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$282+ Cheap flights to South Island

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a Cheapflights user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight departing on 25/6. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
— CHC
26 Apr — 3 May1
1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

Flights to South Island in 2026

Enter your travel dates to find the best prices.

Cheapest flights to South Island
Explore the most affordable flight options available to South Island. Find the lowest fares based on data from user searches, with prices last updated on 27 March 2026.

Sun 2/806:15
SYD
-
ZQN
Nonstop2h 55m
Jetstar
Fri 7/820:50
ZQN
-
SYD
Nonstop3h 15m
Jetstar
Deal found 25/3$459
Sun 2/806:15
SYD
-
ZQN
Nonstop2h 55m
Jetstar
Fri 14/820:50
ZQN
-
SYD
Nonstop3h 15m
Jetstar
Deal found 25/3$460
Sun 2/806:15
SYD
-
ZQN
Nonstop2h 55m
Jetstar
Tue 4/817:45
ZQN
-
SYD
Nonstop3h 15m
Jetstar
Deal found 25/3$478
Mon 11/509:55
SYD
-
CHC
1 stop19h 30m
Air New Zealand
Sat 23/506:30
CHC
-
SYD
Nonstop3h 40m
Air New Zealand
Deal found 24/3$486
Fri 8/517:55
SYD
-
CHC
Nonstop3h 10m
Air New Zealand
Mon 11/506:30
CHC
-
SYD
Nonstop3h 40m
Air New Zealand
Deal found 24/3$491
Sat 9/509:55
SYD
-
CHC
1 stop7h 25m
Air New Zealand
Sat 16/506:30
CHC
-
SYD
Nonstop3h 40m
Air New Zealand
Deal found 25/3$494
Mon 15/611:50
SYD
-
ZQN
Nonstop2h 55m
Jetstar
Mon 22/620:50
ZQN
-
SYD
Nonstop3h 15m
Jetstar
Deal found 26/3$495
Fri 21/806:15
SYD
-
ZQN
Nonstop2h 55m
Jetstar
Fri 28/820:50
ZQN
-
SYD
Nonstop3h 15m
Jetstar
Deal found 27/3$497
Sun 3/506:15
SYD
-
ZQN
Nonstop2h 55m
Jetstar
Wed 6/520:50
ZQN
-
SYD
Nonstop3h 15m
Jetstar
Deal found 26/3$499
Tue 23/611:50
SYD
-
ZQN
Nonstop2h 55m
Jetstar
Thu 25/620:50
ZQN
-
SYD
Nonstop3h 15m
Jetstar
Deal found 24/3$501
Mon 11/517:55
SYD
-
CHC
Nonstop3h 10m
Air New Zealand
Mon 18/520:05
CHC
-
SYD
1 stop27h 45m
Air New Zealand
Deal found 26/3$501
Thu 7/511:50
SYD
-
ZQN
Nonstop2h 55m
Jetstar
Thu 14/517:45
ZQN
-
SYD
Nonstop3h 15m
Jetstar
Deal found 23/3$502

Find flights to South Island

Browse one-way and return flights deals to South Island on Cheapflights. Flight deals are based on user searches and were last updated on 27 March 2026
Explore South Island
Look for other cheap flights to Christchurch
Look for other cheap flights to Queenstown
Look for other cheap flights to Dunedin
Look for other cheap flights to Nelson
Look for other cheap flights to Blenheim
Look for other cheap flights to Invercargill
Look for other cheap flights to Hokitika
Look for other cheap flights to Timaru

Find flight deals to South Island

Find the latest flights to South Island in 2026, with up-to-date prices and availability. In the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made a total of 647,157 searches and data was last updated on 27 March 2026.

Return from

$486

One-way from

$282

Popular in

December

Cheapest in

August

Average price

$597
Air New Zealand
  • Air New Zealand
  • 11/5-23/5
  • 1 total stop
  • 23h 10m total
  • Sydney to Christchurch
Search Deals
Jetstar
  • Jetstar
  • 25/6
  • Nonstop
  • 2h 55m total
  • Sydney to South Island
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 8% potential increase in price ($56 potential increase over avg. return price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 2% potential price decrease ($19 potential savings vs. average return price).
Search Deals
Average for return flights in March 2026
Search Deals

Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
Locate flights to South Island that fit your budget, with regularly updated fares and availability. In the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made a total of 647,157 searches and data was last updated on 27 March 2026.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights to South Island that are best for you.

