How to travel from New Plymouth to Lake Tekapo, New Zealand
The distance between New Plymouth and Lake Tekapo is around 768km (477 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly and then take the bus which takes around 5h 50m.
5 routes found
We've found 5 different ways to get from New Plymouth to Lake Tekapo by plane, bus, ferry, train and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.
👋 Also check out Lake Tekapo → New Plymouth if you're planning a return trip.
Plane and Bus
Fly from New Plymouth (NPL) to Christchurch (CHC) then take the bus to Tekapo.
- Duration5h 50m
- Flight time1h 30m
- Typical costNZ$435($265)
Multiple operators
Bus and Ferry
Take the bus to Palmerston North and then to Johnsonville then take a ferry to Picton then take the bus to Christchurch and then to Tekapo.
- Duration19h 25m
- Departs4 times a week
- Typical costNZ$240($145)
Multiple operators
1 similiar route
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Bus, Train and Ferry
Take the bus to Otorohanga then take the train to Wellington then take a ferry to Picton then take the train to Christchurch then take the bus to Tekapo.
- Duration22h 60m
- Departs3 times a week
- Typical costNZ$565($345)
Multiple operators
Car and Ferry
Drive to Wellington then take a ferry to Picton then drive to Lake Tekapo.
- Duration14h 45m
- Departs4 times a day
- Typical costNZ$265($165)
Multiple operators
Frequently asked questionsabout travel between New Plymouth and Lake Tekapo
Popular questions
There are several options for getting from New Plymouth to Lake Tekapo by plane, bus, ferry, train and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus and then take a ferry which costs around NZ$240 ($145) and will take around 19h 25m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can fly and then take the bus and arrive in approximately 5h 50m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately NZ$435 ($265).
The distance between New Plymouth and Lake Tekapo is around 768km (477 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 614km (381 miles)
It takes around 5h 50m to get from New Plymouth and Lake Tekapo by plane and bus.
The quickest way to get from New Plymouth to Lake Tekapo is to fly and then take the bus which takes around 5h 50m and will set you back approx NZ$435 ($265).
The cheapest way to travel between New Plymouth and Lake Tekapo is to take the bus and then take a ferry which will typically cost around NZ$240 ($145) for a standard one-way ticket.
Train travel
There is no train service that runs between New Plymouth and Lake Tekapo. We recommend that you fly from New Plymouth (NPL) to Christchurch (CHC) then take the bus to Tekapo. instead which will take 5h 50m.
Bus travel
Sorry, looks like there is no bus service that runs between New Plymouth and Lake Tekapo. We recommend that you fly from New Plymouth (NPL) to Christchurch (CHC) then take the bus to Tekapo. instead which will take 5h 50m.
Flights and Airlines
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from New Plymouth to Lake Tekapo. We recommend that you fly from New Plymouth (NPL) to Christchurch (CHC) then take the bus to Tekapo. instead which will take 5h 50m.
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.
Drive yourself
No, its not really possible or feasible to drive from New Plymouth to Lake Tekapo. We recommend that you fly from New Plymouth (NPL) to Christchurch (CHC) then take the bus to Tekapo. instead which will take 5h 50m.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from New Plymouth to Lake Tekapo is to fly and then take the bus which takes, on average, 5h 50m and will usually cost around NZ$435 ($265).
Compare travel optionsbetween New Plymouth and Lake Tekapo
| Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Plane and Bus | 5h 50m | NZ$435($265) | 4 times a week | 768km (477 miles) |
Bus and Ferry + 1 similar | 19h 25m | NZ$240($145) | 4 times a week | 1,046km (650 miles) |
| Bus to Palmerston North, ferry | 19h 45m | NZ$240($145) | 4 times a week | 1,048km (651 miles) |
Bus, Train and Ferry | 22h 60m | NZ$565($345) | 3 times a week | 1,361km (846 miles) |
Car and Ferry | 14h 45m | NZ$265($165) | 4 times a day | 1,007km (626 miles) |
Top Carriersoperating between New Plymouth and Lake Tekapo
Ferry operators
Train operators
Airlines
Bus companies
Airports near Lake Tekapo
The following major airports near Lake Tekapo offer regular flights to various popular destinations within New Zealand and internationally.
Timaru Airport (TIU)
- Distance
- 72km (45 miles) from Lake Tekapo
Christchurch International Airport (CHC)
- Distance
- 168km (104 miles) from Lake Tekapo
Queenstown Airport (ZQN)
- Distance
- 189km (118 miles) from Lake Tekapo