Cheap flights to South Pacific

When to fly

Summer is between December and February and is the peak season for domestic travel in Australia. New Zealand is a popular skiing destination in winter. For South Pacific islands such as French Polynesia, Fiji and the Cook Islands, the best time to go is in the dry season, from May to October. During the wet season, generally from December to March, it’s very humid and there can be tropical cyclones. Papua New Guinea has a monsoonal climate, while Guam is wet year-round and typhoons tend to occur between July and November.

More about Oceania

If you think Utopia doesn’t exist then you’ve never visited Oceania. Each country within this small continent is among the most diverse and fascinating areas on the planet. Oceania is the smallest and most obscure construct of a continent, dominated by its biggest island, Australia. Yet the countries in this region are among the most diverse and fascinating areas on the planet.

Australia is a traveller’s dream, with its unique and contrasting landscapes, remarkable wildlife and laid-back, cosmopolitan cities. Equally blessed with natural beauty is its smaller, far flung neighbour New Zealand, with its flowing rivers, ancient forests and stunning glacial mountains, referred to by the indigenous Maori as Aotearoa (Land of the Long White Cloud).

South Pacific islands such as Fiji are popular destinations for short breaks and honeymooners. An archipelago of 300 islands, Fiji has some of the best diving in the world and a blend of fascinating cultures. But of all the islands in the continent, the one that epitomises the South Pacific is Tahiti in French Polynesia. Its tropical waters and sandy coves have attracted visitors for years.  Post-Impressionist artist Paul Gauguin was so inspired by the island that he abandoned his native France to move there.

South Pacific climate

The climate throughout most of the region is pleasant year-round; winters are mild and almost non-existent in northern Australia and some islands. Summers are hot, but rarely unbearably scorching, except for the outback, the inland desert areas of Australia.

What is the best way to travel around Oceania?

If you book cheap flights to Oceania, you may well want to travel extensively around Australia and New Zealand which both have excellent road networks. Hiring a car may well prove to be a good option if you wish to travel independently and discover areas inaccessible by public transport. New Zealand also has excellent bus services connecting between regions. Equally, Fiji has very good road networks circling the island, however, you may want to consider travelling by passenger ferry which is affordable and a great way to get around the islands with regular daily connections. In Samoa, you can take one of the brightly painted buses around the island or use the passenger ferries. Taxis are also very affordable and can be found everywhere.

What are some things to do in Oceania?

A trip to Australia is not complete without a visit to Ayers Rock and the famous Great Barrier Reef. Visit the Samoa Cultural village, the Palolo Deep Marine Reserve in Samoa or enjoy a Blue Lagoon Cruise in Fiji to sample some of the best islands. If you are visiting New Zealand, consider a visit to Mount Cook, the tallest mountain, or the Fjordland National Park for spectacular landscapes.

What is good to know if travelling to South Pacific?

• One of Australia’s lesser-known sites is the Grampians National Park, a three-hour drive from Melbourne. This scenic mountain wilderness region is rich in cultural and natural attractions, including waterfalls, unique rock formations and some of Victoria’s finest examples of Aboriginal rock art.  The Brambuk cultural centre has excellent displays about the history and culture of local Aboriginal communities.
• You don’t need to dive to explore the deep blue at Kelly Tarlton’s Antarctic Encounter and Underwater World in Auckland. You can travel through a transparent acrylic tunnel on a conveyor belt, while fish, sharks and stingrays swim around you.
• In the Cook Islands, you can pick up some unique pieces of island jewellery, art and crafts at the Beachcomber Gallery, a restored 1845 building once used as a Sunday school.
• Tahiti‘s Musée Gauguin is dedicated to the French artist who produced some stunning paintings depicting Tahitian life during his years living on the island.
• In Fiji, make sure you see a meke – a traditional Fijian feast and dance accompanied by bamboo tubes and the lali, a wooden drum.
• Guam’s Two Lovers Point, on the peak of a 125m limestone cliff, is the site where according to an ancient Chamorro legend, two lovers leapt to their deaths after being forbidden from being together. A gilded statue of the couple stands testament to their ill-fated love.
• At Papua New Guinea’s Lake Kutubu, you can swim among rare fish species and watch butterflies flutter by. The area, one of five national parks, has some of the most beautiful scenery in the country.
• The National Park of American Samoa (Ta’u) includes a paleotropical rainforest, flying foxes and other tropical wildlife, on a massive park covering more than 3237 hectares.

How long is the flight to Oceania?

You can find good deals for Oceania airfare from several airports in Australia. Book cheap flights to Oceania direct from Brisbane Airport (BNE) to Nadi Airport (NAN) in Fiji with Fiji Airways who offer flight times of around 4h. Equally, you can compare flights to Oceania and book via Nadi Airport from Sydney Airport (SYD) with Fiji Airways for a journey time of just around 4h. Oceania flight deals are also available from Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne (MEL) airports to Apia Faleolo Airport (APW) in Samoa with flight durations ranging from 13-30h with one stopover in either Auckland Airport (AKL) or Nadi Airport. You can also find flights to Oceania from Brisbane Airport to Auckland International Airport (AKL) in New Zealand for a lengthier duration of around 22h with one stopover in Melbourne Airport.

What do I need to do before my flight to Oceania?

If you book flights to Oceania from Australia, a visa will not be necessary to travel either internally or to New Zealand. If you are planning on visiting Papua New Guinea, a free visa can be obtained on your arrival. It may be a good idea to take your photo ID with you, however, such as an up-to-date passport or driving license for airline requirements if you are flying to Oceania. A visa is not required for Samoa for stays of up to 60 days and Fiji is visa free for up to 4 months for Australian citizens. Consider downloading some useful apps before your journey. Waze is very good as a navigational aid if you are taking a road trip. Alternatively, Hopper is very good for finding flights and hotels.