There are 7 ways to get from Lake Tekapo to Nelson by car, plane, bus, shuttle, or train
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Drive to Timaru, fly to Nelson Airport
best- Drive from Lake Tekapo to Timaru (TIU)car
- Fly from Timaru (TIU) to Nelson Airport (NSN)plane TIU - NSN
5h 11m$130–695Bus
cheapest- Take the bus from Tekapo to Christchurchbus
- Take the bus from Christchurch to Blenheimbus
- Take the bus from Blenheim to Nelsonbus
12h 20m$120–252Drive 629.3 km
- Drive from Lake Tekapo to Nelsoncar 629.3 km
7h 29m$184–266Tour, shuttle
- Take a shuttle bus from Lake Tekapo to ChristchurchTekapo to Christchurch Small Group Tour
- Take a shuttle bus from Christchurch to Nelson
9h$325–1,165Drive to Timaru, fly to Woodbourne Airport, bus
- Drive from Lake Tekapo to Timaru (TIU)car
- Fly from Timaru (TIU) to Woodbourne Airport (BHE)plane TIU - BHE
- Take the bus from Woodbourne to Nelsonbus
7h 38m$154–796Tour to Christchurch International Airport, fly to Nelson Airport
- Take a shuttle bus from Lake Tekapo to Christchurch
- Fly from Christchurch International Airport (CHC) to Nelson Airport (NSN)plane CHC - NSN
6h 29m$362–644Bus, train
- Take the bus from Tekapo to Christchurchbus
- Take the train from Rangiora to Blenheimtrain
- Take the bus from Blenheim to Nelsonbus
13h 32m$317–730
Lake Tekapo to Nelson by bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Lake Tekapo to Nelson is to drive which costs $180 - $270 and takes 7h 29m.
The fastest way to get from Lake Tekapo to Nelson is to drive and fly which takes 5h 11m and costs $130 - $700.
No, there is no direct bus from Lake Tekapo to Nelson. However, there are services departing from Tekapo and arriving at Nelson via Christchurch and Blenheim. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 12h 20m.
The distance between Lake Tekapo and Nelson is 472 km. The road distance is 629.3 km.
The best way to get from Lake Tekapo to Nelson without a car is to bus which takes 12h 20m and costs $120 - $260.
It takes approximately 5h 11m to get from Lake Tekapo to Nelson, including transfers.
Lake Tekapo to Nelson bus services, operated by InterCity, depart from Tekapo station.
Lake Tekapo to Nelson bus services, operated by InterCity, arrive at Christchurch station.
Yes, the driving distance between Lake Tekapo to Nelson is 629 km. It takes approximately 7h 29m to drive from Lake Tekapo to Nelson.
There are 345+ hotels available in Nelson.
What companies run services between Lake Tekapo, New Zealand and Nelson, New Zealand?
You can take a bus from Tekapo to Nelson via Christchurch and Blenheim in around 12h 20m.
- Website
- airnewzealand.com
Flights from Timaru to Nelson Airport via Wellington
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 32m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–650
Flights from Timaru to Nelson Airport via Wellington, Christchurch International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 17m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–800
Flights from Timaru to Nelson Airport via Wellington, Auckland
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 55m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $180–900
Flights from Timaru to Woodbourne Airport via Wellington
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 55m
- When
- Friday, Monday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $110–700
Flights from Timaru to Woodbourne Airport via Wellington, Auckland
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 30m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $190–950
Flights from Christchurch International Airport to Nelson Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $75–550
Flights from Christchurch International Airport to Nelson Airport via Wellington
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 41m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $90–600
- Phone
- +64 4 495 0775
- [email protected]
- Website
- greatjourneysofnz.co.nz
Train from Rangiora to Blenheim
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 40m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $210–519
- Schedules at
- greatjourneysnz.com
- Scenic Plus
- $519
- Scenic
- $210–260
- Phone
- +64 9 583 5780
- [email protected]
- Website
- intercity.co.nz
Bus from Tekapo to Christchurch
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 25m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Website
- https://www.intercity.co.nz/
Bus from Christchurch to Blenheim
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 10m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $15–75
- Website
- https://www.intercity.co.nz/
Bus from Blenheim to Nelson
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $16–55
- Website
- https://www.intercity.co.nz/
Bus from Woodbourne to Nelson
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 40m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $16–55
- Website
- https://www.intercity.co.nz/
Bus from Tekapo to Christchurch
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 25m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Website
- https://www.intercity.co.nz/
Bus from Blenheim to Nelson
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $16–55
- Website
- https://www.intercity.co.nz/
- Phone
- +64 9 583 5790
- [email protected]
- Website
- greatsights.co.nz
Bus from Tekapo to Christchurch
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 35m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $85–130
- Website
- https://www.greatsights.co.nz/new-zealand-tours/
- Standard
- $85–130
- Flexi
- $100–800
Bus from Tekapo to Christchurch
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 35m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $85–130
- Website
- https://www.greatsights.co.nz/new-zealand-tours/
- Standard
- $85–130
- Flexi
- $100–800
- Phone
- +64 9 390 7380
- [email protected]
- Website
- cheekykiwitravel.com
Shuttle from Lake Tekapo to Christchurch
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $125–165
- Schedules at
- cheekykiwitravel.rezdy.com
- Book at
- cheekykiwitravel.rezdy.com
- Adult
- $165
- Child
- $125
Shuttle from Lake Tekapo to Christchurch
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $125–165
- Schedules at
- cheekykiwitravel.rezdy.com
- Book at
- cheekykiwitravel.rezdy.com
- Adult
- $165
- Child
- $125
- Phone
- +64 (3) 540 2042
- [email protected]
- Website
- nelsonlakesshuttles.co.nz
Shuttle from Christchurch to Nelson
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 30m
- Frequency
- On demand
- Estimated price
- $200–1,000
- Schedules at
- nelsonlakesshuttles.co.nz
- Minimum charge per vehicle
- $1,000
- Per person
- $200
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