There are 8 ways to get from Palmerston North to Nelson by car, car ferry, train, bus, plane, 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.
Drive, car ferry
best- Drive from Palmerston North to Wellingtoncar
- Take the carferry from Wellington to Pictoncarferry
- Drive from Picton to Nelsoncar
6h 53m$213–253Train to Wellington, fly to Nelson Airport
cheapest- Take the train from Palmerston North to Wellingtontrain
- Fly from Wellington (WLG) to Nelson Airport (NSN)plane WLG - NSN
5h 32m$149–364Train, car ferry, bus
- Take the train from Palmerston North to Wellingtontrain
- Take the carferry from Wellington to Pictoncarferry
- Take the bus from Picton to Nelsonbus
9h 56m$183–260Bus, car ferry
- Take the bus from Palmerston North to Wellington - Centralbus
- Take the carferry from Wellington to Pictoncarferry
- Take the bus from Picton to Nelsonbus
10h 5m$162–242Train to Wellington, fly to Woodbourne Airport, bus
- Take the train from Palmerston North to Wellingtontrain
- Fly from Wellington (WLG) to Woodbourne Airport (BHE)plane WLG - BHE
- Take the bus from Woodbourne to Nelsonbus
7h$162–895Train to Wellington, fly to Picton, bus
- Take the train from Palmerston North to Wellingtontrain
- Fly from Wellington (WLG) to Picton (PCN)plane WLG - PCN
- Take the bus from Koromiko to Nelsonbus
7h 30m$202–535Fly Palmerston to Christchurch International Airport, shuttle
- Fly from Palmerston (PMR) to Christchurch International Airport (CHC)plane PMR - CHC
- Take a shuttle bus from Christchurch to Nelson
8h 4m$296–1,604Train to Paraparaumu, fly to Nelson Airport
- Take the train from Palmerston North to Paraparaumutrain
- Fly from Paraparaumu (PPQ) to Nelson Airport (NSN)plane PPQ - NSN
4h 47m$248–534
Palmerston North to Nelson by train, car ferry, foot, and bus
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Palmerston North to Nelson is to drive and car ferry which costs $210 - $260 and takes 6h 53m.
The fastest way to get from Palmerston North to Nelson is to train and fly which takes 4h 47m and costs $240 - $550.
The distance between Palmerston North and Nelson is 347 km.
The best way to get from Palmerston North to Nelson without a car is to train and car ferry and bus which takes 9h 56m and costs $180 - $260.
It takes approximately 6h 53m to get from Palmerston North to Nelson, including transfers.
There are 375+ hotels available in Nelson.
What companies run services between Palmerston North, New Zealand and Nelson, New Zealand?
There is no direct connection from Palmerston North to Nelson. However, you can drive to Wellington, take the car ferry to Picton, then drive to Nelson. Alternatively, you can take a train from Palmerston North to Nelson via Wellington, Wellington, Picton, and Picton in around 9h 56m.
- Website
- soundsair.com
Flights from Wellington to Nelson Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 50 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–260
Flights from Wellington to Woodbourne Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 30 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $85–700
Flights from Wellington to Picton
- Ave. Duration
- 30 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–390
Flights from Paraparaumu to Nelson Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 50 min
- When
- Friday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $220–470
- Website
- airnewzealand.com
Flights from Wellington to Nelson Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 45 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $75–600
Flights from Wellington to Woodbourne Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 30 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $85–700
Flights from Palmerston to Christchurch International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $90–600
Flights from Palmerston to Christchurch International Airport via Auckland
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 40m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–750
- Phone
- 0800 277 482
- [email protected]
- Website
- greatjourneysnz.com
Train from Palmerston North to Wellington
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 5m
- Frequency
- 5 times a week
- Estimated price
- $35–45
- Schedules at
- greatjourneysnz.com
Train from Palmerston North to Wellington
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 5m
- Frequency
- 5 times a week
- Estimated price
- $35–45
- Schedules at
- greatjourneysnz.com
Train from Palmerston North to Wellington
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 5m
- Frequency
- 5 times a week
- Estimated price
- $35–45
- Schedules at
- greatjourneysnz.com
Train from Palmerston North to Wellington
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 5m
- Frequency
- 5 times a week
- Estimated price
- $35–45
- Schedules at
- greatjourneysnz.com
Train from Palmerston North to Paraparaumu
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 17m
- Frequency
- 5 times a week
- Estimated price
- $23–29
- Schedules at
- greatjourneysnz.com
- Phone
- +64 4495 0775
- [email protected]
- Website
- greatjourneysofnz.co.nz
Train from Palmerston North to Wellington
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- $60–75
- Schedules at
- greatjourneysnz.com
Train from Palmerston North to Wellington
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- $60–75
- Schedules at
- greatjourneysnz.com
Train from Palmerston North to Wellington
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- $60–75
- Schedules at
- greatjourneysnz.com
Train from Palmerston North to Wellington
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- $60–75
- Schedules at
- greatjourneysnz.com
Train from Palmerston North to Paraparaumu
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 10m
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- $45–55
- Schedules at
- greatjourneysnz.com
- Phone
- +64 9 583 5780
- [email protected]
- Website
- InterCity
Bus from Picton to Nelson
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 15m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $16–55
- Website
- InterCity
Bus from Palmerston North to Wellington - Central
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 14m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $14–60
- Website
- InterCity
Bus from Picton to Nelson
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 15m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $16–55
- Website
- InterCity
Bus from Woodbourne to Nelson
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 40m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $16–55
- Website
- InterCity
Bus from Koromiko to Nelson
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 10m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $16–55
- Website
- InterCity
- 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
- Phone
- 0800 844 844
- [email protected]
- Website
- Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferries
Car ferry from Wellington to Picton
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $131
- Website
- Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferries
Car ferry from Wellington to Picton
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $131
- Website
- Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferries
Car ferry from Wellington to Picton
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $131
- Website
- Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferries
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 How to get from JFK to New York City, Want to know more about Flixbus?, and What are the different types of Renfe trains in Spain? - to help you get the most out of your next trip.









