Airport Transfers
Private airport transportation from Christchurch Airport (CHC) in New Zealand to hotels and homes in central Christchurch, Riccarton, the beaches, Lyttelton and Akaroa, booked before you land.
Pre-booked private transportation takes you directly from Christchurch International Airport to your hotel, resort or vacation rental.
After immigration, baggage claim and customs, continue outside the terminal to the meeting area named in your confirmation. Your vehicle is reserved only for the passengers on your reservation: unlike a shared shuttle, it makes no extra hotel stops for other travelers, and the price is per vehicle, not per person.
Our airport transportation in Christchurch takes you from Harewood to hotels and apartments in the central city and Riccarton, to homes in Merivale, Sumner and New Brighton, to the cruise port at Lyttelton, and over the hills to Akaroa on Banks Peninsula.
Christchurch airport transfers start on the ground floor of the single terminal, where your driver waits with a name sign at International Arrivals after biosecurity and customs, or by domestic baggage claim. We track your flight, so the pickup follows your real landing time, and you choose the vehicle for your party, from a sedan for two to a van for a family or a ski group with gear.
Each Christchurch airport transfer goes door to door to your hotel, apartment or vacation rental in the city, to the beaches, to Lyttelton for your cruise, or to Akaroa. Heading for Kaikōura, Hanmer Springs or Mt Hutt? Enter your address in the booking form to see whether a transfer is offered for that route before you pay.
Our Christchurch airport shuttle is a private van for your party only, not a shared door-to-door van that stops for other passengers across the city. It leaves as soon as you have your bags, with room for suitcases, skis and bikes, and suits families, groups and cruise passengers bound for Lyttelton or Akaroa.
From private sedans to group vans. One fixed price per vehicle, whatever your party size.
Illustrative
Private Sedan
1 to 4 passengers
Private, non-stop transfer. All taxes included.
Illustrative
Luxury SUV
Up to 6 passengers
Comfortable VIP SUV with premium features.
Illustrative
Private Van
Up to 8 passengers
Ideal for families and groups with luggage.
Illustrative
Group Van
Up to 16 passengers
Our largest vehicle. Room for up to 16 passengers and their luggage.
Christchurch International Airport (CHC) is in Harewood, northwest of the city, and Christchurch International Airport Limited runs it. Domestic and international flights share one terminal, with regional, domestic and international wings and a common check-in hall on the ground floor.
On an international flight you go through passport control, collect your bags, then pass biosecurity and customs, where officers, detector dogs and X-ray machines check for food and other risk goods, before you walk into International Arrivals. Domestic passengers collect their bags at domestic baggage claim on the same ground floor, where pre-booked drivers meet passengers.
New Zealand is on UTC+12 and switches to UTC+13 for daylight saving time from late September to early April. It uses the New Zealand dollar.
NZeTA and the visitor levy. Most visitors who travel without a visa need a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA), usually paid together with the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL), before they fly; allow up to 72 hours. Australian citizens do not need one. Check the rules for your nationality.
Traveler declaration. Every international arrival completes the New Zealand Traveler Declaration (NZTD), online or in the app, within 24 hours before the flight; a paper form is available if you cannot use the digital one.
Strict biosecurity. Declare all food, plant and animal products and used outdoor gear such as hiking boots, tents and fishing equipment, or use the amnesty bins. Undeclared risk goods bring an instant fine.
Akaroa and Banks Peninsula roads. The road to Akaroa climbs over the hills with tight bends, so give your full address, as some bays and holiday homes sit on narrow side roads.
Terminal, immigration and customs details for Christchurch International Airport
1
Immigration, baggage claim, then customs. Representatives can't enter those areas.
2
At the meeting point in your confirmation. Check the company name before getting in.
3
No other stops, no other passengers.
At CHC
Meet in the arrivals area
Christchurch has one terminal, and pre-booked drivers usually meet passengers on the ground floor: at International Arrivals after biosecurity and customs, or by domestic baggage claim for domestic flights.
