How to travel from Whangārei to Akaroa, New Zealand
The distance between Whangārei and Akaroa is around 991km (616 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly and then take the bus which takes around 5h 20m.
4 routes found
We've found 4 different ways to get from Whangārei to Akaroa by plane, bus, car and ferry. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.
👋 Also check out Akaroa → Whangārei if you're planning a return trip.
Plane and Bus
Fly from Whangarei (WRE) to Christchurch (CHC) then take the bus to Akaroa.
- Duration5h 20m
- Flight time2hrs
- Typical costNZ$290($175)
Multiple operators
2 similiar routes
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 Akaroa.
- Duration18h 5m
- Departs4 times a day
- Typical costNZ$420($255)
Multiple operators
Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Whangārei and Akaroa
Popular questions
There are several options for getting from Whangārei to Akaroa by plane, bus, car and ferry. The cheapest option is to take the bus and then fly which costs around NZ$255 ($155) and will take around 7h 40m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can fly and then take the bus and arrive in approximately 5h 20m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately NZ$290 ($175).
The distance between Whangārei and Akaroa is around 991km (616 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 907km (564 miles)
It takes around 5h 20m to get from Whangārei and Akaroa by plane and bus.
The quickest way to get from Whangārei to Akaroa is to fly and then take the bus which takes around 5h 20m and will set you back approx NZ$290 ($175).
The cheapest way to travel between Whangārei and Akaroa is to take the bus and then fly which will typically cost around NZ$255 ($155) for a standard one-way ticket.
Train travel
There is no train service that runs between Whangārei and Akaroa. We recommend that you fly from Whangarei (WRE) to Christchurch (CHC) then take the bus to Akaroa. instead which will take 5h 20m.
Bus travel
Sorry, looks like there is no bus service that runs between Whangārei and Akaroa. We recommend that you fly from Whangarei (WRE) to Christchurch (CHC) then take the bus to Akaroa. instead which will take 5h 20m.
Flights and Airlines
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Whangārei to Akaroa. We recommend that you fly from Whangarei (WRE) to Christchurch (CHC) then take the bus to Akaroa. instead which will take 5h 20m.
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
No, its not really possible or feasible to drive from Whangārei to Akaroa. We recommend that you fly from Whangarei (WRE) to Christchurch (CHC) then take the bus to Akaroa. instead which will take 5h 20m.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Whangārei to Akaroa is to fly and then take the bus which takes, on average, 5h 20m and will usually cost around NZ$290 ($175).
Compare travel optionsbetween Whangārei and Akaroa
| Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Plane and Bus + 2 similar | 5h 20m | NZ$290($175) | once daily | 991km (616 miles) |
| Bus and Plane | 7h 5m | NZ$390($240) | once daily | 1,149km (714 miles) |
| Bus to Auckland - Central, plane | 7h 40m | NZ$255($155) | 5 times a week | 1,025km (637 miles) |
Car and Ferry | 18h 5m | NZ$420($255) | 4 times a day | 1,320km (820 miles) |
Top Carriersoperating between Whangārei and Akaroa
Airlines
Ferry operators
Bus companies
Akaroa French Connection
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