About Queenstown Pocket

An independent guide to Queenstown, made in New Zealand, and the app that puts it in your pocket. This page says who is behind it, how the numbers are checked, and how we earn.

Who makes this

Queenstown Pocket is built by a solo founder in New Zealand and published by Tally Sphere Limited, a New Zealand company. The website went live in September 2026 and the iOS and Android app launches in November 2026. There is no agency, no content farm and no tourism-board funding behind it.

It is an independent guide. Queenstown Pocket is not affiliated with or endorsed by Queenstown Lakes District Council, Destination Queenstown, the Otago Regional Council, Orbus or Bee Card, NZSki, Cardrona or RealNZ. When we use their public data we say so and link to it.

How the facts are checked

Primary sources only. Bus fares come from the Otago Regional Council and its GTFS timetable data (CC BY 4.0), track times from the Department of Conservation, prices from the operator’s own site or booking page, dates from the organiser. Every guide names its sources and the date they were retrieved.
Checked in person where it matters. Fares are paid, walks are walked, parking prices are read off the sign. Where a number has not been verified in person the guide says so.
Dated, and re-checked. Each page shows when it was published and when it was last checked. Seasonal numbers (ski dates, fares, opening hours) are re-verified before the season starts. We never bump a date without a real change.
Plain about limits. If Orbus does not go somewhere, or a track is closed, or something is not worth the money, the guide says so.

How we make money

Queenstown Pocket is free, on the web and in the app. We earn in two ways, and both are labelled where they appear.

Partner links. Some guides link to booking partners (Viator, Klook and DiscoverCars). If you book through one of those links we earn a commission from the partner. The link takes you to the partner’s own site at the partner’s own price; the commission comes out of their side. Every partner link carries the line “We earn a commission if you book through this link” right next to it. Viator is a Tripadvisor company; Klook is a trademark of Klook Travel Technology Limited. We are not affiliated with either beyond the affiliate agreement, and neither has any say in what we write.
Sponsored placements (from launch). Local businesses will be able to pay for a labelled “Sponsored” placement in the app. Editorial listings and guides are never paid for, and a sponsor cannot buy a better opinion.

Prices shown next to partner links are the price the partner returned to us on the date shown. Check the partner’s page before you book: prices and availability change. The full rules are in our editorial policy.

Data we use, and the licences

Bus timetable data: Otago Regional Council, licensed under CC BY 4.0 (orc.govt.nz). Queenstown Pocket is not affiliated with or endorsed by Otago Regional Council, Orbus or Bee Card.
Track information: Department of Conservation (CC BY 4.0), reproduced as published.
Weather: MET Norway (Norwegian Meteorological Institute), licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Corrections

If a number on this site is wrong, tell us and we will fix it and note the change on the page. Email hello@queenstownpocket.com. The same address reaches the founder directly for operator, press and partnership enquiries. We also post what is open, closed and changed on Facebook (opens in a new tab).

Company details

Tally Sphere Limited, a company registered in New Zealand. Publisher of Queenstown Pocket on the web, the App Store and Google Play. Our privacy policy explains what we collect (very little) and why.