Cheap flights to Queenstown

Peak season

Queenstown experiences two peak tourist seasons – one coincides with the summer holiday period of December through to February when both New Zealanders and Australians are on their long annual break, and the other with the winter ski season which stretches from the start of July through to the end of August. Cheap flights to Queenstown are hard to come by at these times of the year so be sure to book well ahead of your travel dates to secure the best deals.

Off season

Both spring and autumn are beautiful times to visit Queenstown, with mild temperatures and changing foliage creating magnificent landscapes ideal for outdoor exploration. Cheap flights to Queenstown can often be found during this off season period, although the Easter break sees a slight peak in prices and demand, so be if you are planning to visit during that time, make sure you book well in advance.

How long is the flight to Queenstown?

Flights from Auckland to Queenstown – 1h 50m

Flights from Wellington to Queenstown – 1h 50m

Flights from Christchurch to Queenstown – 1h 05m

For flights to Queenstown from other New Zealand cities, you will need to connect through one of these airports first.

Which airlines operate to Queenstown?

There are 6 flights to Queenstown per day from Auckland, operated by either Air New Zealand or Jetstar. Jetstar generally offers the cheapest flights although Air New Zealand offers some competitive flight deals throughout the year if you book in advance. Flights to Queenstown from Christchurch are operated 4 times a day by Air New Zealand and they also fly once daily from Wellington.

How to get from the airport to the city centre?

The Queenstown airport is located in the suburb of Frankton, around 8 kilometres from the centre of town. There are shuttle buses that operate every 15 minutes from the airport to all major hotels in Queenstown, taking around 25 minutes to complete the journey, and tickets are available on board. Taxis are a faster, but more expensive option, and passengers should always allow plenty of time if traveling to the airport for departures in case of traffic.

A number of different car rental companies are also available at the airport for those doing self-drive tours, and pre-booking your car before arrival is highly recommended to get the best deals.

What is good to know if travelling to Queenstown?

• In addition to its outdoor pursuits, Queenstown is renowned for having an incredible nightlife, which means sleeping in late! There’s no better way to start the day slowly than at one of the 5 best brunch spots in Queenstown.
• Queenstown may be the adventure sports capital of New Zealand, with plenty of adrenalin-pumping thrills on offer, but the rest of the country is starting to follow suit. If Queenstown’s activities inspire you to broaden your boundaries, consider these other 5 wacky things to do in New Zealand.
• Unlike many destinations where winter is best avoided, Queenstown is in its element over the cold, snowy months and the Queenstown Winter Festival at the end of June kicks the ski season into full swing. Here are 6 good reasons to wander around new zealand in winter.
• One of Queenstown’s most popular adrenalin activities at the moment, which evolved from the bungee jump, is the canyon swing that takes you on a pendulum-like arc over some of the region’s most spectacular landscapes.
• Queenstown is the starting point for New Zealand’s Southern Scenic Route which traverses 610 kilometres of jaw-dropping landscapes and historic towns to Dunedin at the bottom of the South Island.

What airport do you fly into for flights to Queenstown?

Booking a flight to Queenstown Intl (ZQN) is your only option if you intend on flying to Queenstown. It is only a 6.3 km journey from Queenstown Intl to Queenstown’s city centre. On average, Queenstown Intl has 36 flights from Auckland per day from 2 airlines.