The distance between Milford Sound and Lake Tekapo is around 328km (204 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly and then take the bus which takes around 4h 30m.
We've found 3 different ways to get from Milford Sound to Lake Tekapo by bus, car and plane. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.
👋 Also check out Lake Tekapo → Milford Sound if you're planning a return trip.
Fly from Milford Sound Airport to Queenstown Airport then take the bus to Tekapo.
Multiple operators
Take the bus to Frankton Bus Interchange and then to Tekapo.
Multiple bus operators
There are several options for getting from Milford Sound to Lake Tekapo by bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around NZ$120 ($72) and will take around 8hrs. If you need to get there more quickly, you can fly and then take the bus and arrive in approximately 4h 30m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately NZ$480 ($295).
The distance between Milford Sound and Lake Tekapo is around 328km (204 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 224km (139 miles)
It takes around 8hrs to get from Milford Sound and Lake Tekapo by bus. If you are travelling by car it will take around 6h 5m to drive there.
The quickest way to get from Milford Sound to Lake Tekapo is to fly and then take the bus which takes around 4h 30m and will set you back approx NZ$480 ($295).
The cheapest way to travel between Milford Sound and Lake Tekapo, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around NZ$120 ($72) for a standard one-way ticket.
There is no train service that runs between Milford Sound and Lake Tekapo. We recommend that you fly from Milford Sound Airport to Queenstown Airport then take the bus to Tekapo. instead which will take 4h 30m.
Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Milford Sound and Lake Tekapo. It typically takes around 8hrs and departs 4 times a week.
There are no direct bus services that runs from Milford Sound to Lake Tekapo. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Frankton Bus Interchange. These services run 4 times a week and will take a minimum of 8hrs.
awesomeNZ and InterCity run regular bus services between Milford Sound and Lake Tekapo. Buses run 4 times a week and take around 8hrs on average but will vary depending on you book with.
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Milford Sound to Lake Tekapo. We recommend that you fly from Milford Sound Airport to Queenstown Airport then take the bus to Tekapo. instead which will take 4h 30m.
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.
Yes it is possible to drive from Milford Sound and Lake Tekapo. The distance is around 530km (329 miles) by road and it will take around 6h 5m in normal traffic conditons.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Milford Sound to Lake Tekapo is to take the bus which takes, on average, 8hrs and will usually cost around NZ$120 ($72).
Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
---|---|---|---|---|
Plane and Bus | 4h 30m | NZ$480($295) | 4 times a week | 328km (204 miles) |
Bus | 8hrs | NZ$120($72) | 4 times a week | 535km (333 miles) |
Drive | 6h 5m | NZ$120($72) | on demand | 530km (329 miles) |
awesomeNZ
Air Milford
Glenorchy Air
The following major airports near Lake Tekapo offer regular flights to various popular destinations within New Zealand and internationally.