Cheap flights to South Pacific

If you think Utopia doesn’t exist then you’ve never visited Oceania. Each country within this small continent is among the most diverse and fascinating areas on the planet. Oceania is the smallest and most obscure construct of a continent, dominated by its biggest island, Australia. Yet the countries in this region are among the most diverse and fascinating areas on the planet.

Australia is a traveller’s dream, with its unique and contrasting landscapes, remarkable wildlife and laid-back, cosmopolitan cities. Equally blessed with natural beauty is its smaller, far flung neighbour New Zealand, with its flowing rivers, ancient forests and stunning glacial mountains, referred to by the indigenous Maori as Aotearoa (Land of the Long White Cloud).

South Pacific islands such as Fiji are popular destinations for short breaks and honeymooners. An archipelago of 300 islands, Fiji has some of the best diving in the world and a blend of fascinating cultures. But of all the islands in the continent, the one that epitomises the South Pacific is Tahiti in French Polynesia. Its tropical waters and sandy coves have attracted visitors for years.  Post-Impressionist artist Paul Gauguin was so inspired by the island that he abandoned his native France to move there.

South Pacific climate

The climate throughout most of the region is pleasant year-round; winters are mild and almost non-existent in northern Australia and some islands. Summers are hot, but rarely unbearably scorching, except for the outback, the inland desert areas of Australia.

When is the best time to fly to South Pacific?

Summer is between December and February and is the peak season for domestic travel in Australia. New Zealand is a popular skiing destination in winter. For South Pacific islands such as French Polynesia, Fiji and the Cook Islands, the best time to go is in the dry season, from May to October. During the wet season, generally from December to March, it’s very humid and there can be tropical cyclones. Papua New Guinea has a monsoonal climate, while Guam is wet year-round and typhoons tend to occur between July and November.

What is the best way to travel around Oceania?

You shouldn’t have any concerns about getting around with flights to Oceania. Both Australia and New Zealand have extremely modern cities. You can get around Sydney using a variety of public transport methods, including buses, light rail, trains and ferries that will take you across its famous harbour. You can also hire cars or take taxis wherever you are in the city. Because it’s a such vast country, intercity travel is usually done by airplane. Auckland offers much the same scenario, with trains, buses and ferries being the most common forms of public transport. While the countries are relatively close to each other, they’re separated by ocean, so flying is once again the best way to travel between them – look for more Oceania flight deals when you arrive.

What are some things to do in Oceania?

The benefit of finding cheap flights to Oceania is that you’ll have more to spend on your holiday. Sydney has its Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and if you hire a car and head north you can visit the Great Barrier Reef, one of the world’s natural wonders. And if you visit during the summer months over the festive season, Bondi Beach is must for some sun-worshipping and water sports. In Auckland don’t wait to get to the observation deck at the top of the Sky Tower, just over 1,000 feet high. You can also explore the surrounding Hauraki Gulf islands on ferries running from Princes Wharf. There’s also One Tree Hill, a volcanic cone that’s the symbol of Auckland. Don’t forget to check cheapflights for savings on Oceania airfares.

What is good to know if travelling to South Pacific?

• One of Australia’s lesser-known sites is the Grampians National Park, a three-hour drive from Melbourne. This scenic mountain wilderness region is rich in cultural and natural attractions, including waterfalls, unique rock formations and some of Victoria’s finest examples of Aboriginal rock art.  The Brambuk cultural centre has excellent displays about the history and culture of local Aboriginal communities.
• You don’t need to dive to explore the deep blue at Kelly Tarlton’s Antarctic Encounter and Underwater World in Auckland. You can travel through a transparent acrylic tunnel on a conveyor belt, while fish, sharks and stingrays swim around you.
• In the Cook Islands, you can pick up some unique pieces of island jewellery, art and crafts at the Beachcomber Gallery, a restored 1845 building once used as a Sunday school.
• Tahiti‘s Musée Gauguin is dedicated to the French artist who produced some stunning paintings depicting Tahitian life during his years living on the island.
• In Fiji, make sure you see a meke – a traditional Fijian feast and dance accompanied by bamboo tubes and the lali, a wooden drum.
• Guam’s Two Lovers Point, on the peak of a 125m limestone cliff, is the site where according to an ancient Chamorro legend, two lovers leapt to their deaths after being forbidden from being together. A gilded statue of the couple stands testament to their ill-fated love.
• At Papua New Guinea’s Lake Kutubu, you can swim among rare fish species and watch butterflies flutter by. The area, one of five national parks, has some of the most beautiful scenery in the country.
• The National Park of American Samoa (Ta’u) includes a paleotropical rainforest, flying foxes and other tropical wildlife, on a massive park covering more than 3237 hectares.

How long is the flight to Oceania?

Flights to Oceania mainly land in Australia or New Zealand. Most take off from either Heathrow or Gatwick airports, with Manchester Airport another common departure point. Flying to Australia you’ll usually land in the country’s largest tourist city - Sydney. These flights typically make two stopovers when flying from Manchester and take about 46-47h. From Heathrow you can expect flights to take around 23-28h. You can also book flights to Oceania that land in New Zealand, principally in Auckland. Most of these take about 27h, with some taking up to 37h. Flying to Oceania you can also link from these cities to the islands of Fiji, by taking a flight to Nadi Airport or Suva Airport. For great best prices for your holiday, use cheapflights to compare flights to Oceania.

What do I need to do before my flight to Oceania?

Before you book flights to Oceania, check on some of the things you may need to prepare for. If you’re visiting Australia and planning to visit the Outback, pack lots of hot weather gear and double up on the sunscreen. If you’re visiting New Zealand in the Southern Hemisphere winter, from May to August, be prepared for some extreme weather due to its latitude. Icy Antarctic winds can bring severely inclement weather with plenty of snowfall, so bring your UK winter gear. You’ll need to organise a visa to visit both countries, which can be in the form of an eVisitor visa or an Electronic Travel Authority. And don’t forget to check for cheap flights to Oceania on our site and grab some good savings.