Auckland to Queenstown & the South Island: Fly, Drive or Ferry

Queenstown is under two hours from Auckland by air, or roughly 1,500 km of driving and a Cook Strait ferry crossing of around three and a half hours by road. Almost every visitor who flies into Auckland and wants to see the South Island faces that choice, which makes Auckland to South Island travel one of the most common — and most over-thought — journeys in the country. The answer is simpler than the choice looks, and it depends mostly on one thing: whether the North Island is part of your trip, or just the airport you landed at.

This guide compares every way of getting from Auckland to the South Island: flying to Queenstown, Christchurch and the other South Island airports; driving to Wellington and crossing Cook Strait by ferry; the scenic train-and-ferry route; the coach; and a one-way campervan. It covers how long each takes, what it costs, which rental cars can go on the ferry, and which option suits which trip. Prices and timetables were checked in October 2026; treat them as the right order of magnitude and confirm anything time-critical when you book.

At a glance: getting from Auckland to the South Island

How	Auckland to Queenstown	Auckland to Christchurch	Best for	The catch
Fly	Under two hours	Check the airlines’ timetables	Almost everyone with less than three weeks	You see nothing of the North Island
Drive and ferry	Five days is a tight itinerary; seven to ten is better	Three days is a tight itinerary	A combined North and South Island road trip	One-way rental fees and a car swap at the ferry
Train and ferry	Two to three days depending on connections, then fly, drive or coach	Two to three days depending on connections	A slow, scenic journey without driving	Trains run on set days, and the South Island leg is seasonal
Coach and ferry	Depends on stops and connections	Depends on stops and connections	The tightest budgets	Long days, and little flexibility

The short answer

For a trip of two to three weeks, fly from Auckland to Queenstown or Christchurch, road trip the South Island, and fly home from the other end. It is quick, often cheap if booked early, and it puts all your driving where the South Island’s scenery is. Drive and take the ferry only if you are doing a North Island road trip anyway and it ends in Wellington — our North Island road trip guide has routes that finish there — or if you have a month or more and want to see the whole country from the ground.

Flying from Auckland to the South Island

The main South Island airports are Queenstown, Christchurch, Dunedin and Nelson; Air New Zealand’s and Jetstar’s sites show which routes they fly from Auckland and when. Auckland to Queenstown takes under two hours in the air.

Where to fly to

• Queenstown puts you straight into the mountains and the lakes, close to Wānaka, Glenorchy, Milford Sound and the Central Otago wine country. The airport is a short drive from town, and a public bus runs between them. Flights are occasionally delayed or diverted by weather, so do not book a tight onward connection.
• Christchurch is the South Island’s biggest city and the usual gateway for Canterbury, Aoraki/Mount Cook, Kaikōura, the TranzAlpine train and the West Coast. Rental cars are often cheaper here than in Queenstown.
• Nelson is the gateway to Abel Tasman National Park and the sunny top of the South Island.
• Dunedin suits the Otago Peninsula, its albatross and penguin colonies, and the Catlins.

The open-jaw trick

The best South Island road trips are one-way, so fly into one airport and out of another: into Christchurch and out of Queenstown, for example, or into Nelson and out of Queenstown via the West Coast. You avoid driving back over the same roads, and domestic one-way fares cost no more than returns. You will usually pay a one-way rental fee, but it is often cheaper than the extra days and fuel of a loop.

Fares and baggage

Domestic fares move a lot. Booked a few weeks or months out, Auckland to Queenstown or Christchurch can be very reasonable; booked a few days out in summer, it can cost more than a transpacific bargain. Watch what the fare includes. The cheapest fares on both airlines are carry-on only, and a checked bag costs extra, so compare the price with the bag included if you are travelling with a suitcase. Skis, bikes and golf clubs need to be booked as sports equipment in advance.

Arriving at Queenstown or Christchurch

• Queenstown Airport is at Frankton, about 10 minutes’ drive from the town centre. A public bus runs into town, and taxis, rideshares and shuttles meet flights. The rental car desks are in the terminal, and most visitors collect a car here and drive straight out.
• Christchurch Airport is on the edge of the city, with public buses, shuttles, taxis and rideshares into the centre. Rental cars are available here as well as at Queenstown, so compare quotes for both.

