Popular in | October | High demand for flights, 13% potential price rise |
---|---|---|
Cheapest in | July | Best time to find cheap flights, 3% potential price drop |
Average price | $2,295 | Average for round-trip flights in January 2023 |
Round-trip from | $1,609 | From New York to Christchurch |
One-way from | $920 | One-way flight from New York to South Island |
Newark
Christchurch
3 stops
60h 20mChristchurch
Newark
2 stops
29h 15mMultiple Airlines
New York John F Kennedy Intl
Christchurch
3 stops
60h 05mChristchurch
New York John F Kennedy Intl
2 stops
29h 20mMultiple Airlines
Newark
Queenstown Intl
3 stops
35h 15mQueenstown Intl
Newark
2 stops
27h 17mMultiple Airlines
Newark
Christchurch
2 stops
28h 05mChristchurch
Newark
2 stops
27h 37mMultiple Airlines
New York John F Kennedy Intl
Christchurch
2 stops
37h 15mChristchurch
New York John F Kennedy Intl
2 stops
33h 14mMultiple Airlines
New York John F Kennedy Intl
Christchurch
2 stops
27h 20mChristchurch
New York John F Kennedy Intl
2 stops
34h 09mMultiple Airlines
Newark
Christchurch
2 stops
27h 15mMultiple Airlines
Newark
Queenstown Intl
3 stops
48h 20mMultiple Airlines
Newark
Christchurch
3 stops
31h 25mMultiple Airlines
Boarding
Crew
Entertainment
Food
Comfort
Overall
Reviews
Plane was late and caused me to miss my return ferry crossing with my vehicle I was bringing to timaru
Boarding
Crew
Entertainment
Food
Comfort
Overall
Reviews
Plane was late and caused me to miss my return ferry crossing with my vehicle I was bringing to timaru
Boarding
Crew
Entertainment
Food
Comfort
Overall
Reviews
Plane was late and caused me to miss my return ferry crossing with my vehicle I was bringing to timaru
Boarding
Crew
Entertainment
Food
Comfort
Overall
Reviews
Plane was late and caused me to miss my return ferry crossing with my vehicle I was bringing to timaru
Boarding
Crew
Entertainment
Food
Comfort
Overall
Reviews
Plane was late and caused me to miss my return ferry crossing with my vehicle I was bringing to timaru
Boarding
Crew
Entertainment
Food
Comfort
Overall
Reviews
Plane was late and caused me to miss my return ferry crossing with my vehicle I was bringing to timaru
January
$2,144
February
$1,610
March
$1,540
April
$1,503
May
$1,527
June
$1,628
July
$1,322
August
$1,423
September
$1,562
October
$1,687
November
$1,643
December
$1,900
Currently, July is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight to South Island. Flying to South Island in January will prove the most costly. There are multiple factors that influence the price of a flight so comparing airlines, departure airports and times can help keep costs down.
NYC - CHC Price | $1,322 - $2,611 |
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CHC Temperature | 42.8 - 62.6 °F |
CHC Rainfall | 1.6 - 2.4 inches |
Flights to New Zealand from the US west coast out of Los Angeles (LAX) will take 14hr 25min if you fly through Auckland (AKL) to the most popular airports in South Island: Christchurch (CHC) and Queenstown (ZQN). However, if you have a layover in Australia, the travel time will increase and will range between 17 and 19 h. If you’re flying from the east coast from New York or Atlanta, transit will be a little longer, and the total travel time will come in around 19-22 h. Cheap flights to New Zealand, can take up to 25h and may transit through Japan, Korea or Chile.
Unfortunately there are no direct flights available between the USA and the South Island. However one-stop routes are available from the west coast. South Island flight deals out of Los Angeles (LAX) or San Francisco (SFO) make one stop, commonly in Auckland, New Zealand (AKL) or Australia, in Melbourne (MEL) or Sydney (SYD). If you’re flying from the east coast, you will need at least two stops. Flights from New York, Atlanta and Washington DC will typically make stops in Houston and Auckland before arriving in the South Island.
Taking domestic flights between cities is a common mode of transportation on the South Island. There are also two Kiwirail train lines, the Coastal Pacific, which runs between Christchurch and Picton in the north, as well as the TranzAlpine, which runs between Christchurch and Greymouth on the western side of the island. These trains typically offer unlimited day passes, so that travelers are able to stop in different destinations before completing their trip. There are also several coach bus companies available as an affordable option. Stray Bus and Kiwi Experience are two companies that offer hop on hop off bus tours of popular destinations.
The South Island is known for its many national parks and scenic mountains, and many people visit to ski, hike, camp, bike or marvel at the great outdoors. If you are this type of traveler consider checking out Fiordland National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and can be experienced via air, boat or on foot. Or if you’re looking for more outdoor adventure, consider going heli-hiking on Franz Josef Glacier. Or you can go whale watching in Kaikoura and catch a glimpse of the abundant marine life that swims nearby. Bungy jumping was invented outside of Queenstown, so if you’re looking for a thrill, don't miss this adrenaline-filled fun time. On the other hand, if you're looking for more of the history and culture, consider visiting the Larnach Castle in Dunedin, the only castle in New Zealand, or go wine-tasting in Central Otago, which is world-renowned for the Pinot Noir.
US Citizens do not need a visa to fly to the South Island if traveling for tourism purposes, but a passport is required. Instead of a visa, travelers are required to apply for an ETA, which grants tourists multiple entries to the South Island for two years. With an ETA, visitors may stay a maximum of 90 days per entry. To apply for an ETA, you will need a passport valid for at least six months upon arrival, arrival and departure dates and a credit or debit card. The processing time will take 24 hours, but can be expedited if need be.
Cheapflights makes it easy to find South Island flights by helping our users search from 900+ travel sites for deals. We also provide you with filters for cabin, price, airline, airports, number of stops, and many more to narrow down that perfect flight.
It’s simple! Cheapflights, which is free to use for everyone, saves millions of users time and money every year by helping them find the cheapest and most suitable flights to South Island.
Need flexible booking options for your flight to South Island ? Don’t worry, Cheapflights have you covered. Use our search filter to only show flights with no change fees.
Yes, Cheapflights does offer price alerts on South Island flights so you can book your travels when it’s right. The Price Alert feature is available after a flight search is performed above.