How to travel from Auckland to Wellington, New Zealand

The distance between Auckland and Wellington is around 516km (320 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 2h 10m.

4 routes found

We've found 4 different ways to get from Auckland to Wellington by train, plane, bus and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out WellingtonAuckland if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
train
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plane
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Train and Plane

Take the train to Puhinui Train Station then fly from Auckland (AKL) to Wellington (WLG).

  • Duration2h 10m
  • Flight time1hr
  • Typical cost
    NZ$125($77)
Operated by

Multiple operators

2
train
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Train

Take the train to Wellington.

  • Duration10h 40m
  • Departs3 times a week
  • Typical cost
    NZ$230($140)
💰 Cheapest
3
bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Wellington - Central.

  • Duration11h 15m
  • Departstwice daily
  • Typical cost
    NZ$82($50)
4
car
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Drive

Drive to Wellington.

  • Duration7h 25m
  • Distance641km (399 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Auckland and Wellington

There are several options for getting from Auckland to Wellington by train, plane, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around NZ$82 ($50) and will take around 11h 15m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 2h 10m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately NZ$125 ($77).

The distance between Auckland and Wellington is around 516km (320 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 493km (307 miles)

It takes around 2h 10m to get from Auckland and Wellington by train and plane. If you are travelling by car it will take around 7h 25m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Auckland to Wellington is to take the train and then fly which takes around 2h 10m and will set you back approx NZ$125 ($77).

The cheapest way to travel between Auckland and Wellington, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around NZ$82 ($50) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Auckland and Wellington. It typically takes around 10h 40m and departs 3 times a week.

Yes there is a direct train service that runs between Auckland and Wellington with no changeovers required. The train runs 3 times a week and takes 10h 40m.

KiwiRail run train services between Auckland and Wellington. Trains depart 3 times a week and will take around 10h 40m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Auckland and Wellington. It typically takes around 11h 15m and departs once daily.

Yes there is a direct bus service that runs between Auckland and Wellington with no changeovers required. The bus runs once daily and takes 11h 15m.

InterCity run regular bus services between Auckland and Wellington. Buses run once daily and take around 11h 15m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Auckland to Wellington. We recommend that you take the train to Puhinui Train Station then fly from Auckland (AKL) to Wellington (WLG). instead which will take 2h 10m.

The closest major airport to Wellington is Wellington International Airport (WLG) (WLG) which is approximately 5km (3 miles) from Wellington. Paraparaumu Airport (PPQ) (PPQ) and Picton Aerodrome (PCN) (PCN) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.

Drive yourself

Yes it is possible to drive from Auckland and Wellington. The distance is around 641km (399 miles) by road and it will take around 7h 25m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Auckland to Wellington is to take the train and then fly which takes, on average, 2h 10m and will usually cost around NZ$125 ($77).

How do I get from Auckland to Wellington

Compare travel optionsbetween Auckland and Wellington

Transport options from Auckland to Wellington
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train and Plane
2h 10m
NZ$125($77)
every 20 mins516km (320 miles)
Train
10h 40m
NZ$230($140)
3 times a week673km (418 miles)
Bus
11h 15m
NZ$82($50)
twice daily654km (407 miles)
Drive
7h 25m
NZ$140($87)
on demand641km (399 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Auckland and Wellington

Train operators

Bus companies

Airports near Wellington

The following major airports near Wellington offer regular flights to various popular destinations within New Zealand and internationally.

WLG
Wellington International Airport (WLG)
International Airport
Distance
5km (3 miles) from Wellington
PPQ
Paraparaumu Airport (PPQ)
Domestic Airport
Distance
46km (29 miles) from Wellington
PCN
Picton Aerodrome (PCN)
Domestic Airport
Distance
69km (43 miles) from Wellington