Kelvin Heights by bus
The peninsula across the Frankton Arm: the Kelvin Heights Trail, Jardine Park, the golf course. Poplar Drive is the closest stop to Jardine Park and the start of the Jack's Point Trail; the Kelvin Heights Trail runs along the shore below the stops.
Published 8 April 2026 · Last checked 8 April 2026 · Corrected 18 September 2026 · By Queenstown Pocket
Fare: $2.50 with a Bee Card, $4 cash, on every route below. Times are the scheduled weekday times in the current ORC Orbus timetable (feed 260408-1230), measured from the Frankton Hub to the Mincher Road (Kelvin Heights) stop.
Routes that get you there
| Route | From | Ride | Weekday trips | First | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Route 3 towards Kelvin Heights | Frankton Hub | About 18 min | 24 | 6:37am | 10:37pm |
From the town centre take Route 1 to Frankton Hub first (roughly every 15 minutes) and change; the transfer is free within 45 minutes, so the whole trip is one $2.50 fare.
At the stop
Poplar Drive is the closest stop to Jardine Park and the start of the Jack's Point Trail; the Kelvin Heights Trail runs along the shore below the stops.
The bus hub has every route with its stops, and the Bee Card guide covers where to buy the card.
Questions people ask
Which bus goes to Kelvin Heights?
Route 3 (Quail Rise to Kelvin Heights), from Frankton Hub. Every Orbus fare is $2.50 with a Bee Card, $4 cash, and transfers are free within 45 minutes.
How long is the bus to Kelvin Heights from Queenstown?
Take Route 1 to Frankton Hub (13 to 16 minutes) and change to Route 3 (about 18 minutes more); the transfer is free within 45 minutes.
What time is the last bus to Kelvin Heights?
Route 3: last weekday arrival 10:37pm, first 6:37am, 24 trips a day. Weekend timetables are shorter; check the route page.
How much is the bus to Kelvin Heights?
$2.50 with a Bee Card, $4 cash (the airport leg is $10 cash). The Bee Card costs $5 with a $5 minimum top-up and gives free transfers within 45 minutes.
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Related guides
- Queenstown bus routes & fares
All six Orbus routes, the $2.50 airport bus, Bee Card vs cash fares and the ferry.
- The Queenstown Trail, section by section
Ten sections, over 150 km, with the Trails Trust's distances, grades and times, and the $2.50 bus back from each end.
Sources: Otago Regional Council, Orbus Queenstown GTFS feed 260408-1230 (CC BY 4.0) (opens in a new tab) and Otago Regional Council, Orbus fares (opens in a new tab), retrieved 8 April 2026. Ride times are the median scheduled weekday time between the two stops in the feed; real buses run late in peak traffic on Frankton Road. This independent guide is published by Tally Sphere Limited, a New Zealand company. Spotted a change? Report a problem with this page and the page address comes with your email.