How to travel from Paihia to Lake Tekapo, New Zealand
The distance between Paihia and Lake Tekapo is around 1,206km (749 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly and then take the bus which takes around 6h 35m.
5 routes found
We've found 5 different ways to get from Paihia to Lake Tekapo by plane, bus, car and ferry. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.
👋 Also check out Lake Tekapo → Paihia if you're planning a return trip.
Plane and Bus
Fly from Kerikeri (KKE) to Christchurch (CHC) then take the bus to Tekapo.
- Duration6h 35m
- Flight time2h 10m
- Typical costNZ$445($270)
Multiple operators
3 similiar routes
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Car and Ferry
Drive to Wellington then take a ferry to Picton then drive to Lake Tekapo.
- Duration20h 35m
- Departs4 times a day
- Typical costNZ$470($285)
Multiple operators
Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Paihia and Lake Tekapo
Popular questions
There are several options for getting from Paihia to Lake Tekapo by plane, bus, car and ferry. The cheapest option is to take the bus and then fly which costs around NZ$345 ($210) and will take around 7h 25m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can fly and then take the bus and arrive in approximately 6h 35m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately NZ$445 ($270).
The distance between Paihia and Lake Tekapo is around 1,206km (749 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 1,005km (624 miles)
It takes around 6h 35m to get from Paihia and Lake Tekapo by plane and bus.
The quickest way to get from Paihia to Lake Tekapo is to fly and then take the bus which takes around 6h 35m and will set you back approx NZ$445 ($270).
The cheapest way to travel between Paihia and Lake Tekapo is to take the bus and then fly which will typically cost around NZ$345 ($210) for a standard one-way ticket.
Train travel
There is no train service that runs between Paihia and Lake Tekapo. We recommend that you fly from Kerikeri (KKE) to Christchurch (CHC) then take the bus to Tekapo. instead which will take 6h 35m.
Bus travel
Sorry, looks like there is no bus service that runs between Paihia and Lake Tekapo. We recommend that you fly from Kerikeri (KKE) to Christchurch (CHC) then take the bus to Tekapo. instead which will take 6h 35m.
Flights and Airlines
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Paihia to Lake Tekapo. We recommend that you fly from Kerikeri (KKE) to Christchurch (CHC) then take the bus to Tekapo. instead which will take 6h 35m.
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 Paihia to Lake Tekapo. We recommend that you fly from Kerikeri (KKE) to Christchurch (CHC) then take the bus to Tekapo. instead which will take 6h 35m.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Paihia to Lake Tekapo is to fly and then take the bus which takes, on average, 6h 35m and will usually cost around NZ$445 ($270).
Compare travel optionsbetween Paihia and Lake Tekapo
| Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Plane and Bus + 3 similar | 6h 35m | NZ$445($270) | 4 times a week | 1,217km (756 miles) |
| Fly to Queenstown (ZQN), Bus | 6h 50m | NZ$385($235) | 4 times a week | 1,509km (938 miles) |
| Bus and Plane | 7h 25m | NZ$345($210) | 4 times a week | 1,206km (749 miles) |
| Bus to Whangarei, plane | 7h 40m | NZ$385($235) | 4 times a week | 1,498km (931 miles) |
Car and Ferry | 20h 35m | NZ$470($285) | 4 times a day | 1,526km (948 miles) |
Top Carriersoperating between Paihia and Lake Tekapo
Airlines
Ferry operators
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