Wellington’s largest independent tourism operator, Rover Tours Group, will offer their Hop-On Hop-Off bus service for free to Wellingtonians and visitors alike from Queens Birthday Weekend through to the end of July.
The Hop-On Hop-Off service is a 90-minute loop with nine stops at key tourism destinations starting at Te Papa Tongarewa.
The service will operate daily rain or shine, departing from Te Papa at 9:30am, 10:15am, 11am, 11:45am, 12:30pm, 1:15pm, and 2:30pm.
RTG was founded in 1999 with a vision to fill a gap in the Wellington tourism market. The company now operates more than 20 vehicles and remains 100 per cent locally owned.
“Supporting Wellington’s tourism operators is the right thing to do during these tough times. We are all part of the same tourism eco-system. That’s one of the major reasons why we decided to deliver locals and visitors to their doors for free,” says owner Scott Courtney.
“The biggest factor allowing us to do this is because we, like many other companies, have received the government wage subsidy. It has enabled us to continue operating for the next few months while providing a free Hop-on Hop-Off service which will be welcomed by many including those on a reduced income.”
From its humble beginnings, RTG now operates five tourism brands in the region including Lord of the Rings Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off, and Seal Coast Safari.
To adhere with current Ministry of Health guidelines, RTG requires one person from each group on any tour to sign in using the Rippl app. Social distancing protocols will be in place.
