Last updated October 2026
Invercargill and Queenstown are only a couple of hours apart by road, but without a car the trip can look harder than it is. There is no direct flight, the national coach takes the long way round, and the regional options are easy to miss if you do not know they exist.
★View the Best Shuttles and Transfers in Invercargill→Here is how the trip works, the realistic ways to do it without driving yourself, and what to sort out before you book.
The route between Invercargill and Queenstown
The direct road is State Highway 6, roughly 185 kilometres heading north through Winton, Lumsden and Kingston, then along the shore of Lake Wakatipu into Queenstown. In a car it takes around two and a half to three hours, depending on traffic, weather and stops.
Is there a direct flight?
No. Invercargill Airport has no scheduled flights to Queenstown, so flying means connecting through another city and spending far longer than the drive takes. For almost everyone, the road is the way to go.
The lake road in winter
The stretch beside Lake Wakatipu is winding and exposed, and in winter frost, ice and occasional snow can slow things down. Check road conditions on the NZTA Journey Planner before you travel, and allow extra time between June and September.
Your options without a car
Shared door-to-door shuttle
- How it works
- Regional operators collect passengers around Invercargill and drive SH6 to Queenstown
- Best for
- Solo travellers and couples on a set date
Private transfer
- How it works
- A vehicle and driver for your group only, at a time you choose
- Best for
- Groups, early flights, lots of gear, extra stops
National coach
- How it works
- Daily service from Tuatara Lodge on Dee Street, with a transfer in Dunedin
- Best for
- Travellers with plenty of time and a bus pass
Van hire with a driver
- How it works
- A larger vehicle for the day, driven for you
- Best for
- Sports teams, wedding groups, hunting and ski parties
Rental car or self-drive van
- How it works
- You drive yourself and return the vehicle in Queenstown or back in Invercargill
- Best for
- People comfortable driving SH6
Shared shuttles
A shared shuttle is usually the simplest way to do the trip alone. Pick-ups start at the booked time and work around town before heading north, so you may get a message on the day with your actual pick-up time. Central Queenstown is congested and parking is limited, so shared services often set down at a central bus stop rather than outside your hotel.
The national coach
The national coach network does run from Invercargill to Queenstown, departing Tuatara Lodge on Dee Street, but the route goes via Dunedin and takes about 10 hours and 45 minutes. It works if you are touring and want a day in Dunedin. If you are trying to catch a flight or start a trip in Queenstown, it is not a quick option.
Private transfers
A private transfer is priced for the vehicle rather than per seat, so if you are travelling as a group, compare quotes on a per-person basis. You choose the time, the pick-up and drop-off points and any stops along the way. That matters if you are meeting an early flight at Queenstown Airport in Frankton, or carrying packs, chilly bins or ski gear that will not fit a shared service.
Planning the trip
Pick-up and drop-off points
Before you book, confirm exactly where you will be collected and dropped off. Common pick-up points in Invercargill are Invercargill Airport, accommodation, home addresses and the Tuatara Lodge bus stop in the city. In Queenstown, the choice is usually between the airport at Frankton, a central bus stop and your accommodation.
Luggage and gear
Shared shuttles have limited space and usually set a luggage allowance per person, so check it before you book. If you are travelling with hunting, fishing or ski gear, bikes or a lot of luggage, say so when you book, or choose a private transfer where the whole vehicle is yours.
Timing around flights
If you are flying out of Queenstown, work backwards from your check-in time and leave a buffer for winter roads or a slow pick-up round. If you are arriving in Queenstown and heading south, a pre-booked private transfer means you are not relying on a fixed shuttle time that does not match your flight.
Stops along the way
Lumsden and Kingston are the natural places to stretch your legs on SH6. Ask your operator in advance if you want a supermarket, liquor store or outdoor store stop at either end, as a private transfer can usually build these in.
Coming the other way: Queenstown to Invercargill
Plenty of people do this trip in reverse, flying into Queenstown and heading south for Stewart Island, the Catlins, Fiordland or a hunting trip. The same options apply. The difference is that you are often arriving tired, with gear, at a fixed flight time, which is exactly when a pre-booked transfer that meets you at the airport earns its keep.
Where Southern Pursuit fits
Southern Pursuit is an Invercargill transfer, van hire and equipment hire service run by Brad and Dana Shaw. They run private transfers from Invercargill to Queenstown, one way or return, collecting from Invercargill Airport, your accommodation, your home or a bus stop, and they also run Invercargill to Te Anau and Bluff.
For groups, their 12-seater van can be hired with a driver or self-drive, and they can collect a pre-ordered Woolworths grocery order or stop at a hunting, fishing or liquor store on the way. Camp cooking gear and chilly bins are on their hire and add-ons page. You can book your transfer online with your route, stops and gear, and they confirm within 24 hours.
