Private Airport Transfers in New Zealand

For most visitors to the Southern Lakes, the trip starts at Queenstown Airport in Frankton. It is only about 15 minutes to the Queenstown town centre, but the drive matters more than the distance suggests: Frankton Road is the one main route into town, many hotels sit on steep hill streets, and in winter plenty of arrivals want to go straight to the slopes.

We run fixed-price private transfers from the airport to any address in Queenstown, and quote Arrowtown, Jacks Point, Glenorchy, Wānaka and the ski fields at Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Cardrona. Your driver meets you inside the terminal, tracks your flight and loads the skis or golf bags. One price covers the whole vehicle.

Starting your trip in Australia or heading on to the islands? See our Australia and Fiji pages.

New Zealand drives on the left. Many roads are narrow and winding, some country roads have loose gravel, and livestock on rural roads is not unusual. In winter, from June to August, the official advice is to be prepared for snow and to carry chains you know how to fit.

Ski area access roads have their own rules, posted on each area's morning road report. Cardrona, for example, requires every vehicle on its mountain road to carry chains, even on clear days.

The ski season usually runs from mid-June to early October, with July and August the most reliable months for snow. Summer, from December to February, brings long days for hiking, cycling and lake trips. Queenstown Airport has a 10pm curfew, so there are no late-night landings, but winter arrivals often come in after dark.

International passengers clear passport control and biosecurity checks before collecting their bags. Every international arrival must complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration in advance, and biosecurity rules are strict: declare any food and outdoor gear when you land.