How to find cheap flights to New Zealand
Catch a flight to New Zealand departing from London Gatwick. This is usually the most affordable airport to fly out of.
Consider touching down at Auckland International to get even better value from your fare.
Keep the month of May free. It's often the cheapest time to visit New Zealand.
The best price for a one-way flight is £384. A return ticket starts from £664.
Flexible on where you land if it saves you money? Discover the cheapest places to fly into by adding your departure airport, then entering 'New Zealand' in the 'To' field.
Alternatively, select 'Add nearby airports' at the start of your search if you know where you want to travel to. This will give you flight prices for nearby arrival airports so you can quickly find the best deal.
Stay on top of fare drops automatically by setting up a Price Alert. You'll get an email or a notification on the app when prices drop.
The general recommendation is to book about one month ahead of your travel date. You're more likely to get the best price on tickets then.
The best time to go to New Zealand
To find the cheapest month for flights, use the 'Whole month' tool. If your travel dates are flexible, search for the green prices on the calendar — they highlight the lowest fares available.
Plan your visit for March if you prefer to be there when it's busy. This is the most popular month for flights, but also when fares are typically more expensive.
December is the quietest time of year to visit if you want a slower pace. You'll generally find cheaper prices on plane tickets to New Zealand then.
The weather can make a big difference, so choose your season wisely. Maximum temperatures average 19ºC in February, making it one of the warmest months in New Zealand.
Conditions are often coolest around July, with average lows sitting at 7ºC.
Rain is more common in September, while February is usually drier.
When deciding on your dates, also factor in cyclone season and periods of heavy rainfall. Weather risks can vary by region, so it pays to check what applies to the places you're travelling through.
Getting to New Zealand
You can take your pick of arrival options when you're ready to book flights to New Zealand. Among the most popular airports are:
Auckland Airport (AKL) in Auckland
Christchurch Airport (CHC) in Christchurch
Wellington International Airport (WLG) in Wellington
The airlines operating into this destination most often, along with approximate monthly flight counts, are:
Air New Zealand — 1,200
Qantas — 760
Jetstar — 390
Major international hubs including Sydney, Dallas and Guangzhou are common stopovers on flights to New Zealand. Your specific connection will depend on your airline and departure city, which you can check while you're searching.
Places to visit in New Zealand
Auckland
Located in Auckland Region and with a population of roughly 420,000, this city should be high on the must-see list.
Essential stops include Auckland Skyline view, Weta Cave and Sky Tower.
Auckland Airport (AKL) handles most international flights into Auckland. You'll find some competitive flight deals to New Zealand landing at this major hub.
Ready to lock in your perfect base? Check out the full range of hotels in Auckland.
Christchurch
This Canterbury Region city of around 360,000 comes with plenty of its own character.
Windswept totara forest is a highlight you won't want to miss.
The majority of flights arrive through Christchurch Airport (CHC), the city's main airport.
After locking in your airfare, you can focus on finding the right stay among the hotels in Christchurch.
Wellington
Searching for more places to visit in New Zealand? This city of about 380,000 people in Wellington Region has plenty to discover.
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington Botanic Gardens and Zealandia (Karori Wildlife Sanctuary) are popular attractions to tick off while you're here.
You can fly into the city through its main airport, Wellington International Airport (WLG).
Pick up a deal on where you'll stay by checking out the list of hotels in Wellington.
Good to know
Entry rules may vary depending on your passport, length of stay and travel plans, so always check ahead. Official embassy sites and airlines will have the most up-to-date advice on visas or any other documents you may need.
You'll be using the New Zealand dollar (NZD) for day-to-day purchases.
ATMs (automatic teller machines) are common across cities big and small, so access is unlikely to be an issue.
Tipping is optional. There's no expectation to tip in New Zealand, but a little extra is appreciated if you're happy with the service.
Staying connected is easy, with high Wi-Fi coverage across most places travellers spend time.
The population of New Zealand is roughly 5.3 million. Wellington is the capital.
There's more than one standard time zone across this destination, ranging from UTC+12 through to UTC+12.
New Zealand sits in Oceania within the Australia and New Zealand subregion.
Thinking about timing your flight to New Zealand with something big? Well-known events to build your trip around include Waitangi Day national commemorations, Matariki Maori New Year celebrations and the Aotearoa NZ Festival of the Arts.
Complete your trip with hotels and a car hire
Locked in that cheap ticket to New Zealand? Now decide where you'll rest your head and how you'll travel around. Explore the range of hotels in New Zealand and filter your search by location, star rating and more. Also browse car hire options in New Zealand and choose from pickup points in cities or at airports.