At CHC
Pick-up zone
Cars collecting passengers use the pick-up and drop-off area under the Express Park building beside the terminal, where waiting is not allowed.
Don't accept a ride from someone claiming to know your booking.
Check the company name and reservation details before getting in.
One-way arrival
CHC Hotel
From the airport to your hotel, resort or rental.
One-way departure
Hotel CHC
From where you're staying back to Christchurch International Airport.
Round trip
CHC Hotel
Both journeys on one reservation. Give both flights, the return pickup address and the passengers for each. Staying at more than one hotel? Give the full itinerary.
Transportation can also be booked from your hotel, resort or vacation rental to Christchurch International Airport. Your pickup time covers the drive plus check-in, security and border procedures, and your airline's instructions come first. Give the correct departure time and terminal when you book.
2 h
before a domestic flight
3 h
before an international flight
We monitor the arrival of the flight on your reservation, but can't find you on a different one. Tell customer service if any of these change:
About one checked suitcase and one carry-on each; the right vehicle depends on the total volume. Tell us about golf clubs, surfboards, bikes, strollers or extra bags.
Request them when booking, with the child's age and size. Availability and any fee are confirmed on your reservation.
Give the wheelchair's size, weight and whether it folds, so a suitable vehicle is assigned.
Ask for authorization before booking and tell us about the animal and its carrier.
NZeTA first
Most visa-free visitors need an NZeTA, usually with the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy, approved before they fly; allow up to 72 hours.
Traveler declaration
Complete the New Zealand Traveler Declaration (NZTD) online or in the app within 24 hours before your flight.
Declare food
Declare or bin food, plants and dirty outdoor gear before biosecurity; undeclared risk goods bring an instant fine.
New Zealand dollar
New Zealand uses the New Zealand dollar, and cards and contactless payments are widely accepted.
Drive on the left
Traffic keeps left in New Zealand, so the curb side is on your left at the terminal.
Local time
New Zealand is on UTC+12, and UTC+13 from late September to early April.
Traveling with a large group, planning a destination wedding, or organizing transportation for a corporate retreat or conference? We offer larger vehicles and multi-vehicle coordination for groups of any size, including multiple pickup points and scheduled transfers timed around your event. Contact us with your group size and itinerary and we'll put together transportation that keeps everyone moving together.
“Absolutely fantastic service! My driver was early, courteous, and the car was immaculate.”
Sarah L. · March 2026
“The ride was comfortable and quick. Quality service that's well worth it.”
James H. · February 2026
“I use airporttransportation.com whenever I travel. Consistently reliable, and their drivers are top-notch.”
William C. · February 2026
“Booking was simple and the price was clear. No surprises at the airport. Highly recommended.”
María G. · January 2026
24 h
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup, with a full refund. Later cancellations aren't refundable.
Changes
Contact us to change the flight, hotel or pickup time. Deadlines are in the reservation policies.
No-shows
Waiting time, no-shows and extra stops follow the reservation policies you accept at checkout.
Book your transfer online in a few minutes using the form above. If your plans change, contact us as soon as possible to modify your pickup details or cancel your reservation, response times and any applicable fees depend on how close to your pickup date the change is requested.
On the ground floor of the single terminal, holding a sign with your name: at International Arrivals after biosecurity and customs, or by domestic baggage claim if you fly in from elsewhere in New Zealand.
The airport is about 12 km (7.5 miles) northwest of the city center, usually a 20 to 25 minute drive. Lyttelton is about 30 to 35 minutes away through the road tunnel, Sumner about 35 minutes, and Akaroa about 1 hour 30 minutes over the Banks Peninsula hills.
Yes. We drive door to door to the Lyttelton cruise berth and the town. Give us your ship's boarding time when you book, so the pickup leaves a comfortable margin.
