Published Friday, 11 July 2025
Bentley Transport Bus Driver, Tim Hartnell, has become more than a driver after all thirty tours; he’s an unofficial tour guide after mastering the tour route while LPC staff were behind the microphone telling attendees about the Port.
On cruise days, Tim is based at the berth, managing the coordination of up to 35 shuttle buses to ensure seamless and efficient operations. When there’s no cruise ships in port, Tim can often be found driving coaches to Mt Hutt or training the next generation of bus drivers.
Tim finds the highlights of the tours hearing about the memories shared, and the stories stick with him.
One memorable story was from a passenger who was a former LPC employee who started at the port at age fifteen and spent forty years here.
“He was amazed by how much had changed since he left,” said Tim.
“Those real-life stories about how much it means for people make this job special,” he added.
The Lyttelton tunnels are one of the tour points, and Tim’s experience in the service tunnel during a rescue training exercise left him covered in soot.
Tim has driven at Bentley’s for over a year and says it’s not just about getting people from point A to point B; it also opens doors to places people want to see.