Cheap Flights to New Zealand

When is the best time to fly to New Zealand?

Peak season

Just a short hop across the Tasman Sea, many Australian travellers book cheap flights to New Zealand to discover its natural beauty. With over a third of the country designated as national parks or reserves and 15,000 km of coastline, New Zealand is a playground for visitors who want to experience hiking, biking, boating and a myriad of other land and watersports this pristine country offers. It even has its own adventure capital, Queenstown in the South Island, where bungy jumping was invented. Those keen to witness the landscapes made famous in the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies, also won’t be disappointed when they arrive on cheap flights to New Zealand, with many film location tours and visitor centres set up around the country to oblige curious tourists. Don’t miss Hobbiton near Matamata for the ultimate hobbit experience. The main cities of New Zealand (Auckland and Wellington in the north, and Christchurch and Dunedin in the south), experience the highest influx of visitors in the summer months (December to February), especially around Christmas / New Year until the end of January. Easter, Labour Day weekend in October and school holiday periods during the year are also busy. Flights to New Zealand are most expensive during these times.

Off season

The shoulder months of November and April are much quieter and it is easier to find accommodation and cheap flights to New Zealand. Winter (June to August) can be a good time to pick up cheap flight deals, and the days though cold and crisp can offer up sunny skies if you strike it lucky. Both the North and South Island have a lively winter ski and snowboard season which runs from June to October.

When is the best time to book a flight to New Zealand?

New Zealand generally has four distinct seasons, but lots of regional variation when it comes to the weather, you might be in the balmy far north in Kaitaia, the rainy west coast in Hokitika, or the chilly deep south in Invercargill. Take some extra layers so you don’t get caught out with an unseasonal southerly blast from Antarctica if you’re in the South Island at any time of the year. Overall, an outdoor activity or beach holiday are best planned for the summer months (December to February), while the autumn (March to May) is usually very settled weather-wise and a lovely time for travelling around the country, especially in Central Otago and Hawke’s Bay for the foliage changing colour. Book at least six weeks in advance for the best choice of cheap flights to New Zealand.

How long is the flight to New Zealand?

Flights from Sydney to New Zealand – 3 hrs

Flights from Melbourne to New Zealand – 3 hrs 25 mins

Flights from Brisbane to New Zealand – 3 hrs 5 mins

Flights from Adelaide to New Zealand – 4 hrs 10 mins

Flights from Perth to New Zealand – 6 hrs 20 mins

Which airlines operate flights to New Zealand?

Air New Zealand, Jetstar, Qantas, Virgin Australia, China Air and Emirates operate plenty of direct flights to New Zealand from Australian cities on a daily basis. You should have no trouble finding flight tickets to suit your budget and your dates if you book well in advance. Last minute travellers should also be able to get great flight deals, especially if flying from Sydney to Auckland, the route that offers the cheapest flights to New Zealand. Indirect flights to smaller cities in New Zealand are also possible from Australia via Wellington, Christchurch and Auckland. Expect to pay slightly more if you’re flying into Queenstown.

How to get from the airport to the city centre?

Auckland International Airport (AKL), Wellington International Airport (WLG) and Christchurch International Airport (CHC) all offer airport buses, super shuttles and taxis for disembarked travellers wishing to reach the city centres. Auckland has the Airbus, Wellington has the Airport Flyer and Christchurch has the Metro Red Bus service. The airports are where you can also rent a car or pick up your pre-booked campervan for independent travel around the country.

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