Child fares for passengers 5 to 15
Find discounted child fares for public transport in Auckland, and how to apply.
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Fares for children 0 to 4 years old
Children under 5 travel free when with a paying passenger. They do not need an AT HOP card.
Fares for children 5 to 15 years old
Children aged 5 to 15 are eligible for a child concession. This gives them 40% off travel on buses, trains and ferries when using their registered AT HOP card.
Children also travel free on weekends and public holidays when using their AT HOP card.
To get discounted fares, children must be between 5 and 15 years old and have their own AT HOP card registered with their correct date of birth.
Cash child fares are available, but the savings are not as great as with AT HOP. Child fares are not available with contactless payments.
Child bus and train fares
Cash fare (trains only)
CityLink $0.50
1 zone $2
2 zones $3.50
3 zones $4.50
4+ zones $5.50
AT HOP fare
CityLink $0.45
1 zone $1.45
2 zones $2.75
3 zones $3.70
4+ zones $4.55
Child ferry fares
Local ferry
Te Onewa Northcote Point to or from Birkenhead
AT HOP $1.45
Cash $2
Inter Ferry
Beach Haven to or from Hobsonville Point
AT HOP $2.75
Cash $3.50
Inner Harbour Ferry
To or from the city centre and Bayswater, Birkenhead, Te Onewa Northcote Point, Devonport
AT HOP $4.44
Cash $6.50
Mid Harbour Ferry
To or from the city centre and Half Moon Bay, West Harbour, Beach Haven, or Hobsonville Point
AT HOP $5.94
Cash $8
Outer Harbour Ferry
To or from the city centre and Gulf Harbour or Pine Harbour
AT HOP $7.92
Cash $9
Waiheke Island
Operated by Fullers360
AT HOP $13.50
Cash $13.50
Waiheke Island
Operated by Island Direct
AT HOP $13
Cash $13
How to get discounted child fares (4 steps)
Before you start
You’ll need:
- an AT HOP card
- a MyAT account.
You can either link your child’s card with your MyAT account or create their own for them to manage. Linking it allows you to top up and manage their card in case it gets lost or stolen.
Register your child’s AT HOP card
- Sign in to MyAT, and select ‘Register a card’.
- If you will manage the card, select ‘New linked account’ and add the details of the person using the card. Your child’s date of birth will determine their eligibility for the concession.
- Enter the card number on the back of their HOP card.
- Select ‘Register card’.
Wait 1 hour
It takes around 1 hour for your card to be registered.
You can check in MyAT to see whether it’s finished processing.
Adult fares will apply until your concession has been confirmed.
Tag on to activate your concession
To activate your concession, tag on to the HOP reader or electronic gate on any bus, train or ferry.
If you do not tag on within 60 days of setting up your card, your registration will expire and your card will revert to adult fares. If this happens, contact us or complete the registration process again.
Important things to know
What happens if your card gets lost, stolen or damaged
Your concession is attached to the card, not your account. This means if your child loses their card and needs a replacement, you need to set up the concession again on their new card.
You can transfer any remaining balance from the old card onto the new. Find out how to cancel a card and transfer the balance.
When child fares apply
Child fares are available on AT bus, train and ferry services, and AT Local. Students travelling on school buses will also pay child fares.
Children travel free on weekends and public holidays when using their AT HOP card.
Proof of age
Children may be asked by a Transport Officer to show a valid photo ID with their date of birth to prove they are eligible for the child concession.
Expiry
A child concession expires once the child turns 16 years old. You can continue using the same AT HOP card, even after the concession has expired.
Secondary students aged 16 to 19 can apply for a secondary student concession to continue getting discounted fares.