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$250+ Cheap flights to South Island

— CHC
20 Sep — 27 Sep1
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

Thu 12/1112:30 -
Nonstop3h 10m
Thu 26/1109:10 -
Nonstop3h 30m
Deal found 21/8$385
Thu 12/1112:30 -
Nonstop3h 10m
Mon 16/1109:10 -
Nonstop3h 30m
Deal found 20/8$444
Wed 4/1118:50 -
Nonstop3h 05m
Wed 11/1109:10 -
Nonstop3h 30m
Deal found 19/8$468
Thu 29/1012:30 -
Nonstop3h 10m
Sat 7/1109:10 -
Nonstop3h 30m
Deal found 17/8$469
Thu 5/1118:15 -
Nonstop3h 05m
Sun 8/1106:10 -
Nonstop3h 40m
Deal found 19/8$478
Fri 13/1118:15 -
Nonstop3h 05m
Mon 16/1106:10 -
Nonstop3h 40m
Deal found 18/8$480
Thu 22/1007:50 -
Nonstop3h 10m
Thu 5/1109:10 -
Nonstop3h 30m
Deal found 18/8$489
Fri 20/1118:15 -
Nonstop3h 05m
Thu 26/1119:45 -
1 stop14h 05m
Deal found 17/8$490
Sat 7/1118:50 -
1 stop12h 30m
Wed 18/1106:10 -
Nonstop3h 40m
Deal found 17/8$492
Wed 16/906:15 -
Nonstop2h 55m
Wed 23/920:50 -
Nonstop3h 15m
Deal found 18/8$500
Mon 7/920:45 -
1 stop15h 20m
Mon 14/915:05 -
1 stop18h 25m
Deal found 16/8$504
Mon 7/920:45 -
1 stop15h 20m
Tue 15/915:05 -
1 stop7h 40m
Deal found 19/8$507

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
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Look for other cheap flights to Invercargill
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Look for other cheap flights to Timaru

Find flight deals to South Island

Return from

$385

One-way from

$250

Popular in

December

Cheapest in

May

Average price

$601
Jetstar
  • Jetstar
  • 12/11-26/11
  • Nonstop
  • 6h 40m total
  • Sydney to Christchurch
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Jetstar
  • Jetstar
  • 4/11
  • 1 total stop
  • 15h 20m total
  • Sydney to South Island
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 6% potential increase in price ($44 potential increase over avg. return price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 2% potential price decrease ($17 potential savings vs. average return price).
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Average for return flights in August 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

SydneyChristchurch

SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith - CHC Christchurch

SYDCHC

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Wed 4/11

18:50-23:55

Nonstop3h 05m

Christchurch

Sun 8/11

06:10-07:50

Nonstop3h 40m

$495
Fastest return journey

SydneyQueenstown

SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith - ZQN Queenstown Intl

SYDZQN

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Wed 16/9

06:15-11:10

Nonstop2h 55m

Queenstown Intl

Wed 23/9

20:50-22:05

Nonstop3h 15m

$511

SydneyQueenstown

SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith - ZQN Queenstown Intl

SYDZQN

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Tue 8/12

06:15-11:10

Nonstop2h 55m

Queenstown Intl

Tue 15/12

20:50-22:10

Nonstop3h 20m

$530

SydneyQueenstown

SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith - ZQN Queenstown Intl

SYDZQN

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Fri 23/10

06:15-11:10

Nonstop2h 55m

Queenstown Intl

Tue 27/10

20:50-22:10

Nonstop3h 20m

$531

SydneyChristchurch

SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith - CHC Christchurch

SYDCHC

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Mon 26/10

12:30-17:40

Nonstop3h 10m

Christchurch

Mon 2/11

09:10-10:40

Nonstop3h 30m

$532

SydneyDunedin

SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith - DUD Dunedin

SYDDUD

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Mon 7/9

20:45-14:05

1 stop15h 20m

Dunedin

Tue 15/9

15:05-20:45

1 stop7h 40m

$551

SydneyDunedin

SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith - DUD Dunedin

SYDDUD

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Wed 4/11

21:50-15:10

1 stop15h 20m

Dunedin

Wed 11/11

11:50-19:00

1 stop9h 10m

$556

SydneyQueenstown

SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith - ZQN Queenstown Intl

SYDZQN

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Sun 18/10

06:15-11:10

Nonstop2h 55m

Queenstown Intl

Sun 25/10

20:50-22:10

Nonstop3h 20m

$562

SydneyQueenstown

SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith - ZQN Queenstown Intl

SYDZQN

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Fri 12/2

06:15-11:10

Nonstop2h 55m

Queenstown Intl

Tue 23/2

20:50-22:10

Nonstop3h 20m

$562

SydneyChristchurch

SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith - CHC Christchurch

SYDCHC

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Thu 5/11

11:00-21:05

1 stop8h 05m

Christchurch

Sat 14/11

09:10-10:40

Nonstop3h 30m

$570

Flights are sorted by cheapest return flights first.

Deals found on 19/8

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 8 hours 6 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 (35 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Tuesday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (25 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 $214
Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand
From $237
Virgin Australia
Virgin Australia
From $247
Qantas Airways
Qantas Airways
From $288

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 80 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
3,657 reviews
Check prices

Entertainment

8.2

Food

7.9

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.4

Boarding

8.2

Overall

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
3,657 reviews
Emirates
8.1
Very Good
3,657 reviews
Check prices

Entertainment

8.2

Food

7.9

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.4

Boarding

8.2

Overall

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
663 reviews
Emirates
8.1
Very Good
3,657 reviews
Check prices

Entertainment

8.2

Food

7.9

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.4

Boarding

8.2

Overall

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
471 reviews
Emirates
8.1
Very Good
3,657 reviews
Check prices

Entertainment

8.2

Food

7.9

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.4

Boarding

8.2

Overall

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
1,084 reviews
Emirates
8.1
Very Good
3,657 reviews
Check prices

Entertainment

8.2

Food

7.9

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.4

Boarding

8.2

Overall

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
568 reviews
Emirates
8.1
Very Good
3,657 reviews
Check prices

Entertainment

8.2

Food

7.9

Comfort

8.0

Crew

8.4

Boarding

8.2

Overall

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 $272, however they can be found for as little as $87.

  • 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 45 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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