How to travel from Kaikoura to Franz Josef, New Zealand

There are several options for getting from Kaikoura to Franz Josef by bus, train, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around NZ$110 ($67) and will take around 11hrs. If you need to get there more quickly, you can drive and arrive in approximately 5h 50m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately NZ$110 ($68).

The distance between Kaikoura and Franz Josef is around 489km (304 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 307km (191 miles)

It takes around 11hrs to get from Kaikoura and Franz Josef by bus. If you are travelling by car it will take around 5h 50m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Kaikoura to Franz Josef is to drive which takes around 5h 50m and will set you back approx NZ$110 ($68).

The cheapest way to travel between Kaikoura and Franz Josef, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around NZ$110 ($67) for a standard one-way ticket.

There is no train service that runs between Kaikoura and Franz Josef. We recommend that you drive to Franz Josef / Waiau. instead which will take 5h 50m.

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Kaikoura and Franz Josef. It typically takes around 11hrs and departs 3 times a week.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Kaikoura to Franz Josef. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Christchurch and Greymouth. These services run 3 times a week and will take a minimum of 11hrs.

InterCity, Atomic Travel and GreatSights run regular bus services between Kaikoura and Franz Josef. Buses run 3 times a week and take around 11hrs on average but will vary depending on you book with.

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Kaikoura to Franz Josef. We recommend that you take the train to Rangiora then fly from Christchurch (CHC) to Hokitika (HKK) then take the bus to Franz Josef YHA. instead which will take 6h 35m.

The closest major airport to Franz Josef is Hokitika Airport (HKK) (HKK) which is approximately 99km (62 miles) from Franz Josef. 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.

Yes it is possible to drive from Kaikoura and Franz Josef. The distance is around 498km (310 miles) by road and it will take around 5h 50m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Kaikoura to Franz Josef is to take the bus which takes, on average, 11hrs and will usually cost around NZ$110 ($67).