In short
- Our Wellington timetables list 79 bus routes, 8 night routes, 5 train lines, a harbour ferry and about 2,800 stops.
- A one-zone adult trip costs $2.12 with Snapper at peak times and $1.70 off-peak (checked 24 October 2026).
- The Airport Express (AX) links the airport with Wellington Station in about 25–35 minutes.
- Paper train tickets were discontinued in December 2022; Motu Move will replace Snapper in 2027.
Public transport in the Wellington region runs under the Metlink brand. Our timetables list 79 bus routes, eight night routes, five train lines, a harbour ferry and about 2,800 stops, from the city to the Kāpiti Coast, the Hutt Valley and the Wairarapa. Live departures appear on route and stop pages. Fares below were checked on 24 October 2026.
Which train lines run from Wellington?
All five lines start at Wellington Station:
- Kāpiti Line (KPL): north along the coast to Porirua, Paraparaumu and Waikanae.
- Hutt Valley Line (HVL): to Lower Hutt and Upper Hutt.
- Melling Line (MEL): a short branch to Melling in Lower Hutt.
- Johnsonville Line (JVL): up the hills to Johnsonville in the northern suburbs.
- Wairarapa Line (WRL): to Featherston, Carterton and Masterton.
See every line and departure in the Wellington timetables.
How do Wellington buses work?
Buses cover the city, the suburbs, Porirua, the Hutt Valley and the Kāpiti Coast. Many city routes meet the trains at the bus interchange next to Wellington Station. Night routes have an N in their number. The harbour ferry crosses from Queens Wharf to Days Bay on the eastern side of the harbour.
How much does a trip cost?
Fares depend on the number of zones you travel through, from zone 1 in central Wellington to zone 14 in Masterton. You can pay with a Snapper card, a contactless Visa or Mastercard, a phone or watch, or cash. For a one-zone adult trip:
- Snapper: $2.12 at peak times, $1.70 off-peak.
- Contactless: $2.15 at peak times, $1.73 off-peak.
- Cash: $3.00 (child $1.50).
Off-peak is weekdays 9 am–3 pm and after 6:30 pm, all day at weekends and on public holidays. With Snapper you get free bus-to-bus transfers within 30 minutes; contactless cards do not get free transfers yet. A Snapper card costs $10 from a retailer or the vending machine at Wellington Airport; on trains you tag on and off at the readers on the platform. Paper train tickets were discontinued in December 2022.
What changes with Motu Move?
Metlink says the national Motu Move system will replace Snapper across the network in 2027, one vehicle at a time, starting with buses and then ferries and trains. During the switch both systems will work, so keep your Snapper card until the transition is complete.
How do I get to Wellington Airport?
The Airport Express (AX) runs between Wellington Station and the airport via Lambton Quay, Willis Street, Courtenay Place and Kilbirnie, every 10–20 minutes, in about 25–35 minutes. An adult fare costs $12.00 in cash or contactless and $9.23 with Snapper; off-peak discounts and free transfers do not apply. With contactless you tap only once, on the separate reader at the front.
