There are 7 ways to get from Whanganui to Lake Rotorua by bus, car ferry, train, car, plane, 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.
Bus, car ferry
best- Take the bus from Whanganui / Wanganui to Wellington - Centralbus
- Take the car ferry from Wellington to Pictoncarferry
- Take the bus from Picton to Kaikourabus
11h 59m$110–283Bus, car ferry, train
- Take the bus from Whanganui / Wanganui to Wellington - Centralbus
- Take the car ferry from Wellington to Pictoncarferry
- Take the train from Picton to Kaikouratrain
12h 20m$235–773Drive, car ferry
- Drive from Whanganui to Wellingtoncar
- Take the car ferry from Wellington to Pictoncarferry
- Drive from Picton to Lake Rotoruacar
7h 52m$171–270Bus to Palmerston, fly to Christchurch International Airport, bus
- Take the bus from Trafalgar Square - Bay 3 to MSBH - Platform 1bus
- Fly from Palmerston (PMR) to Christchurch International Airport (CHC)plane PMR - CHC
- Take the bus from Christchurch to Oarobus
8h 6mBus, train, car ferry
- Take the bus from Trafalgar Square - Bay 3 to MSBH - Platform 1bus 225
- Take the train from Palmerston North to Wellingtontrain
- Take the car ferry from Wellington to Pictoncarferry
- Take the train from Picton to Kaikouratrain
12h 30mBus to Wellington, fly to Nelson Airport, shuttle
- Take the bus from Whanganui / Wanganui to Wellington Airportbus
- Fly from Wellington (WLG) to Nelson Airport (NSN)plane WLG - NSN
- Take a shuttle bus from Nelson to Kaikōura
11h 31m$229–999Bus to Wellington, fly to Christchurch International Airport, bus
- Take the bus from Whanganui / Wanganui to Wellington Airportbus
- Fly from Wellington (WLG) to Christchurch International Airport (CHC)plane WLG - CHC
- Take the bus from Christchurch to Oarobus
10h 34m$120–424
Palmerston (PMR) to Christchurch International Airport (CHC) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Whanganui to Lake Rotorua is to bus and car ferry which costs $110 - $290 and takes 11h 59m.
The fastest way to get from Whanganui to Lake Rotorua is to drive and car ferry which takes 7h 52m and costs $170 - $270.
The distance between Whanganui and Lake Rotorua is 499 km.
The best way to get from Whanganui to Lake Rotorua without a car is to bus and car ferry which takes 11h 59m and costs $110 - $290.
It takes approximately 11h 59m to get from Whanganui to Lake Rotorua, including transfers.
There are 166+ hotels available in Lake Rotorua.
What companies run services between Whanganui, New Zealand and Lake Rotorua, Canterbury, New Zealand?
There is no direct connection from Whanganui to Lake Rotorua. However, you can take the bus to Wellington - Central, walk to Wellington, take the car ferry to Picton, walk to Picton, take the bus to Kaikoura, then take the taxi to Lake Rotorua. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Whanganui / Wanganui to Lake Rotorua via Wellington - Central, Wellington, Picton, Picton, and Kaikoura in around 12h 20m.
- Website
- airnewzealand.com
Flights from Palmerston to Christchurch International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $70–550
Flights from Palmerston to Christchurch International Airport via Auckland
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 38m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–650
Flights from Wellington to Nelson Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 45 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $60–490
Flights from Wellington to Christchurch International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 8m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $60–440
Flights from Wellington to Christchurch International Airport via Nelson Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 23m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $60–450
- Website
- soundsair.com
Flights from Wellington to Nelson Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 50 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $75–300
- Website
- jetstar.com
Flights from Wellington to Christchurch International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 50 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $70–250
- 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
- Phone
- +64 4495 0775
- capital.connection@kiwirail.co.nz
- Website
- greatjourneysnz.com
Train from Palmerston North to Wellington
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 5m
- Frequency
- 5 times a week
- Estimated price
- $98
- Schedules at
- greatjourneysnz.com
- Phone
- +64 4495 0775
- bookings@greatjourneysnz.com
- Website
- greatjourneysofnz.co.nz
Train from Palmerston North to Wellington
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 5m
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- $65–80
- Schedules at
- greatjourneysofnz.co.nz
- Phone
- +64 9 583 5780
- info@intercity.co.nz
- Website
- intercity.co.nz
Bus from Whanganui / Wanganui to Wellington - Central
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 59m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $5–65
- 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/
Bus from Christchurch to Oaro
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 24m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $5–60
- Website
- https://www.intercity.co.nz/
Bus from Whanganui / Wanganui to Wellington Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 35m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $5–65
- Website
- https://www.intercity.co.nz/
- Phone
- (+64) 0508 800 800
- Website
- horizons.govt.nz
Bus from Trafalgar Square - Bay 3 to MSBH - Platform 1
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- Frequency
- 5 times a week
- Website
- Horizons
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
- $70–120
- Website
- https://www.bluebridge.co.nz/
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 Train travel in Spain: A guide to Renfe, Need to know: Greyhound, and The London Underground: Essential tips to navigate the Tube - to help you get the most out of your next trip.










