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Thread ID: 144036	2017-06-16 03:09:00	Auckland public transport - buying HOP card just for a weekend?	wratterus (105)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1436485	2017-06-16 03:09:00	Wife and I are heading to Auckland for a weekend next month, and are going to be using all public transport - incl trains to and from Pukekohe, bus to and from airport and bus to and around north shore. Do you think it's worth buying a HOP card just for the weekend? I'm thinking it might be, even if it was just for the ease of not mucking around with cash. Any thoughts or tips appreciated. :) (decent app with timetables etc? Journey planner?) Thanks.	wratterus (105)
1436486	2017-06-16 03:50:00	I think taking public transport in Auckland at all will make your trip a total misery. But if you must, then yes, get the HOP card, it's pretty much the thing now, a hassle otherwise. at.govt.nz Seriously, it's a PITA, multiple buses, walk in between, inconvenient times, no bus or train at all after certain hours in certain places. Like when I was at webdrive, finishing at 7:30pm, no bus!!	pctek (84)
1436487	2017-06-16 03:58:00	That Journey Planner is way better than last time I tried to use it. For where we're going it should be OK. :) I've used some of the main ones before (Airbus, NEX, also train to Pukekohe) and had a very good run. Will be a little bit of running around the north shore this time too. Thanks.	wratterus (105)
1436488	2017-06-16 05:40:00	Get a Hop card - and perhaps register it, if you want to check transaction journeys, and HOP balance. you can also link them under a primary card if that suits. I trialed a Hop card around South Auckland to Central City over 3 moths for about 20 odd trips. What I discovered, and also by studying the AT website:, 1, You can transfer up to five times (at.govt.nz) (AT site) within a zone and still pay for one journey(zone) as long as you transfer within 30 mins, and with a HOP card. There about 11 zones in Auckland, so perhaps get to know relevant zones. Each zone seems to have a boundary interchange station - Bus, Train or both. 2. Use the Journey planner, but I think it can only display so many routes, and their transfers within each one. Generally I believe it will show the shortest journeys with the least transfers - as I discovered. But - it may mean a longer walk to the initial bus stop - sometimes up to 20 mins. So rather from A to B, route, think A - A1 - B (Or travel opposite -south or north - then back - if it suits) Can be longer, distance, but quicker overall (esp with train), and perhaps quieter (e.g. no rowdy school kids). Downside though is the wait times, between each transfer, and if you don't know the local area (i.e. bus stops) to easier work out/locate transfer points at bus stops. AT or Google maps Apps can help here. 3. Many buses are frequent in morning (e.g. 15 min intervals to late morning, them 30 mins, until mid afternoon, or later evening, then back to 15 mins for mid evening to night sometimes). I believe it's governed by customers - chiefly tech students, college kids, Airport Travelers, and City workers, and where they end up. Since they all collectively pay the most. some buses do not run doing weekends, since they chiefly service large industrial areas for weekly workers only. 4. Get to know where to Top Up - some shops have moved out our way (South Auckland). Or Top Up online in advance. Though machines available in some malls, and interchanges. 5. Maybe consider the three City Link bus routes (at.govt.nz)(AT site), if you want to just cruise circular around inner fringe and within Inner Auckland. 6. AT App is useful, as is Google Maps App, which now display train/bus route icon on the home page, but I think displays nearby routes to your location initially. Should check journey planner frequently, as it also displays current changes to routes, train stoppages, etc. 7. Don't forget to Tag off after each journey (except if transferring between trains with 30 mins at that same location. otherwise its a penalty charge next time when you tag on. Here are some recent AT train photos (goo.gl) I shot at Papatoetoe, and uploaded to Google Maps...	kahawai chaser (3545)
1436489	2017-06-16 05:46:00	Very helpful, thanks.	wratterus (105)
1436490	2017-06-16 06:55:00	I think taking public transport in Auckland at all will make your trip a total misery. Sounds like you haven't used public transport since 2006 :lol: It really is a hell of a lot better now, especially with the new bus networks in the south and west (and the rest coming). As for the HOP card, if you're making several journeys then absolutely get a card, the 20% discount alone is worth it.	pcuser42 (130)
1436491	2017-06-21 03:07:00	Just one further question - I'm sure this is on AT's site somewhere but I can't seem to find it . Let's say for example I'm going from the airport to Pukekohe - that's a bus from airport to Papatoetoe, then train to Papakura, then another train to Pukekohe . Would I be right in saying that because the bus and train are in the same zone that I wouldn't need to tag off and on, and because the train transfer would be less than 30 mins, I wouldn't need to tag off and on there either, but just tag off at Pukekohe, and I'd be charged for the one journey? 8119	wratterus (105)
1436492	2017-06-21 03:46:00	Sounds like you haven't used public transport since 2006 :lol: . No. Because everytime I have looked into it for work, it's been either impossible or a PITA. Like at Webdrive, no bus from Albany to Waitakere after 7:30pm. Nothings changed.....	pctek (84)
1436493	2017-06-21 06:53:00	Just one further question - I'm sure this is on AT's site somewhere but I can't seem to find it. Let's say for example I'm going from the airport to Pukekohe - that's a bus from airport to Papatoetoe, then train to Papakura, then another train to Pukekohe. Would I be right in saying that because the bus and train are in the same zone that I wouldn't need to tag off and on, and because the train transfer would be less than 30 mins, I wouldn't need to tag off and on there either, but just tag off at Pukekohe, and I'd be charged for the one journey? 8119 In that case you tag off the bus and on the train at Papatoetoe, and tag off the train at Pukekohe. You need to tag off and back on when transferring involves a bus, but you don't have to when transferring between trains. :) Like at Webdrive, no bus from Albany to Waitakere after 7:30pm. Nothings changed..... A new bus network went live in the west just ten days ago. :)	pcuser42 (130)
1436494	2017-06-21 21:57:00	In that case you tag off the bus and on the train at Papatoetoe, and tag off the train at Pukekohe. You need to tag off and back on when transferring involves a bus, but you don't have to when transferring between trains. :) Great, thanks. :thumbs:	wratterus (105)
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