How to make it a cheap and fun visa run to New Zealand (from Australia)

Call it a visa run or a short holiday, the outcome is the same: having a great time in New Zealand (for a few days or weeks). Now is the best time to go for a cheap trip to our little yet awesome country. Use these tips and it’ll definitely be a cheap trip.

What is a visa run?

A visa run is what lots of travellers call a short holiday in a country close to where they are travelling at the moment. It’s either because someone needs a change of scenery or because someone needs to activate a new visa or visa waiver by leaving a country and coming back a week (or two) later.

Nowadays it’s more about a change of scenery. Travellers want to explore as many countries as possible so why not go for the opportunity to explore New Zealand when on your Australian trip? Especially because flight prices to New Zealand are so low at the moment.

Why New Zealand?

When you’re travelling or doing a working holiday in a country like Australia, there are lots of countries to choose from. A classic choice is a quick trip to Indonesia (Bali) or Thailand. The airfare and costs of living are often the most important items to compare when travellers are contemplating a visa run or short holiday.

But did you know that it is even cheaper to fly to New Zealand from Australia? Airlines like Qantas and Air New Zealand just dropped their latest airfare deals and you can fly to New Zealand from as low as $99 (one-way). We even have seen flights from New Zealand to Australia from $69 (one-way) so the flight from Australia to New Zealand will be discounted as well. Browse all flight deals & discounts and book your trip as soon as possible.

Cheap flights (return) from Australia to New Zealand (prices spotted on 29 Feb. 2020)

By booking a campervan in New Zealand you’ll make it a super cheap trip. And you'll be able to cover lots of ground in a short amount of time. Spaceships in New Zealand also come with unlimited kilometres and no hidden costs. All cooking & sleeping gear is included, so it’ll be a super cheap trip.

Experience the amazing New Zealand scenery on the South Island

Things to do and see in New Zealand

The great thing about New Zealand is that the country has so much to offer. Either explore the winterless North, for example, the amazing Bay of Island north of Auckland. Or the Coromandel peninsula where you can enjoy Hot Water Beach or the popular Pinnacles Walk aka the Kauaeranga Kauri Trail.

Or hop over to the South Island, either take your Spaceships on the ferry (you can select the cheapest ferry rate) or start your road trip in Christchurch, to experience the amazing South Island. See the dark sky light up with 1000s of stars when camping in the Lake Tekapo area or any of the other lakes in the Canterbury region.

Party in Queenstown during the evening/night and hit the slopes the next day… Well, if you decide to go for a wintery visa run of course. Otherwise, the Queenstown area is perfect for hiking, take for example the Routeburn Track which is one of the Great Walks in New Zealand.

Or go further off the beaten track and explore the most southern area of the South Island, the Catlins. It's the perfect road trip to experience the deep South. This amazing area is often skipped by travellers as it’s too far off the traditional South Island circuit.

The great thing about a quick trip to New Zealand is that you can see a lot in just a short amount of time. Driving distance between hikes or cities is much shorter than in Australia. In just a few days or weeks you can see and experience so much more than back home in Australia.

Road trip suggestions in New Zealand

Still no idea where to start your New Zealand road trip? Well, it is a super diverse country. Have a look at these suggested itineraries and see which one you like the most.

• Explore the North Island: see all suggested itineraries on the North Island
• Check out the South Island and see it all by using our suggested itineraries

But which part of New Zealand is the best? Well, travellers often credit the South Island with the title best part of New Zealand but that’s only because they didn’t take the time to fully experience the North Island. Our secret tips for your North Island road trip are Taranaki (Forgotten World Highway) and East Cape (one of the most isolated areas of New Zealand).

Choosing between the North Island and South Island is choosing your favourite kid. It’s impossible. They’re both so different and each one has special qualities. Both parts of New Zealand are awesome. You’ll have to experience it yourself.

Now’s the time to travel to New Zealand

We told you, there’s so much to do and see in New Zealand. And with super-low airfares to fly to New Zealand from Australia, now is the best time to go for a Kiwi road trip or visa run. Whatever you want to call it, you will certainly have a great time here.

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Fly from Australia to New Zealand on your visa run or short holiday

Please note: flight prices depend on many factors. The mentioned airline deals can change at any moment. We are publishing these airline deals as is.