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Queenstown International Airport (ZQN) is the gateway to the adventure capital of New Zealand. Flights in and out of the resort town offer spectacular views, and you can get there with direct flights from Sydney, Gold Coast, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Skyscanner
New Zealand flights from $233 return
Available on select flights from August 2020 - February 2021. Destinations include Christchurch, Queenstown, Wellington and more. Sample fare is Gold Coast-Auckland with Jetstar.
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Cheap Flights
New Zealand flights from $263 return
Available on select dates from July - December 2020 to Christchurch, Dunedin, Queenstown and more. Sample fare is Adelaide-Auckland with LATAM.
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STA Travel
New Zealand flights from $414 return with Virgin Australia
Available on flights from September - November 2020 to Auckland, Queenstown and more. Sample fare is Sydney-Christchurch. T&Cs apply.
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From Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast and Melbourne, you can secure return flights to Queenstown for under $700. Return flights from Adelaide to Queenstown will set you back no more than $450. From Perth, a good deal can be found for less than $800 for a return fare.
The cheapest time to fly to Queenstown from Australia is in May. This falls before snow season, but you can definitely expect chilly weather and autumn to be in full force. May is a great time to hire a car or caravan and make your way around New Zealand as there are fewer tourists on the roads and there's less competition when booking accommodation.
If you know when you want to travel, it is best to book your flights from Australia to Queenstown seven weeks in advance.
If you don't live in one of these cities, you can get a domestic flight from your nearest airport to one of these locations. Your airline may offer a two-leg ticket from your airport to Queenstown with a stopover in Sydney, Gold Coast, Brisbane or Melbourne. Alternatively, you can book a separate domestic flight but make sure that it arrives in plenty of time for you to check-in for your international flight.
Flights are not as frequent to Queenstown as they are to other New Zealand airports. Depending on your departure airport, there may only be one flight a day so you will need to schedule your travel plans according to what's available.
When you book, make sure to check what is included with your fare as a cheap deal may not end up so cheap after you factor in additional costs for baggage, meals and drinks. Qantas, Virgin Australia and Emirates all include a checked bag, meal, drinks and entertainment in their trans-Tasman fares. Air New Zealand allows you to choose the type of fare that suits your needs, and Jetstar sells a base fare with optional extras to purchase as required.
To get to your destination, you can take a taxi from outside the airport. This will cost approximately $35 if you are travelling to the city centre where many hotels and hostels are located. Uber is also available and shuttles provide a door-to-door service. There is a public bus that costs just $2 from the airport to the city centre.
If you are staying in Arthurs Point, Arrowtown or Wanaka and you won't be hiring a vehicle, contact your accommodation to see if they provide a shuttle service for its guests.
If you are not eligible for the New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority, you will need to apply for a visa before you can travel to Queenstown.