Do not plan a long drive on the day you fly in, especially straight off a long-haul flight into Auckland; our first-day plan explains why. The South Island’s roads are narrow, winding and scenic enough to be distracting; a first night in Queenstown or Christchurch makes for a far better start.

Connecting from an international flight

Auckland’s domestic and international terminals are separate buildings, linked by a free shuttle or a signposted walk of about ten minutes. If you are connecting straight from a long-haul arrival to a South Island flight, allow plenty of time for immigration, bags, biosecurity and the transfer; our guide to transferring between terminals at Auckland Airport has the timings, and the Auckland Airport guide covers the rest.

The honest verdict on flying: it is the right answer for most people. Book as early as you can, because domestic fares rise sharply close to the date, and a morning flight gives you a full afternoon in the mountains.

Driving and the Cook Strait ferry

Driving to the South Island means roughly 640 km to Wellington, a ferry across Cook Strait to Picton, and then as far as you want to go. It is a journey in three parts.

Part 1: Auckland to Wellington

The drive to Wellington is about 7.5 to 8 hours without stops on State Highway 1, through Taupō and over the Desert Road. It is best split over at least two days, with a night in Taupō, and far better over three or four, with Rotorua or Tongariro National Park on the way. Our Auckland to Wellington road trip guide covers the route leg by leg.

Part 2: the Cook Strait ferry

Two companies cross Cook Strait between Wellington and Picton. Interislander sails from its terminal at Kaiwharawhara, just north of the city centre, and Bluebridge from its terminal opposite Wellington Railway Station. The crossing takes around three and a half hours, and there are several sailings a day in each direction. The approach through Tory Channel and Queen Charlotte Sound, winding between steep, bush-covered hills to Picton, is a scenic one. Stand on deck for it.

• Book ahead, especially for a vehicle and especially in summer and school holidays, when car space sells out.
• Check in early. Vehicles need to check in well before sailing, and foot passengers a little less; your booking will tell you the cut-off.
• Expect weather. Cook Strait is one of the roughest stretches of water in the country. Sailings are occasionally cancelled or delayed in big swells, and some crossings are lively. Take seasickness tablets if you are prone to it, and do not plan a tight connection on the far side.

A night in Wellington before the ferry

If you are catching a morning ferry, spend the night before in Wellington rather than trying to drive down from Taupō the same day. It turns a stressful dash into one of the best evenings of the trip. The city is compact, the waterfront is lovely on a still evening, Te Papa, the national museum, is free for New Zealanders, people living in New Zealand and international visitors under 16 (other international visitors pay NZ$35 for a ticket valid for 48 hours), and Cuba Street has some of the best small restaurants and bars in the country. Stay central, since both ferry terminals are only a few minutes’ drive from the city centre, and check which terminal your sailing leaves from, because they are in different places.

Rental cars and the ferry

This is the part that catches people out. Many of the big rental brands, including Hertz, Thrifty and Europcar, do not allow their cars on the Cook Strait ferries at all. Instead, you drop the car at the ferry terminal in Wellington, cross as a foot passenger, and collect another car at the terminal in Picton. Several of the major brands have depots inside the Interislander terminal to make that easy. Always check your rental agreement before you book the crossing, as many rental companies do not allow their vehicles on the ferry. Our car rental guide covers one-way fees and the ferry swap.

Part 3: Picton to Christchurch or Queenstown

From Picton, the two classic routes south are very different.

• The east coast to Christchurch follows State Highway 1 through the Marlborough wine country around Blenheim and down the spectacular Kaikōura coast, where the road and railway squeeze between the mountains and the sea. The road was rebuilt after the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake. Stop at Kaikōura for whale watching, and look for fur seals on the rocks along the coast. Picton to Christchurch takes about four and a half hours. From Christchurch, Queenstown is another six hours or so via Lake Tekapo and the Mackenzie Country, with a detour to Aoraki/Mount Cook on the way.
• The West Coast to Queenstown heads west via Nelson or the Buller Gorge to the wild West Coast, then south past the Franz Josef and Fox glaciers and over the Haast Pass to Wānaka and Queenstown. It is the most dramatic drive in the country and needs at least three days from Picton, better five.

