When is the best time to fly to Auckland?
Peak season
The peak tourist season in Auckland is over the summer months, when warm temperatures and clear blue skies prevail and plenty of festivals take place that draw visitors from across the country. Local children are on their long annual school holidays from mid-December until late January, when most of Auckland's major tourist sites can get incredibly busy. If you want to avoid the peak of the crowds, book your flights to Auckland during the shoulder months of April/May and October/November when weather is still favourable and room prices are much more affordable.
Off season
With cold temperatures, overcast skies and plenty of rainfall, the months of May through to September are considered the low season in Auckland. If you visit during this period you will benefit from reduced hotel rates and good flight deals, but it's best to avoid the wettest months of June and July.
When is the best time to book a flight to Auckland?
You will get the best flight deals throughout the year if you book your tickets well in advance of travel dates, but the off season winter months tend to see cheaper flights to Auckland from domestic locations throughout New Zealand. If you are looking to visit over the summer school holidays and, in particular, Christmas, New Year or Easter, expect to pay considerably more than at other times of the year.
How long is the flight to Auckland?
Flights from Christchurch to Auckland - 1h 20m
Flights from Wellington to Auckland - 1h 5m
Flights from Dunedin to Auckland - 1h 45m
Flights from Queenstown to Auckland - 1h 50m
Flights from Nelson to Auckland - 1h 25m
Which airlines operate to Auckland?
There are multiple daily flights to Auckland from Christchurch, Wellington, Dunedin and Queenstown with Air New Zealand and Jetstar. Flights to Auckland can be also found from Nelson with Air New Zealand operating regular flights throughout the year. Jetstar tends to offer the cheapest fares, particularly if you are only taking carry-on luggage, but you can get some good deals with Air New Zealand if you book ahead of time.
How to get from the airport to the city centre?
Auckland Airport is the busiest of New Zealand's airports, located 21 kilometres to the south of the city centre. It is divided into a domestic and international terminal which are connected by a free shuttle bus service or can easily be walked between.
There are regular bus services from the Auckland Airport to the city centre with Airbus Express which operates 24 hours a day. They offer two different routes with multiple pickup points, terminating at the Downtown Ferry Terminal, and tickets can be bought online, from the driver, or at the airport ticket kiosks.
The quickest way to get from the Auckland Airport direct to your hotel is with a licensed taxi which can be found at designated taxi ranks outside the arrivals area of the terminal buildings. These are metered taxis with a good reputation for providing an honest and reliable service.
For large groups, shuttle services are also available with fixed pricing depending on the number of people in the group.