There are 7 ways to get from Nelson to Rakaia by plane, bus, train, car, or shuttle
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly Nelson Airport to Christchurch International Airport, line 5 bus, bus
best- Fly from Nelson Airport (NSN) to Christchurch International Airport (CHC)plane NSN - CHC
- Take the bus from The Hub Hornby to Rollestonbus
- Take the bus from Rolleston to Rakaiabus
5h 14mDrive 467 km
cheapest- Drive from Nelson to Rakaiacar 467 km
5h 41m$137–197Bus
- Take the bus from Nelson to Blenheimbus
- Take the bus from Blenheim to Christchurchbus
- Take the bus from Christchurch to Rakaiabus
10h 4mBus, train
- Take the bus from Nelson to Blenheimbus
- Take the train from Blenheim to Rangioratrain
- Take the bus from Christchurch to Rakaiabus
10h 57mFly Nelson Airport to Timaru, bus
- Fly from Nelson Airport (NSN) to Timaru (TIU)plane NSN - TIU
- Take the bus from Temuka to Rakaiabus
7h 33mBus to Woodbourne Airport, fly to Christchurch International Airport
- Take the bus from Nelson to Woodbournebus
- Fly from Woodbourne Airport (BHE) to Christchurch International Airport (CHC)plane BHE - CHC
7h 56m$242–613Shuttle, bus
- Take a shuttle bus from Nelson to Christchurch
- Take the bus from Christchurch to Rakaiabus Christchurch - Dunedin / ...
7h 39m
Nelson Airport (NSN) to Christchurch International Airport (CHC) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Nelson to Rakaia is to drive which costs $130 - $200 and takes 5h 41m.
The fastest way to get from Nelson to Rakaia is to drive which takes 5h 41m and costs $130 - $200.
No, there is no direct bus from Nelson to Rakaia. However, there are services departing from Nelson and arriving at Rakaia via Blenheim and Christchurch. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 10h 4m.
The distance between Nelson and Rakaia is 318 km. The road distance is 467 km.
The best way to get from Nelson to Rakaia without a car is to bus which takes 10h 4m and costs .
It takes approximately 5h 14m to get from Nelson to Rakaia, including transfers.
Nelson to Rakaia bus services, operated by InterCity, depart from Nelson station.
Nelson to Rakaia bus services, operated by InterCity, arrive at Blenheim station.
Yes, the driving distance between Nelson to Rakaia is 467 km. It takes approximately 5h 41m to drive from Nelson to Rakaia.
There are four+ hotels available in Rakaia.
What companies run services between Nelson, New Zealand and Rakaia, New Zealand?
You can take a bus from Nelson to Rakaia via Blenheim and Christchurch in around 10h 4m.
- Website
- airnewzealand.com
Flights from Nelson Airport to Christchurch International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 55 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $70–550
Flights from Nelson Airport to Christchurch International Airport via Wellington
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 50m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $85–600
Flights from Nelson Airport to Timaru via Wellington
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 52m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–650
Flights from Nelson Airport to Timaru via Christchurch International Airport, Wellington
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 55m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $140–750
Flights from Nelson Airport to Timaru via Auckland, Wellington
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 10m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $170–900
Flights from Woodbourne Airport to Christchurch International Airport via Wellington
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 53m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $85–600
Flights from Woodbourne Airport to Christchurch International Airport via Auckland
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 24m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $160–850
Flights from Woodbourne Airport to Christchurch International Airport via Wellington, Nelson Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 47m
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Monday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $95–650
- Phone
- +64 4 495 0775
- [email protected]
- Website
- greatjourneysofnz.co.nz
Train from Blenheim to Rangiora
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 40m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $210–519
- Schedules at
- greatjourneysnz.com
- Scenic Plus
- $519
- Scenic
- $210–260
- Phone
- +64 3-366 8855
- [email protected]
- Website
- metroinfo.co.nz
Bus from The Hub Hornby to Rolleston
- Ave. Duration
- 23 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $1–3
- Website
- http://www.metroinfo.co.nz/Pages/default.aspx
- Phone
- +64 9 583 5780
- [email protected]
- Website
- intercity.co.nz
Bus from Rolleston to Rakaia
- Ave. Duration
- 21 min
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Website
- https://www.intercity.co.nz/
Bus from Nelson to Blenheim
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 40m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $16–55
- Website
- https://www.intercity.co.nz/
Bus from Blenheim to Christchurch
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 20m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $11–55
- Website
- https://www.intercity.co.nz/
Bus from Christchurch to Rakaia
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 4m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Website
- https://www.intercity.co.nz/
Bus from Nelson to Blenheim
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 40m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $16–55
- Website
- https://www.intercity.co.nz/
Bus from Christchurch to Rakaia
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 4m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Website
- https://www.intercity.co.nz/
Bus from Temuka to Rakaia
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 19m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Website
- https://www.intercity.co.nz/
Bus from Nelson to Woodbourne
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 34m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $16–55
- Website
- https://www.intercity.co.nz/
Bus from Christchurch to Rakaia
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 4m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Website
- https://www.intercity.co.nz/
- Phone
- +64 (3) 540 2042
- [email protected]
- Website
- nelsonlakesshuttles.co.nz
Shuttle from Nelson to Christchurch
- 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
Want to know more about travelling around the world?
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Read our range of informative guides on popular transport routes and companies - including Train travel in Spain: A guide to Renfe, Need to know: Greyhound, and Heading to Europe? Read this before you buy a Eurail Pass - to help you get the most out of your next trip.