Getting Around Dunedin
Dunedin offers several practical ways to explore the city and reach nearby towns. The city has an extensive bus network, is walkable in its central areas, and provides options for visitors arriving by air or other transport modes.
The Bus Network
Dunedin's public transport is built around the Orbus bus network, which connects the city centre with outlying suburbs and nearby towns like Mosgiel and Palmerston. Most routes operate as cross-city services via the city centre, with some longer-distance routes terminating there. All buses are wheelchair-accessible and fitted with bike racks.
Buses operate from the Central City Bus Hub, located on Great King Street between Moray Place and St Andrew Street. During weekdays, most routes run at half-hourly intervals. On evenings after 7pm, weekends, and public holidays, services run hourly. On Christmas Day, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday, no buses operate.
Bus Fares and Tickets
You can pay bus fares with cash or the Bee Card, an electronic ticketing system. Cash fares are more expensive than Bee Card fares. Bee Cards also offer fare concessions and discounted transfers: if you board a second bus within 30 minutes of leaving the first, your second trip receives a discount.
To get a Bee Card, pay a $5 setup fee with a minimum top-up of $5 (up to a maximum of $299). Cards can be purchased or topped up by bus drivers using cash, or at several service locations including the Dunedin City Council Civic Centre on Rattray Street and libraries in Mosgiel, Port Chalmers, Blueskin Bay, and Waikouaiti.
All bus fares within Dunedin are flat fares, and transfers between routes are free.
Walking in the City
Dunedin's layout centres on the Octagon, an eight-sided plaza with a traffic roundabout. The main retail and dining areas lie further north along George Street. The railway station and museums are located about 400 metres south of the Octagon at Anzac Square.
Walking is practical in the central areas, though be aware that Dunedin has long street blocks—a walk from the Octagon to the Botanic Gardens can take close to an hour. The city also has steep hills: always check contours before setting out, as the shorter route may not be the easiest.
Getting from Dunedin Airport
Dunedin Airport is located about 30 kilometres west of the city. There is no scheduled public transport service to the airport.
The main options for airport transport are:
- Taxis: Cost around $90 to $100 and take approximately 20 minutes to the city centre.
- Airport shuttles: Several operators provide van services. Typical fares are $20 to $25 per passenger between the airport and anywhere within a 5-kilometre radius of the Octagon (city centre). Shuttles usually pick up and drop off multiple booked passengers en route.
- Rental cars: Several major rental car operators serve the airport.
Bus Services to Other Towns
If you're connecting to other regions, several bus operators run services from Dunedin:
- Intercity connects Dunedin to Oamaru, Christchurch, Queenstown, Te Anau, and Invercargill with daily departures.
- Orbus runs a weekday service to Palmerston (70 minutes each way), departing from the Dunedin Bus Hub on Great King Street.
- Ritchies provides a daily service to Wanaka via Cromwell, with a connection onward to Queenstown, operating from their office at 7 Halsey Street.
- Catch-a-Bus South operates a door-to-door service to Bluff via State Highway 1, running weekdays and weekends.
Other Transport Options
The Dunedin Railway Station is centrally located and serves as an architectural landmark. While there is no longer regular long-distance passenger train service, scenic trains operate to Hindon and Oamaru.
Cruise ship passengers can reach the city from Port Chalmers (about 14 kilometres northeast) by taking the Orbus route 14 City bus, which costs $3 one-way and takes about 20 minutes to reach the Octagon. Shuttle buses operated by cruise lines also serve this route, typically costing $10 one-way or $15 return. Taxis from Port Chalmers cost around $45 one-way.
Getting Help
For questions about bus routes and services, call the bus helpline on 0800 672 8736 (free from cell phones) between 8am and 5:30pm Monday to Friday, or 9am to 5pm on weekends. Most bus drivers can also help direct you to the right bus if you ask.