How to travel from Russell to Lake Tekapo, New Zealand
The distance between Russell and Lake Tekapo is around 1,232km (766 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take a ferry, then fly and then take the bus which takes around 7hrs.
3 routes found
We've found 3 different ways to get from Russell to Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo → Russell if you're planning a return trip.
Ferry, Plane and Bus
Take a ferry to Opua then fly from Kerikeri (KKE) to Christchurch (CHC) then take the bus to Tekapo.
- Duration7hrs
- Flight time2h 10m
- 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 Lake Tekapo.
- Duration21h 10m
- Departs4 times a day
- Typical costNZ$485($295)
Multiple operators
Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Russell and Lake Tekapo
Popular questions
There are several options for getting from Russell to Lake Tekapo 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$365 ($225) and will take around 7h 15m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take a ferry, then fly and then take the bus and arrive in approximately 7hrs, though it is a bit more costly at approximately NZ$425 ($260).
The distance between Russell and Lake Tekapo is around 1,232km (766 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 1,008km (626 miles)
It takes around 7hrs to get from Russell and Lake Tekapo by ferry, plane and bus.
The quickest way to get from Russell to Lake Tekapo is to take a ferry, then fly and then take the bus which takes around 7hrs and will set you back approx NZ$425 ($260).
The cheapest way to travel between Russell and Lake Tekapo is to take a ferry, then fly and then take the bus which will typically cost around NZ$365 ($225) for a standard one-way ticket.
Train travel
There is no train service that runs between Russell and Lake Tekapo. We recommend that you take a ferry to Opua then fly from Kerikeri (KKE) to Christchurch (CHC) then take the bus to Tekapo. instead which will take 7hrs.
Bus travel
Sorry, looks like there is no bus service that runs between Russell and Lake Tekapo. We recommend that you take a ferry to Opua then fly from Kerikeri (KKE) to Christchurch (CHC) then take the bus to Tekapo. instead which will take 7hrs.
Flights and Airlines
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Russell to Lake Tekapo. We recommend that you take a ferry to Opua then fly from Kerikeri (KKE) to Christchurch (CHC) then take the bus to Tekapo. instead which will take 7hrs.
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 Russell to Lake Tekapo. We recommend that you take a ferry to Opua then fly from Kerikeri (KKE) to Christchurch (CHC) then take the bus to Tekapo. instead which will take 7hrs.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Russell to Lake Tekapo is to take a ferry, then fly and then take the bus which takes, on average, 7hrs and will usually cost around NZ$425 ($260).
Compare travel optionsbetween Russell and Lake Tekapo
| Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Ferry, Plane and Bus + 1 similar | 7hrs | NZ$425($260) | 4 times a week | 1,232km (766 miles) |
| Ferry to Opua, plane and bus | 7h 15m | NZ$365($225) | 4 times a week | 1,525km (947 miles) |
Car and Ferry | 21h 10m | NZ$485($295) | 4 times a day | 1,550km (963 miles) |
Top Carriersoperating between Russell and Lake Tekapo
Ferry operators
Fullers GreatSights
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