How to travel from Aoraki Mount Cook National Park to Te Anau, New Zealand

The distance between Aoraki Mount Cook National Park and Te Anau is around 468km (291 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the bus which takes around 6h 45m.

2 routes found

We've found 2 different ways to get from Aoraki Mount Cook National Park to Te Anau by bus. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out Te AnauAoraki Mount Cook National Park if you're planning a return trip.

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💰 Cheapest
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Bus

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

  • Duration6h 45m
  • Departs4 times a week
  • Typical cost
    NZ$135($82)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

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Bus via Frankton Bus Interchange

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

  • Duration10h 10m
  • Departs3 times a week
  • Typical cost
    NZ$145($90)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Aoraki Mount Cook National Park and Te Anau

There are several options for getting from Aoraki Mount Cook National Park to Te Anau by bus. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around NZ$135 ($82) and will take around 6h 45m.

The distance between Aoraki Mount Cook National Park and Te Anau is around 468km (291 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 279km (173 miles)

It takes around 6h 45m to get from Aoraki Mount Cook National Park and Te Anau by bus.

The quickest way to get from Aoraki Mount Cook National Park to Te Anau is to take the bus which takes around 6h 45m and will set you back approx NZ$135 ($82).

The cheapest way to travel between Aoraki Mount Cook National Park and Te Anau is to take the bus which will typically cost around NZ$135 ($82) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

There is no train service that runs between Aoraki Mount Cook National Park and Te Anau. We recommend that you take the bus to Frankton Bus Interchange and then to Te Anau. instead which will take 6h 45m.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Aoraki Mount Cook National Park and Te Anau. It typically takes around 6h 45m and departs on demand.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Aoraki Mount Cook National Park to Te Anau. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Tekapo and Frankton Bus Interchange. These services run on demand and will take a minimum of 6h 45m.

InterCity, awesomeNZ and GreatSights run regular bus services between Aoraki Mount Cook National Park and Te Anau. Buses run on demand and take around 6h 45m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Aoraki Mount Cook National Park to Te Anau. We recommend that you take the bus to Frankton Bus Interchange and then 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

No, its not really possible or feasible to drive from Aoraki Mount Cook National Park to Te Anau. We recommend that you take the bus to Frankton Bus Interchange and then to Te Anau. instead which will take 6h 45m.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Aoraki Mount Cook National Park to Te Anau is to take the bus which takes, on average, 6h 45m and will usually cost around NZ$135 ($82).

How do I get from Aoraki Mount Cook National Park to Te Anau

Compare travel optionsbetween Aoraki Mount Cook National Park and Te Anau

Transport options from Aoraki Mount Cook National Park to Te Anau
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Bus
6h 45m
NZ$135($82)
4 times a week468km (291 miles)
Bus via Frankton Bus Interchange
10h 10m
NZ$145($90)
3 times a week554km (344 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Aoraki Mount Cook National Park and Te Anau

Bus companies

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