part of the Orbus network, so your Bee Card works on board. Check the operator for the current sailing schedule.

Queenstown Ferries timetable

Airport, taxis, parking & more

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Airport transfers

Queenstown Airport (ZQN) is at Frankton, about a 10-minute drive from the town centre. Reach town by Orbus Route 1, door-to-door shuttle, taxi/rideshare, or rental car. Shuttles and rental desks are at the terminal.

Airport transport options
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Taxis & rideshare

Taxis wait at the airport and around the town centre, and rideshare operates locally. Expect surge pricing on busy winter and event nights — book ahead where you can, especially for early flights.

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Parking

Central Queenstown parking is limited and metered, with time limits in the CBD and paid buildings such as the Boundary Street and Man Street car parks. Park & ride from Frankton and take the bus in on busy days.

QLDC parking
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Walking & cycling

The town centre is compact and very walkable — the lakefront, restaurants and bars are mostly a 10-minute stroll apart. The Queenstown Trail links town, Frankton, Arrowtown and Gibbston for cyclists and e-bikes.

Queenstown Trail

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Timetables, fares and routes are set by the Otago Regional Council (Orbus) and operators, and can change. Always confirm details on the official pages before you travel. Route and stop data derived from ORC's GTFS feed, licensed CC BY 4.0 and may be modified (feed 260408-1230, imported 9 Aug 2026).

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