How long does it take to drive from Auckland to Queenstown?

With the ferry, the minimum realistic plan is five days: Auckland to Taupō; Taupō to Wellington; the ferry and on to Kaikōura; Kaikōura to Lake Tekapo; and Tekapo to Queenstown. Most of those days involve several hours of driving, and the ferry day starts early. Seven to ten days turns it into a proper road trip. If you only have five days to get from Auckland to Queenstown, fly.

The train and ferry: the scenic way

You can cross most of the country by train. KiwiRail’s Northern Explorer runs from Auckland to Wellington in a day, southbound on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, through the King Country and around the volcanoes of the Central Plateau. After a night in Wellington, the Interislander crosses to Picton, where the Coastal Pacific train runs down the Kaikōura coast to Christchurch in the afternoon. The Coastal Pacific is seasonal: it runs from September to late April, and does not run in winter. From Christchurch, the TranzAlpine crosses the Southern Alps to the West Coast, and coaches and flights continue to Queenstown.

The honest verdict: it is slow, it runs only on set days, and it costs more than flying. It is also a genuinely beautiful way to see the country without driving, and the Kaikōura coast from the train is unforgettable. Book the trains and the ferry together, well ahead, and build in slack in case the ferry is delayed.

By coach

InterCity runs coaches from Auckland to Wellington and on from Picton to Christchurch, Queenstown and most South Island towns, and sells ferry tickets to link them. It is the cheapest way to cover the distance, particularly with fares booked well ahead, but the days are long and the timetables fixed. For most people, the saving over a cheap early-booked flight is small, and the time cost is several days.

A one-way campervan

Campervans suit a North-to-South road trip well, partly because many campervan companies allow their vehicles on the Cook Strait ferries. One-way hires between Auckland and Christchurch or Queenstown are common, although one-way fees apply. Campervan companies also regularly need vehicles moved between depots and offer relocation deals, sometimes at a nominal daily rate, to anyone willing to drive a set route within a set time. If your dates are flexible, they can be superb value. Freedom camping rules are strict — only certified self-contained vehicles can stay where self-containment is required — so check the rules in each district. Our road trips from Auckland guide covers the rules and costs in more detail, and our campervan hire guide compares the Auckland companies.

Which option suits your trip?

Your trip	Our pick
Under two weeks, South Island focus	Fly Auckland to Queenstown or Christchurch, and fly home from the other end
Two to three weeks, both islands	A North Island road trip ending in Wellington, then the ferry and a new rental car in Picton
A month or more	Drive the length of the country, with the ferry in the middle
No driving	The train and ferry, or fly and use coaches and tours in the South Island
Tight budget, flexible dates	An early-booked flight, a campervan relocation, or the coach

Sample plans: both islands in two, three or four weeks

Two weeks

Spend three or four days in and around Auckland — the city, Waiheke Island and a night in Rotorua — then fly from Auckland to Queenstown. Spend ten days driving the South Island from Queenstown to Christchurch: Milford Sound, Wānaka, Aoraki/Mount Cook and Lake Tekapo, with a detour to Kaikōura if there is time. Fly home from Christchurch, or back to Auckland for your international flight. At this length, flying south is the only sensible option.

Three weeks

Take a week to drive the North Island from Auckland to Wellington via Rotorua, Taupō and Tongariro, following our North Island road trip guide. Drop the car in Wellington, cross on the ferry, and collect a new car in Picton. Spend two weeks on the South Island, heading through Nelson and Abel Tasman, down the West Coast to the glaciers, over the Haast Pass to Wānaka and Queenstown, and finishing in Christchurch or back in Queenstown for your flight home.

Four weeks or more

With a month, you can see nearly everything. Give the North Island ten days, adding the Coromandel or Northland, then cross to the South Island for eighteen days or more, adding the Catlins, Dunedin and the Otago Peninsula, Kaikōura and the Marlborough wine country. A campervan suits a trip of this length and shape, as long as you follow the freedom camping rules.

