How to travel from Te Anau to Akaroa, New Zealand
The distance between Te Anau and Akaroa is around 608km (378 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the bus and then fly which takes around 6h 10m.
3 routes found
We've found 3 different ways to get from Te Anau to Akaroa by car, bus and plane. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.
👋 Also check out Akaroa → Te Anau if you're planning a return trip.
Bus and Plane
Take the bus to Frankton Bus Interchange then fly from Queenstown (ZQN) to Christchurch (CHC) then take the bus to Akaroa.
- Duration6h 10m
- Flight time55min
- Typical costNZ$280($170)
Multiple operators
1 similiar route
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Te Anau and Akaroa
Popular questions
There are several options for getting from Te Anau to Akaroa by car, bus and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus and then fly which costs around NZ$280 ($170) and will take around 6h 10m.
The distance between Te Anau and Akaroa is around 608km (378 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 455km (283 miles)
It takes around 8hrs to get from Te Anau and Akaroa by car. If you are travelling by car it will take around 8hrs to drive there.
The quickest way to get from Te Anau to Akaroa is to take the bus and then fly which takes around 6h 10m and will set you back approx NZ$280 ($170).
The cheapest way to travel between Te Anau and Akaroa, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus and then fly which will typically cost around NZ$280 ($170) for a standard one-way ticket.
Train travel
There is no train service that runs between Te Anau and Akaroa. We recommend that you take the bus to Frankton Bus Interchange then fly from Queenstown (ZQN) to Christchurch (CHC) then take the bus to Akaroa. instead which will take 6h 10m.
Bus travel
Sorry, looks like there is no bus service that runs between Te Anau and Akaroa. We recommend that you take the bus to Frankton Bus Interchange then fly from Queenstown (ZQN) to Christchurch (CHC) then take the bus to Akaroa. instead which will take 6h 10m.
Flights and Airlines
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Te Anau to Akaroa. We recommend that you take the bus to Frankton Bus Interchange then fly from Queenstown (ZQN) to Christchurch (CHC) then take the bus to Akaroa. instead which will take 6h 10m.
The closest major airport to Akaroa is Christchurch International Airport (CHC) (CHC) which is approximately 54km (33 miles) from Akaroa. Timaru Airport (TIU) (TIU) and Hokitika Airport (HKK) (HKK) 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 Te Anau and Akaroa. The distance is around 695km (432 miles) by road and it will take around 8hrs in normal traffic conditons.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Te Anau to Akaroa is to drive which takes, on average, 8hrs and will usually cost around NZ$195 ($120).
Compare travel optionsbetween Te Anau and Akaroa
| Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Bus and Plane + 1 similar | 6h 10m | NZ$280($170) | 4 times a week | 608km (378 miles) |
| Bus to Frankton Bus Interchange, plane | 7h 25m | NZ$425($260) | 3 times a week | 654km (406 miles) |
Drive | 8hrs | NZ$195($120) | on demand | 695km (432 miles) |
Top Carriersoperating between Te Anau and Akaroa
Bus companies
awesomeNZ
Akaroa French Connection
GreatSights
Airlines
Sounds Air
Airports near Akaroa
The following major airports near Akaroa offer regular flights to various popular destinations within New Zealand and internationally.
Christchurch International Airport (CHC)
- Distance
- 54km (33 miles) from Akaroa
Timaru Airport (TIU)
- Distance
- 153km (95 miles) from Akaroa
Hokitika Airport (HKK)
- Distance
- 206km (128 miles) from Akaroa