Public Transport in Christchurch: A Guide to Buses, Ferries & More 🚊 [2023]

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Bus Services in Christchurch

The Christchurch bus network is the most extensive and essentially the only cheap and useful public transport network in Christchurch. If you are travelling to and from the region’s suburbs and attractions, then there will be a bus service to get you there.

Remember, you will need to signal the driver to get the bus to stop at a quiet stop.

Christchurch Bus Interchange

The Bus Interchange is the transport hub of Christchurch. It is situated on the corner of Lichfield Street and Colombo Street. There are plenty of maps and timetables to help you plan your journey, as well as real-time arrival screens.

You can also ask questions at the Metro Info Counter and buy a Metrocard from there. In short, head to the Christchurch Bus Interchange if you have any doubt about getting around the city by bus.

Christchurch City and Suburb Bus Services

All the local bus services you’ll ever need in Christchurch include:

• The Orbiter (Or) – Eastgate Shopping Centre – St Martins – Princess Margaret Hospital – Barrington Mall – Westfield Riccarton – Burnside High School – Northlands – – The Palms – Eastgate Shopping Centre
• Blue Line (1) – Princess Margaret Hospital or Cashmere – Sydenham Shops – Bus Interchange – Manchester St Super Stop – Northlands – Belfast – Kaiapoi – Rangiora
• Purple Line (3) – Christchurch Airport or Sheffield Cres – Avonhead Mall – University of Canterbury – Westfield Riccarton – Christchurch Hospital – Bus Interchange – Ara Institute – Ferrymead – Sumner
• Yellow Line (5) – Rolleston – Templeton – The Hub Hornby – Westfield Riccarton – Christchurch Hospital – Bus Interchange – Manchester St Super Stop – Eastgate Shopping Centre – New Brighton
• Orange Line (7) – Halswell – Addington – Christchurch Hospital – Bus Interchange – Manchester St Super Stop – The Palms – Burwood Hospital – Queenspark
• 17 – Sheffield Cres – Rossall St / Leinster Rd – Park Tce – Bus Interchange – Moorhouse Ave – Waltham – St Martins – Huntsbury
• 28 – Northwood – Casebrook – Bishopdale – Northlands Mall – Cranford St – Edgeware Village – Manchester St Super Stop – Bus Interchange – Opawa – Heathcote – Lyttelton – Rapaki
• 29 (Airport) – Bus Interchange – Manchester St Super Stop – Memorial Ave near Fendalton – Christchurch International Airport
• 44 – Dallington – The Palms – Warrington St Shops – Bus Interchange – Manchester St Super Stop – Sydenham Shops – Barrington Mall – Westmorland
• 60 – Wigram – Aidanfield – Hillmorton – Barrington Mall – Christchurch Hospital – Bus Interchange – The Palms – Travis Rd – New Brighton – Southshore
• 80 – Lincoln University – Lincoln Township – Prebbleton – Westfield Riccarton – Christchurch Hospital – Bus Interchange – Eastgate Shopping Centre – Parklands
• 81 – Lincoln University – Prebbleton – Christchurch Hospital – Bus Interchange – Ara Institute
• 85 – Faringdon – Rolleston – Christchurch Hospital – Bus Interchange – Ara Institute
• 86 – Darfield – Kirwee – West Melton – Westfield Riccarton – Christchurch Hospital – Bus Interchange – Manchester St Super Stop
• 87 – Southbridge – Leeston – Doyleston – Irwell – Springston – Lincoln University
• 91 – Rangiora Northern Park and Ride – Rangiora Central Park and Ride – Rangiora Southern Park and Ride – Manchester St near Kilmore St – Manchester St Super Stop – Bus Interchange – Christchurch Hospital
• 92 – Kaiapoi Central Park and Ride – Kaiapoi Southern Park and Ride – Manchester St Super Stop – Bus Interchange – Christchurch Hospital
• 95 – Waikuku Beach – Pegasus – Woodend – Kaiapoi – Silverstream – Belfast – Bus Interchange – Ara Institute
• 97 – Pegasus – Woodend – Rangiora Town Hall – Acacia Avenue
• 100 – Halswell – Wigram – Church Corner – University of Canterbury – Westfield Riccarton – Merivale Mall – The Palms
• 107 – Northwood – Styx Mill – Willowbank Wildlife Reserve – Veitches Rd – Northcote – Northlands Mall
• 120 – Sheffield Cres – Burnside – University of Canterbury – Westfield Riccarton – Addington – Selwyn St Shops – Spreydon – Barrington Mall
• 125 – Redwood – Northlands Mall – Bishopdale Mall – Christchurch International Airport – Avonhead Mall – The Hub Hornby – Westlake – Halswell
• 130 – The Hub Hornby – Hei Hei – Church Corner – Westfield Riccarton – University of Canterbury – Avonhead Mall – Burnside High School
• 135 – New Brighton – Taiora QEII – Burwood Hospital – Prestons – The Palms
• 140 – The Hub Hornby – Russley – Church Corner – Westfield Riccarton – Moorhouse Ave – Eastgate Shopping Centre – Ferrymead Shops – Mt Pleasant
• 155 – Eastgate Shopping Centre – The Tannery – Ferrymead – Lyttelton Wharf
• 820 – Burnham – IZone Business Park – Rolleston – Faringdon Centre – Springston – Lincoln University – Lincoln.

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Ferry Services in Christchurch

The Diamond Harbour Ferry transports between Lyttelton and Diamond Harbour. Both commuters and sightseers use the ferry service and it takes about 8 minutes.

The ferry departs at least once an hour during the day between the following times:

• From Lyttelton
  Monday-Thursday – 6:15 am – 9:30 pm
  Friday – 6:15 am – 10:30 pm
  Saturday – 6:50 am – 10:50 pm
  Sunday – 7:50 am – 7:50 pm.
• From Diamond Harbour
  Monday-Thursday – 6:27 am – 9:42 pm
  Friday – 6:27 am – 10:42 pm
  Saturday – 7:02 am – 11:02 pm
  Sunday – 8:02 am – 8:02 pm.

There are also ferry services with daily departures from Lyttelton to Quail Island, as well as to Ripapa Island on weekends between November and February.

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Christchurch Taxis

For the convenience and the fact that you can find taxis operating 24 hours a day, taxis in Christchurch are another way to get around the city.

There are around six taxi companies operating in Christchurch, while Uber also has a presence here.

For more information on Christchurch’s taxi services and Uber, check out Christchurch Cab Fare: Taxi & Uber Prices in Christchurch.

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Christchurch Tram

That’s right, there’s a tram in Christchurch. Although, this is meant to be a means of sightseeing more than public transport. If you really want to transport yourself around the city centre in style then the tram would be the way to do so.

The Christchurch tram takes passengers on a small one-way loop of the city centre stopping at 17 different places. You can hop on at any stop. Trams operate every 15-20 minutes and are operated by Christchurch Attractions. Hop-on hop-off tickets are available on Viator and Klook. 

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Christchurch E-Scooters and E-Bikes

A popular way to get between bus journeys and your destination, or simply around the city centre, is on shared e-scooters and e-bikes.

Check out the Christchurch City Council website to see which e-scooter and e-bike apps to download and some of the simple rules for riding and parking them in the city.