Locals missing out on public buses on busy cruise ship days has led to additional bus trips being rolled-out between Port Chalmers and Dunedin.
It takes about 30 minutes for passengers to ride from the port town to Dunedin’s central business district, on route 14, costing those with a Bee Card $2, or $3 if paying cash.
But on cruise ship days, those local buses, which are operated by the Otago Regional Council, are in hot demand, leading to capacity issues and tension between those in the community and tourists.
It comes as a record number of more than 130 vessels was expected to berth at Port Otago this season, with the first vessel, Royal Princess, scheduled to visit on November 6.
