There are 8 ways to get from Nelson to Waitomo Caves by plane, bus, car ferry, train, or car
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly Nelson Airport to Auckland, bus
best- Fly from Nelson Airport (NSN) to Auckland (AKL)NSN - AKL
- Take the bus from Manukau City to Waitomo Township
7h 44m$203–621Bus, car ferry
cheapest- Take the bus from Nelson to Picton
- Take the car ferry from Picton to Wellington
- Take the bus from Wellington - Central to Whanganui / Wanganui
- Take the bus from Whanganui / Wanganui to Waitomo Township
17h 1m$80–629Bus, car ferry, train
- Take the bus from Nelson to Picton
- Take the car ferry from Picton to Wellington
- Take the train from Wellington to Taumarunui Station
- Take the bus from Taumarunui to Waitomo Township
16h 26m$235–744Drive, car ferry
- Drive from Nelson to Picton
- Take the car ferry from Picton to Wellington
- Drive from Wellington to Waitomo Caves
10h 41m$227–686Fly Nelson Airport to Hamilton International Airport, bus
- Fly from Nelson Airport (NSN) to Hamilton International Airport (HLZ)NSN - HLZ
- Take the bus from Kihikihi to Waitomo Township
7h 27m$281–1,703Bus to Woodbourne Airport, fly to Hamilton International Airport, bus
- Take the bus from Nelson to Woodbourne
- Fly from Woodbourne Airport (BHE) to Hamilton International Airport (HLZ)BHE - HLZ
- Take the bus from Kihikihi to Waitomo Township
8h 24m$266–1,704Fly Nelson Airport to New Plymouth Airport, bus
- Fly from Nelson Airport (NSN) to New Plymouth Airport (NPL)NSN - NPL
- Take the bus from Waitara to Eight Mile Junction
8h 34m$152–783Bus to Woodbourne Airport, fly to Auckland, bus
- Take the bus from Nelson to Woodbourne
- Fly from Woodbourne Airport (BHE) to Auckland (AKL)BHE - AKL
- Take the bus from Manukau City to Waitomo Township
8h 51m$211–706
Nelson to Waitomo Caves by bus, foot, car ferry, and train
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Nelson to Waitomo Caves is to bus and car ferry which costs $80 - $650 and takes 17h 1m.
The fastest way to get from Nelson to Waitomo Caves is to fly and bus which takes 7h 27m and costs $280 - $1,700.
The distance between Nelson and Waitomo Caves is 695 km.
The best way to get from Nelson to Waitomo Caves without a car is to bus and car ferry and train which takes 16h 26m and costs $230 - $750.
It takes approximately 7h 44m to get from Nelson to Waitomo Caves, including transfers.
There are 55+ hotels available in Waitomo Caves.
What companies run services between Nelson, New Zealand and Waitomo Caves, New Zealand?
There is no direct connection from Nelson to Waitomo Caves. However, you can take the line 4 bus to Nelson Airport Terminal, walk to Nelson Airport (NSN) airport, fly to Auckland (AKL), walk to Stop A International Airport, take the bus to Bay 8 Manukau Bus Station, then take the bus to Waitomo Township. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Nelson to Waitomo Township via Picton, Picton, Wellington, Wellington, Taumarunui Station, and Taumarunui in around 16h 26m.
- Website
- airnewzealand.com
Flights from Nelson Airport to Auckland
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–700
Flights from Nelson Airport to Auckland via Wellington
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 54m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–750
Flights from Nelson Airport to Hamilton International Airport via Wellington
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 16m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $270–1,700
Flights from Nelson Airport to Hamilton International Airport via Christchurch
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 42m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $340–1,900
Flights from Nelson Airport to Hamilton International Airport via Wellington, Christchurch
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 47m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $380–2,100
Flights from Nelson Airport to Hamilton International Airport via Christchurch, Wellington
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 7m
- When
- Monday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $350–2,000
Flights from Nelson Airport to Hamilton International Airport via Auckland, Christchurch
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 15m
- When
- Monday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $500–2,500
Flights from Woodbourne Airport to Hamilton International Airport via Wellington
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 9m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $250–1,600
Flights from Woodbourne Airport to Hamilton International Airport via Auckland, Wellington
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 5m
- When
- Friday to Sunday
- Estimated price
- $430–2,200
Flights from Woodbourne Airport to Hamilton International Airport via Wellington, Christchurch
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 10m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $360–2,000
Flights from Nelson Airport to New Plymouth Airport via Wellington
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 10m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $95–650
Flights from Nelson Airport to New Plymouth Airport via Christchurch
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 48m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $120–750
Flights from Nelson Airport to New Plymouth Airport via Auckland
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 59m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–750
Flights from Nelson Airport to New Plymouth Airport via Wellington, Auckland
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 2m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–750
Flights from Woodbourne Airport to Auckland
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–700
Flights from Woodbourne Airport to Auckland via Wellington
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 48m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $110–700
- Phone
- +64 4495 0775
- bookings@greatjourneysnz.com
- Website
- greatjourneysofnz.co.nz
Train from Wellington to Taumarunui Station
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 15m
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- $160–200
- Schedules at
- greatjourneysofnz.co.nz
- Phone
- +64 9 583 5780
- info@intercity.co.nz
- Website
- intercity.co.nz
Bus from Manukau City to Waitomo Township
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 15m
- Frequency
- 5 times a week
- Estimated price
- $5–60
- Website
- https://www.intercity.co.nz/
Bus from Nelson to Picton
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 15m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $5–55
- Website
- https://www.intercity.co.nz/
Bus from Taumarunui to Waitomo Township
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- Frequency
- 5 times a week
- Estimated price
- $5–50
- Website
- https://www.intercity.co.nz/
Bus from Wellington - Central to Whanganui / Wanganui
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 40m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $5–65
- Website
- https://www.intercity.co.nz/
Bus from Whanganui / Wanganui to Waitomo Township
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 30m
- Frequency
- 5 times a week
- Estimated price
- $5–70
- Website
- https://www.intercity.co.nz/
Bus from Kihikihi to Waitomo Township
- Ave. Duration
- 35 min
- Frequency
- 5 times a week
- Estimated price
- $5–45
- Website
- https://www.intercity.co.nz/
Bus from Nelson to Woodbourne
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 34m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $5–55
- Website
- https://www.intercity.co.nz/
Bus from Waitara to Eight Mile Junction
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 49m
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- $5–55
- Website
- https://www.intercity.co.nz/
- Phone
- 0800 844 844
- bookings@bluebridge.co.nz
- Website
- bluebridge.co.nz
Car ferry from Picton to Wellington
- 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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