Fly from

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Cheapest return flight
Fastest return journey

SydneyQueenstown

SYD - ZQN

SYDZQN

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Thu 7/5

11:50-16:45

Nonstop2h 55m

Queenstown Intl

Thu 14/5

17:45-19:00

Nonstop3h 15m

$502

SydneyQueenstown

SYD - ZQN

SYDZQN

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Fri 24/7

06:15-11:10

Nonstop2h 55m

Queenstown Intl

Fri 31/7

20:50-22:05

Nonstop3h 15m

$521

SydneyQueenstown

SYD - ZQN

SYDZQN

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Tue 11/8

11:50-16:45

Nonstop2h 55m

Queenstown Intl

Mon 17/8

17:45-19:00

Nonstop3h 15m

$537

SydneyQueenstown

SYD - ZQN

SYDZQN

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Mon 15/6

18:55-11:40

1 stop14h 45m

Queenstown Intl

Mon 22/6

20:50-22:05

Nonstop3h 15m

$555

SydneyQueenstown

SYD - ZQN

SYDZQN

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Mon 17/8

11:50-16:45

Nonstop2h 55m

Queenstown Intl

Sat 5/9

09:45-19:10

1 stop11h 25m

$587

SydneyQueenstown

SYD - ZQN

SYDZQN

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Tue 19/5

06:20-16:50

1 stop8h 30m

Queenstown Intl

Fri 29/5

20:50-22:05

Nonstop3h 15m

$589

SydneyQueenstown

SYD - ZQN

SYDZQN

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Tue 23/6

11:50-16:45

Nonstop2h 55m

Queenstown Intl

Thu 25/6

12:40-20:05

1 stop9h 25m

$591

SydneyQueenstown

SYD - ZQN

SYDZQN

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Sat 23/5

11:50-16:45

Nonstop2h 55m

Queenstown Intl

Wed 27/5

17:45-08:05

1 stop16h 20m

$591

SydneyQueenstown

SYD - ZQN

SYDZQN

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Wed 6/5

20:45-11:40

1 stop12h 55m

Queenstown Intl

Wed 13/5

20:50-22:05

Nonstop3h 15m

$597

SydneyChristchurch

SYD - CHC

SYDCHC

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Sat 9/5

19:15-00:20

Nonstop3h 05m

Christchurch

Sat 16/5

16:35-18:10

Nonstop3h 35m

$603

Flights are sorted by cheapest return flights first.

Deals found on 25/3

Showing 1-10 of 60 resultsSorted by cheapest first
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6

Best time to book a flight to South Island

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to South Island with our price prediction graph.
Estimated return price
Rates are based on past data. Find the cheapest month and day to book your flight based on your travel requirements, then search for cheap deals.

Cheapflights Insights

Everything you need to know about your flight to South Island

How long is the flight to South Island?

On average, a flight from Sydney to South Island takes 9 hours 54 minutes. Flights to South Island from other popular cities in Australia will vary in length. Below are a few examples of popular routes and their flight times.

When is the cheapest time to fly to South Island?

Use this chart to determine the cheapest time to fly return from Sydney to South Island. Price data was last updated on 23 March 2026.

Users looking for the lowest fares to South Island should consider flying on Monday at midday, when prices are typically cheapest. Budget-minded travellers will want to avoid Wednesday evenings, when prices are usually at their highest.

Weekly flight availability to South Island

The most flights from Sydney to South Island are scheduled on a Friday (29 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Tuesday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (6 on average).

What are the most popular airlines that fly to South Island?

The most popular airlines flying from Sydney to South Island are Jetstar, Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia.

Jetstar
Jetstar
From $197
Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand
From $242
Virgin Australia
Virgin Australia
From $196
Qantas Airways
Qantas Airways
From $270

What are the cheapest airlines that fly to South Island?

The cheapest airlines flying from Sydney to South Island are Jetstar, Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand.

Rainfall in South Island by month

Plan your trip to South Island by taking into account the average rainfall totals by month.

In terms of precipitation, rainfall in South Island ranges from 40.0 - 60.0 mm per month. May is typically the wettest month, when rainfall can reach 60.0 mm. February is typically the driest time to visit South Island when rainfall is around 40.0 mm.

Temperature in South Island by month

Plan your trip to South Island by taking into account the average temperature totals by month.

If weather is an important factor for your trip to South Island, use this chart to help with planning. For those seeking warmer temperatures, January is the ideal time of year to visit, when temperatures reach an average of 17.0 C. Travellers hoping to avoid the cold should look outside of June, when temperatures are typically at their lowest (around 6.0 C).

