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How to get fromStewart Island to Nelsonby ferry, plane, bus, train, or shuttle

Find Transport to Nelson

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There are 4 ways to get from Stewart Island to Nelson by ferry, plane, bus, train, 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.

  1. Ferry, fly

    best
    1. Take the ferry from Stewart Island to Bluffferry ferry
    2. Fly from Invercargill (IVC) to Nelson Airport (NSN)plane plane IVC - NSN
    6h 16m
    $367–998

  2. Ferry, bus

    cheapest
    1. Take the ferry from Stewart Island to Bluffferry ferry
    2. Take the bus from Invercargill to Dunedinbus bus
    3. Take the bus from Dunedin to Christchurchbus bus
    4. Take the bus from Christchurch to Blenheimbus bus
    5. Take the bus from Blenheim to Nelsonbus bus
    22h 36m
    $299–524

  3. Ferry, bus, train

    1. Take the ferry from Stewart Island to Bluffferry ferry
    2. Take the bus from Invercargill to Dunedinbus bus
    3. Take the bus from Dunedin to Church Cornerbus bus
    4. Take the train from Christchurch to Blenheimtrain train
    5. Take the bus from Blenheim to Nelsonbus bus
    22h 14m
    $576–1,079

  4. Ferry, bus, Tour, shuttle

    1. Take the ferry from Stewart Island to Bluffferry ferry
    2. Take the bus from Invercargill to Queenstownbus bus
    3. Take a shuttle bus from Queenstown to Christchurchshuttle bus
    4. Take a shuttle bus from Christchurch to Nelsonshuttle bus
    25h 30m
    $780–1,759

Invercargill (IVC) to Nelson Airport (NSN) flights

Calendar48Weekly Planes
Duration4h 57mAverage Duration
Ticket$120Cheapest Price
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Questions & Answers

Map of how to get from Stewart Island to Nelson.ExpandLaunch map view
  • Distance: 763.5 km
  • Duration: 6h 16m

What companies run services between Stewart Island, Southland, New Zealand and Nelson, New Zealand?

There is no direct connection from Stewart Island to Nelson. However, you can take the ferry to Bluff, take the taxi to Invercargill (IVC) airport, fly to Nelson Airport (NSN), walk to Nelson Airport Terminal, then take the line 4 bus to Bisley Avenue at Back of the Sands. Alternatively, you can take a ferry from Stewart Island to Nelson via Bluff, Invercargill, Dunedin, Dunedin, Church Corner, Christchurch, Blenheim, and Blenheim in around 22h 14m.

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