Popular in | December | High demand for flights, 13% potential price rise |
Cheapest in | August | Best time to find cheap flights, 4% potential price drop |
Average price | C$ 1,440 | Average for round-trip flights in March 2021 |
Round-trip from | C$ 1,410 | From Toronto to Auckland |
One-way from | C$ 1,650 | One-way flight from Toronto to Auckland |
YTO - AKL Price
|
C$ 1,328 - C$ 2,261
|
AKL Temperature
|
14 - 24 °C
|
AKL Rainfall
|
20 - 57 mm
|
When to fly to New Zealand
Peak Season:
December (usually from just before Christmas) through January and February are peak season, when most visitors take cheap flights to New Zealand. June to August are peak months for skiers.
Off Season:
There’s no real off season in New Zealand. There’s only about 10 degrees difference between summer and winter temperatures.
Overview
New Zealand’s two islands – North and South – are known, by the indigenous Maori population, as The Land of the Long White Cloud. Like an inverted fairytale, the wonders are beneath the clouds.
A land of simmering volcanoes, wide sandy beaches, precipitous fjords, glacial lakes, dense rainforests and towering mountains, the coastline runs to 15,000km and there are more than 25 marine reserves. When filmmakers want to depict otherworldly lands such as Middle Earth, Narnia or Skull Island, they book airline tickets to New Zealand.
New Zealand is a country comparable in size to Japan, but just four million people live there. The major cities – Auckland and Wellington on North Island and Christchurch and Dunedin on South Island – are uncrowded but still busy and diverse with no shortage of things to do and places to party.
New Zealanders are a laidback and outdoorsy lot, their friendliness mixed with a famous Kiwi ruggedness.
The direct flight to New Zealand from Canada leaves from Vancouver, with a duration of 13h 55m. Most flights out of Canada en route to New Zealand are over 20h total flight time because of the number of connections required. New Zealand flight deals may be available, but be aware of the number of stopovers and flight duration, as you may be travelling much more than necessary.
Direct service flights to New Zealand from Canada are limited. Vancouver offers nonstop service to Auckland with one-way flights available from Air New Zealand. One-stop flights are also available from Vancouver, as well as cities like Montreal, Edmonton, Toronto, and Calgary. Routes are available to Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, Blenheim, and other cities with multiple stopovers, which may affect total travel time and require plane changes.
Anyone with limited travel time will appreciate the network of internal flights around the country, primarily offered by Air New Zealand and Jetstar, which both provide affordable domestic flights. Air New Zealand Link is comprised of multiple small airports that provide various flights between the islands. Air travel passes can be purchased for easier travel. KiwiRail trains offer scenic rides throughout the country, as well. Car and campervan hire are the best choice for local ground travel but watch for areas where you may need an SUV or 4×4 exclusively to traverse terrain. In major cities, taxis are plentiful and Intercity bus offers a variety of lines throughout the country. Cycling is also a popular means of travel for those who enjoy it, but helmets are required by law. There are also a number of ferries and charters connecting the North and South islands.
New Zealand is home to the Maori tribe and the country is full of history regarding their culture. The Auckland Museum has plenty of collections and Wellington also offers a glimpse of the culture. Rotorua offers Maori village tours with concerts, rugby, and a feast included. Christchurch has some of the best art and city life in the country, along with plenty of neo-gothic architecture to enjoy. Mount Cook is another popular destination, offering plenty of hikes and activities. Finally, this island country offers plenty of water sports and activities, including a lot of marine life.
Canadian citizens that fly to New Zealand will need to present a valid passport to enter the country upon arrival. Canadian passports must not expire for at least three months after your period of travel in order to be accepted. Visas are not required for tourism, but they are required for students and business travel. Those who do not have a visa will need to obtain New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority prior to arrival. Other requirements include onward or return tickets for proof of departure, visas as required for onward destinations, and proof of sufficient funds for the duration of your stay.
The New Zealand climate changes throughout the year. There are mild winters and warm, humid summers on the North Island, while the South Island is colder and has huge glaciers and snowfields. The mountains get snow in the winter and the west coast sees most of the rain. Summer lasts from November to April.
New Zealand has several airports that welcome international and domestic flights. Given the size of the country, if time is short and you want to hit as much of New Zealand as possible, taking domestic flights is the quickest option. Air New Zealand flies domestically as well as internationally. Air Chathams flies between the Chatham Islands, Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Air National and Skylink are charter airlines.
Apart from flying, cycling, biking and driving are all good ways to see the sights. Renting a motorhome offers perhaps the greatest freedom.
There are scheduled intercity bus services, luxury coaches, custom tours and taxis to choose from. There are also a number of train services including the Overlander, which connects Auckland and Wellington. On the South Island, the TranzCoastal follows the coastline between Picton and Christchurch. From Christchurch, the TranzAlpine traverses the Southern Alps to Greymouth. Further south, the Taieri Gorge Railway chugs its way from Dunedin and the Kingston Flyer is the famous steam train that is based in Kingston on the southern shores of Lake Wakatipu.
The North and South Islands are connected by passenger and car ferries. In Northland, vehicular ferries operate on the Hokianga Harbour and to historic Russell in the Bay of Islands.
Auckland and Wellington have good commuter bus and train services.