New Zealand›From Picton›Kaikoura
Picton to Kaikoura by train, bus or road
About 155 km. The private car is fastest at 2 h; the bus is cheapest, from ₹1,380 per person.
Kaikoura to PictonFastest
Private car
Rental car (self-drive), per vehicle
2 h door to door
Cheapest
Bus
InterCity coach
from ₹1,380 per person
Best value
Bus
InterCity coach
cheapest at mid fares among options within 1.5× the fastest time (or 1 h more on a short ride)
Coastal Pacific train runs October – April only.
The rest of the year: InterCity coach; Rental car (self-drive), per vehicle.
Every option, compared
Door-to-door times (flights include the time at the airports). Fares are typical ranges from the cheapest seat to the premium one.
| Mode | Service | Time | Fare | Runs | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Train | Coastal Pacific train | 2.5 h | ₹3,850–₹9,350per person | October – April only | Rome2Rio ↗ |
| Bus | InterCity coach | 2.3 h | ₹1,380–₹3,030per person | Daily | Rome2Rio ↗ |
| Private car | Rental car (self-drive), per vehicle | 2 h | ₹4,730–₹10,810per car (up to 4) | Daily | Rome2Rio ↗ |
- Train, Coastal Pacific train: The Coastal Pacific runs daily in its summer season only (late September to April), along the Kaikōura coast. Out of season take the InterCity coach.
Booking links open the route on the country's transport booking site for trains, buses, boats and transfers, and a flight search for flights, dated about two weeks out (or in season); change the date there.
What it costs your group, one way
Fares × people; a private car is priced per car, one car per four people.
| Option | 2 people | 4 people |
|---|---|---|
| Train · Coastal Pacific train | ₹7,700–₹18,700 | ₹15,400–₹37,400 |
| Bus · InterCity coach | ₹2,760–₹6,060 | ₹5,520–₹12,120 |
| Private car · Rental car (self-drive), per vehicle | ₹4,730–₹10,810 | ₹4,730–₹10,810 |
Once you’re in Kaikoura
- Best time: All year (sperm whales are resident); November – April for the calmest seas
- Typical stay: 1 day
- November: Good month: November is at the start of the recommended season (All year (sperm whales are resident); November – April for the calmest seas).
Related
Plan Picton and Kaikoura
A day-by-day plan with this journey, the stays and the rest priced in.