$69 Find Cheap Flights to South Island

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from New Zealand to South Island departing on 5/8. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

KAYAK searches hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to South Island

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results for flights to South Island
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results for flights to South Island
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Cheap Flights to South Island

Cheapest return prices found by our users on KAYAK in the last 72 hours
Christchurch
Christchurchdirect$138
Queenstown
Queenstowndirect$168
Dunedin
Dunedindirect$191
Nelson
Nelsondirect$138
Invercargill
Invercargilldirect$220
Blenheim
Blenheimdirect$188
Christchurch
Christchurchdirect$138
Queenstown
Queenstowndirect$168
Dunedin
Dunedindirect$191
Nelson
Nelsondirect$138
Invercargill
Invercargilldirect$220
Blenheim
Blenheimdirect$188

Book Cheap South Island Plane Tickets

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for return flights to South Island that are departing in the next months. While these flights were available on KAYAK in the last 72 hours, prices and availability are subject to change and deals may expire.
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent return flight deals to South Island

Mon, 10 Aug - Fri, 21 Aug
Jetstar Logo
07:15 - 08:40
AKL
-
CHC
1h 25mdirect
Jetstar Logo
20:30 - 21:50
CHC
-
AKL
1h 20mdirect
$138Jetstar
Mon, 10 Aug - Sun, 23 Aug
Jetstar Logo
07:15 - 08:40
AKL
-
CHC
1h 25mdirect
Jetstar Logo
06:15 - 07:35
CHC
-
AKL
1h 20mdirect
$140Jetstar
Wed, 12 Aug - Wed, 19 Aug
Jetstar Logo
16:10 - 17:35
AKL
-
CHC
1h 25mdirect
Jetstar Logo
09:40 - 11:00
CHC
-
AKL
1h 20mdirect
$142Jetstar
Thu, 23 Jul - Thu, 30 Jul
Jetstar Logo
13:15 - 14:35
AKL
-
CHC
1h 20mdirect
Jetstar Logo
18:55 - 20:20
CHC
-
AKL
1h 25mdirect
$144Jetstar
Tue, 8 Sep - Tue, 15 Sep
Jetstar Logo
14:25 - 15:45
AKL
-
CHC
1h 20mdirect
Jetstar Logo
13:50 - 15:10
CHC
-
AKL
1h 20mdirect
$145Jetstar
Sat, 25 Jul - Sun, 2 Aug
Jetstar Logo
13:15 - 14:35
AKL
-
CHC
1h 20mdirect
Jetstar Logo
20:30 - 21:50
CHC
-
AKL
1h 20mdirect
$147Jetstar
Mon, 10 Aug - Thu, 13 Aug
Air New Zealand Logo
08:40 - 09:40
CHC
-
ZQN
1h 00mdirect
Air New Zealand Logo
10:25 - 11:20
ZQN
-
CHC
0h 55mdirect
$186Air New Zealand
Thu, 3 Dec - Tue, 8 Dec
Multiple Airlines Logo
09:20 - 11:15
HLZ
-
CHC
1h 55mdirect
Multiple Airlines Logo
07:15 - 08:30
CHC
-
HLZ
1h 15mdirect
$188Multiple Airlines
Sat, 1 Aug - Thu, 27 Aug
Air New Zealand Logo
07:10 - 08:25
CHC
-
ZQN
1h 15mdirect
Air New Zealand Logo
10:25 - 11:20
ZQN
-
CHC
0h 55mdirect
$197Air New Zealand
Mon, 10 Aug - Fri, 21 Aug
Air New Zealand Logo
08:40 - 09:40
CHC
-
ZQN
1h 00mdirect
Air New Zealand Logo
09:00 - 10:10
ZQN
-
CHC
1h 10mdirect
$199Air New Zealand
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for flights to South Island

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights to South Island to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more.

What is the cheapest flight to South Island?

These are the best return prices found by users searching on KAYAK in the last 72 hours.

