How to travel from Kaikoura to Te Anau, New Zealand

The distance between Kaikoura and Te Anau is around 714km (443 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train, then fly and then take the bus which takes around 6h 25m.

6 routes found

We've found 6 different ways to get from Kaikoura to Te Anau by bus, 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 Te AnauKaikoura if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
train
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plane
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bus
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Train to Blenheim, plane and bus

Take the train to Blenheim then fly from Blenheim (BHE) to Queenstown (ZQN) then take the bus to Te Anau.

  • Duration6h 25m
  • Flight time1h 55m
  • Typical cost
    NZ$410($250)
Operated by

Multiple operators

2 similiar routes

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

💰 Cheapest
2
3 x bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Christchurch then Frankton Bus Interchange and then to Te Anau.

  • Duration13hrs
  • Departs4 times a week
  • Typical cost
    NZ$195($120)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

3
train
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3 x bus
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Train and Bus

Take the train to Christchurch then take the bus to Tekapo then Frankton Bus Interchange and then to Te Anau.

  • Duration12h 30m
  • Departs4 times a week
  • Typical cost
    NZ$255($155)
Operated by

Multiple operators

4
car
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Drive

Drive to Te Anau.

  • Duration9h 35m
  • Distance815km (506 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Kaikoura and Te Anau

There are several options for getting from Kaikoura to Te Anau by bus, train, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around NZ$195 ($120) and will take around 13hrs. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train, then fly and then take the bus and arrive in approximately 6h 25m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately NZ$410 ($250).

The distance between Kaikoura and Te Anau is around 714km (443 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 590km (366 miles)

It takes around 13hrs to get from Kaikoura and Te Anau by bus. If you are travelling by car it will take around 9h 35m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Kaikoura to Te Anau is to take the train, then fly and then take the bus which takes around 6h 25m and will set you back approx NZ$410 ($250).

The cheapest way to travel between Kaikoura and Te Anau, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around NZ$195 ($120) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

There is no train service that runs between Kaikoura and Te Anau. We recommend that you take the train to Blenheim then fly from Blenheim (BHE) to Queenstown (ZQN) then take the bus to Te Anau. instead which will take 6h 25m.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Kaikoura and Te Anau. It typically takes around 13hrs and departs 4 times a week.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Kaikoura to Te Anau. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Christchurch and Frankton Bus Interchange. These services run 4 times a week and will take a minimum of 13hrs.

InterCity and awesomeNZ run regular bus services between Kaikoura and Te Anau. Buses run 4 times a week and take around 13hrs on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Kaikoura to Te Anau. We recommend that you take the train to Rangiora then fly from Christchurch (CHC) to Queenstown (ZQN) then take the bus to Te Anau. instead which will take 6h 45m.

The closest major airport to Te Anau is Queenstown Airport (ZQN) (ZQN) which is approximately 91km (57 miles) from Te Anau. Invercargill Airport (IVC) (IVC) and Wanaka Airport (WKA) (WKA) 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 Kaikoura and Te Anau. The distance is around 815km (506 miles) by road and it will take around 9h 35m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Kaikoura to Te Anau is to take the bus which takes, on average, 13hrs and will usually cost around NZ$195 ($120).

How do I get from Kaikoura to Te Anau

Compare travel optionsbetween Kaikoura and Te Anau

Transport options from Kaikoura to Te Anau
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train to Blenheim, plane and bus + 2 similar
6h 25m
NZ$410($250)
4 times a week1,023km (636 miles)
Train, Plane and Bus6h 45m
NZ$300($180)
4 times a week714km (443 miles)
Train to Rangiora, plane and bus7h 55m
NZ$775($475)
3 times a week759km (472 miles)
Bus
13hrs
NZ$195($120)
4 times a week825km (513 miles)
Train and Bus
12h 30m
NZ$255($155)
4 times a week837km (520 miles)
Drive
9h 35m
NZ$180($110)
on demand815km (506 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Kaikoura and Te Anau

Bus companies

Airlines

Train operators

Airports near Te Anau

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

ZQN
Queenstown Airport (ZQN)
International Airport
Distance
91km (57 miles) from Te Anau
IVC
Invercargill Airport (IVC)
Domestic Airport
Distance
121km (75 miles) from Te Anau
WKA
Wanaka Airport (WKA)
Domestic Airport
Distance
142km (88 miles) from Te Anau