There are 6 ways to get from Invercargill to Nelson by plane, bus, car, shuttle, or train
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly
best- Fly from Invercargill (IVC) to Nelson Airport (NSN)plane IVC - NSN
4h 13m$145–831Bus
cheapest- Take the bus from Invercargill to Dunedinbus
- Take the bus from Dunedin to Christchurchbus
- Take the bus from Christchurch to Blenheimbus
- Take the bus from Blenheim to Nelsonbus
20h 15m$64–240Drive 981.2 km
- Drive from Invercargill to Nelsoncar 981.2 km
11h 29m$301–434Bus, Tour, shuttle
- Take the bus from Invercargill to Queenstownbus
- Take a shuttle bus from Queenstown to Christchurch
- Take a shuttle bus from Christchurch to Nelson
23h 26m$550–1,475Bus, train
- Take the bus from Invercargill to Dunedinbus
- Take the bus from Dunedin to Rollestonbus
- Take the train from Christchurch to Blenheimtrain
- Take the bus from Blenheim to Nelsonbus
20h 54m$324–800Bus via Franz Josef
- Take the bus from Invercargill to Queenstownbus
- Take the bus from Queenstown to Franz Josefbus
- Take the bus from Franz Josef to Greymouthbus
- Take the bus from Greymouth to Nelsonbus
24h 1m$271–455
Invercargill to Nelson by bus
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Invercargill to Nelson is to bus which costs $60 - $240 and takes 20h 15m.
The fastest way to get from Invercargill to Nelson is to fly which takes 4h 13m and costs $140 - $850.
No, there is no direct bus from Invercargill to Nelson. However, there are services departing from Invercargill and arriving at Nelson via Dunedin, Christchurch and Blenheim. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 20h 15m.
The distance between Invercargill and Nelson is 704 km. The road distance is 981.2 km.
The best way to get from Invercargill to Nelson without a car is to bus which takes 20h 15m and costs $60 - $240.
It takes approximately 4h 13m to get from Invercargill to Nelson, including transfers.
Invercargill to Nelson bus services, operated by InterCity, depart from Invercargill station.
The best way to get from Invercargill to Nelson is to fly which takes 4h 13m and costs $140 - $850. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $60 - $240 and takes 20h 15m.
Invercargill to Nelson bus services, operated by InterCity, arrive at Dunedin station.
Yes, the driving distance between Invercargill to Nelson is 981 km. It takes approximately 11h 29m to drive from Invercargill to Nelson.
What companies run services between Invercargill, New Zealand and Nelson, New Zealand?
Air New Zealand flies from Invercargill (IVC) to Nelson Airport (NSN) every 4 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Invercargill to Nelson via Dunedin, Christchurch, and Blenheim in around 20h 15m.
- Website
- airnewzealand.com
Flights from Invercargill to Nelson Airport via Christchurch
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 44m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–800
Flights from Invercargill to Nelson Airport via Auckland
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 30m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $200–1,100
Flights from Invercargill to Nelson Airport via Christchurch, Wellington
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–850
Flights from Invercargill to Nelson Airport via Auckland, Wellington
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 55m
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $210–1,100
- Phone
- +64 4 495 0775
- bookings@greatjourneysnz.com
- Website
- greatjourneysnz.com
Train from Christchurch to Blenheim
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 10m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $210–529
- Schedules at
- greatjourneysnz.com
- Scenic Plus
- $529
- Scenic
- $210–260
- Phone
- +64 9 583 5780
- info@intercity.co.nz
- Website
- InterCity
Bus from Invercargill to Dunedin
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 55m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $14–40
- Website
- InterCity
Bus from Dunedin to Christchurch
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 25m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $19–70
- Website
- InterCity
Bus from Christchurch to Blenheim
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 10m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $15–75
- Website
- InterCity
Bus from Blenheim to Nelson
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $16–55
- Website
- InterCity
Bus from Invercargill to Dunedin
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 55m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $14–40
- Website
- InterCity
Bus from Dunedin to Rolleston
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 39m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $19–70
- Website
- InterCity
Bus from Blenheim to Nelson
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $16–55
- Website
- InterCity
Bus from Greymouth to Nelson
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 30m
- Frequency
- 5 times a week
- Estimated price
- $16–90
- Website
- InterCity
- Phone
- +64 274 497 994
- info@rippletravelgroup.com
- Website
- catchabussouth.com
Bus from Invercargill to Queenstown
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 18m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $55–75
- Schedules at
- catchabussouth.com
Bus from Invercargill to Queenstown
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 18m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $55–75
- Schedules at
- catchabussouth.com
- Phone
- +64 9 390 7380
- bookings@cheekykiwitravel.com
- Website
- cheekykiwitravel.com
Shuttle from Queenstown to Christchurch
- Ave. Duration
- 13h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $299–395
- Schedules at
- cheekykiwitravel.rezdy.com
- Book at
- cheekykiwitravel.rezdy.com
- Adult
- $395
- Child
- $299
Shuttle from Christchurch to Nelson
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 30m
- Frequency
- On demand
- Estimated price
- $200–1,000
- Schedules at
- nelsonlakesshuttles.co.nz
- Minimum charge per vehicle
- $1,000
- Per person
- $200
- Phone
- +64 9 583 5790
- info@greatsights.co.nz
- Website
- GreatSights
Bus from Queenstown to Franz Josef
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 5m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $120–180
- Website
- GreatSights
- Standard
- $120–180
- Gold
- $150–230
Bus from Franz Josef to Greymouth
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $75–110
- Website
- GreatSights
- Standard
- $75–110
- Gold
- $65–150
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Booking & Getting There
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