There are 6 ways to get from Auckland to Lake Rotorua by plane, bus, train, car ferry, car, 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.
Fly to Christchurch International Airport, bus
best- Fly from Auckland (AKL) to Christchurch International Airport (CHC)AKL - CHC
- Take the bus from Christchurch to Oaro
7h 23m$129–392Bus, car ferry
cheapest- Take the bus from Auckland - Central to Wellington - Central
- Take the car ferry from Wellington to Picton
- Take the bus from Picton to Kaikoura
19h 15m$105–644Train, car ferry
- Take the train from Auckland Strand to Wellington
- Take the car ferry from Wellington to Picton
- Take the train from Picton to Kaikoura
19h 1m$490–1,344Drive, car ferry
- Drive from Auckland to Wellington
- Take the car ferry from Wellington to Picton
- Drive from Picton to Lake Rotorua
12h 46m$300–790Fly to Nelson Airport, shuttle
- Fly from Auckland (AKL) to Nelson Airport (NSN)AKL - NSN
- Take a shuttle bus from Nelson to Kaikōura
8h 37m$348–1,197Fly to Woodbourne Airport, train
- Fly from Auckland (AKL) to Woodbourne Airport (BHE)AKL - BHE
- Take the train from Blenheim to Kaikoura
7h 50m$364–1,197
Auckland (AKL) to Christchurch International Airport (CHC) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Auckland to Lake Rotorua is to fly and bus which costs $120 - $400 and takes 7h 23m.
The fastest way to get from Auckland to Lake Rotorua is to fly and bus which takes 7h 23m and costs $120 - $400.
The distance between Auckland and Lake Rotorua is 963 km.
The best way to get from Auckland to Lake Rotorua without a car is to train and car ferry which takes 19h 1m and costs $490 - $1,400.
It takes approximately 7h 23m to get from Auckland to Lake Rotorua, including transfers.
There are 165+ hotels available in Lake Rotorua.
What companies run services between Auckland, New Zealand and Lake Rotorua, Canterbury, New Zealand?
There is no direct connection from Auckland to Lake Rotorua. However, you can take the train to Puhinui Train Station 2, walk to Stop A Puhinui, take the bus to Stop A International Airport, walk to Auckland (AKL) airport, fly to Christchurch International Airport (CHC), walk to Christchurch International Airport, take the line 8 bus to Hereford St near Colombo St, walk to Christchurch, take the bus to Oaro, then take the taxi to Lake Rotorua. Alternatively, you can take a train from Auckland Strand to Lake Rotorua via Wellington, Wellington, Picton, Picton, and Kaikoura in around 19h 1m.
- Website
- airnewzealand.com
Flights from Auckland to Christchurch International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $80–500
Flights from Auckland to Nelson Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $85–600
Flights from Auckland to Nelson Airport via Wellington
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 59m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $95–600
Flights from Auckland to Nelson Airport via Christchurch International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 10m
- When
- Friday
- Estimated price
- $120–700
Flights from Auckland to Woodbourne Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $90–600
Flights from Auckland to Woodbourne Airport via Wellington
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 40m
- When
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $95–600
- Website
- jetstar.com
Flights from Auckland to Christchurch International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $75–270
- Phone
- +64 4495 0775
- bookings@greatjourneysnz.com
- Website
- greatjourneysofnz.co.nz
Train from Auckland Strand to Wellington
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 40m
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- $260–320
- Schedules at
- greatjourneysofnz.co.nz
- Phone
- +64 4 495 0775
- bookings@greatjourneysnz.com
- Website
- greatjourneysofnz.co.nz
Train from Picton to Kaikoura
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 35m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $130–519
- Schedules at
- greatjourneysofnz.co.nz
- Scenic Plus
- $519
- Scenic
- $130–170
Train from Blenheim to Kaikoura
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 10m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $110–519
- Schedules at
- greatjourneysofnz.co.nz
- Scenic Plus
- $519
- Scenic
- $110–150
- Phone
- +64 9 583 5780
- info@intercity.co.nz
- Website
- intercity.co.nz
Bus from Christchurch to Oaro
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 24m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $5–60
- Website
- https://www.intercity.co.nz/
Bus from Auckland - Central to Wellington - Central
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 15m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $5–110
- Website
- https://www.intercity.co.nz/
Bus from Picton to Kaikoura
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 15m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $5–60
- Website
- https://www.intercity.co.nz/
Shuttle from Nelson to Kaikōura
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- Frequency
- On demand
- Estimated price
- $120–600
- Schedules at
- nelsonlakesshuttles.co.nz
- Minimum charge per vehicle
- $600
- Per person
- $120
- Phone
- 0800 844 844
- bookings@bluebridge.co.nz
- Website
- bluebridge.co.nz
Car ferry from Wellington to Picton
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $65–440
- Website
- https://www.bluebridge.co.nz/
- Walk On Passenger
- $65–120
- Passenger with Car
- $210–440
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