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$307+ 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 24/8. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
— CHC
31 Jul — 7 Aug1
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 1 July 2026.

Wed 2/1212:30
SYD
-
CHC
Nonstop3h 10m
Jetstar
Mon 7/1209:10
CHC
-
SYD
Nonstop3h 30m
Jetstar
Deal found 26/6$441
Wed 28/1012:30
SYD
-
CHC
Nonstop3h 10m
Jetstar
Thu 5/1109:10
CHC
-
SYD
Nonstop3h 30m
Jetstar
Deal found 1/7$451
Mon 9/1112:30
SYD
-
CHC
Nonstop3h 10m
Jetstar
Wed 18/1109:10
CHC
-
SYD
Nonstop3h 30m
Jetstar
Deal found 30/6$480
Wed 19/806:15
SYD
-
ZQN
Nonstop2h 55m
Jetstar
Wed 26/820:50
ZQN
-
SYD
Nonstop3h 15m
Jetstar
Deal found 1/7$493
Mon 26/1012:30
SYD
-
CHC
Nonstop3h 10m
Jetstar
Sat 31/1009:10
CHC
-
SYD
Nonstop3h 30m
Jetstar
Deal found 29/6$496
Tue 17/1106:15
SYD
-
ZQN
Nonstop2h 55m
Jetstar
Wed 2/1220:50
ZQN
-
SYD
Nonstop3h 20m
Jetstar
Deal found 30/6$513
Mon 14/906:15
SYD
-
ZQN
Nonstop2h 55m
Jetstar
Sun 20/920:50
ZQN
-
SYD
Nonstop3h 15m
Jetstar
Deal found 26/6$515
Sun 13/906:15
SYD
-
ZQN
Nonstop2h 55m
Jetstar
Wed 16/920:50
ZQN
-
SYD
Nonstop3h 15m
Jetstar
Deal found 29/6$528
Mon 24/811:50
SYD
-
ZQN
Nonstop2h 55m
Jetstar
Thu 27/817:45
ZQN
-
SYD
Nonstop3h 15m
Jetstar
Deal found 26/6$531
Mon 3/818:55
SYD
-
CHC
1 stop11h 00m
Air New Zealand
Wed 5/806:30
CHC
-
SYD
Nonstop3h 40m
Air New Zealand
Deal found 29/6$531
Tue 25/811:50
SYD
-
ZQN
Nonstop2h 55m
Jetstar
Wed 26/820:50
ZQN
-
SYD
Nonstop3h 15m
Jetstar
Deal found 26/6$532
Fri 6/1106:15
SYD
-
ZQN
Nonstop2h 55m
Jetstar
Mon 9/1120:50
ZQN
-
SYD
Nonstop3h 20m
Jetstar
Deal found 29/6$534

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 1 July 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 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 1 July 2026.

Return from

$531

One-way from

$307

Popular in

December

Cheapest in

May

Average price

$682
Air New Zealand
  • Air New Zealand
  • 3/8-5/8
  • 1 total stop
  • 14h 40m total
  • Sydney to Christchurch
Search Deals
Jetstar
  • Jetstar
  • 24/8
  • Nonstop
  • 2h 55m total
  • Sydney to South Island
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 7% potential increase in price ($51 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 July 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 1 July 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

