There are 5 ways to get from Palmerston North to Timaru by train, plane, bus, car ferry, or car
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Train to Wellington, fly to Timaru
best- Take the train from Palmerston North to Wellingtontrain
- Fly from Wellington (WLG) to Timaru (TIU)plane WLG - TIU
5h 30m$189–611Bus, car ferry
- Take the bus from Palmerston North to Wellington - Centralbus
- Take the car ferry from Wellington to Pictoncarferry
- Take the bus from Picton to Christchurchbus
- Take the bus from Christchurch to Timarubus
17h 20mTrain, car ferry, bus
- Take the train from Palmerston North to Wellingtontrain
- Take the car ferry from Wellington to Pictoncarferry
- Take the train from Picton to Rangioratrain
- Take the bus from Christchurch to Timarubus
18hDrive, car ferry
- Drive from Palmerston North to Wellingtoncar
- Take the car ferry from Wellington to Pictoncarferry
- Drive from Picton to Timarucar
11h 19m$309–397Fly Palmerston to Christchurch International Airport, bus
- Fly from Palmerston (PMR) to Christchurch International Airport (CHC)plane PMR - CHC
- Take the bus from Rolleston to Timarubus
5h 52m
Wellington (WLG) to Timaru (TIU) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Palmerston North to Timaru is to drive and car ferry which costs $300 - $400 and takes 11h 19m.
The fastest way to get from Palmerston North to Timaru is to train and fly which takes 5h 30m and costs $180 - $650.
The distance between Palmerston North and Timaru is 601 km.
The best way to get from Palmerston North to Timaru without a car is to bus and car ferry which takes 17h 20m and costs .
It takes approximately 5h 30m to get from Palmerston North to Timaru, including transfers.
There are 74+ hotels available in Timaru.
What companies run services between Palmerston North, New Zealand and Timaru, New Zealand?
There is no direct connection from Palmerston North to Timaru. However, you can take the train to Wellington, walk to Wellington Station - Stop B, take the bus to Wellington International Airport, walk to Wellington (WLG) airport, fly to Timaru (TIU), then take the taxi to Timaru. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Palmerston North to Timaru via Wellington - Central, Wellington, Picton, Picton, and Christchurch in around 17h 20m.
- Website
- airnewzealand.com
Flights from Wellington to Timaru
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $70–440
Flights from Palmerston to Christchurch International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $95–650
Flights from Palmerston to Christchurch International Airport via Auckland
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 38m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $160–800
- Phone
- +64 4495 0775
- [email protected]
- Website
- greatjourneysnz.com
Train from Palmerston North to Wellington
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 5m
- Frequency
- 5 times a week
- Estimated price
- $98
- Schedules at
- greatjourneysnz.com
Train from Palmerston North to Wellington
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 5m
- Frequency
- 5 times a week
- Estimated price
- $98
- Schedules at
- greatjourneysnz.com
- Phone
- +64 4495 0775
- [email protected]
- Website
- greatjourneysofnz.co.nz
Train from Palmerston North to Wellington
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 5m
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- $65–80
- Schedules at
- greatjourneysnz.com
Train from Palmerston North to Wellington
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 5m
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- $65–80
- Schedules at
- greatjourneysnz.com
- Phone
- +64 4 495 0775
- [email protected]
- Website
- greatjourneysofnz.co.nz
Train from Picton to Rangiora
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 5m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $230–519
- Schedules at
- greatjourneysnz.com
- Scenic Plus
- $519
- Scenic
- $230–280
- Phone
- +64 9 583 5780
- [email protected]
- Website
- intercity.co.nz
Bus from Palmerston North to Wellington - Central
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 14m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $14–60
- Website
- https://www.intercity.co.nz/
Bus from Picton to Christchurch
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 50m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $11–55
- Website
- https://www.intercity.co.nz/
Bus from Christchurch to Timaru
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 40m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Website
- https://www.intercity.co.nz/
Bus from Christchurch to Timaru
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 40m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Website
- https://www.intercity.co.nz/
Bus from Rolleston to Timaru
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 57m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Website
- https://www.intercity.co.nz/
- Phone
- 0800 844 844
- [email protected]
- Website
- bluebridge.co.nz
Car ferry from Wellington to Picton
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $128
- Website
- https://www.bluebridge.co.nz/
Car ferry from Wellington to Picton
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $128
- Website
- https://www.bluebridge.co.nz/
Car ferry from Wellington to Picton
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $128
- Website
- https://www.bluebridge.co.nz/
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 Slovenia: Getting from Ljubljana to Lake Bled, How to get from Florence to Rome, and What are the different types of Renfe trains in Spain? - to help you get the most out of your next trip.