Reviews of airlines servicing South Island

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to South Island. Read reviews, discover amenities, and learn about the overall travel experience offered by airlines. Use this information to make informed decisions when choosing an airline for your flight to South Island. Reviews last updated 27 March 2026.
Read reviews from past customers who have flown Emirates,Air New Zealand, andVirgin Australia to New Zealand. You can also see how each airline compares in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Emirates
8.1
Very Good
3,545 reviews
Check prices

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.3

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.9

Entertainment

8.2

Overall

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Anonymous,Mar 2026

DAC - DXB

This is NOT a ratings for emirates but more so for Kayak isn’t it a little tone deaf to be sending out your automated surveys in the middle of a war when most flights are cancelled due to the airspace being closed?
Emirates
8.1
Very Good
3,545 reviews
Emirates
8.1
Very Good
3,545 reviews
Check prices

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.3

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.9

Entertainment

8.2

Overall

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Anonymous,Mar 2026

DAC - DXB

This is NOT a ratings for emirates but more so for Kayak isn’t it a little tone deaf to be sending out your automated surveys in the middle of a war when most flights are cancelled due to the airspace being closed?
Air New Zealand
8.0
Very Good
621 reviews
Emirates
8.1
Very Good
3,545 reviews
Check prices

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.3

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.9

Entertainment

8.2

Overall

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Anonymous,Mar 2026

DAC - DXB

This is NOT a ratings for emirates but more so for Kayak isn’t it a little tone deaf to be sending out your automated surveys in the middle of a war when most flights are cancelled due to the airspace being closed?
Virgin Australia
7.6
Good
449 reviews
Emirates
8.1
Very Good
3,545 reviews
Check prices

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.3

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.9

Entertainment

8.2

Overall

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Anonymous,Mar 2026

DAC - DXB

This is NOT a ratings for emirates but more so for Kayak isn’t it a little tone deaf to be sending out your automated surveys in the middle of a war when most flights are cancelled due to the airspace being closed?
Qantas Airways
7.5
Good
1,013 reviews
Emirates
8.1
Very Good
3,545 reviews
Check prices

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.3

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.9

Entertainment

8.2

Overall

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Anonymous,Mar 2026

DAC - DXB

This is NOT a ratings for emirates but more so for Kayak isn’t it a little tone deaf to be sending out your automated surveys in the middle of a war when most flights are cancelled due to the airspace being closed?
Jetstar
6.5
Okay
535 reviews
Emirates
8.1
Very Good
3,545 reviews
Check prices

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.3

Boarding

8.1

Food

7.9

Entertainment

8.2

Overall

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20
2.0
Mediocre

Anonymous,Mar 2026

DAC - DXB

This is NOT a ratings for emirates but more so for Kayak isn’t it a little tone deaf to be sending out your automated surveys in the middle of a war when most flights are cancelled due to the airspace being closed?

FAQs about flying to South Island

  • Can I find cheaper flights to South Island if I am willing to have stopovers?

    Yes, flights with stopovers are often cheaper than direct flights. Keep an eye out for flight deals to South Island on Cheapflights that require 1 or 2 stops for potential cost savings.

  • What is the best airline to fly to South Island?

    Based on reviews from Cheapflights users, Virgin Australia is rated the highest out of the airlines that fly to South Island.

  • How much is a return flight to South Island?

    A return flight to South Island will typically cost around $1,671, however they can be found for as little as $269.

  • Where does the fastest flight to South Island depart from?

    For those looking to save time traveling to South Island, Canberra offers the quickest one-way flight (0 hours 35 minutes).

  • Does Christchurch have car hire?

    Yes. Those touching down at Christchurch can take advantage of the car hire services offered upon their arrival.

  • Are there hotels close to Christchurch?

    Yes. Christchurch has hotels nearby for those requiring accommodations. Novotel Christchurch Airport is the closest property to Christchurch (0.0 km away from Christchurch).

See more FAQs

Browse thousands of different options on Cheapflights for your next trip

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Fly with Cheapflights

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How does Cheapflights help users find flights to South Island?

Cheapflights helps you search for flights to South Island via 900+ travel sites so you don’t have to. After performing a flight search, users can also filter their flight selection by filtering for price, number of stops, airlines, and so on.

Why should you use Cheapflights to find cheap flight tickets to South Island?

It’s simple! Cheapflights, which is free to use for everyone, saves millions of users time and money every year by helping them find the cheapest and most suitable flights to South Island.

Can Cheapflights find flights to South Island with no change fees?

Users can book flights with no change fees policies with our dedicated filters. Book flights to South Island flexibly with Cheapflights today.

Can Cheapflights notify me if prices for flights to South Island become cheaper?

Yes, and it’s super simple to set up Price Alerts. Click the bell icon next to the flight deals above and provide your email address. That’s it!

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