Adelaide International
Adelaide Airport is the fifth-busiest in Australia, and handles approximately 7 million passengers annually. The airport was established in 1955, and the updated international and domestic terminal was opened in 2005. The airport has received numerous awards, including world’s second-best international airport, in the five to 15 million passengers category, in 2006; and in the same year, it was crowned Capital City Airport of the Year at the Australian Aviation Industry Awards in Cairns.
The expansive new terminal building can cope with up to 27 aircraft, including an A380 Airbus, at the same time. There are airline lounges, 14 aerobridges, 42 desks for check-ins and 34 shops. The airport will also receive a brand-new road network and a multi-story car park, which will more than double its current parking capacity.
The improvements are more than cosmetic - the control tower will almost double in height. Due to these improvements, more major international airlines will undoubtedly make use of the airport. Currently, these include Thai Airways International, Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways.
View Adelaide International (ADL) Airport Guide
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Auckland International
With some 13 million passengers passing through each year, Auckland International Airport (AKL), also known to locals as Mangere Airport after the suburb in which it is located, is New Zealand’s primary airport, and the fourth busiest in Australasia.
The buzzing airport takes its role seriously as the first and last place that visitors see in New Zealand, and has put together an impressive collection of imagery reflecting the culture and heritage of the country, which you can view on the walls of the airport.
The airport is under regular construction, a process that some travelers have reported as unsettling. Until Auckland International has finished with its tweaks and reshuffles, give yourself a little extra time to navigate – nobody likes to fly stressed, so better to be safe than sorry.
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Brisbane International
Brisbane International Airport (BNE) has a big job to do, since it’s the only airport serving this city, a key portal to Australia’s famed Gold Coast. The sprawling airport – 9 miles (15km) from Brisbane - is laid out in a line stretching several miles from the Domestic Terminal to the Airport Village complex, with all terminal buildings connected by indispensable shuttle and rail services.
Flights to Brisbane International Airport are available from cities all over Australia, New Zealand and Asia, with additional service to several cities in the US, including Los Angeles. The most popular routes though, are the near-daily flights to Sydney, Melbourne, and Cairns.
Passengers flying into Brisbane will find it a welcoming introduction to Queensland, and a convenient gateway to the sunny beaches and sparkling waves of the Gold Coast.
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Christchurch International
Christchurch International Airport (CHC) is a small, clean, lovely airport, full of first-rate facilities and amenities. Currently, the airport building is being restored after earthquake damage, and its Domestic Terminal is being upgraded to cope with increases in passenger traffic. This work is all scheduled to be completed by 2012.
Flights to Christchurch International Airport are operated by local and foreign carriers, offering connections to many New Zealand destinations, as well as cities in Australia and Southeast Asia.
With the Rugby World Cup due to kick off in New Zealand in November 2011, thousands of tourists can confidently look forward to a pleasant transit experience at Christchurch International Airport.
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Guam
Guam International Airport (GUM), officially known as Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport, is situated on the central part of the north coast of Guam. Everything is close by in Guam and the airport is no exception: it’s a mere three miles (5km) east of Agana (Hagatna), the capital city of Guam.
Guam International Airport was originally used as a military airport during World War II. In 1992, the first passenger terminal at the airport began to operate as travelers started to realize that Guam had more to offer in terms of beaches, sun and sea. The terminal consists of three levels: arrivals go through the basement level of the terminal, the second floor is mostly admin and the departure gates are located on the third floor.
The airport has served as the perfect base in Micronesia for Continental Airlines. The Antonio B. Won Pat International Guam Airport also serves ANA, China Airlines, Northwest Airlines and Japan Air Lines. Asia Pacific airlines also use the airport as a hub and operate many flights to Guam International. There are regular flights to Antonio B. Won Pat International Guam Airport for holidaymakers traveling from Australia, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, China and the United States.
Guam is a US overseas territory and the airport took its name from Antonio Borja Won Pat, a citizen of Guam, who was the first delegate to represent Guam in the US House of Representatives. The island is popular with tourists searching for an island getaway.
