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$309+ Cheap flights to South Island

— CHC
20 Oct — 27 Oct1
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

Tue 3/1109:05 -
Nonstop3h 05m
Sat 7/1106:10 -
Nonstop3h 40m
Deal found 17/9$424
Wed 4/1118:50 -
Nonstop3h 05m
Sat 7/1106:10 -
Nonstop3h 40m
Deal found 17/9$425
Sat 24/1018:10 -
Nonstop3h 10m
Mon 2/1106:10 -
Nonstop3h 40m
Deal found 17/9$431
Wed 4/1118:50 -
Nonstop3h 05m
Fri 6/1121:10 -
1 stop26h 40m
Deal found 17/9$439
Tue 27/1006:15 -
Nonstop2h 55m
Fri 30/1020:50 -
Nonstop3h 20m
Deal found 15/9$502
Sat 17/1011:35 -
Nonstop3h 05m
Wed 21/1015:25 -
Nonstop3h 20m
Deal found 17/9$516
Fri 23/1006:15 -
Nonstop2h 55m
Tue 27/1020:50 -
Nonstop3h 20m
Deal found 15/9$519
Thu 22/1011:35 -
Nonstop3h 05m
Fri 30/1015:45 -
Nonstop3h 20m
Deal found 18/9$523
Thu 22/1011:35 -
Nonstop3h 05m
Mon 26/1015:45 -
Nonstop3h 20m
Deal found 17/9$525
Tue 27/1006:15 -
Nonstop2h 55m
Wed 4/1121:00 -
Nonstop3h 20m
Deal found 19/9$530
Fri 11/1206:15 -
Nonstop2h 55m
Mon 21/1220:50 -
Nonstop3h 20m
Deal found 14/9$536
Mon 7/1209:55 -
2 stops8h 50m
Tue 15/1206:15 -
2 stops14h 00m
Deal found 17/9$554

Find flights to South Island

Explore South Island
Look for other cheap flights to Christchurch
Look for other cheap flights to Queenstown
Look for other cheap flights to Nelson
Look for other cheap flights to Dunedin
Look for other cheap flights to Blenheim
Look for other cheap flights to Invercargill
Look for other cheap flights to Timaru

Find flight deals to South Island

Return from

$424

One-way from

$309

Popular in

December

Cheapest in

May

Average price

$696
Air New Zealand
  • Air New Zealand
  • 3/11-7/11
  • Nonstop
  • 6h 45m total
  • Sydney to Christchurch
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Air New Zealand
  • Air New Zealand
  • 25/10-31/12
  • Nonstop
  • 3h 05m total
  • Sydney to South Island
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 6% potential increase in price ($42 potential increase over avg. return price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 2% potential price decrease ($15 potential savings vs. average return price).
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Average for return flights in September 2026
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Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
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 Sydney Kingsford Smith - ZQN Queenstown Intl

