Wellington bus tickets & fares

Official fares for city buses in Wellington: tickets, passes, discounts and where to buy.

Fares at a glance

A single ticket costs NZ$2.12 (one trip by bus or train, free bus-to-bus transfers).

Tickets

Snapper — 1 zone, peak One trip by bus or train, free bus-to-bus transfersOff-peak (weekdays 9 am–3 pm and after 6:30 pm, weekdays before 7 am on buses, all day on weekends and public holidays) 20% less: NZ$1.70. Child 50% (NZ$1.06 at peak). Cash NZ$3.00, no off-peak discount and no free transfers. Contactless credit / debit card: adult Snapper fare plus a 1.5% fee. Fares valid from 15 May 2026, checked 2026-10-24.NZ$2.12
Snapper — 2 zones, peak One trip by bus or train, free bus-to-bus transfersOff-peak (weekdays 9 am–3 pm and after 6:30 pm, weekdays before 7 am on buses, all day on weekends and public holidays) 20% less: NZ$2.80. Child 50%. Cash NZ$4.50, no off-peak discount and no free transfers. Contactless credit / debit card: adult Snapper fare plus a 1.5% fee. Fares valid from 15 May 2026, checked 2026-10-24.NZ$3.50
Snapper — 3 zones, peak One trip by bus or train, free bus-to-bus transfersOff-peak (weekdays 9 am–3 pm and after 6:30 pm, weekdays before 7 am on buses, all day on weekends and public holidays) 20% less: NZ$3.74. Child 50%. Cash NZ$6.00, no off-peak discount and no free transfers. Contactless credit / debit card: adult Snapper fare plus a 1.5% fee. Fares valid from 15 May 2026, checked 2026-10-24.NZ$4.67
Snapper — 5 zones, peak One trip by bus or train, free bus-to-bus transfersOff-peak (weekdays 9 am–3 pm and after 6:30 pm, weekdays before 7 am on buses, all day on weekends and public holidays) 20% less: NZ$5.11. Child 50%. Cash NZ$8.00, no off-peak discount and no free transfers. Contactless credit / debit card: adult Snapper fare plus a 1.5% fee. Fares valid from 15 May 2026, checked 2026-10-24.NZ$6.39
Snapper — 14 zones (Wairarapa), peak One trip, longest distance on the networkThe highest fare on the network, e.g. Masterton–Wellington by train. Off-peak NZ$14.80, cash NZ$23.50. Fares valid from 15 May 2026, checked 2026-10-24.NZ$18.50
Airport Express — Snapper One trip between the airport and the cityChild NZ$4.62. No off-peak discount, and Airport Express is not part of free bus-to-bus transfers. Fares valid from 15 May 2026, checked 2026-10-24.NZ$9.23

Passes and cards

Metlink Explorer day pass — zones 1–3 One day, unlimited buses and trainsLoaded on a Snapper card. Zones 1–7 NZ$20.00, 1–10 NZ$27.00, 1–14 NZ$32.00. Not valid on ferries. Fares valid from 15 May 2026, checked 2026-10-24.NZ$15.00
30-day bus pass — Wellington 30 days from first use, unlimited busesEastbourne version NZ$249.40. Concessions and off-peak discounts do not apply. 30-day rail passes cost from NZ$63.60 (1 zone) to NZ$555.00 (14 zones); child half price. Fares valid from 15 May 2026, checked 2026-10-24.NZ$187.00

Discounts and free travel

Concessions — Snapper — School-age children 50% off, Community Connect (Community Services Card, red Snapper card) 50% off, eligible full-time tertiary students 25% off, accessible concession (Total Mobility or Blind Low Vision NZ) 50% off. Only one concession can be loaded on a Snapper card. Fares valid from 15 May 2026, checked 2026-10-24.
Free travel — Children under 5 travel free with someone aged 10 or older. SuperGold card holders travel free during off-peak hours. Fares valid from 15 May 2026, checked 2026-10-24.

Buying tickets and notes

How to pay — Tag on and off with a Snapper card, or tap a contactless credit / debit card for single adult trips (+1.5% fee). Concessions, day and 30-day passes and free transfers need Snapper. Free bus-to-bus transfers: up to 4, each tag-on within 30 minutes of the last tag-off, journey finished within 4 hours. Cash costs at least 25% more and is being phased out by March 2027. Fares valid from 15 May 2026, checked 2026-10-24.

Official sources

Prices are taken from the operators' official websites. Check before you travel — operators can change fares.

metlink.org.nz/tickets-and-fares/tickets-and-fares

Frequently asked questions

How much is a bus ticket in Wellington?

Snapper — 1 zone, peak: NZ$2.12 (one trip by bus or train, free bus-to-bus transfers).

Is there a day pass in Wellington?

Yes — Metlink Explorer day pass — zones 1–3: NZ$15.00.

How much is the airport bus in Wellington?

Airport Express — Snapper: NZ$9.23. Child NZ$4.62. No off-peak discount, and Airport Express is not part of free bus-to-bus transfers. Fares valid from 15 May 2026, checked 2026-10-24.

Who travels free or at a discount in Wellington?

Concessions — Snapper: School-age children 50% off, Community Connect (Community Services Card, red Snapper card) 50% off, eligible full-time tertiary students 25% off, accessible concession (Total Mobility or Blind Low Vision NZ) 50% off. Only one concession can be loaded on a Snapper card. Fares valid from 15 May 2026, checked 2026-10-24. Free travel: Children under 5 travel free with someone aged 10 or older. SuperGold card holders travel free during off-peak hours. Fares valid from 15 May 2026, checked 2026-10-24.

Where can I buy bus tickets in Wellington?

How to pay: Tag on and off with a Snapper card, or tap a contactless credit / debit card for single adult trips (+1.5% fee). Concessions, day and 30-day passes and free transfers need Snapper. Free bus-to-bus transfers: up to 4, each tag-on within 30 minutes of the last tag-off, journey finished within 4 hours. Cash costs at least 25% more and is being phased out by March 2027. Fares valid from 15 May 2026, checked 2026-10-24.