There are 7 ways to get from Nelson to Oamaru 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 to Timaru, bus
best- Fly from Nelson Airport (NSN) to Timaru (TIU)NSN - TIU
- Take the bus from Timaru to Oamaru
6h 50m$156–766Bus
cheapest- Take the bus from Nelson to Blenheim
- Take the bus from Blenheim to Christchurch
- Take the bus from Christchurch to Oamaru
12h 55m$15–191Drive 656.2 km
- Drive from Nelson to Oamaru656.2 km
8h 2m$194–280Shuttle, bus
- Take a shuttle bus from Nelson to Christchurch
- Take the bus from Christchurch to OamaruChristchurch - Dunedin
10h 30m$205–1,065Fly to Christchurch International Airport, bus
- Fly from Nelson Airport (NSN) to Christchurch International Airport (CHC)NSN - CHC
- Take the bus from Rolleston to Oamaru
8h 9m$262–562Fly to Dunedin, bus
- Fly from Nelson Airport (NSN) to Dunedin (DUD)NSN - DUD
- Take the bus from Dunedin to Oamaru
8h 45m$481–1,087Bus, train
- Take the bus from Nelson to Blenheim
- Take the train from Blenheim to Rangiora
- Take the bus from Christchurch to Oamaru
13h 48m$222–669
Nelson to Oamaru by bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Nelson to Oamaru is to bus which costs $15 - $200 and takes 12h 55m.
The fastest way to get from Nelson to Oamaru is to fly and bus which takes 6h 50m and costs $150 - $800.
No, there is no direct bus from Nelson to Oamaru. However, there are services departing from Nelson and arriving at Oamaru via Blenheim and Christchurch. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 12h 55m.
The distance between Nelson and Oamaru is 479 km. The road distance is 656.2 km.
The best way to get from Nelson to Oamaru without a car is to bus which takes 12h 55m and costs $15 - $200.
It takes approximately 6h 50m to get from Nelson to Oamaru, including transfers.
Nelson to Oamaru bus services, operated by InterCity, depart from Nelson station.
Nelson to Oamaru bus services, operated by InterCity, arrive at Blenheim station.
Yes, the driving distance between Nelson to Oamaru is 656 km. It takes approximately 8h 2m to drive from Nelson to Oamaru.
There are 87+ hotels available in Oamaru.
What companies run services between Nelson, New Zealand and Oamaru, New Zealand?
You can take a bus from Nelson to Oamaru via Blenheim and Christchurch in around 12h 55m.
- Website
- airnewzealand.com
Flights from Nelson Airport to Timaru via Wellington
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 43m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–700
Flights from Nelson Airport to Christchurch International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $85–650
Flights from Nelson Airport to Christchurch International Airport via Wellington
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 50m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–650
Flights from Nelson Airport to Dunedin via Christchurch International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $160–1,000
Flights from Nelson Airport to Dunedin via Wellington
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 42m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $180–1,100
Flights from Nelson Airport to Dunedin via Auckland
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 41m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $270–1,400
Flights from Nelson Airport to Dunedin via Wellington, Christchurch International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 32m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $180–1,100
- Phone
- +64 4 495 0775
- bookings@greatjourneysnz.com
- Website
- greatjourneysofnz.co.nz
Train from Blenheim to Rangiora
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 40m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $210–519
- Schedules at
- greatjourneysofnz.co.nz
- Scenic Plus
- $519
- Scenic
- $210–260
- Phone
- +64 9 583 5780
- info@intercity.co.nz
- Website
- intercity.co.nz
Bus from Timaru to Oamaru
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- $5–50
- Website
- https://www.intercity.co.nz/
Bus from Nelson to Blenheim
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 40m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $5–55
- Website
- https://www.intercity.co.nz/
Bus from Blenheim to Christchurch
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 20m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $5–75
- Website
- https://www.intercity.co.nz/
Bus from Christchurch to Oamaru
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 55m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $5–65
- Website
- https://www.intercity.co.nz/
Bus from Rolleston to Oamaru
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 12m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $5–65
- Website
- https://www.intercity.co.nz/
Bus from Dunedin to Oamaru
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 40m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $5–55
- Website
- https://www.intercity.co.nz/
Shuttle from Nelson to Christchurch
- 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
Want to know more about travelling around the world?
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Read our range of informative guides on popular transport routes and companies - including Flying into Beijing?, Travelling to and around Russia for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, and How to get from Heathrow Airport into central London - to help you get the most out of your next trip.