How to travel from Te Anau to Oamaru, New Zealand

The distance between Te Anau and Oamaru is around 402km (250 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to drive which takes around 4h 50m.

3 routes found

We've found 3 different ways to get from Te Anau to Oamaru by bus, train and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out OamaruTe Anau if you're planning a return trip.

💰 Cheapest
1
3 x bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Frankton Bus Interchange then Dunedin and then to Oamaru.

  • Duration8h 10m
  • Departs4 times a week
  • Typical cost
    NZ$145($89)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

2
bus
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bus
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train
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Bus and Train

Take the bus to Frankton Bus Interchange and then to Dunedin then take the train to Oamaru station.

  • Duration9h 15m
  • Departsonce a week
  • Typical cost
    NZ$190($115)
Operated by

Multiple operators

🚀 Fastest
3
car
+

Drive

Drive to Oamaru.

  • Duration4h 50m
  • Distance402km (250 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Te Anau and Oamaru

There are several options for getting from Te Anau to Oamaru by bus, train and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around NZ$145 ($89) and will take around 8h 10m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can drive and arrive in approximately 4h 50m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately NZ$115 ($69).

The distance between Te Anau and Oamaru is around 402km (250 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 257km (160 miles)

It takes around 8h 10m to get from Te Anau and Oamaru by bus. If you are travelling by car it will take around 4h 50m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Te Anau to Oamaru is to drive which takes around 4h 50m and will set you back approx NZ$115 ($69).

The cheapest way to travel between Te Anau and Oamaru, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around NZ$145 ($89) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

There is no train service that runs between Te Anau and Oamaru. We recommend that you drive to Oamaru. instead which will take 4h 50m.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Te Anau and Oamaru. It typically takes around 8h 10m and departs 4 times a week.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Te Anau to Oamaru. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Frankton Bus Interchange and Dunedin. These services run 4 times a week and will take a minimum of 8h 10m.

awesomeNZ and InterCity run regular bus services between Te Anau and Oamaru. Buses run 4 times a week and take around 8h 10m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Te Anau to Oamaru. We recommend that you take the bus to Frankton Bus Interchange then Dunedin and then to Oamaru. instead which will take 8h 10m.

The closest major airport to Oamaru is Timaru Airport (TIU) (TIU) which is approximately 91km (56 miles) from Oamaru. Dunedin International Airport (DUD) (DUD) 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 Te Anau and Oamaru. The distance is around 402km (250 miles) by road and it will take around 4h 50m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Te Anau to Oamaru is to take the bus which takes, on average, 8h 10m and will usually cost around NZ$145 ($89).

How do I get from Te Anau to Oamaru

Compare travel optionsbetween Te Anau and Oamaru

Transport options from Te Anau to Oamaru
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Bus
8h 10m
NZ$145($89)
4 times a week562km (349 miles)
Bus and Train
9h 15m
NZ$190($115)
once a week575km (357 miles)
Drive
4h 50m
NZ$115($69)
on demand402km (250 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Te Anau and Oamaru

Bus companies

Train operators

Airports near Oamaru

The following major airports near Oamaru offer regular flights to various popular destinations within New Zealand and internationally.

TIU
Timaru Airport (TIU)
Domestic Airport
Distance
91km (56 miles) from Oamaru
DUD
Dunedin International Airport (DUD)
International Airport
Distance
110km (68 miles) from Oamaru
WKA
Wanaka Airport (WKA)
Domestic Airport
Distance
142km (88 miles) from Oamaru