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Kingsford Smith
Sydney Airport (SYD), also referred to as Kingsford-Smith Airport, is situated in the suburb of Mascot, near Botany Bay, approximately 6 miles (9km) from Sydney, Australia’s largest city and main commercial and tourist hub. It is one of the oldest continuously running airports in the world and, having handled just over 35.9 million passengers in 2010, it is Australia’s busiest aerial hub.
Comprising three passenger terminals, namely International Terminal T1 and Domestic Terminals T2 and T3, Sydney Airport is home to a vast array of world-class shopping and dining venues, as well as a host of facilities and amenities for both tourists and business travelers. Check-in, baggage claims, immigrations, customs and security are generally smooth and painless; however, like most international airports, standard airport processes can slow down during peak times.
In essence, Sydney Airport is clean, efficient and well maintained. Better yet, transport to and from the airport is abundant and therefore makes this airport an ideal gateway for those traveling to Sydney and surrounds.
View Kingsford Smith (SYD) Airport Guide
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Melbourne – Tullamarine
Melbourne-Tullamarine Airport (MEL) is one of the biggest and busiest in Australia, handling more than 28 million passengers each year and servicing the greater Melbourne area of Victoria.
The airport has four terminals: Terminal 1 services domestic flights from Qantas and its affiliates, Terminal 2 handles international flights, Terminal 3 is devoted to Virgin Australia and Regional Express Airlines (Rex), and Terminal 4 is for Tiger Airways.
The airport has modern (if modest) facilities for such a high-volume hub, but generally handles the crowds with style. The only hiccups come at Australia’s notoriously strict customs points, where queues can sometimes be long and frustrating.
Flights to Melbourne-Tullamarine Airport come in from all over Asia and Oceania, with select routes from further abroad, including Beijing, Hong Kong, Abu Dhabi, Seoul, Shanghai, Auckland, Singapore, Sydney, Manila, Los Angeles, London, Cairns, Canberra, Adelaide, Alice Springs, Honolulu, Bali, Mauritius, Doha, Phuket, Perth and Hanoi.
View Melbourne – Tullamarine (MEL) Airport Guide
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Nadi International
Situated approximately six miles (10 km) from the city of Nadi, Nadi International Airport (NAN) is Fiji’s primary hub and gateway to Fiji’s many tourist hotspots.
Handling approximately 1.2 million passengers per year and 30 international flights per day, flights to Nadi International Airport are primarily from cities in New Zealand, Australia and Asia, with limited service from the US.
Although the terminal is sometimes busy and queues long, Nadi International offers its own unique charm in the form of friendly, helpful staff that cater to passengers’ needs and musical bands that welcome guests.
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Perth
Perth Airport has two domestic terminals side by side about 7.5 miles (12km) from the Perth CBD, while the International Terminal is about 11 miles (17km) away from town. The airport has seen a huge increase in passengers in recent years, so if you're traveling at peak times, be prepared for crowds and queues.
Although the airport's facilities have been criticized for being outdated and run-down, there is more than enough by way of restaurants, shops, baby-changing facilities, prayer rooms and other standard facilities so that your stay at the airport should be fairly enjoyable and uneventful.
Perth itself is isolated in a vast and empty stretch of Western Australia. The city is quiet and safe, with miles of spectacular, uncrowded beaches close by. If you have time, head for the zoo in the CBD, where kangaroos are allowed to hop right up to visitors.
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Rarotonga International
Situated two miles (3km) west of Avarua, Rarotonga International (RAR) is the main airport for the Cook Islands. Revamped in 2010, the facility is shiny and new, although still pretty basic. As the Cook Islands are so remote and there isn’t much air traffic the facility is rarely crowded.
Direct flights to Rarotonga International Airport are available from destinations in Australasia, including Auckland, Christchurch, Sydney and Papeete. Air New Zealand also operates a direct route from Los Angeles, and Air Rarotonga has domestic flights within the Cook Islands from Aitutaki, Atiu, Manihiki, Mauke, Mangaia and Mitiaro.
View Rarotonga International (RAR) Airport Guide
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