SYDZQN

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Wed 25/11

06:15-11:10

Nonstop2h 55m

Queenstown Intl

Wed 31/12

00:00-22:00

Nonstop0h 00m

$310

SydneyQueenstown

SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith - ZQN Queenstown Intl

SYDZQN

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Tue 24/11

06:15-11:10

Nonstop2h 55m

Queenstown Intl

Wed 31/12

00:00-22:00

Nonstop0h 00m

$310

SydneyQueenstown

SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith - ZQN Queenstown Intl

SYDZQN

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Wed 21/10

08:30-13:30

Nonstop3h 00m

Queenstown Intl

Wed 31/12

00:00-22:00

Nonstop0h 00m

$325

SydneyChristchurch

SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith - CHC Christchurch

SYDCHC

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Mon 30/11

18:55-23:59

Nonstop3h 04m

Christchurch

Wed 31/12

00:00-22:00

Nonstop0h 00m

$325

SydneyChristchurch

SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith - CHC Christchurch

SYDCHC

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Sun 29/11

08:45-14:00

Nonstop3h 15m

Christchurch

Wed 31/12

00:00-22:00

Nonstop0h 00m

$337

SydneyChristchurch

SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith - CHC Christchurch

SYDCHC

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Mon 12/10

08:50-13:55

Nonstop3h 05m

Christchurch

Wed 31/12

00:00-22:00

Nonstop0h 00m

$338

SydneyChristchurch

SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith - CHC Christchurch

SYDCHC

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Fri 16/10

08:50-13:55

Nonstop3h 05m

Christchurch

Wed 31/12

00:00-22:00

Nonstop0h 00m

$338

SydneyNelson

SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith - NSN Nelson

SYDNSN

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Sun 13/12

07:30-09:25

1 stop23h 55m

Nelson

Wed 31/12

00:00-22:00

Nonstop0h 00m

$340

SydneyChristchurch

SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith - CHC Christchurch

SYDCHC

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Sat 5/12

08:45-14:00

Nonstop3h 15m

Christchurch

Wed 31/12

00:00-22:00

Nonstop0h 00m

$340

SydneyQueenstown

SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith - ZQN Queenstown Intl

SYDZQN

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Wed 28/10

16:05-21:05

Nonstop3h 00m

Queenstown Intl

Wed 31/12

00:00-22:00

Nonstop0h 00m

$341

Flights are sorted by cheapest return flights first.

Deals found on 17/9

Showing 1-10 of 60 resultsSorted by cheapest first
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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

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 6 hours 35 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.

Weekly flight availability to South Island

The most flights from Sydney to South Island are scheduled on a Wednesday (30 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Monday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (18 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 $213
Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand
From $231
Virgin Australia
Virgin Australia
From $249
Qantas Airways
Qantas Airways
From $278

What are the cheapest airlines that fly to South Island?

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

Rainfall in South Island 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

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).

When is the best time to book a flight to South Island?

To ensure you get the cheapest price possible for a flight to South Island, you should look to book at least 86 days in advance of your intended travel date. The price of your flight may increase if you delay and leave booking until a week or so before departure.

When is the cheapest time to fly to South Island?

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 Thursday at midday, when prices are usually at their highest.

Reviews of airlines servicing South Island

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
3,662 reviews
Check prices

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.4

Entertainment

8.2

Overall

8.1

Food

7.9

Boarding

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Jodie,Aug 2026

SYD - DXB

Overall it was a good flight with great service, however we paid for extra legroom only to find that the seat my husband was on was extremely small, it was the “window” seat. It seemed smaller than a regular seat so definitely not worth the amount we paid.
Emirates
8.1
Very Good
3,662 reviews
Emirates
8.1
Very Good
3,662 reviews
Check prices

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.4

Entertainment

8.2

Overall

8.1

Food

7.9

Boarding

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Jodie,Aug 2026

SYD - DXB

Overall it was a good flight with great service, however we paid for extra legroom only to find that the seat my husband was on was extremely small, it was the “window” seat. It seemed smaller than a regular seat so definitely not worth the amount we paid.
Air New Zealand
8.0
Very Good
669 reviews
Emirates
8.1
Very Good
3,662 reviews
Check prices

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.4

Entertainment

8.2

Overall

8.1

Food

7.9

Boarding

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Jodie,Aug 2026

SYD - DXB

Overall it was a good flight with great service, however we paid for extra legroom only to find that the seat my husband was on was extremely small, it was the “window” seat. It seemed smaller than a regular seat so definitely not worth the amount we paid.
Virgin Australia
7.6
Good
476 reviews
Emirates
8.1
Very Good
3,662 reviews
Check prices

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.4

Entertainment

8.2

Overall

8.1

Food

7.9

Boarding

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Jodie,Aug 2026

SYD - DXB

Overall it was a good flight with great service, however we paid for extra legroom only to find that the seat my husband was on was extremely small, it was the “window” seat. It seemed smaller than a regular seat so definitely not worth the amount we paid.
Qantas Airways
7.5
Good
1,102 reviews
Emirates
8.1
Very Good
3,662 reviews
Check prices

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.4

Entertainment

8.2

Overall

8.1

Food

7.9

Boarding

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Jodie,Aug 2026

SYD - DXB

Overall it was a good flight with great service, however we paid for extra legroom only to find that the seat my husband was on was extremely small, it was the “window” seat. It seemed smaller than a regular seat so definitely not worth the amount we paid.
Jetstar
6.5
Okay
569 reviews
Emirates
8.1
Very Good
3,662 reviews
Check prices

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.4

Entertainment

8.2

Overall

8.1

Food

7.9

Boarding

8.1

Reviews

1 / 20
6.0
Good

Jodie,Aug 2026

SYD - DXB

Overall it was a good flight with great service, however we paid for extra legroom only to find that the seat my husband was on was extremely small, it was the “window” seat. It seemed smaller than a regular seat so definitely not worth the amount we paid.

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, Jetstar 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 $231, however they can be found for as little as $102.

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

    For those looking to save time traveling to South Island, Coolangatta Gold Coast offers the quickest one-way flight (0 hours 5 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

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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.

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

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