Tips & Advice on Getting to New Zealand

Map flying from North America to New Zealand

Flying to New Zealand

The best way to travel to New Zealand is obviously by air (unless you want to spend a lot of time on a boat).

Are there direct flights?

Most major airlines offer direct flights to New Zealand. It’s easy to get here on a non-stop flight from:

North America
Canada
Australia
Chile
China
Hong Kong
Japan
Korea
Malaysia
Singapore
Thailand

Or you can get a connecting flight from these countries to New Zealand from anywhere in the world.

Looking at a map of the world, New Zealand seems kind of out on its own right? Actually, depending on where you’re coming from, it can be easier to fly from the West Coast of the USA to New Zealand than to fly to from the West Coast to Europe. One of the reasons is that New Zealand is about 12 hours flying time (refer to the flying times map) however the time zones are similar (within three hours). This can seriously help to overcome any jet lag issues.

Map showing flight routes into New Zealand from Australia.

General Flight Times

Eastern Australia is a 3.5 hour flight
The USA is a a non-stop overnight flight of around 12 hours, (14 hours from Vancouver)
Pacific Rim, like Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo is approximately 10 hours

Flight tip: Many flights from the West Coast of the USA leave in the evening, which means you could hopefully (!) sleep some of the way - once you’ve had your meal, a glass of something and perhaps a movie. Make sure to compare all the options and book nice and early to lock in a good-value fare. Talk to us about your flight options.

Map showing the flight paths from the UK and Europe into New Zealand

Stopovers When Flying From Europe

Flight time: Start from around 24 hours (two flights of around 11-12 hours each)

Flight tips:

Most travel experts recommend a 24-hour stop over in Asia (think Hong Kong, Bangkok, Dubai, Singapore, Tokyo.) This can be a great way of breaking the trip, with fast trains/transport connecting the airport to hotels in the inner city. You can get a good rest, and spend a few hours exploring an exciting Asian stopover before completing your journey down under.
The cheapest flights to New Zealand from Europe and the UK have more than 2 stops. While the price can be enticing it is important to take into account the extra travel time. It can take you longer to recover from jetlag and it takes away precious time away that you could spend travelling New Zealand.

The Most Expensive Time to Fly to New Zealand

The peak tourist season in New Zealand is over the summer months from December to February. Demand for flights over this period is high and as a result it is the most expensive time to fly to New Zealand. This is due to the fact that the New Zealand summer school holidays fall over this period so not only is it a popular time for international visitors to spend Christmas and New Years in the sun but many locals are also on holiday.

Tips to get the best flight deal over summer:

You are likely to find cheaper flights on weekdays
The more flexibility you have around your arrival and departure date the more likely you are to get the best prices
Book in advance

The Cheapest Time to Fly to New Zealand

The beginning of winter from May to June is the cheapest and quietest time to fly to New Zealand as temperatures cool and weather conditions become more unpredictable. This can still be a great time to travel if you don't mind the cold and would like to have many of the tourist attractions to yourself. Ski fields also open from June so it is the perfect time to visit for a ski or snowboarding holiday in the South Island. When the ski fields open exactly does vary form one year to the next as it depends on snowfall and snow conditions.

Book Your Flights With Air New Zealand

Try to take advantage of some of the great value offers and book early. We recommend our national carrier Air New Zealand, which has been voted airline of the year multiple times. This airline has flown our skies for more than 75 years and has alliances with several major airlines across the globe.

Where do flights arrive into in New Zealand?

Most airlines fly into and out of Auckland International Airport in the north of the country. There are also international arrivals to Queenstown, Dunedin and Christchurch (in the South Island) and Wellington and Rotorua in the North Island.

Let us Help!

First Light Travel can book Air New Zealand flights for you as part of your New Zealand vacation package with us. This only applies to those of you travelling to NZ from North America and a few other select destinations. As the New Zealand travel experts we can give you the best advice.

Don't Forget!

Make sure that you have a valid passport and that you have applied for your NZeTA and/or have the necessary visas prior to flying to New Zealand. Find out more about New Zealand passport and visa requirements

Understanding the International Date Line

New Zealand is one of the first places on earth to see the sun - the inspiration for the First Light Travel name. When you travel from North America, you travel across the International Date Line which means you journey forward in time to get here. So when you leave San Francisco on Friday night you land in Auckland on Sunday morning. Of course you may feel like you’ve lost a day but you’ll gain that back on your return journey. If you’re travelling from Europe you’ll have to move forward in time when you arrive, but you’ll get that time back when you return home.

The Experience of Travelling Across the International Date Line in “In a Sunburned Country” by Bill Bryson

“Each time you fly from North America to Australia, and without anyone asking how you feel about it, a day is taken away from you when you cross the international date line. I left Los Angeles on January 3 and arrived in Sydney fourteen hours later on January 5. For me there was no January 4. None at all. Where it went exactly I couldn’t tell you. To be fair, they do give you back the day on the return journey when you cross the date line in the opposite direction and thereby manage somehow to arrive in Los Angeles before you left Sydney, which in its way, of course, is an even neater trick.”

Leave all of the Booking to us!

Since 2001 we’ve been helping visitors plan their dream New Zealand holiday. We aim to make visiting our beautiful land effortless. Let our expert holiday planners put together an itinerary for you, no obligation free of charge, or get some friendly advice on what small group tour would suit - Just follow the link and answer a few brief questions.