Free public transport comes to Kaikoura

A free public transport service will roll out tomorrow in Kaikoura to help rural residents get to town. Buses will depart from a temporary bus interchange at the New World supermarket. Photo / File

A free public transport service will roll out tomorrow in Kaikoura to help rural residents get to town.

The service will comprise four different routes, departing from a temporary bus interchange has been set up at the town's New World supermarket.

A 23-seater shuttle will ferry people between New World and the town's main centre every half hour from 9am to 5pm.

The other three routes - Northern, Inland and Southern - will cover wider residential and rural areas, including South Bay, Peketa and Mangamaunu. A 12-seater van will travel each route three times daily.

Mayor Winston Gray said the service would help save "precious fuel".

"Locals can stock up on supplies, go to the recovery assistance centre to apply for support, or do other business."

The service will run until further notice.

Routes:

Northern route

- Departs New World, up Old Beach Rd to Skevingtons Rd, North on SH1 to the surf breaks, back onto Parsons Rd (SH1), Grange Rd, Bay Paddock Rd, SH1 south to New World.

Inland Flats route - New World north to Postmans Rd, to Mt Fyffe Rd, to Red Swamp Rd, East to Schoolhouse Rd, West to Mt Fyffe Rd, South to Mill Rd, West to Red Swamp Rd to town via Ludstone, Beach Rd to New World.

Southern route - New World to South Beach Rd, Churchill St to SH1 south, Ocean Ridge, SH1 Peketa Camping Ground, North SH1 up Inland Rd to Luke Hills Rd, return to New World Bus Interchange. South SH1 Beach Rd through town. West End and Esplanade to Pier Hotel, down Esplanade to Torquay St, up hill to Scarborough, back to South Bay Parade to South Bay Domain to New World.

Shuttle route - New World to town centre

Timetable:

Northern

- 9am, 1pm, 4pm

Inland

- 10am, 2pm, 5pm

Southern

- 11am, 3pm, 6pm

Shuttle

- half hourly 9am - 5pm