Arrowtown by bus: $2.50 from Queenstown or the airport
Arrowtown is the easiest day trip in the basin without a car: two Orbus routes go there, the fare is $2.50, and everything worth seeing is a short walk from the stop.
Published 4 September 2026 · Last checked 18 September 2026 · Corrected 18 September 2026 · By Queenstown Pocket
In short: Take Route 4 direct from Queenstown centre (21 to 23 minutes, by Arthurs Point) or, from the airport, Route 1 to Frankton Hub then Route 2 with a free transfer. Either way it is $2.50 with a Bee Card ($4 cash). The last buses back leave Arrowtown at 9:42pm (Route 4) and 9:56pm (Route 2).
- By car
- 21 km · 25 minSH6 to Lake Hayes, then Arrowtown-Lake Hayes Road; or Malaghans Road
- Without a car
- 21 to 23 min · Orbus Route 4 direct, or Route 1 then Route 2 via Frankton Hub, $2.50 with a Bee Card
Which bus, from where
| From | Route | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| From Queenstown centre | Route 4 (Jacks Point to Arrowtown) | About 21 to 23 min | Direct, by Gorge Road and Arthurs Point, by the ORC timetable. From Stanley Street 6:30am to 10:30pm every day, 21 trips plus 3 extras on most days. |
| From the airport | Route 1 two stops to Frankton Hub, then Route 2 | 20 to 29 min of riding (7 to 9 on Route 1, 13 to 20 on Route 2), plus the wait for the connection | Free transfer if you tag on within 45 minutes. Route 2 runs 5:56am to 10:25pm weekdays. |
| From Frankton, Quail Rise or Lake Hayes Estate | Route 2 (Frankton Hub to Arrowtown) | About 13 to 20 min | Some trips run via the Events Centre; check the departure board. |
| Back to Queenstown at night | Route 4 direct, or Route 2 then Route 1 | Same | Last Route 4 leaves Arrowtown at 9:42pm and the last Route 2 at 9:56pm, weekends included. Check the live board after 9pm. |
Fares are $2.50 adult, $1.50 child or youth with a Bee Card; $4 cash. The card is $5 with a $5 minimum top-up and pays for itself on the first airport ride. All six routes, fare table and transfer rules are in the bus routes and fares guide.
What to do there, free, from the bus stop
- Buckingham Street. The gold-rush frontages, cafes and the Lakes District Museum are the first thing off the bus.
- Arrowtown Chinese Settlement. DOC’s restored 1880s miners’ huts on Bush Creek, entirely outdoors and free at any hour, five minutes’ walk.
- The Arrow River path. Flat riverside walking under the willows; in autumn (April to May) this is the most photographed street and river in the country.
- Tobins Track climbs from the end of the village for a view back over the Wakatipu basin, about an hour up and back.
More free options, each with its bus, are in free things to do in Queenstown.
Local knowledge
- Autumn weekends fill the buses. The Arrowtown Autumn Festival runs in late April; go early or take the Route 2 side from Frankton.
- Route 4 versus Route 2: Route 4 is the one-seat ride from town; Route 2 is quicker if you are already at Frankton Hub or coming from the airport.
- Check the board after 9pm. The evening frequency drops and weekend timetables are slightly reduced, so confirm the last departure before a long dinner.
Questions people ask
How much is the bus from Queenstown to Arrowtown?
$2.50 per adult with a Bee Card, $1.50 child or youth, or $4 cash. Route 4 runs direct from Queenstown centre; from the airport it is Route 1 to Frankton Hub then Route 2, and the transfer is free within 45 minutes with a Bee Card.
How long does the bus to Arrowtown take?
About 21 to 23 minutes on Route 4 from Stanley Street in Queenstown centre, or 13 to 20 minutes on Route 2 from Frankton Hub, by the ORC timetable. From the airport, Route 1 to Frankton Hub (7 to 9 minutes) and Route 2 on to Arrowtown make 20 to 29 minutes of riding by the same timetable, plus the wait for the connection.
What time is the last bus from Arrowtown to Queenstown?
The last Route 4 leaves Arrowtown at 9:42pm and the last Route 2 to Frankton Hub at 9:56pm, on weekends as well as weekdays. Check a live departure board if you are dining late.
Is Arrowtown worth a day trip without a car?
Yes. The gold-rush main street, the Chinese Settlement (free, outdoors, DOC), the Arrow River path and the cafes are all within ten minutes' walk of the bus stop, and the bus costs $2.50 each way.
Can you take the bus to Arrowtown from the airport with luggage?
Yes. There are no luggage racks, so keep bags by your feet; Route 1 to Frankton Hub then Route 2 gets you there for a single $2.50 fare with the free transfer.
Get the Thursday email
One expensive Queenstown decision a week, settled with dated prices and the free alternative, plus three things the week favours. Free. It also carries the one launch email, so you are on the app waitlist too.
One email every Thursday at 6am: one Queenstown decision settled with numbers, and three things the week favours. Plus one email when the app launches. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy
Related guides
- Queenstown bus routes & fares
All six Orbus routes, the $2.50 airport bus, Bee Card vs cash fares and the ferry.
- Queenstown Airport to town: bus, taxi, shuttle or rental
The $2.50 bus, what a taxi costs, shuttles, and when a rental car makes sense.
- Do you need a car in Queenstown?
Where the bus gets you, where it does not, and what a car, shuttle or tour costs instead.
- Bee Card in Queenstown: where to buy it and how it works
$5 card, $5 minimum top-up, $2.50 fares instead of $4 cash. Where to buy and how to top up.
Sources: Otago Regional Council GTFS timetable data (CC BY 4.0), the ORC Queenstown fares page (opens in a new tab) and DOC, Arrowtown Chinese Settlement (opens in a new tab), retrieved 1 September 2026. Trip spans and times are weekday figures computed from the current ORC timetable data; journey times vary with traffic through Frankton. 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.