Mon 14/9

06:15-11:10

Nonstop2h 55m

Queenstown Intl

Mon 21/9

20:50-22:05

Nonstop3h 15m

$495

SydneyQueenstown

SYD - ZQN

SYDZQN

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Tue 17/11

06:15-11:10

Nonstop2h 55m

Queenstown Intl

Wed 2/12

20:50-22:10

Nonstop3h 20m

$513

SydneyQueenstown

SYD - ZQN

SYDZQN

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Fri 18/9

06:15-11:10

Nonstop2h 55m

Queenstown Intl

Wed 23/9

20:50-22:05

Nonstop3h 15m

$513

SydneyQueenstown

SYD - ZQN

SYDZQN

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Fri 16/10

06:15-11:10

Nonstop2h 55m

Queenstown Intl

Sat 24/10

13:40-21:05

1 stop9h 25m

$555

SydneyQueenstown

SYD - ZQN

SYDZQN

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Thu 5/11

06:10-19:55

1 stop11h 45m

Queenstown Intl

Thu 19/11

20:50-22:10

Nonstop3h 20m

$569

SydneyQueenstown

SYD - ZQN

SYDZQN

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Tue 28/7

11:50-16:45

Nonstop2h 55m

Queenstown Intl

Thu 30/7

12:40-22:15

1 stop11h 35m

$603

SydneyQueenstown

SYD - ZQN

SYDZQN

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Sun 11/10

06:15-11:10

Nonstop2h 55m

Queenstown Intl

Mon 19/10

13:00-19:20

1 stop8h 20m

$605

SydneyQueenstown

SYD - ZQN

SYDZQN

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Mon 24/8

18:55-11:40

1 stop14h 45m

Queenstown Intl

Thu 27/8

17:45-19:00

Nonstop3h 15m

$622

SydneyChristchurch

SYD - CHC

SYDCHC

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Fri 24/7

18:35-13:00

1 stop16h 25m

Christchurch

Wed 29/7

08:20-14:25

1 stop8h 05m

$661

SydneyChristchurch

SYD - CHC

SYDCHC

Sydney Kingsford Smith

Mon 31/8

07:20-00:10

1 stop14h 50m

Christchurch

Fri 4/9

13:15-17:45

1 stop6h 30m

$670

Flights are sorted by cheapest return flights first.

Deals found on 30/6

Showing 1-10 of 56 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
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 11 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 Monday (31 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Thursday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (19 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 $212
Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand
From $243
Virgin Australia
Virgin Australia
From $235
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, 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).

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?

Use this chart to determine the cheapest time to fly return from Sydney to South Island. Price data was last updated on 27 June 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.

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 1 July 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
3,603 reviews
Check prices

Overall

8.1

Crew

8.4

Food

7.9

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

8.2

Comfort

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Anonymous,Dec 2025

DXB - MAN

A380 is best airplane in the world for long haul flights. And Emirates one of the top airlines.
Emirates
8.1
Very Good
3,603 reviews
Emirates
8.1
Very Good
3,603 reviews
Check prices

Overall

8.1

Crew

8.4

Food

7.9

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

8.2

Comfort

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Anonymous,Dec 2025

DXB - MAN

A380 is best airplane in the world for long haul flights. And Emirates one of the top airlines.
Air New Zealand
8.0
Very Good
649 reviews
Emirates
8.1
Very Good
3,603 reviews
Check prices

Overall

8.1

Crew

8.4

Food

7.9

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

8.2

Comfort

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Anonymous,Dec 2025

DXB - MAN

A380 is best airplane in the world for long haul flights. And Emirates one of the top airlines.
Virgin Australia
7.6
Good
462 reviews
Emirates
8.1
Very Good
3,603 reviews
Check prices

Overall

8.1

Crew

8.4

Food

7.9

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

8.2

Comfort

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Anonymous,Dec 2025

DXB - MAN

A380 is best airplane in the world for long haul flights. And Emirates one of the top airlines.
Qantas Airways
7.5
Good
1,054 reviews
Emirates
8.1
Very Good
3,603 reviews
Check prices

Overall

8.1

Crew

8.4

Food

7.9

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

8.2

Comfort

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Anonymous,Dec 2025

DXB - MAN

A380 is best airplane in the world for long haul flights. And Emirates one of the top airlines.
Jetstar
6.5
Okay
549 reviews
Emirates
8.1
Very Good
3,603 reviews
Check prices

Overall

8.1

Crew

8.4

Food

7.9

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

8.2

Comfort

8.0

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Anonymous,Dec 2025

DXB - MAN

A380 is best airplane in the world for long haul flights. And Emirates one of the top airlines.

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 $217, however they can be found for as little as $122.

  • 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 10 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.

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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