How to get there
Where is Wanaka?
Wanaka is in the South Island of New Zealand. The town is located on the shores of Lake Wanaka, 428km SW of Christchurch and 68km NE of
Queenstown (a one hour drive).
Getting to Wanaka
Gateway airports for Wanaka include Queenstown International Airport, Christchurch International Airport, or Wanaka, a small regional airport.
Flights to Queenstown
Fly to Queenstown international airport either by getting a domestic flight from Auckland or Christchurch. From the east coast of Australia there are direct flights to Queenstown, but these are generally more expensive than flights that go via Auckland or Christchurch. Use one of our recommended
flight search facilities such as Zugi to get a great deal on a flight to Queenstown.
Travel from Queenstown Airport to Wanaka
From Queenstown airport you could rent a car and self-drive to Wanaka. It’s advisable to rent a 4-wheel-drive car if you plan to drive up to the ski resorts. Use a search engine such as Oodles to
compare car rental deals. The drive time is approximately 1 hour if you take the more challenging route via Crown Range Road past Cardrona (65kms from the airport). If you follow the main state highway it is 103 km from Queenstown.
Bus transport to Wanaka is another alternative, with buses travelling to and from the airport 6 times daily, starting at 9:45am from Queenstown Airport, and 6:45am from Wanaka. See
bus timetables here.
A taxi from the airport to Wanaka costs about NZ$160.
Flights to Christchurch
Another option is to get a flight to Christchurch and then drive or bus to Wanaka. From the east coast of Australia it’s easy to find a direct flight to Christchurch, or there are plenty of flights that go via Auckland. Flights to Christchurch are generally much cheaper than those to Queenstown. Use a flight search facility such as Zuji to
compare flights to Christchurch.
Travel from Christchurch to Wanaka
One option to get from Christchurch airport to Wanaka is to hire a car and drive. The travel time is approximately 5 hours. Compare rates and deals for car hire with one of our recommended
car rental search engines.
An alternative is to get a bus from Christchurch airport to Wanaka. The travel time is approximately 6-7 hours by bus. There are many bus companies and timetables to choose from. Try
Alpine Coaches Wanaka.
Flights to Wanaka
The third option is to fly to the Wanaka airport which is located 10km out of town. Eagle Air (a subsidiary of Air New Zealand) operates one flight daily from Christchurch to Wanaka airport. Costs can vary from around NZ$90 to NZ$200 return.
Alpine Coaches Wanaka offers a door-to-door shuttle service or it’s reasonably inexpensive to get a taxi into town.
Getting Around Wanaka
The town of Wanaka is compact and easy to walk around. It’s also easy to drive around, although parking can be a little difficult during peak hour. Taxis are readily available or another option is to hire a mountain bike.
Getting to the Ski Resorts
If you don’t have a car there are various shuttle buses available to
Treble Cone,
Cardrona,
Snow Park and Snowfarm with
Alpine Coachlines or
Ridgeline Adventures. See our
getting to Cardrona and
travel to Treble Cone pages for more information.
Wanaka Transport Listings
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Alpine Coachlines & Shuttles
Daily shuttle services from Wanaka to Cardrona, Treble Cone, Snow Park & Snowfarm. Leaves from Outdoor Sports. Accom pick-ups available by appointment. Also offer airport shuttles & charters.
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Ridgeline - Private Ski Transfers
Private ski transfers for groups or families to all ski resorts in the Wanaka Queenstown area. For those that appreciate quality service and professionalism.
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Wan-A-Cab - Wanaka Taxi Service
Take the easy way to the top & let Wanacab whisk you up to the ski areas around Wanaka in their 4WD taxis. Also have vans available for groups of up to 9. Pick up & delivery to your door when you want.
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