Cheap Flights
New Zealand flights from $316 return
Ends
Available on flights from July - November 2021 to Christchurch, Dunedin, Wellington and more. Sample fare is Melbourne-Auckland with Jetstar.
We’re reader-supported and may be paid when you visit links to partner sites. We don’t compare all products in the market, but we’re working on it!
There are endless reasons for Australians to cross the ditch and visit their closest neighbours. Vast national parks, towering mountains, rolling coastline, outdoor pursuits and world-renowned wine, to name a few.
Direct flights operate from 4 airports on Australia's east coast to 4 destinations across New Zealand. Visitors can also fly indirectly to and from Australia to the North Island and South Island.
Latest New Zealand flight deals
Cheap Flights
I Want That Flight
Flights to New Zealand from $354 return
Ends
Available on flights from December 2021 - April 2022 to Queenstown, Wellington and more. Sample fare is Melbourne-Auckland with Jetstar.
Air New Zealand
New Zealand flights from $290 each way
Ends
Available on select travel dates to Wellington, Christchurch, Queenstown and more. Sample fare is Brisbane-Christchurch. Tickets must be purchased 28 days prior to flight date. T&Cs apply.
Qatar Airways
Up to 45% off flights for students
Join and become a member of Student club and receive promo codes on flights. Available for students who are in university or college and aged 18-30. Destinations include London, Paris, Auckland, Canada and more. T&Cs apply.
Virgin Australia
Queenstown flights from $259 each way
Ends
Available on flights from September 2021 - January 2022 departing from Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide and more. Sample fare departs from Melbourne. T&Cs apply.
TL;DR: New Zealand flights
New Zealand's airport:
Auckland International Airport (AKL)
Get the best price:
May and September
Book in advance by:
21 days+
Best airline (price):
Jetstar
Frequently asked questions about flights to New Zealand
How much does it cost to fly to New Zealand?
From Sydney and Melbourne you should be able to find cheap flights to Auckland from around $250–$300 return with Jetstar. Direct flights to Christchurch, Queenstown and Wellington tend to be more expensive at around $300–$400 return.
Flights from Brisbane to New Zealand range from $450–$600 return with Jetstar throughout the year with Auckland and Wellington being on average the cheapest and most expensive airports to fly to respectively.
From the west coast, Air New Zealand is the only airline flying direct, to just 1 city. Return fares from Perth to Auckland are cheapest at around $560.
Fares to New Zealand are sometimes discounted in Jetstar flight sales for less than $200.
When is the cheapest time to fly to New Zealand?
May and September tend to have the lowest fares to New Zealand from Australia. This is because both months are the shoulder seasons sitting between the peak summer season and the height of ski season. To figure this out, we've checked fares, written dozens of flight sales stories and considered data from sites like Cheapflights, Kayak and Skyscanner.
However, if you're looking to ski in New Zealand and enjoy the other sights of the land of the long white cloud, September could be one of the best times to visit as you'll be able to get the best of both worlds at some of the best prices.
December and January tend to be the two most expensive months to travel to New Zealand as it's the middle of summer in and when a few school and public holidays are.
Cheapest months to fly:
May and September
Priciest months to fly:
December and January
When's the best time to book Christmas flights to New Zealand?
According to Skyscanner, it seems that holding off booking until around five months out can save you the most. You can save up to 16% when booking flights from Gold Coast to Auckland in July as opposed to August where you'll only save 7%. On travel from Brisbane, booking your tickets as late as November can save you up to 5%.
Time to spare? You can generally score the cheapest outgoing fares by booking dates on or before 13 December and return from 8 January onward.
When it comes to booking flights for Christmas, the overall idea is that the earlier you book, the better.
How long does it take to fly to New Zealand?
Below are the minimum direct flight times for Auckland, Christchurch, Queenstown and Wellington from major Australian cities.
If you're flying to Auckland from:
Sydney: 3 hours direct
Melbourne: 3 hours, 35 minutes direct
Brisbane: 3 hours, 5 minutes direct
Perth: 6 hours direct
If you're flying to Christchurch from:
Sydney: 3 hours direct
Melbourne: 3 hours, 20 minutes direct
Brisbane: 3 hours, 30 minutes direct
If you're flying to Queenstown from:
Sydney: 3 hours direct
Melbourne: 3 hours, 10 minutes direct
Brisbane: 3 hours, 30 minutes direct
If you're flying to Wellington from:
Sydney: 3 hours, 15 minutes
Melbourne: 3 hours 35 minutes
Brisbane: 3 hours, 30 minutes direct
Which airlines fly direct to New Zealand?
Not every airline covers every route between Australia and New Zealand, here you'll find which Australian cities carriers fly direct from.
Air New Zealand
Auckland from: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Cairns, Hobart, Adelaide, Perth
Christchurch from: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast
Queenstown from: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane
Wellington from: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane
Jetstar
Auckland from: Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast
Christchurch from: Melbourne, Gold Coast
Queenstown from: Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast
Wellington from: Gold Coast
Qantas
Auckland from: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast
Christchurch from: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane
Queenstown from: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane
Wellington from: Sydney, Melbourne
Virgin Australia
Queenstown from: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane
What's the best airline to fly to New Zealand?
- Best for price: Jetstar tends to have the cheapest fares. However, if you plan to take luggage for an extended overseas trip Virgin Australia is usually the next cheapest option and offers checked luggage with your ticket.
- Best for extra inclusions: Qantas and Air New Zealand include seat selection, a meal and checked baggage in your airfare.
- Best for frequent flyer rewards: Qantas (Qantas Frequent Flyer), Air New Zealand (Airpoints) and Virgin (Velocity) all allow members to earn frequent flyer points.
