How to travel from Russell to Franz Josef, New Zealand
The distance between Russell and Franz Josef is around 1,281km (796 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take a ferry, then fly and then take the bus which takes around 5h 60m.
3 routes found
We've found 3 different ways to get from Russell to Franz Josef by ferry, plane, bus and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.
👋 Also check out Franz Josef → Russell if you're planning a return trip.
Ferry, Plane and Bus
Take a ferry to Opua then fly from Kerikeri (KKE) to Hokitika (HKK) then take the bus to Franz Josef YHA.
- Duration5h 60m
- Flight time2h 50m
- Typical costNZ$425($260)
Multiple operators
1 similiar route
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 Franz Josef / Waiau.
- Duration20h 45m
- Departs4 times a day
- Typical costNZ$465($285)
Multiple operators
Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Russell and Franz Josef
Popular questions
There are several options for getting from Russell to Franz Josef by ferry, plane, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take a ferry, then fly and then take the bus which costs around NZ$375 ($230) and will take around 11h 20m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take a ferry, then fly and then take the bus and arrive in approximately 5h 60m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately NZ$425 ($260).
The distance between Russell and Franz Josef is around 1,281km (796 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 965km (600 miles)
It takes around 5h 60m to get from Russell and Franz Josef by ferry, plane and bus.
The quickest way to get from Russell to Franz Josef is to take a ferry, then fly and then take the bus which takes around 5h 60m and will set you back approx NZ$425 ($260).
The cheapest way to travel between Russell and Franz Josef is to take a ferry, then fly and then take the bus which will typically cost around NZ$375 ($230) for a standard one-way ticket.
Train travel
There is no train service that runs between Russell and Franz Josef. We recommend that you take a ferry to Opua then fly from Kerikeri (KKE) to Hokitika (HKK) then take the bus to Franz Josef YHA. instead which will take 5h 60m.
Bus travel
Sorry, looks like there is no bus service that runs between Russell and Franz Josef. We recommend that you take a ferry to Opua then fly from Kerikeri (KKE) to Hokitika (HKK) then take the bus to Franz Josef YHA. instead which will take 5h 60m.
Flights and Airlines
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Russell to Franz Josef. We recommend that you take a ferry to Opua then fly from Kerikeri (KKE) to Hokitika (HKK) then take the bus to Franz Josef YHA. instead which will take 5h 60m.
The closest major airport to Franz Josef is Hokitika Airport (HKK) (HKK) which is approximately 99km (62 miles) from Franz Josef. 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 Russell to Franz Josef. We recommend that you take a ferry to Opua then fly from Kerikeri (KKE) to Hokitika (HKK) then take the bus to Franz Josef YHA. instead which will take 5h 60m.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Russell to Franz Josef is to take a ferry, then fly and then take the bus which takes, on average, 5h 60m and will usually cost around NZ$425 ($260).
Compare travel optionsbetween Russell and Franz Josef
| Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Ferry, Plane and Bus + 1 similar | 5h 60m | NZ$425($260) | 3 times a week | 1,281km (796 miles) |
| Ferry to Opua, plane and bus | 11h 20m | NZ$375($230) | 3 times a week | 1,666km (1,035 miles) |
Car and Ferry | 20h 45m | NZ$465($285) | 4 times a day | 1,514km (941 miles) |
Top Carriersoperating between Russell and Franz Josef
Ferry operators
Fullers GreatSights
Airlines
Bus companies
GreatSights
Airports near Franz Josef
The following major airports near Franz Josef offer regular flights to various popular destinations within New Zealand and internationally.
Hokitika Airport (HKK)
- Distance
- 99km (62 miles) from Franz Josef
Christchurch International Airport (CHC)
- Distance
- 191km (118 miles) from Franz Josef
Queenstown Airport (ZQN)
- Distance
- 215km (134 miles) from Franz Josef