A new daily bus service between Oamaru and Dunedin begins on 1 October 2026, providing a new public transport connection for people in Oamaru and communities along the Waikouaiti Coast.
The new Route 1 extension starts on 1 October, with a return trip between Ōamaru and Dunedin operating seven days a week.
Otago regional Council (ORC) Public Transport Portfolio Co-lead Cr Alan Somerville says, “The new service will provide a valuable public transport connection for people living in Oamaru and the communities between Oamaru and Dunedin.
“It will provide a morning service from Ōamaru to Dunedin and an evening service from Dunedin to Oamaru, seven days a week, giving people another option for travelling to work, appointments and other activities in Dunedin.”
“The Oamaru service is a significant addition to ORC’s bus services and opens up an exciting option for people travelling between Oamaru and Dunedin. This is an opportunity for people to show their support for this service by using it.”
The service will depart its first stop in North Oamaru at 8.21am, arriving in Dunedin at about 10.20am, and leave Dunedin’s Bus Hub at 5.05pm for Ōamaru.
The service will stop at Maheno, Hampden, Palmerston, Waikouaiti and Waitati, with nine new bus stops in Ōamaru providing morning pick-up and evening drop-off points
To help improve journey times, on weekdays, Route 1 services travelling to and from Oamaru will not divert through Karitane and Warrington but will travel through both townships on weekends.
For further information concerning Oamaru to Dunedin bus services.
