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, and the biggest country, Australia, is no exception. With its contrasting landscapes, remarkable wildlife and cosmopolitan cities, Australia is a traveller’s dream. Equally as endowed with natural beauty, but much smaller in scale, New Zealand’s flowing rivers, primeval forests and glacial mountains manage to astonish everyone including the natives who refer to it as “Godzone”. Most travellers planning flights to Oceania combine a trip to Australia and New Zealand.

The rest of the continent – Papua New Guinea, the Cook Islands, Guam and American Samoa – remains something of a mystery to many. The more popular islands, especially with honeymooners booking flights to Oceania, are Fiji and French Polynesia. 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. One traveller, Post-Impressionist artist Paul Gauguin, was so enamoured with the island that he left his family behind and moved there in search of inspiration.

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South Pacific climate

The climate throughout most of the continent is pleasant year-round; winters are mild and almost non-existent in most countries and summers are hot, but not unbearably scorching.

When is the best time to fly to South Pacific?

Australia and New Zealand enjoy their summer from December to February when temperatures are hot but ideal for the beach. Unfortunately this is also peak season when you’ll end up paying top dollar for Oceania flights and accommodations. Winter runs from June to August and is an ideal time to go skiing in both countries.

The islands in the South Pacific including French Polynesia, Fiji and the Cook Islands can be visited any time of year but from May to October, their dry period, the weather’s especially mellow. The rainy season is generally from December to March and tropical cyclones aren’t uncommon at this time.  

Papa New Guinea’s climate is monsoonal: wet from December to March and hot and humid between May and October. Guam, on the other hand, is wet throughout the year and typhoons tend to come round between the months of July and November.

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Getting around South Pacific

Although Oceania is a small continent, it’s widespread which means distances are great and flying is the best option in most cases. Australia has two main domestic carriers: Qantas’ subsidiary Jetstar and Virgin Blue. In New Zealand the main regional airlines are Air New Zealand and Origin Pacific.

Buses are another option for long-distance travel in both countries. They’re comfortable, reliable and not as expensive as air travel. But if you’d rather explore the country at your own pace then hiring a car or even a bicycle is also an option.

The easiest way to travel between the islands is by plane and taking domestic Oceania flights is easy. In Fiji, Air Pacific is the national carrier, in the Cook Islands it’s Air Rarotonga and in Papa New Guinea the main airline is Air Niugini. In American Samoa, domestic airline Inter-Island Airways flies between Pago Pago and the Manu’a Islands.

Taxis are readily available in Guam, the Cook Islands, Papa New Guinea and Fiji, however they’re not always metered so it’s best to settle on a fare to your destination before setting out.

How long is the flight to Oceania?

Cheap flights to Oceania from Singapore are plentiful, and Singapore is well connected to the two biggest countries on the continent, Australia and New Zealand. Popular destinations from Singapore include Sydney and Auckland. In your search for flights to Oceania from Singapore Changi Airport (SIN), consider Kingsford Smith Airport in Sydney (SYD) or Auckland Airport (AKL), which will give you access to most of the tourist destinations on the continent. Flying to Oceania will take you around 7h 40min from Singapore to Sydney and around 9h 35min from Singapore to Auckland. Both Qantas and Air New Zealand also offer regular flights between Singapore and their two largest cities respectively.

What is the best way to travel around Oceania?

Given the vast amount of water that separates the continent's landmasses, the best way to access the major tourist destinations is to fly, so keep an eye on Oceania flight deals. Both Australia and New Zealand have well-established road networks, which will allow you to take in the countries' sights by car. There are ferries that connect Wellington on North Island with Picton on South Island. It is also possible to make a transcontinental train trip from Sydney to Perth or to make your way from Adelaide to Darwin by car. However, this is a vast area with the barren Outback, and with all the cheap flights to Oceania available, you might rather choose to fly.

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

When you book flights to Oceania, keep in mind that with Singapore’s highly accessible passport, Singaporean citizens do not need a visa for New Zealand. An ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) visa is required for Australia, allowing visitors to enter the country multiple times for business or holidays, for up to 90 days. Visitors must be tuberculosis-free and may not have a criminal record with a prison sentence exceeding12 months. Before you book your flights to Oceania, make sure your passport is valid and doesn't expire for at least six months after your return.

What are some things to do in Oceania?

New Zealand is Middle Earth Country for Lord of the Rings fans, and your low-cost Oceania airfare will free up some cash for more exploring. With its Southern Alps, fjords and inlets, and the beautiful vistas of green, it remains one of the world’s last unspoilt holiday destinations. Auckland is known as the City of Sails, and its climate is almost sub-tropical in the summer. Sydney is a major financial centre and holiday destination offering everything you could want in a city, from great beaches to exciting nightlife. Oceania flight deals can also connect you to other cities in Australia such as Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. As you compare flights to Oceania, also look at Wellington and Christchurch in New Zealand.

What is good to know if travelling to South Pacific?

• Australia has so much to offer visitors but one place that most tourists won’t read about in their guide books is the Grampians region, a three hour drive from Melbourne. The region is rich in culture and has some of Victoria’s finest art galleries and fascinating Aboriginal rock art.  
• If you’ve ever wanted to explore the deep blue without actually having to dive then head to Kelly Tarlton’s Antarctic Encounter and Underwater World in Auckland, New Zealand where you can travel through a transparent acrylic tunnel on a conveyor belt and watch as the fish, sharks and stingrays, swim around you.
• While visiting the Cook Islands pick up some unique pieces of island jewelry, craftwork and art at the Beachcomber Gallery, a restored 1845 building once used for Sunday school.
• Visit the Musée Gauguin in Tahiti. The museum is dedicated to the French artist who lived there and produced some stunning paintings depicting Tahitian life.
• In Fiji, make sure you see a meke – a traditional Fijian feast, and a dance performed to music by bamboo tubes and the lali, a wooden drum.
• At the top of a 125m limestone cliff in Guam is Two Lovers Point, the site of an ancient Chamorro legend about two lovers, forbidden from being together, leapt to their deaths from the cliff. There’s a gilded statue of the lovers sitting on a pedestal, reminding visitors of their ill-fated love.
• Swim among the rare species of fish and watch the butterflies flutter by in Papa New Guinea’s Lake Kutubu. The area has one of just five national parks and the most beautiful scenery in the country.
• The National Park of American Samoa (Ta’u) is definitely worth a visit. Occupying more than 8,000 acres of land, the park features a paleotropical rainforest, flying foxes and other tropical wildlife.