How many points do I need to fly to New Zealand?
Auckland
| Departure city | Points required for a return Qantas flight | Points required for a return Virgin flight | Points required for a one-way Virgin flight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide | 36,000 | Not available | Not available |
| Alice Springs | 40,600 | Not available | Not available |
| Brisbane | 36,000 | 35,600 | 17,800 |
| Cairns | 36,000 | Not available | Not available |
| Darwin | 40,600 | Not available | Not available |
| Gold Coast | 28,800 | 35,600 | 17,800 |
| Melbourne | 36,000 | 35,600 | 17,800 |
| Perth | 40,600 | 44,600 | 22,300 |
| Sydney | 36,000 | 35,600 | 17,800 |
Christchurch
| Departure city | Points required for a return Qantas flight | Points required for a one-way Virgin flight | Points required for a return Virgin flight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide | 38,300 | Not available | Not available |
| Alice Springs | 40,600 | Not available | Not available |
| Brisbane | 36,000 | 17,800 | 35,600 |
| Cairns | 40,600 | Not available | Not available |
| Darwin | 40,600 | Not available | Not available |
| Gold Coast | 36,000 | Not available | Not available |
| Melbourne | 36,000 | 17,800 | 35,600 |
| Perth | 40,600 | Not available | Not available |
| Sydney | 36,000 | 17,800 | 35,600 |
Queenstown
| Departure city | Points required for a return Qantas flight | Points required for a one-way Virgin flight | Points required for a return Virgin flight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide | 36,000 | Not available | Not available |
| Alice Springs | 45,500 | Not available | Not available |
| Brisbane | 36,000 | 17,800 | 35,600 |
| Cairns | 36,000 | Not available | Not available |
| Darwin | 40,600 | Not available | Not available |
| Gold Coast | 36,000 | Not available | Not available |
| Melbourne | 36,000 | 17,800 | 35,600 |
| Perth | 40,600 | Not available | Not available |
| Sydney | 36,000 | 17,800 | 35,600 |
Wellington
| Departure city | Points required for a return Qantas flight | Points required for a one-way Virgin flight | Points required for a return Virgin flight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide | 36,000 | Not available | Not available |
| Alice Springs | 40,600 | Not available | Not available |
| Brisbane | 36,000 | 17,800 | 35,600 |
| Cairns | 40,600 | Not available | Not available |
| Darwin | 40,600 | Not available | Not available |
| Gold Coast | 36,000 | Not available | Not available |
| Melbourne | 36,000 | 17,800 | 35,600 |
| Perth | 40,600 | Not available | Not available |
| Sydney | 36,000 | 17,800 | 35,600 |
Want to earn a free flight to New Zealand?
These frequent flyer credit card offers can give you more than enough bonus points for a complimentary flight (minus applicable taxes) to Auckland International Airport (AKL) from major cities across Australia.NAB Qantas Rewards Signature Card
Up to 110,000 bonus Qantas Points
Discounted $295 first year annual fee
Offer may be withdrawn at any time
Eligibility criteria, terms and conditions, fees and charges apply
American Express Velocity Platinum Card
Receive 120,000 bonus Velocity Points
Offer ends 24 August 2021
Eligibility criteria, terms and conditions, fees and charges apply
How far in advance should I book my flights to New Zealand?
KAYAK's New Zealand flights price data suggests you should book at least 3 weeks in advance of your departure date to find a lower than average price.
Where are the airports in New Zealand?
Visitors travelling to the respective cities can do so easily via public transport, private airport shuttles or taxis from New Zealand's 4 major international airports: Auckland (AKL), Christchurch (CHC), Queenstown (ZGN) and Wellington (WLG).
You can pre-book transfers online or decide which option works best for you when you arrive. The major airports are all in close proximity to the city centre, except for Auckland, which takes up to an hour. Taxis can be a cheaper option if travelling in a group.
You can undoubtedly get the best out of your holiday in New Zealand by choosing to self-drive. Many rental companies let you pick up a car or campervan directly from the airport terminal. The hills and windy roads give visitors some of the most impressive views of the scenery that New Zealand is famous for.
More guides on Finder
-
Qantas sale: $199 flights to New Zealand for snow season
EXPIRED: Kia ora! Pack your bags and jet off to New Zealand for winter adventures.
-
Campervan hire in New Zealand | Where to book, what to know
Take your exploration to the next level with this guide to campervan hire in New Zealand.
-
Cheap flights to Christchurch (CHC) you can book in 2021
From deals to travel times to airlines, we’ve got the information you need to book your flight to Christchurch.
-
Australia-New Zealand travel bubble
Here's what you need to know about the trans-Tasman travel bubble reopening between New Zealand and Australia.
-
Cheap flights to Queensland you can book in 2021
Secure flights to Brisbane, Cairns, Gold Coast, Townsville and more with this guide to finding cheap flights to Queensland.
-
Cheap Lord Howe Island (LDH) flights for 2021
Find all of the flight and transportation information you need for your upcoming trip to Lord Howe Island.
-
Cheap flights to Newcastle (NTL) for 2021
Plan your trip to Newcastle with this guide that includes everything you need to know about booking flights and transport.
-
Flights to Coffs Habour (CFS) and deals for 2021
Find out how much you should be paying for flights, the best time to book and transport options with our guide for booking flights to Coffs Harbour.
-
Cheap flights to Tasmania for 2021
From the best prices to where the airport is, here is everything you need to know about flying to Tasmania.
-
Cheap Norfolk Island flights to book in 2021
Compare airfares, learn when to book your flights for the best price and get the latest deals on flights to Norfolk Island.
Ask an Expert
