How to travel from Wellington to Gisborne, New Zealand

The distance between Wellington and Gisborne is around 411km (255 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly which takes around 1h 35m.

4 routes found

We've found 4 different ways to get from Wellington to Gisborne by plane, 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 GisborneWellington if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
plane
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Fly

Fly from Wellington (WLG) to Gisborne (GIS).

  • Duration1h 35m
  • Flight time1h 10m
  • Typical cost
    NZ$175($110)
💰 Cheapest
2
bus
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bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Napier and then to Sycamore Lodge.

  • Duration9h 25m
  • Departs4 times a week
  • Typical cost
    NZ$90($55)
3
train
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bus
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bus
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Train and Bus

Take the train to Palmerston North then take the bus to Napier and then to Sycamore Lodge.

  • Duration8h 25m
  • Departs4 times a week
  • Typical cost
    NZ$130($79)
Operated by

Multiple operators

4
car
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Drive

Drive to Gisborne.

  • Duration6h 15m
  • Distance534km (332 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Wellington and Gisborne

There are several options for getting from Wellington to Gisborne by plane, bus, train and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around NZ$90 ($55) and will take around 9h 25m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can fly and arrive in approximately 1h 35m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately NZ$175 ($110).

The distance between Wellington and Gisborne is around 411km (255 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 402km (250 miles)

It takes around 1h 35m to get from Wellington and Gisborne by plane. If you are travelling by car it will take around 6h 15m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Wellington to Gisborne is to fly which takes around 1h 35m and will set you back approx NZ$175 ($110).

The cheapest way to travel between Wellington and Gisborne, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around NZ$90 ($55) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

There is no train service that runs between Wellington and Gisborne. We recommend that you fly from Wellington (WLG) to Gisborne (GIS). instead which will take 1h 35m.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Wellington and Gisborne. It typically takes around 9h 25m and departs 4 times a week.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Wellington to Gisborne. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Napier. These services run 4 times a week and will take a minimum of 9h 25m.

InterCity run regular bus services between Wellington and Gisborne. Buses run 4 times a week and take around 9h 25m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

Yes you can fly from Wellington and Gisborne. Flights depart from Wellington (WLG) and arrive at Gisborne (GIS). The flight takes around 1h 10m.

Yes there is a direct flight between Wellington and Gisborne with no stop-overs required. Flights typically take around 1h 10m.

Air New Zealand fly between Wellington and Gisborne. Flights depart from Wellington (WLG) and and arrive into Gisborne (GIS). These flights usually take around 1h 10m.

The flight from Wellington to Gisborne typically takes around 1h 10m. Flights depart from Wellington (WLG) and and arrive into Gisborne (GIS).

The closest major airport to Gisborne is Gisborne Airport (GIS) (GIS) which is approximately 3km (2 miles) from Gisborne. Rotorua International Airport (ROT) (ROT) and Palmerston North International Airport (PMR) (PMR) 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 Wellington and Gisborne. The distance is around 534km (332 miles) by road and it will take around 6h 15m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Wellington to Gisborne is to fly which takes, on average, 1h 35m and will usually cost around NZ$175 ($110).

How do I get from Wellington to Gisborne

Compare travel optionsbetween Wellington and Gisborne

Transport options from Wellington to Gisborne
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Fly
1h 35m
NZ$175($110)
every 20 mins411km (255 miles)
Bus
9h 25m
NZ$90($55)
4 times a week535km (332 miles)
Train and Bus
8h 25m
NZ$130($79)
4 times a week534km (332 miles)
Drive
6h 15m
NZ$120($73)
on demand534km (332 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Wellington and Gisborne

Airlines

Train operators

Bus companies

Airports near Gisborne

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

GIS
Gisborne Airport (GIS)
Domestic Airport
Distance
3km (2 miles) from Gisborne
ROT
Rotorua International Airport (ROT)
International Airport
Distance
161km (100 miles) from Gisborne
PMR
Palmerston North International Airport (PMR)
International Airport
Distance
277km (172 miles) from Gisborne