Queenstown to Te Anau by bus or car
The gateway to Milford and the Kepler, two and a half hours down the lake and across the plains. Two buses, one road, and no Orbus.
Published 4 September 2026 · Last checked 4 September 2026 · By Queenstown Pocket
In short: Te Anau is about 170 km and 2 hours 30 minutes from Queenstown. InterCity runs daily from the Athol Street carpark; Tracknet’s track bus leaves Camp Street at 7:10am, 10:15am and 4:30pm, listed at $68 adult. By car it is SH6 to Kingston and Lumsden, then SH94 through Mossburn. There is no Orbus service beyond the Queenstown basin.
- By car
- 170 km · 2 h 30SH6 to Kingston and Lumsden, SH94 through Mossburn
- Without a car
- 2 h 30 to 3 h · InterCity daily from Athol Street; Tracknet from Camp Street at 7:10am, 10:15am and 4:30pm, $68 adult
The ways to get there
| Option | Departs | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| InterCity (operated by GreatSights) | Daily; Athol Street carpark to Kiwi Country Cafe, 2 Miro Street | About 2 h 30 min | Fare set by date at booking on intercity.co.nz |
| Tracknet track bus (book through Info & Track) | 7:10am, 10:15am, 4:30pm from outside The Station, Camp Street | About 2 h 30 min | Listed at $68 adult, $41 child, one way |
| Rental car | Whenever you like, SH6 then SH94 via Kingston, Lumsden and Mossburn | About 2 h 15 min to 2 h 30 min | Fuel and the car; compare below |
| Milford Sound coach tours | Early morning from Queenstown; they stop briefly in Te Anau | Full day | A tour, not a transfer; see the Milford guide |
Info & Track adds a 10 percent adjustment at checkout to its listed prices. InterCity publishes no flat fare; the price depends on the date and how far ahead you book. Both buses pick up in the town centre, not the airport, so an arriving flight means the Route 1 bus into town first ($2.50 with a Bee Card).
Driving it
- The road. SH6 south along Lake Wakatipu through the Devil’s Staircase to Kingston, on to Lumsden, then SH94 west through Mossburn to Te Anau. Sealed, two lanes, open all year; ice on the Staircase in winter mornings.
- Fuel and food. Fill up in Queenstown or Frankton; Kingston, Lumsden and Mossburn have small stops. Te Anau has everything, and it is the last fuel before Milford.
- Coverage. Patchy along the lake and between towns; download the maps before you leave.
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From Te Anau
Te Anau is where the Milford Road starts (about 120 km to the Sound), where the Kepler Track loops from the lakefront, and where the Routeburn’s Divide buses connect. Tracknet’s Divide-to-Te Anau leg is listed at $61 adult. The Milford guide and the Routeburn guide carry the connections and prices.
Questions people ask
How far is Te Anau from Queenstown?
About 170 km by road via Kingston, Lumsden and Mossburn (State Highways 6 and 94), roughly 2 hours 30 minutes by bus and a little less by car without stops.
Is there a bus from Queenstown to Te Anau?
Yes, two. InterCity runs daily from the Athol Street carpark to Kiwi Country Cafe at 2 Miro Street, Te Anau, about 2 hours 30 minutes, with fares set by date at booking. Tracknet's track bus, booked through Info & Track, leaves from outside The Station on Camp Street at 7:10am, 10:15am and 4:30pm and is listed at $68 adult, $41 child.
Can I get from Queenstown to Te Anau on Orbus?
No. Orbus is the Queenstown urban network and stops at Jacks Point and Lake Hayes Estate; Te Anau is a coach or a car.
Should I stay in Te Anau for Milford Sound?
If you want the Milford Road at your own pace or a morning cruise without a 5am start, yes: Te Anau is about 120 km from Milford Sound, against about 288 km from Queenstown. The Milford guide compares the day tour, the fly-cruise and self-drive.
Where does the InterCity bus leave from in Queenstown?
The carpark on Athol Street in the town centre, a few minutes' walk from the lakefront and the Orbus stops on Stanley Street.
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Related guides
- Queenstown Airport to town: bus, taxi, shuttle or rental
The $2.50 bus, what a taxi costs, shuttles, and when a rental car makes sense.
- Do you need a car in Queenstown?
Where the bus gets you, where it does not, and what a car, shuttle or tour costs instead.
- Queenstown to Milford Sound: coach, fly, or drive
Coach, fly or drive: what each costs, how long it takes, and the Milford Road rules.
- The Routeburn Track from Queenstown: getting there and what it costs
DOC hut and campsite fees for 2026/27, the track bus from Shotover Street, bag storage, the one-way logistics.
Sources: InterCity, Bus Queenstown to Te Anau (opens in a new tab), Info & Track, Queenstown transport timetable (opens in a new tab) and DOC, Routeburn Track (The Divide is 85 km from Te Anau) (opens in a new tab), retrieved 3 September 2026. The 170 km figure is InterCity's; driving times are approximate and not verified in person. This independent guide is published by Tally Sphere Limited, a New Zealand company. Spotted a change? Report a problem with this page and the page address comes with your email.