FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Better Bus? How does it work?

We are an Abel Tasman transport provider between Nelson, Richmond, Motueka, Kaiteriteri, and Marahau. Our bus has two routes per day. In the morning, we pick up people in Nelson, Richmond, and Motueka, and drop off at the southern end of the Abel Tasman National Park – either Kaiteriteri or Marahau. In the afternoon, we do the reverse, ending in Nelson.

We have set stops and pickup times; see our schedule here.

Bookings are essential and can be made on our website. You can also contact us to make your booking.

Outside of these times, we are happy to arrange private transfers. Contact us to enquire.

 

If I take the Better Bus, will I make it on time for my morning water taxi into the Abel Tasman?

Yes, our bus schedule is designed to align with the water taxi and all Abel Tasman operator schedules. We work closely with the Abel Tasman operators to get people on time to their boat trips and tours. See our timetable here for morning departures and arrival times.

 

My boat returns in the afternoon just a few minutes before the bus pickup time. Will I make it on time to meet the bus?

Our afternoon bus is aligned with the 4:15-4:30 pm return boats to Kaiteriteri and the 4:30 pm return water taxis in Marahau. When you arrive, please head straight to the bus.

 

What if my water taxi is late returning to Kaiteriteri/Marahau? Will I miss the bus?

In the event the water taxis are delayed returning to Kaiteriteri/Marahau, the Better Bus will wait for you.

 

I am flying into Nelson Airport. Can the Better Bus pick me up from the airport and take me to the Abel Tasman?

We cannot offer morning pickups from the airport, since it interferes with our normal bus schedule. At times, we can offer a private transport outside of our normal bus hours. Contact us and tell us how many people are in your group, what time your flight arrives, and where you need to go, and we will respond with our availability and a quote.

 

I am flying out of Nelson Airport. Can the Better Bus drop me off at the airport?

Yes, we can bring you to the airport if you book our afternoon bus. However, bear in mind that the drop-off time varies day to day, depending on whether any water taxis were delayed, the number of other stops, and traffic. We aim to be back in Nelson by 6:00 pm but this cannot be guaranteed.

We suggest booking flight departures from 7:15 pm onwards.

Additionally, our drop off is outside the airport gates, about a 2-minute walk to the terminal. If you would like to be dropped off at the airport, please write this in the notes section of your booking.

 

I made a booking, but did not receive any confirmation number or email.

When you make a booking, you should automatically receive a booking number and an email with your booking. If that did not happen, then your booking has not gone through, and you need to try again. If you continue to have issues, please contact us and we will assist you with your booking. (Be sure to also check your spam folder!)

If you made a booking and received a message “This page has already been submitted” then your booking has not gone through. Please try again or contact us for assistance.

 

How do I pay for my booking?

We offer a few convenient payment options:

1. Pay with Cash (On the Bus)
   You can pay the driver in cash when you board. Please note that both the outbound and return trips must be paid for at the same time.
2. Pay by Credit Card (Over the Phone)
   Give us a call in advance to pay by credit card over the phone. A 3% transaction fee applies. Please note: we are not able to process credit card payments on the bus.
3. Pay via PayPal
   When booking online, choose “Credit card (via PayPal)” as your payment method. After submitting your booking, you’ll be prompted to enter your card details and will be redirected to PayPal.
   If you encounter any issues, just get in touch — we’re happy to send a new payment request via PayPal.