Buses back on holiday menu for the Coromandel

Buses from Ferry Landing to Hot Water Beach and from Hahei to Cathedral Cove are back on the holiday menu this summer after a highly successful shuttle service trial last holiday season.

Thames Coromandel District Council and Environment Waikato are teaming up with the Mercury Bay Community Board to provide the popular Mercury Bay shuttles over the 2009-10 summer season.

“The services are to operate again due to the success of the 2008-09 trial, and the support of local community. Any costs over and above the fares we receive will be met by TCDC, and the New Zealand Transport Agency through EW,” said EW’s land transport operations manager Bevan Dale.

“Last year’s trial services played a key role in reducing the amount of cars on the busy Coromandel roads, and also helped by transporting surf life saving guards to Hot Water Beach.

“Feedback from last year was that the young guards really appreciated the buses and this helped surf lifesaving groups keep up volunteer numbers at the beaches.”

The well utilised Hahei to Cathedral Cove bus helped to lessen the amount of traffic on the road therefore reducing the risk to pedestrians walking up to the attraction.

“We expect the buses will be at least as popular again this year – they’re a great, no fuss way of safely day tripping to the beaches. And, if we can get more passengers, it will help make the case for continuing to operate them into the future,” said Mr Dale.

“So we encourage local people and businesses to support the services to help make our roads safer.”

The Ferry Landing bus will operate from 28 December to 1 February between 8am and 6pm, and there will be an extended service for New Year’s Eve and on weekends. The Hot Water Beach service will only be at certain times of the day.

The Hahei to Cathedral Cove Shuttle will operate seven days a week from 28 December to 14 January between 9am and 5pm.

Fares for both services will be: child $1; adult $2; family $5 (two Children and two adults).

For more information call 0800 4 BUSLINE or visit www.busit.co.nz.