Scrub had to be cleared and two large heavy removal vehicles were needed to winch the bus up on to the road.
The bus plunged off State Highway 75 last night, near Barry's Bay.
The road was closed while the bus was recovered.
Two US passengers from the Celebrity Solstice cruise ship remain in Christchurch Hospital.
The Royal Caribbean cruise line said the most seriously injured of the 31 passengers were from the United States.
Spokesman Owen Torres said six guests from the US were among the injured along with the drivers of both vehicles.
The remaining passengers had returned to the ship and were continuing their trip around New Zealand.