The cheapest ticket to South Island from New Zealand found in the last 72 hours was to Dunedin, at $93 return. The most popular route is Auckland (AKL) to Christchurch (CHC) and the cheapest return airline ticket found on this route in the last 72 hours was $130.

How much is a flight to South Island?

The average and cheapest price for all round-trip flights to South Island from each origin found by users searching on KAYAK in the last month.

A flight to South Island costs $251 on average. The cheapest price found on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks was $65 for the route Auckland (AKL) to Blenheim (BHE). The most popular routes on KAYAK are Auckland to Blenheim which costs $300 on average, and Palmerston North to Christchurch, which costs $377 on average.

See prices from:

What is the cheapest month to fly from New Zealand to South Island?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for flights from New Zealand to South Island, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the median of all values for each month.

The cheapest month for flights from New Zealand to South Island is August, when tickets cost $124 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are December and February, when the average cost of round-trip tickets is $206 and $202 respectively.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly to South Island?

The average price for all round-trip flights from New Zealand to South Island depending on the time of departure, clicked by users on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks.

The cheapest time of day to fly to South Island is generally in the afternoon, when retur flights cost $172 on average. Morning departures are around 5% more expensive than evening flights, on average. The most expensive time of day to fly to South Island is generally in the morning, which is peak travel time and where the average cost of a ticket is $199.

How far in advance should I book a flight from New Zealand to South Island?

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights to South Island, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the average of all the values for each week.

To get a below-average price on a flight from New Zealand to South Island, you should book around 4 weeks before departure, which saves you about 37% compared to booking last-minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 17 weeks before departure.

Which is the cheapest airport to fly into in South Island?

Prices will differ depending on the departure airport, but generally, the cheapest airport to fly to in South Island is Queenstown Intl Airport (ZQN), with an average flight price of $125.

Good to know

Low seasonMarch
Cheapest flight$69
Best time to beat the crowds but there is an average 5% increase in price.
Flight from Auckland to Christchurch

Flights to South Island: the best tips from KAYAK users' own experiences

Insights shared by verified travellers who flew to South Island 
FernandoFlew with Air New Zealand
ZQN
-
CHC
Feb 2026
Bumpy ride. Don’t eat too much before flying this route. Go to restrooms before boarding.
MichelleFlew with Air New Zealand
CHC
-
HKK
Nov 2025
Make sure you have a back up plan for transportation. My ride was unfortunately delayed due to a multiple car accident that closed the road for seven hours. I had no way to get to my hotel near Greymouth.There are no taxis, but I was fortunate enough to find a lovely bus driver who dropped me at my hotel on her route to Greymouth.
Verified travelerFlew with Air New Zealand
AKL
-
ZQN
Sept 2024
There is a domestic Air NZ lounge AFTER security, right next to the gate if you are flying Air NZ. Looks like it is new. I had flown the same route about 10 months earlier, and there was no lounge inside. The only Air NZ lounge was in the checkin area (next to regional airlines). The plan was good, and had decent space (legroom and overhead).
ScottFlew with Air New Zealand
AKL
-
CHC
Nov 2024
Make sure you have at least 2 hours layover if going to CHC from out of country. Getting to domestic terminal takes either a 15 minute walk or waiting for a shuttle which is not easy to locate.

FAQs - booking South Island flights

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from New Zealand to South Island?

    KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from New Zealand to South Island.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from New Zealand to South Island?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight from New Zealand to South Island is likely to change within 7 days, so travellers know whether to wait or book now.

  • What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from New Zealand to South Island?

    Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional return ticket. You could then fly from New Zealand to South Island with an airline and back with another airline.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from New Zealand to South Island?

    Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying from New Zealand to South Island up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

  • What is the cheapest day to fly to South Island?

    Based on KAYAK data, the cheapest day to fly to South Island is Saturday when return tickets can be as cheap as $270. On the other hand, the most expensive day to fly is Sunday, when return prices are $316 on average.

Top tips for finding cheap flights to South Island

  • Looking for cheap airfare to South Island? 25% of our users found return tickets to South Island for the following prices or less: From Wellington $173, from Auckland $186, from Dunedin $192
  • Enter your preferred departure airport and travel dates into the search form above to unlock the latest South Island flight deals.