Mistakes to avoid

• Booking a rental car across the ferry without checking. Many rental agreements do not allow it, and turning up at the terminal to find out is expensive.
• Tight connections on the far side of Cook Strait. Ferries are delayed or cancelled in bad weather, so leave slack before any onward train, flight or tour.
• Underestimating South Island driving times. The roads are quieter than the North Island’s but just as winding, and the scenery slows everyone down. Plan on no more than four or five hours of driving a day.
• Driving the length of the country on a short trip. Five days of driving to get from Auckland to Queenstown is five days not spent in the mountains. On less than three weeks, fly.
• Forgetting winter. From June to August, the South Island’s mountain passes can need chains, and the Coastal Pacific does not run.
• Booking the cheapest fare with a big suitcase. Carry-on-only fares look cheap until you add the bag.

What it costs

Item	Rough cost (NZ$)	Notes
Domestic flight, Auckland to Queenstown or Christchurch	Varies widely	Cheapest booked early; last-minute fares climb steeply
Fuel, Auckland to Wellington	About 130-145	Small car, petrol above NZ$3 a litre
Fuel, Picton to Queenstown via Christchurch	About 165-185	About 820 km in a small car
Cook Strait ferry	Varies	Foot passengers pay far less than vehicles; book early
One-way rental fees	From about 50 within an island	Plus a separate hire on each island if you swap cars
Accommodation on a 5-day drive	About 380-750 for four nights	Holiday park cabins to budget motels

Compared on cost alone, an early-booked flight usually wins, because the drive adds four nights of accommodation, fuel, one-way fees and the ferry. The drive wins only if you want to see the places in between.

Seasons and weather

• Summer (December to February) is peak season for flights, ferries and rental cars, and everything should be booked early.
• Winter (June to August) brings snow to the South Island’s passes. The roads to Queenstown can require chains or close for a time, and the Coastal Pacific does not run. Flights are the most reliable option.
• Cook Strait is rough in any season. If a sailing is cancelled, the ferry companies rebook you, but it can cost a day.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best way to get from Auckland to the South Island?

For most visitors, flying: the flight to Queenstown takes under two hours. Drive and take the ferry only if you are touring the North Island anyway.

How long is the flight from Auckland to Queenstown?

Under two hours. Check the Air New Zealand and Jetstar timetables for current departures.

Can you drive from Auckland to Queenstown?

Yes, with the Cook Strait ferry in the middle. It is roughly 1,500 km of driving plus a crossing of around three and a half hours; five days is a tight itinerary, and seven to ten is better.

How long is the Cook Strait ferry crossing?

Around three and a half hours between Wellington and Picton. Interislander and Bluebridge both sail several times a day, and the approach through the Marlborough Sounds is spectacular.

Can I take a rental car on the Cook Strait ferry?

Often not. Many of the big rental brands, including Hertz, Thrifty and Europcar, have you drop the car in Wellington and collect another in Picton. Some smaller companies and most campervan firms allow vehicles on the ferry, so check your agreement before booking.

Is there a train from Auckland to the South Island?

Not all the way, but you can get close. The Northern Explorer runs from Auckland to Wellington, the Interislander ferry crosses to Picton, and the seasonal Coastal Pacific runs from Picton to Christchurch between September and late April.

Should I fly into Queenstown or Christchurch?

Fly into one and out of the other if you can. Queenstown puts you straight into the lakes and mountains; Christchurch is the better gateway for Aoraki/Mount Cook, Kaikōura and the West Coast, and rental cars are often cheaper there.

How many days do you need to drive from Auckland to Christchurch?

At least three: Auckland to Taupō, Taupō to Wellington, and the ferry and the drive down the Kaikōura coast. Four or five days is far more comfortable.

Related Auckland Guides

• Road Trips and Onward Travel from Auckland
• Auckland to Wellington Road Trip
• North Island Road Trip from Auckland
• Auckland Airport Terminal Transfer
• Auckland Airport Guide
• Car Rental in Auckland
• Auckland vs Wellington vs Queenstown

Photo Credits

An Interislander ferry in the Marlborough Sounds: Aratere Interislander Ferry by Alexander Klink, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Queenstown Airport and the Remarkables: Parked at Queenstown – Flickr – PhillipC by Phillip Capper from Wellington, New Zealand, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

The Marlborough Sounds from the ferry: Marlborough Sounds by AnnWoolliams, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

The Coastal Pacific train: Coastal Pacific 01 by Matthew25187 ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.