Queenstown To Christchurch By Train
There’s a quick answer to this question – unfortunately, you can’t get from Queenstown to Christchurch by train.
There are a few travel options, but a train between Christchurch and Queenstown isn’t one of them.
If you search for trains between Christchurch and Queenstown, (other than this helpful guide!) you’ll find tours that combine trains with tours and general train websites, but there isn’t a direct route for this journey.
Planning a trip to Queenstown? Don’t miss my Queenstown Travel Hub.
New Zealand Train Travel
There are very few train routes in New Zealand. Some cities have local trains as part of their public transport network, but there are really only three train lines that run between different parts of the country.
Those three lines are scenic train routes, and not designed for quick transit around New Zealand.
The TranzAlpine runs through the mountains between Christchurch and Greymouth. It’s a beautiful route, but doesn’t connect Christchurch to any major urban centres.
The Northern Explorer links Auckland and Wellington, but it’s a full-day scenic journey, not a high-speed commuter line.
The Coastal Pacific route links Picton to Christchurch, stopping at several tourist hotspots such as Kaikoura.
Can You Tour New Zealand By Train?
With some extra connections, you could see a lot of New Zealand using the 3 scenic journeys.
The best way to do it would be to take the Northern Explorer from Auckland to Wellington. Then use one of the ferry operators to get from the North Island to the South Island on the Wellington to Picton ferry.
At Picton you can join the Coastal Pacific train down to Christchurch, and then the TranzAlpine from Christchurch to Greymouth.
You’d miss quite a few New Zealand highlights, so those train journeys alone probably won’t cut it. But if you combine trains with coaches you can get around the country, just at a slower pace than using cars or planes.
I’d also say it’s only worth doing taking the trains in late-spring to early-autumn, but summer is best.
Once the days get shorter you’ll be wasting your 12-hour scenic train journey and not be able to see anything in the dark!
Queenstown to Christchurch by Bus
You can get a direct coach trip from Queenstown to Christchurch, but it takes a long time. The quickest coach trip is just over 8 hours and is run by InterCity – the main coach company.
There is another InterCity route which is more like a tour and takes you up towards Mount Cook – but it’s 11 hours and substantially more expensive.
If you don’t want to fly and can’t hire a car, then a coach is your only remaining option to get between Christchurch and Queenstown.
That doesn’t make it a bad option – it’s a very scenic journey, and the 8-hour trip is fairly good value for money if you book in advance.
Queenstown to Christchurch by Car
If you have access to a car then this 6-hour trip makes for a fantastic drive. You would go through some of the prettiest parts of the South Island.
I love road trips and New Zealand is best explored in a car.
The most direct driving route would take you past Lake Pukaki, an incredibly bright blue lake with a direct view of Aoraki Mount Cook at the other end of the lake.
You’ll also travel through Central Otago, past Lake Tekapo and through the wide open spaces of the Canterbury region.
The route is around 485km, or 300 miles.
Fly Between Christchurch and Queenstown
I wish it wasn’t the case as short-haul flights aren’t great for the environment, but flying is by far the quickest way to get from Queenstown to Christchurch, and also very affordable.
The flight is around an hour, a substantial improvement on the other journey times.
A lot of journeys in New Zealand are done by aeroplane, as other forms of transport tend to take too long.
If you look on a map it might seem that two locations are just 20 miles apart, but when you get there you’ll realise that the only way around the mountain range is a 6-hour drive – Mt Cook Village and Franz Josef Glacier being a good example.
Kiwi Experience Tours
Kiwi Experience isn’t designed for straightforward A to B travel, but rather as a sightseeing experience.
If your aim is to travel around New Zealand cheaply, your best option might be a Kiwi Experience hop-on hop-off ticket. These are designed for travellers who want to explore the whole country on a budget.
There are various ticket types, with different routes and loops according to visitor preference and how long they are in the country.
Most travellers on the Kiwi Experience are backpackers under 35. Older travellers might find the experience a bit noisier than they would want.
Cost Comparison
All prices will depend on the time of year and how far ahead you book, but broadly speaking the costs will fall in this order.
- Bus – cheapest and slowest
- Flights – medium cost and fast
- Car – expensive if you have to hire a car, and time is dependent on whether you stop along the way.
Weather Considerations
Some roads in the South Island can be affected by ice and road closures in winter. The route from Queenstown to Christchurch is unlikely to be badly affected, but it is something to bear in mind.
If roads are closed, the detours can be significantly longer.
Final Thoughts – Queenstown to Christchurch by Train
Unfortunately, it isn’t possible to travel from Christchurch to Queenstown by train, but that doesn’t mean you are limited to flights. Taking coaches or driving between cities will let you enjoy the spectacular scenery that New Zealand is known for.
To help you plan I’ve got several road trip itineraries that will help you out.
- Picton to Queenstown road trip
- Christchurch to Auckland road trip
- Queenstown to Aoraki Mount Cook road trip
And if you enjoy a slower pace then consider taking some of the scenic train journeys – they are a lovely way to get around, but just won’t help you get to Queenstown.
💡 Planning a trip to New Zealand? Check out all my itineraries, tips, and travel guides here.
Related Posts
Best Places To Visit in The South Island
