Auckland to Queenstown: flights, driving, and rail and ferry

How do you get from Auckland to Queenstown? Most trips are a flight. Air New Zealand says its non stop flights take about 1 hour 55 minutes and run several times a day, every day of the week, and Queenstown Airport lists Jetstar on the route too. Going overland means a ferry across Cook Strait, then long road or rail legs down the South Island. We have not found an official road distance or total driving time to quote, so this guide gives the legs the operators publish and tells you what to check for the rest.

Read the Queenstown Airport to town guide

The airlines and Queenstown Airport describe the route like this.

• Air New Zealand

  Air New Zealand says it operates multiple daily flights from Auckland to Queenstown, every day of the week, non stop. Its route page gives a flight time of about 1 hour 55 minutes.

• Jetstar

  Queenstown Airport says Jetstar offers domestic connections to Queenstown from Auckland and Wellington. We could not read a current Jetstar timetable, so check how often it flies with the airline.

• Other New Zealand cities

  Queenstown Airport lists Air New Zealand flights from Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington.

• From Australia

  Queenstown Airport lists regular services from Air New Zealand, Jetstar, Qantas and Virgin Australia, both domestic and trans-Tasman. Air New Zealand names direct services from Sydney and Melbourne, so you may not need to connect in Auckland at all.

• Fares

  Fares change daily. Check current prices with the airline before you book.

1. 01Clear the border first

   Auckland Airport says Air New Zealand domestic transfers need you to collect your bags and clear Customs and Biosecurity first.

2. 02Allow about three hours

   It advises allowing about three hours after an international arrival before your domestic flight.

3. 03Walk the Green Line

   The Green Line walkway between the terminals is 950 m and takes about 10 to 15 minutes.

4. 04Or take the free bus

   The free inter-terminal bus runs every 15 minutes from 5am to 11pm and takes about ten minutes.

1. 01Auckland to Wellington

   The Northern Explorer runs southbound on Monday, Thursday and Saturday, and northbound on Friday, Sunday and Wednesday. Great Journeys lists the trip as one day one way, and says the train does not run from 25 December 2026 to 11 January 2027. Check the current timetable.

2. 02Wellington to Picton

   Interislander says its Cook Strait sailing takes 3.5 hours, and Bluebridge also sails the route. Check current sailings and fares with the operator.

3. 03Picton to Christchurch

   We have not checked a train or bus for this leg yet. Check the current options before you plan around it.

4. 04Christchurch to Greymouth

   Great Journeys runs the TranzAlpine on this route daily. Check its journey time and fares with the operator.

5. 05Greymouth to Queenstown

   InterCity lists Greymouth to Franz Josef at about 4 hours, and Franz Josef to Queenstown at about 8 hours via Haast, Makarora, Wānaka and Cromwell. That is roughly 12 hours over two legs.

Can you drive from Auckland to Queenstown? Yes, with the Cook Strait ferry between Wellington and Picton: Interislander publishes vehicle fares, and gives the crossing as 3.5 hours. We have not found an official road distance or total driving time for the whole trip, so we do not quote one. Plan each leg on a map, check NZTA road status before you set off each day, and check the ferry fare for your vehicle with the operator. Some visitors fly one way and travel overland the other, which keeps the long road days to a single direction.

Read the Queenstown without a car guide

Bus fares are set by Otago Regional Council. For taxis, rideshare and transfers, see our airport guide.