Jetstar has just announced sale fares to Christchurch (return) during the ski season. Plenty of seats available at time of posting.
Valid for travel 06/05/15 to 24/06/15, and 22/07/15 to 14/09/15. Offer ends 16/02/15.
Here's the proof:
Booking/service fees don't apply for payments made by POLi, Voucher, Jetstar MasterCard, or Jetstar Platinum MasterCard.
Happy travels :)
Agree. Great drive.
I've done this before, was a great drive but didn't get much sleep on the flight (never do on planes) and struggled to keep my eyes open on the road. Arrived at Queenstown in the early hours of the morning, way before check-in, was so exhausted by the end of it. Said to myself, next time pay the extra and just fly direct to Queenstown. Yes, was much cheaper flying to Christchurch, but you end up losing a day and spending more on fuel for the hire car.
We just spent the night cramped up in an airport motel and drove out the next morning. Safety first!
Only 1 flight from melb available for this deal… and it lands in Christchurch at 4:30am. I doubt there would be any hotel check-in's at that early. And if there was, probably would be pricey.
Still don't think this deal is worth it if you plan to go Queenstown for a ski trip.
Agree not for everyone, however, if planning a week trip and happy to spend a couple of days not skiing it can definitely save you money.
4 people saving up to $400 per person on flights will definitely be cheaper even after accomodation and petrol costs.
The drive is beautiful if you take your time.
I concur. Did this red eye flight last year. Flying in is ok, stay overnight in airport motel then drove down next morning. But coming back, had to kick the kids out of bed at 4am. HILARIOUS. Never again.
However, reckon I will do Mt Hutt this year. But pay more for the flight home.
Normal fares with Jetstar Melb-Queenstown return are $600 per person.
After creating an itinerary with domestic flights to Queenstown with Air New Zealand and these sales flights to Christchurch, worked out to be $450 w/ 20kg checked luggage - this also included an additional 8 hours of travel time (2x 1hr flights and stop over time).
Anyway, the inconvenience of 2 more flights (resulting in 8 more hours of travel time) didn't seem worth the hassle of just paying an extra $150 for direct flights both ways.
Great deal, but for a Queenstown ski trip I'm holding out for a direct flight Queenstown special instead of trying to make it work flying via Christchurch.
There's so many good club fields between Christchurch and Queenstown why wouldn't you ski them instead of rushing straight down to QT!? Porters, Cheeseman's, Mt Dobson, Ohau etc …. unless you hate t-bars. But Ohau has a lift and Porters is building one.
yep good drive, but don't expect a freeway. It's one lane each way & don't do it in the dark in winter, as can get black ice on the road.
Recommend getting either a 4wd or AWD as well. Chains are compulsory around Queenstown in winter, meaning they must be carried even if never ever used.
"Mount Shutt" ;)
Although I've been, we had a week of PERFECT weather. Definitely still recommend it, but you just have to get lucky with the timing.
I'm thinking about doing this in late june with a couple of mates - do you reckon it's a safe drive down to Queenstown (will probably stay a couple nights in Twizel)? Probably going to hire a Tarago as well, which wouldn't be the most powerful vehicle haha
Anyone know of any deals during the school holidays? My Mrs is a school teacher…
Wow- that seems a very cheap deal… Very tempted.
Does anyone have any experience hiking around this time of year over there?
Cold. Miserable. Add wet if hiking on the west Coast. Weather-wise, now is the best time of year to do it.
Direct Debit also attracts no booking/service fees, I believe.
Good deal…
Lines up with Uni breaks.
Doesn't line up with mine unfortunately :(
So attempted! But no leaves left! Great deal! And given where the exchange rate between AUD to NZD, this definitely helps. The downside is the 6 hour night drive from Christchurch to Queenstown/ Wanaka.
Tempted?
Do we need to rush on this deal- is it likely to fill up quick?
all so called specials these days are for very few seats & they last for very short time. Eg. If game to fly good ol Air NZ (they crash a lot) their sales are for exactly 48 hours, usually ending at midnight (which midnight ? Not sure if AEST or SYD/MEL time)
Yeah don't both with CHCH for skiing, go to Queenstown.
Was doing my research in hopes to soon after fire on this deal, and Queenstown was a clear winner.
Shame Queenstown flights are so exp.
Queenstown airport(ZQN) closes a lot due to fog. Some days each winter it's closed for whole day.
Last year we were booked out of ZQN at 9.40am. Aircraft came in from Auckland(AKL) ok & we boarded, but we couldn't take off until fog lifted a bit.
Diversions go to Dunedin(dud) now (used to go to closer Invercargill(IVC).
It takes roughly 3.5 hours to drive DUD/ZQN or more like 4 hours in a bus. Told that often cos diversions are at last minute & only a few minutes flight ZQN/DUD, buses aren't organised til aircraft lands at DUD, which can take another hour or so.
Had an interesting landing at ZQN last year. Got within few metres of runway & pilot pushed the throttle & we did a lap & landed in other direction which took about 45 mins.
Pilot came on later & said the wind direction changed & it we hadn't landed at 2nd attempt we were off to DUD.
Diversions cost money, as aircraft & crews end up in wrong place & sometimes get stuck. Airlines don't have spare aircraft sitting around, as in quiet times they try to do major maintenance.
So costs are added to ZQN airfares.
snow is more reliable at Mt Hutt (but it shuts a lot, which is why called Mt Shutt).
Not much happening around Methven cf. Queenstown, but it depends what you are after, nightlife or skiing.
Recently did a snow boarding tour with Haka tours and had the best time!
Those flights are an awesome price. Would recommend Haka Tours 9/10
NZ had a shocker of a season last year. Mt hutt probably maxed at about 50cm of proper snow which is barely enough to cover the rocks. My snowboard base got totally trashed from hitting rocks.
Lets hope they have more snow this year but NZ is still in a very dry/drought period.
was in Queenstown late SEP. Skied Remarks (new 6 person lift is BIG improvement but they have lost some of carpark).
Remarks generally has more snow later than Coronet (faces different way) but Cardrona is worth the extra 20 min drive. Lifts are also cheap at present from AUD$73 per day when booked with accom.
Perth people don't ski, apparently :-(
Nice, Mt Hutt, closest mountain to Christchurch is not bad, it does cop the weather pretty bad and they often close half the mountain.
I'd almost recommend flying into Christchurch, hiring a car and doing the drive down to Queenstown/Wanaka. Will save lots of money and the drive is amazing, so scenic, then you get multiple mountains to choose from.