Reviews of the top airlines flying to South Island

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying to South Island. Airline scores are aggregated from all reviews left by passengers on KAYAK after flying with an airline from New Zealand to South Island. KAYAK doesn’t show reviews that are older than 5 years. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from New Zealand to South Island? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
8.0
Air New ZealandOverall score based on 646 reviews
8.2Boarding
7.9Comfort
7.4Entertainment
7.4Food
8.5Crew
Airline reviews

Great first time experience with ANZ. Such a great customer service. The crew was very friendly and welcoming

10.0 ExcellentManish, May 2026
ZQN - AKL
Read more Air New Zealand reviews

Great first time experience with ANZ. Such a great customer service. The crew was very friendly and welcoming

Great first time experience with Air New Zealand and loved it. The flight crew was extremely friendly and provided great service.

Boarded on time, smooth flight and "gentle" landing in Palmerston North. Ahead of time due to a tailwind

Appreciated the ability to get an earlier flight home after flying in from in from Japan. No problem with boarding or crew service. The limited choice of snacks, compared to previous years. Aircraft seats seem to be getting harder and more uncomfortable all the time. Overall, happy to be home

The Air New Zealand product is terrible, it's as expensive as a Jetstar ticket with add ons but with surely staff and old aircraft.

Wonderful trip. Everyone from checking in to the gate to the flight itself was amazing - kind, helpful, and has a beautiful smile.

The seats are feeling very hard to sit on. All the padding is flat, like sitting on a park bench for over an hour

Space between seats on Air New Zealand is generally tight. The crew on this flight was excellent! Very attentive and nice. You get free wine or beer and chips and of course the Air New Zealand candies. 1 hour and 35 min flight approximately.

The disembarking steps in Wellington were precarious and I felt quite insecure. There was no one on the tarmac to greet us and help. The embarking ramp in Blenheim was much more satisfactory. The rest of the flight was fine.

Air conditioning was turned to the wrong setting. Way too hot. The entertainment system kept resetting and didn’t work half the flight. Said something to the crew. They didn’t do anything to help. Plane had a mechanical problem that resulted in 2.5 hour delay. Boarded the plane, had to disembark and get back on.

Great. Seats are a little cramped with only a very small recline. Service was great. Food was fine.

Jane at Sydney International airport check in was amazing. She set up the whole experience to be a positive one.

The flights got us to our destination. The seats on the planes were uncomfortable.

The flight ticket were not reimbursed on Jan 22nd from Auckland to Wellington. Very Very dissatisfied.Please reimburse the ticket of my onward travel.

I was treated poorly in Dunedin by check in crew, then my bag was lost in Auckland. Never again.

They added the weight of my back to the carryon luggage and charged me NZ$75 for being over 7 kg.

a constant reminder that you need to work harder so you can avoid this airline

The price difference/saving isn't sufficient to compensate the experience difference, don't recommend unless flight is under 3 hours. Huge queues for check in and the priority lane of other ailines blocked checked in Jetstar passengers from proceeding through to screening. Gate change to a "dungeon gate" that didn't have toilets in the vicinity. 45minute delay in boarding, no updates or explaination, let alone apology for any inconvenience. 1 scanner working for a full fight to board, no coordination. Loaded on to crowded buses to get on the plane in the middle of the tarmac, up stairs with no explaination. 4 bus trips. No system for boarding in sections. Over an hour late departing. Nothing complimentary, not even water or in-flight music. Pay wave not available and no cash sales. Staff onboard were friendly and professional.

Flight departing too early at 06.15 Difficult to get to airport

Plane was more than 3 hrs delayed as the only plane on that day. Had to wait 1 hrs in the plane which was very unpleasent.

Everything you need to know for your flight to South Island

Cabin class types available on flights to South Island

Cabin classes available on flights to South Island. Prices are the lowest found on KAYAK over the last 7 days. Price and availability is not guaranteed.