How to travel from Picton to Te Anau, New Zealand

The distance between Picton and Te Anau is around 841km (522 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly and then take the bus which takes around 4h 40m.

6 routes found

We've found 6 different ways to get from Picton to Te Anau 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 Te AnauPicton if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
plane
+
bus
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Plane and Bus

Fly from Blenheim (BHE) to Queenstown (ZQN) then take the bus to Te Anau.

  • Duration4h 40m
  • Flight time1h 55m
  • Typical cost
    NZ$370($225)
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.

  • Duration16hrs
  • Departs4 times a week
  • Typical cost
    NZ$215($130)
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.

  • Duration15h 15m
  • Departs4 times a week
  • Typical cost
    NZ$360($220)
Operated by

Multiple operators

4
car
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Drive

Drive to Te Anau.

  • Duration11h 30m
  • Distance973km (604 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Picton and Te Anau

There are several options for getting from Picton to Te Anau by plane, bus, ferry, train and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around NZ$215 ($130) and will take around 16hrs. If you need to get there more quickly, you can fly and then take the bus and arrive in approximately 4h 40m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately NZ$370 ($225).

The distance between Picton and Te Anau is around 841km (522 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 684km (425 miles)

It takes around 4h 40m to get from Picton and Te Anau by plane and bus. If you are travelling by car it will take around 11h 30m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Picton to Te Anau is to fly and then take the bus which takes around 4h 40m and will set you back approx NZ$370 ($225).

The cheapest way to travel between Picton and Te Anau, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around NZ$215 ($130) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

There is no train service that runs between Picton and Te Anau. We recommend that you fly from Blenheim (BHE) to Queenstown (ZQN) then take the bus to Te Anau. instead which will take 4h 40m.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Picton and Te Anau. It typically takes around 16hrs and departs 4 times a week.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Picton 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 16hrs.

InterCity and awesomeNZ run regular bus services between Picton and Te Anau. Buses run 4 times a week and take around 16hrs on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Picton to Te Anau. We recommend that you fly from Blenheim (BHE) to Queenstown (ZQN) then take the bus to Te Anau. instead which will take 4h 40m.

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 Picton and Te Anau. The distance is around 973km (604 miles) by road and it will take around 11h 30m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Picton to Te Anau is to fly and then take the bus which takes, on average, 4h 40m and will usually cost around NZ$370 ($225).

How do I get from Picton to Te Anau

Compare travel optionsbetween Picton and Te Anau

Transport options from Picton to Te Anau
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Plane and Bus + 2 similar
4h 40m
NZ$370($225)
4 times a week925km (575 miles)
Fly to Wanaka (WKA), bus5h 50m
NZ$855($520)
3 times a week841km (522 miles)
Ferry, Plane and Bus7h 30m
NZ$400($245)
4 times a week920km (572 miles)
Bus
16hrs
NZ$215($130)
4 times a week982km (610 miles)
Train and Bus
15h 15m
NZ$360($220)
4 times a week992km (616 miles)
Drive
11h 30m
NZ$215($130)
on demand973km (604 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Picton and Te Anau

Train operators

Bus companies

Ferry 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