My Account
Auckland Transport (AT) says it will be years before a bus service between Warkworth and the Hibiscus Coast is established, following the results of a survey last year.
However, Snells Beach resident Julian Ostling believes there is already enough demand to warrant a commuter service to Auckland, which he is launching this month.
The service will have pick-up points in Snells Beach and Warkworth, and has permission to use bus lanes, which Julian hopes will cut about 30 minutes off the trip each way.
“I’ve been here four years, commuting to Auckland five days a week, and wondering why there isn’t any service,” he says. “It can take almost two hours on some days. I’m sure we can get it down to under an hour with the bus lane.”
The times and routes are still being finalised, but the bus is likely to leave Snells Beach around 7am-7.30am with a pick-up in Mill Lane in Warkworth. The fare is $15 each way.
An online booking app is also being developed.
There were 394 responses to the AT survey and 17 per cent of respondents (68 people) said they would be likely to use a service to the Hibiscus Coast daily.
However, AT says this isn’t enough to warrant a service.
Twenty-nine per cent of respondents said they currently drive to the park and rides at Albany or Silverdale.
AT will reassess Warkworth’s public transport needs in the 2016/17 financial year.