Yes. We drive you over the Port Hills and Banks Peninsula to your hotel, holiday home or cruise tender point in Akaroa. Give the full address, as some bays are on narrow side roads.
Kaikōura is on the coast north of Christchurch and Hanmer Springs is inland to the north. Enter the address in the booking form: when a vehicle is available for that route, the price shows before you pay; if it does not, contact us before you fly.
Methven and the Mt Hutt ski area are inland, west of Christchurch. Enter the address in the booking form to see whether a transfer is offered for that route; if it is not, contact us before you fly. Tell us about skis and boards when you book.
Christchurch has one terminal for every flight. International passengers exit into International Arrivals, and domestic passengers collect their bags at domestic baggage claim on the same ground floor, so give your flight number and your driver meets you at the right exit.
Yes. Give the full street address, the unit number and any gate or access details. This helps for homes on the Port Hills and in the beach suburbs, where some driveways are steep or shared.
Yes. Give your flight number and arrival time when you book, and the pickup follows your real landing time. The terminal opens at 3:00 and closes after the last scheduled flight, so arrange early departures with that in mind.
There is no need. Booking ahead gives you a confirmed vehicle and a meeting point before you land. If someone approaches you in arrivals, check the company name against your confirmation before getting in.
We monitor the flight on your reservation, so your driver waits for the actual landing. If your flight number, date or airline changes, or your flight is canceled, tell customer service so the pickup can be moved.
Yes. Book a one-way departure or a round trip from your hotel, home or cruise ship, and give your flight number and departure time, so the pickup is set for check-in, security and, on international flights, passport control.
Declare all food, plant and animal products and used outdoor gear such as hiking boots and tents on your New Zealand Traveler Declaration (NZTD) and at biosecurity, or put them in the amnesty bins. Undeclared risk goods bring an instant fine.
No. Airport Transportation is a private transfer service that books rides from CHC; we are not the airport or its operator. For terminals, airlines and other ways to get around, see our Christchurch Airport page.
We provide private transportation from any airport to any hotel at the best price, and we are licensed with complete insurance liability.
Airport Transportation provides private transportation only, in vans, luxury SUVs, or semi-buses.
Prices on our website are per vehicle, not per person, based on a range of passengers.
Regular vans carry up to 9 passengers, semi-buses up to 16, and luxury SUVs up to 6 passengers.
Walk all the way out of the airport. You'll see representatives holding boards. Look for the Airport Transportation logo or your name.
Commonly Toyota Hiace, Volkswagen Transporter, Mercedes Sprinter, Volkswagen Crafter, Chevrolet Tahoe, and Chevrolet Suburban.
Yes. We carry insurance with complete liability for all passengers while using our services.
Baby seats are provided with prior notice, subject to availability, one seat maximum per vehicle.
You can book any time in advance; we suggest one week to one day ahead. Same-day reservations are available.
PayPal is our main payment method; a cash option is also available when booking through our website. Credit cards are accepted through PayPal.
Yes. For your comfort all our units have air conditioning.
During booking we ask for your airline and flight number so we can track delays and wait for you.
Yes, you can add an extra stop to your service during the booking process.
No. Prices are set per passenger range or per vehicle, not per age.
Yes. Cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before your pick-up and you are refunded in full. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before service are not refundable.
Yes. While their English may not be native-level, drivers have the skills to communicate with passengers.
Tips are not mandatory but are highly recommended; drivers earn them through service quality.
All prices are in USD. Via PayPal you can pay in almost any currency; cash payments accept USD only.
We can transport domestic pets kept in cages that fit in a normal vehicle.
Yes. There is plenty of room for one suitcase and one carry-on per person.
Every private transfer includes a professional, licensed driver; an insured, well-maintained vehicle; real-time flight monitoring; meet-and-greet service at arrivals; and door-to-door service with no hidden fees added after booking. Your fixed price covers the full route to your destination.
Choose the vehicle for your party and luggage, add your flight, and review the full reservation before you pay.
Book a transfer