How to travel from Auckland to Lake Tekapo, New Zealand
The distance between Auckland and Lake Tekapo is around 1,013km (629 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly and then take the bus which takes around 6h 20m.
3 routes found
We've found 3 different ways to get from Auckland to Lake Tekapo by plane, bus, car and ferry. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.
👋 Also check out Lake Tekapo → Auckland if you're planning a return trip.
Plane and Bus
Fly from Auckland (AKL) to Christchurch (CHC) then take the bus to Tekapo.
- Duration6h 20m
- Flight time1h 25m
- Typical costNZ$175($110)
Multiple operators
1 similiar route
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Car and Ferry
Drive to Wellington then take a ferry to Picton then drive to Lake Tekapo.
- Duration17h 45m
- Departs4 times a day
- Typical costNZ$330($200)
Multiple operators
Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Auckland and Lake Tekapo
Popular questions
There are several options for getting from Auckland to Lake Tekapo by plane, bus, car and ferry. The cheapest option is to fly and then take the bus which costs around NZ$175 ($110) and will take around 6h 20m.
The distance between Auckland and Lake Tekapo is around 1,013km (629 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 861km (535 miles)
It takes around 6h 20m to get from Auckland and Lake Tekapo by plane and bus.
The quickest way to get from Auckland to Lake Tekapo is to fly and then take the bus which takes around 6h 20m and will set you back approx NZ$175 ($110).
The cheapest way to travel between Auckland and Lake Tekapo is to fly and then take the bus which will typically cost around NZ$175 ($110) for a standard one-way ticket.
Train travel
There is no train service that runs between Auckland and Lake Tekapo. We recommend that you fly from Auckland (AKL) to Christchurch (CHC) then take the bus to Tekapo. instead which will take 6h 20m.
Bus travel
Sorry, looks like there is no bus service that runs between Auckland and Lake Tekapo. We recommend that you fly from Auckland (AKL) to Christchurch (CHC) then take the bus to Tekapo. instead which will take 6h 20m.
Flights and Airlines
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Auckland to Lake Tekapo. We recommend that you fly from Auckland (AKL) to Christchurch (CHC) then take the bus to Tekapo. instead which will take 6h 20m.
The closest major airport to Lake Tekapo is Timaru Airport (TIU) (TIU) which is approximately 72km (45 miles) from Lake Tekapo. Christchurch International Airport (CHC) (CHC) and Queenstown Airport (ZQN) (ZQN) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.
Drive yourself
No, its not really possible or feasible to drive from Auckland to Lake Tekapo. We recommend that you fly from Auckland (AKL) to Christchurch (CHC) then take the bus to Tekapo. instead which will take 6h 20m.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Auckland to Lake Tekapo is to fly and then take the bus which takes, on average, 6h 20m and will usually cost around NZ$175 ($110).
Compare travel optionsbetween Auckland and Lake Tekapo
| Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Plane and Bus + 1 similar | 6h 20m | NZ$175($110) | 4 times a week | 1,013km (629 miles) |
| Fly to Queenstown (ZQN), Bus | 6h 40m | NZ$340($205) | 4 times a week | 1,305km (811 miles) |
Car and Ferry | 17h 45m | NZ$330($200) | 4 times a day | 1,299km (807 miles) |
Top Carriersoperating between Auckland and Lake Tekapo
Airlines
Bus companies
Ferry operators
Airports near Lake Tekapo
The following major airports near Lake Tekapo offer regular flights to various popular destinations within New Zealand and internationally.
Timaru Airport (TIU)
- Distance
- 72km (45 miles) from Lake Tekapo
Christchurch International Airport (CHC)
- Distance
- 168km (104 miles) from Lake Tekapo
Queenstown Airport (ZQN)
- Distance
- 189km (118 miles) from Lake Tekapo