How to pay for public transport

Pay for travel using an AT HOP card or using cash for a paper ticket.

Pay for travel with an AT HOP card

Pre-pay for travel on buses, trains and ferries with the AT HOP smart card.

Find out where and how to buy an AT HOP card.
Find out about topping up your AT HOP card.
Find out how to use the AT HOP card.

Pay for the bus with cash

All buses accept cash for payment of fares. When boarding the bus, have your fare ready to give to the bus driver. Exact change is appreciated, but small notes can usually be accepted, and change given.

Find out how to pay for travel using an AT HOP card.

Pay for the train with cash

No tickets are sold onboard trains. Auckland trains operate on a pre-pay system, you have to have a valid ticket before boarding a train. Purchase single-trip paper tickets from the ticket and top-up machine at all stations, or from ticket offices at some stations before you board the train.

Single-trip paper tickets must be used within 2 hours of purchasing your ticket from the ticket and top-up machine.
The origin and destination on the ticket must match your physical trip as you need to have a valid, pre-purchased ticket before boarding the train or you will be required to purchase the penalty fare. The penalty fare is the penalty for not pre-purchasing a ticket or tagging on an AT HOP card before boarding the train.

Group train travel

Group travel passes are available to schools, institutions and organisations wishing to travel by train. To purchase, write or email Transdev two weeks prior with the following information:

Name of the School, institution or organisation.
Date of travel.
Train line, time and departure station.
Train line, time and return station.
Number of adults.
Number of children.
Number of seniors.
Accessible requirements.
Address the Group Travel Pass is to be sent to.

Find out how to use the ticket and top-up machine.

Find out how to pay for travel using an AT HOP card.

Ticket conditons of carriage

View the Auckland Passenger Rail Network Conditions of Carriage from Transdev Auckland.

Pay for the ferry with cash

All ferries accept cash payment for fares. Eftpos and credit card facilities are also available. Tickets and passes can be purchased from ticket agents and in some cases on the ferry itself. Outside ticket office hours you will be able to buy most ticket types on board.

Find out where to purchase ferry tickets at Ferry services.

Find out how to pay for travel using an AT HOP card.