How to travel from Gisborne to Kaikoura, New Zealand
The distance between Gisborne and Kaikoura is around 620km (385 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly and then take the train which takes around 4hrs.
7 routes found
We've found 7 different ways to get from Gisborne to Kaikoura by bus, ferry, train, car and plane. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.
👋 Also check out Kaikoura → Gisborne if you're planning a return trip.
Plane and Train
Fly from Gisborne (GIS) to Blenheim (BHE) then take the train to Kaikoura.
- Duration4hrs
- Flight time1h 45m
- Typical costNZ$255($155)
Multiple operators
2 similiar routes
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Bus, Train and Ferry
Take the bus to Napier and then to Palmerston North then take the train to Wellington then take a ferry to Picton then take the train to Kaikoura.
- Duration14h 30m
- Departs4 times a week
- Typical costNZ$250($150)
Multiple operators
1 similiar route
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Bus and Ferry
Take the bus to Napier and then to Wellington - Central then take a ferry to Picton then take the bus to Kaikoura.
- Duration15hrs
- Departs4 times a week
- Typical costNZ$195($120)
Multiple operators
Car and Ferry
Drive to Wellington then take a ferry to Picton then drive to Kaikōura.
- Duration11h 40m
- Departs4 times a day
- Typical costNZ$220($135)
Multiple operators
Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Gisborne and Kaikoura
Popular questions
There are several options for getting from Gisborne to Kaikoura by bus, ferry, train, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus and then take a ferry which costs around NZ$195 ($120) and will take around 15hrs. If you need to get there more quickly, you can fly and then take the train and arrive in approximately 4hrs, though it is a bit more costly at approximately NZ$255 ($155).
The distance between Gisborne and Kaikoura is around 620km (385 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 545km (339 miles)
It takes around 15hrs to get from Gisborne and Kaikoura by bus and ferry.
The quickest way to get from Gisborne to Kaikoura is to fly and then take the train which takes around 4hrs and will set you back approx NZ$255 ($155).
The cheapest way to travel between Gisborne and Kaikoura is to take the bus and then take a ferry which will typically cost around NZ$195 ($120) for a standard one-way ticket.
Train travel
There is no train service that runs between Gisborne and Kaikoura. We recommend that you fly from Gisborne (GIS) to Blenheim (BHE) then take the train to Kaikoura. instead which will take 4hrs.
Bus travel
Sorry, looks like there is no bus service that runs between Gisborne and Kaikoura. We recommend that you fly from Gisborne (GIS) to Blenheim (BHE) then take the train to Kaikoura. instead which will take 4hrs.
Flights and Airlines
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Gisborne to Kaikoura. We recommend that you fly from Gisborne (GIS) to Blenheim (BHE) then take the train to Kaikoura. instead which will take 4hrs.
The closest major airport to Kaikoura is Woodbourne Airport (BHE) (BHE) which is approximately 83km (51 miles) from Kaikoura. Picton Aerodrome (PCN) (PCN) and Wellington International Airport (WLG) (WLG) 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 Gisborne to Kaikoura. We recommend that you take the bus to Napier and then to Wellington - Central then take a ferry to Picton then take the bus to Kaikoura. instead which will take 15hrs.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Gisborne to Kaikoura is to take the bus and then take a ferry which takes, on average, 15hrs and will usually cost around NZ$195 ($120).
Compare travel optionsbetween Gisborne and Kaikoura
| Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Plane and Train + 2 similar | 4hrs | NZ$255($155) | 4 times a week | 620km (385 miles) |
| Plane and Bus | 4h 45m | NZ$390($240) | 3 times a week | 892km (554 miles) |
| Plane, Bus and Train | 6h 10m | NZ$350($215) | twice a week | 786km (488 miles) |
Bus, Train and Ferry + 1 similar | 14h 30m | NZ$250($150) | 4 times a week | 802km (499 miles) |
| Bus, Ferry and Train | 15h 30m | NZ$205($125) | 4 times a week | 790km (491 miles) |
Bus and Ferry | 15hrs | NZ$195($120) | 4 times a week | 807km (501 miles) |
Car and Ferry | 11h 40m | NZ$220($135) | 4 times a day | 789km (490 miles) |
Top Carriersoperating between Gisborne and Kaikoura
Ferry operators
Airlines
Bus companies
Train operators
Airports near Kaikoura
The following major airports near Kaikoura offer regular flights to various popular destinations within New Zealand and internationally.
Woodbourne Airport (BHE)
- Distance
- 83km (51 miles) from Kaikoura
Picton Aerodrome (PCN)
- Distance
- 104km (64 miles) from Kaikoura
Wellington International Airport (WLG)
- Distance
- 142km (88 miles) from Kaikoura