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How to get fromQueenstown to Waitomo Cavesby plane, car, bus, car ferry, shuttle, train, or towncar

Find Transport to Waitomo Caves

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There are 8 ways to get from Queenstown to Waitomo Caves by plane, car, bus, car ferry, shuttle, train, or towncar

Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.

  1. Fly to Tauranga Airport, drive

    best
    1. Fly from Queenstown Airport (ZQN) to Tauranga Airport (TRG)plane plane ZQN - TRG
    2. Drive from Tauranga-Airport-TRG to Waitomo Cavescar car
    6h 45m
    $190–875

  2. Fly to New Plymouth Airport, bus

    cheapest
    1. Fly from Queenstown Airport (ZQN) to New Plymouth Airport (NPL)plane plane ZQN - NPL
    2. Take the bus from Bell Block to Eight Mile Junctionbus bus
    9h 23m
    $178–845

  3. Bus, car ferry

    1. Take the bus from Queenstown to Christchurchbus bus
    2. Take the bus from Christchurch to Pictonbus bus
    3. Take the carferry from Picton to Wellingtoncarferry car ferry
    4. Take the bus from Wellington - Central to Whanganui / Wanganuibus bus
    5. Take the bus from Whanganui / Wanganui to Waitomo Townshipbus bus
    29h 36m

  4. Drive, car ferry

    1. Drive from Queenstown to Pictoncar car
    2. Take the carferry from Picton to Wellingtoncarferry car ferry
    3. Drive from Wellington to Waitomo Cavescar car
    18h 43m
    $491–655

  5. Tour, shuttle, drive, car ferry, train, bus

    1. Take a shuttle bus from Queenstown to Christchurchshuttle bus
    2. Take a shuttle bus from Christchurch to Nelsonshuttle bus
    3. Drive from Nelson to Pictoncar car
    4. Take the carferry from Picton to Wellingtoncarferry car ferry
    5. Take the train from Wellington to Taumarunui Stationtrain train
    6. Take the bus from Taumarunui to Waitomo Townshipbus bus
    34h 49m

  6. Fly to Auckland, bus

    1. Fly from Queenstown Airport (ZQN) to Auckland (AKL)plane plane ZQN - AKL
    2. Take the bus from Manukau City to Waitomo Townshipbus bus
    7h 56m

  7. Fly to Hamilton International Airport, bus

    1. Fly from Queenstown Airport (ZQN) to Hamilton International Airport (HLZ)plane plane ZQN - HLZ
    2. Take the bus from Kihikihi to Waitomo Townshipbus bus
    7h 54m

  8. Fly to Taupo, towncar, bus

    1. Fly from Queenstown Airport (ZQN) to Taupo (TUO)plane plane ZQN - TUO
    2. Take a town car from Taupo Airport to Tūrangitowncar towncar
    3. Take a town car from Tūrangi to Taumarunuitowncar towncar
    4. Take the bus from Taumarunui to Waitomo Townshipbus bus
    9h 54m

Queenstown Airport (ZQN) to Tauranga Airport (TRG) flights

Calendar51Weekly Planes
Duration4h 19mAverage Duration
Ticket$146Cheapest Price
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Questions & Answers

Map of how to get from Queenstown to Waitomo Caves.ExpandLaunch map view
  • Distance: 1,186.1 km
  • Duration: 6h 45m

What companies run services between Queenstown, New Zealand and Waitomo Caves, New Zealand?

There is no direct connection from Queenstown to Waitomo Caves. However, you can take the line 1 bus to Airport, walk to Queenstown Airport (ZQN) airport, fly to Tauranga Airport (TRG), then drive to Waitomo Caves. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Queenstown to Waitomo Township via Christchurch, Picton, Picton, Wellington, Wellington - Central, and Whanganui / Wanganui in around 29h 36m.

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