How to pay for public transport

If you’re new to Auckland public transport, please review this information carefully before you travel, as different services accept different payment methods.  

AT HOP cards, most credit cards and contactless debit cards can be used on all 3 services: bus, train and ferry. 

AT HOP card

You can pay for the bus, train and ferry using your AT HOP card. ‘Tag on’ when you board and ‘tag off’ when you exit. You can also use your HOP card credit to pay for someone else. 

If you’re using your HOP card to pay for the ferry, make sure you have enough funds on your HOP card to cover your ferry journey. For more details on ferry travel, see ferry ticket information.  

Contactless payments 

You can pay for the bus, train and most ferry services using a contactless method*: 

• contactless debit and credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express or UnionPay)  

• Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay in the digital wallet of your smart device. 

As with a HOP card, ‘tag on’ when you board and ‘tag off’ when you exit. Always use the same card or device to tag on and off.  

You cannot pay for someone else with a contactless method, so each person travelling must have their own contactless payment method or a HOP card.

*Excludes Fullers Waiheke commercial ferries. Island Direct Waiheke ferry services are included.

Cash, debit cards and credit cards

Cash and debit cards (EFTPOS) are not accepted on buses. To ride the bus, you must have a HOP card or contactless enabled payment method.

No tickets are sold on trains or ferries. If you do not have a HOP card or contactless enabled payment method, you must buy tickets before boarding the train or ferry.

Train and ferry tickets are available from a ticket machine or customer service centre at the train station or ferry terminal. Cash, debit cards and credit cards are accepted at these locations.  

Please note that there is no ticket machine or customer service centre at the Northcote Point Ferry Terminal. Northcote Point passengers will need to buy tickets at the Downtown Ferry Terminal.  

Travelling with a single-trip ticket

At electronic gates, scan the QR code on your ticket to access and exit the platform. Keep your ticket for the duration of your trip.

• Single-trip tickets can only be used once and must be used within 2 hours of purchase.
• You must travel from the starting point to the destination printed on your ticket.
• If you do not have a valid ticket before boarding the train, you may be fined.