Bus passes

If you are a frequent bus user, you may want to top-up your Snapper card with a 30-day pass instead of Snapper credit. There are currently two Metlink bus passes that you can choose from – make sure to choose your pass carefully as they are only available for use on certain routes. 

You can load a bus pass onto your Snapper at participating  Snapper retailers, or with the  iOS or Android Snapper Mobile  app. 

Please note that passes can not be purchased using existing Snapper credit.

How it works

The passes are valid for 30 consecutive days (rather than monthly). Because of this, they can start on any day of the month. The pass will activate and start the 30-day count down the first time you tag off on a journey that meets the criteria to use the pass. 

Even if you’re primarily using a travel pass, it’s a good idea to make sure your Snapper always has a few dollars loaded on it. A travel pass loaded on your Snapper will only work if your Snapper card has a positive balance. Any default/penalty fare or IOU incurred will stop your pass from working if you do not have enough balance to cover the charge.

When using a travel pass, you still need to make sure to tag on and off as you normally would, to avoid default/penalty fares.

A Snapper card can have a total of two bus passes loaded at any given time, so you can pre-purchase your next pass before the current one runs out.

Pass options

Metlink 30-day pass for Wellington: $161.40

For bus travel between zones 1 to 3 in Wellington city – ideal if you are travelling from Johnsonville or the Eastern suburbs such as Miramar, Seatoun and Strathmore Park. It includes Routes 60 and 60e as long as you tag on and tag off within zones 1 to 3.  

This pass is not valid on routes 81, 83, 84 and 85 or after midnight routes N6, N8, N22, N66 & N88, any school routes, or the Airport Express.

Metlink 30-day pass for Eastbourne: $215.20

For bus travel from Eastbourne to Wellington city (Routes 81, 83, 84 and 85) and can be used on Wellington city routes as long as you tag on and tag off within zones 1 to 3.   

This pass is not valid on routes 60, 60E, after midnight routes N6, N22 & N66, any school routes, or the Airport Express.

For more information on 30-day passes, see the Metlink website.