Cheap flights to New Zealand

After almost 20,000km, the moment when travellers, on their flights to New Zealand, see those two islands appear on the seat-back map, invites a gasp.

New Zealand’s two islands are breathtaking, sometimes appearing unreal. Towering mountains, simmering volcanoes, sweeping sandy beaches, majestic fjords (in aptly named Fiordland), glacial lakes and lush rainforests… it’s no wonder that when the makers of The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia wanted to portray fairytale lands, they went on location to New Zealand.

More than a third of New Zealand’s land area is within a park or reserve. There are about 15,000 kilometres of coastline and more than 25 marine reserves.

A country the same size as the UK, it has a population of only four million. Its cities – Auckland and Wellington in the north and Christchurch and Dunedin in the south – are bright and bustling, but not crowded.

New Zealand has a tolerant and multi-cultural society. The indigenous Maori people have a fascinating culture, which has informed many parts of New Zealand life. With their non-Maori neighbours, New Zealanders are a friendly, laidback lot, outdoorsy with a famous Kiwi ruggedness.

Search and compare: cheap flights to New Zealand

New Zealand climate

The New Zealand climate is variable. On the North Island winters are mild and summers are warm and humid. On the South Island it’s colder, the landscape features snowfields and glaciers. The mountains get snow in the winter and the west coast sees most of the rain. A Southern Hemisphere country, the summer lasts from November to April.

When is the best time to fly to New Zealand?

Peak Season:

December, January and February. These are New Zealand’s summer months. Average temperatures are between 20 and 30 degrees.

Off Season:

Flights to New Zealand are cheaper during July and August. Average winter temperatures are 10-15 degrees.

Shoulder Season:

March through May. This is autumn. Temperatures are slightly cooler than summer, but the weather can still be excellent and this is the time of year for beautiful autumn foliage in Central Otago and Hawke’s Bay in particular. The spring months (September to November) can be excellent times to visit too.

Search and compare: cheap flights to New Zealand

Getting around New Zealand

Air New Zealand offers domestic New Zealand flights. On the North Island, Air Chathams provides scheduled air services while Air National and Skylink provide charter flights. On the South Island Stewart Island Flights, Air Canterbury and Air Milford operate.

The country has a good public transport system (bus and coach) connecting cities to popular tourist destinations. Apart from renting a car to get around – remember to drive on the left – some travellers rent motor homes to drive and sleep.

Tranz Scenic runs two railways on the South Island. The TranzCoastal operates between Picton and Christchurch; and the TranzAlpine links Christchurch and Greymouth.

How long is the flight to New Zealand?

New Zealand is separated into the North and South Islands. Most flights to New Zealand go through Auckland on the North Island. There are various New Zealand flight deals to Auckland from Hong Kong. The trip takes anywhere from 10h 35min to 11h 40min. For the South Island, you can fly to Christchurch with one stopover and the trip will take between 15h and 18h.

Where can you get direct flights to New Zealand from?

The only direct flight between Hong Kong and New Zealand is to Auckland with Air New Zealand or Cathay Pacific. All other routes require a stopover, usually in Auckland, Singapore or Sydney. It is a good idea to start any trip to New Zealand in Auckland as it is the biggest city, it's a good option for finding cheap flights to New Zealand, and it's a gateway to many interesting sights on the North Island. If you are only aiming for the South Island, you should fly into Christchurch and go from there.

What is the best way to travel around New Zealand?

There are a few options for getting around the islands. If you are a confident driver, a flexible and easy option would be to hire a car. If you are flying into Auckland, you can tour the North Island and drop the car off at the Interislander ferry in Wellington. You would then take the ferry across to the South Island and pick up a new hire car at the ferry terminal in Picton. If you are not comfortable driving, you can use a combination of hop-on/hop-off bus passes and rail passes. Intercity bus line offers a ‘flexipass’ that allows you to buy by hours of travel and a ‘travelpass’ where you can change your route up to two hours before departure. The Northern Explorer train in the North Island and the Kiwirail and TranzAlpine trains in the South Island offer beautiful scenic journeys coupled with the rail experience.

What are some things to do in New Zealand?

New Zealand is a green and beautiful country. On the North Island, you can hike the active volcanic craters of Tongariro Crossing and visit the geothermal mud pools and geysers of Rotorua, while learning about the unique and beautiful Maori culture. You can stop by the Hobbiton film set where the Lord of the Rings series was filmed and get a tour of the Shire. In the west, you can visit the spectacular Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Further south, you can visit the world-famous Te Papa Tongarewa Museum in Wellington. If you are keen on adrenaline sports, Queenstown on the South Island has everything from bungee jumping to skydiving to jetboating at Shotover Canyon. You can also do a heli-hike to a glacier at either Fox or Franz Josef Glaciers. Take a boat cruise through Milford or Doubtful Sound and see these pristine ravines with all the beautiful wildlife they have to offer. On your way back up the island, be sure to stop in Hokitika, the home of the sacred Pounamu greenstone, symbolic of New Zealand. You can’t buy it for yourself though. It needs to be gifted to you.

Do I need a passport or visa to fly to New Zealand?

Holders of Hong Kong SAR Passports only need to apply online for a NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority). You also need a return or onward travel ticket, sufficient money for your stay in New Zealand, and a passport valid for three months beyond your departure from New Zealand. If you would like to stay longer than three months, you will need to apply for a Visitor’s Visa.

What is good to know if travelling to New Zealand?

• Kapiti Island, north of Wellington on the North Island, is home to a nature reserve that protects some of the rarest birds in the world. These include Robin, Saddleback, Stitchbird, Kaka, Kakariki, Weka, Kereru, Bellbirds and the extremely rare flightless Takahe. The nocturnal Kiwi, the emblem of New Zealand, also lives here.
• Rotorua in central North Island, is a geothermal area. There are several geysers including the spectacular 20-metre Pohutu geyser at Whakarewarewa (the thermal village) and hot mud pools. It is also the heartland of Maori culture. There are 16 lakes around Rotorua, 11 are fishable and stock trout (rainbow, brown, brook and tiger).Major fishing lakes are Rotorua, Rotoiti, Tarawera, Okataina and Rotoma.
• Larnach Castle is New Zealand’s only castle and Dunedin’s (South Island) top visitor attraction. The castle was built in 1871 by William Larnach for his first wife. It is owned by the Barker family, but it is open for tours and celebrations. The views over the Otago Peninsula are breathtaking. Dunedin is also home to the Cadbury Factory, which features a unique chocolate fall in a five-storey high silo.
• Queenstown is the birthplace of commercial bungee-jumping. The city lies on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, and is surrounded by the Remarkables mountain range, the youngest ski area in the region. The Lindauer Queenstown Winter Festival takes place in late June and July.
• The Lord of the Rings trail: Mount Aspiring National Park, named for one of New Zealand’s highest peaks, is part of Te Wahipounamu, the South West New Zealand Unesco World Heritage Area. The park, to the south of the Southern Alps, is popular for walking and mountaineering. Many locations around Glenorchy village (Lothlorien, Amon Hen, Orthanc, and Isengard) were used in the films.
• While city-hopping, climb the hills for breathtaking views: Mount Eden and One Tree Hill in Auckland, Mount Victoria in Wellington, the Port Hills in Christchurch and Flagstaff Hill in Dunedin.
• Trivago is a useful website for user reviews and recommendations on accommodation in New Zealand. Take a look at the pages on hotels in Queenstown, hotels in Auckland or hotels in Rotorua.