Had a personal challenge to find return flights to the four major east coast ports of Australia for under $400 return, and I did it! Melbourne was a close one though.
Airlines vary depending on port and date, but are either Jetstar, AirNZ, or AirAsia, normally.
Some examples below. My threshold for each range was 10% above the cheapest, which is why Auckland to Sydney doesn’t cover much of the calender – May is just really cheap at present! (Time to go see Vivid Sydney?).
Summary:
Auckland to Melbourne (1 May – 31 Mar) from $394 return
Auckland to Sydney (1 May – 31 Mar) from $343 return
Auckland to Brisbane (1 May – 31 Mar) from $366 return
Auckland to Gold Coast (1 May – 31 Mar) from $365 return
Christchurch to Melbourne (1 May – 31 Mar) from $422 return
Christchurch to Sydney (1 May – 31 Mar) from $539 return
Christchurch to Brisbane (1 May – 31 Mar) from $539 return
Christchurch to Gold Coast (1 May – 31 Mar) from $431 return
Wellington to Melbourne (1 May – 31 Mar) from $528 return
Wellington to Sydney (1 May – 31 Mar) from $548 return
Wellington to Brisbane (1 May – 31 Mar) from $539 return
Wellington to Gold Coast (1 May – 31 Mar) from $339 return
Queenstown to Melbourne (1 May – 31 Mar) from $435 return
Queenstown to Sydney (1 May – 31 Mar) from $492 return
Queenstown to Brisbane (1 May – 31 Mar) from $682 return
Queenstown to Gold Coast (1 May – 31 Mar) from $520 return
Auckland to Melbourne
Dates: 1 May 24 – 31 Mar 25
| Return Price | Travel Dates |
|---|---|
| $406 | 11 May to 20 May |
| $432 | 16 May to 19 May |
| $432 | 21 May to 24 May |
| $427 | 5 Jun to 14 Jun |
| $444 | 15 Jun to 18 Jun |
| $446 | 20 Jul to 29 Jul |
| $434 | 25 Jul to 3 Aug |
| $434 | 30 Jul to 8 Aug |
| $440 | 14 Aug to 17 Aug |
| $440 | 19 Aug to 22 Aug |
| $446 | 24 Aug to 2 Sep |
| $446 | 3 Sep to 12 Sep |
| $444 | 31 Jan to 9 Feb |
| $409 | 5 Feb to 14 Feb |
| $397 | 10 Feb to 19 Feb |
| $394 | 11 Feb to 14 Feb |
| $397 | 15 Feb to 24 Feb |
| $397 | 20 Feb to 1 Mar |
| $404 | 22 Feb to 25 Feb |
| $397 | 25 Feb to 6 Mar |
| $397 | 2 Mar to 11 Mar |
| $404 | 5 Mar to 8 Mar |
| $403 | 7 Mar to 10 Mar |
| $410 | 12 Mar to 21 Mar |
| $418 | 17 Mar to 26 Mar |
| $428 | 22 Mar to 25 Mar |
- Cheapest :$394 return
Auckland to Sydney
Dates: 1 May 24 – 31 Mar 25
| Return Price | Travel Dates |
|---|---|
| $446 | 6 May to 15 May |
| $431 | 11 May to 20 May |
| $369 | 16 May to 19 May |
| $369 | 16 May to 25 May |
| $343 | 21 May to 24 May |
- Cheapest :$343 return
Auckland to Brisbane
Dates: 1 May 24 – 31 Mar 25
| Return Price | Travel Dates |
|---|---|
| $367 | 11 May to 14 May |
| $366 | 12 May to 15 May |
| $366 | 23 May to 26 May |
| $386 | 26 May to 4 Jun |
| $393 | 31 May to 3 Jun |
| $392 | 5 Jun to 8 Jun |
| $393 | 15 Jun to 18 Jun |
| $386 | 13 Oct to 22 Oct |
| $396 | 23 Oct to 1 Nov |
| $385 | 28 Oct to 6 Nov |
| $396 | 12 Nov to 21 Nov |
| $383 | 21 Jan to 30 Jan |
| $396 | 26 Jan to 4 Feb |
| $383 | 10 Feb to 19 Feb |
| $401 | 15 Feb to 18 Feb |
| $395 | 25 Feb to 6 Mar |
| $383 | 2 Mar to 11 Mar |
| $395 | 12 Mar to 21 Mar |
| $387 | 17 Mar to 20 Mar |
| $371 | 17 Mar to 26 Mar |
- Cheapest :$366 return
Auckland to Gold Coast
Dates: 1 May 24 – 31 Mar 25
| Return Price | Travel Dates |
|---|---|
| $387 | 1 May to 4 May |
| $392 | 21 May to 30 May |
| $385 | 5 Jun to 8 Jun |
| $379 | 6 Jun to 10 Jun |
| $365 | 10 Jun to 19 Jun |
| $396 | 15 Jun to 24 Jun |
| $396 | 20 Jun to 29 Jun |
| $392 | 25 Jun to 4 Jul |
| $392 | 30 Jun to 9 Jul |
| $383 | 15 Jul to 24 Jul |
| $393 | 20 Jul to 29 Jul |
| $396 | 21 Jan to 24 Jan |
| $401 | 12 Mar to 21 Mar |
- Cheapest :$365 return
Christchurch to Melbourne
Dates: 1 May 24 – 31 Mar 25
| Return Price | Travel Dates |
|---|---|
| $431 | 21 May to 24 May |
| $424 | 26 May to 4 Jun |
| $422 | 31 May to 9 Jun |
| $424 | 5 Jun to 14 Jun |
| $440 | 30 Jun to 9 Jul |
| $447 | 30 Jul to 2 Aug |
| $437 | 9 Aug to 18 Aug |
| $441 | 14 Aug to 23 Aug |
| $441 | 2 Mar to 11 Mar |
- Cheapest :$422 return
Christchurch to Sydney
Dates: 1 May 24 – 31 Mar 25
| Return Price | Travel Dates |
|---|---|
| $592 | 26 May to 29 May |
| $581 | 5 Jun to 14 Jun |
| $539 | 10 Jun to 19 Jun |
| $568 | 20 Jun to 23 Jun |
| $591 | 25 Jun to 28 Jun |
| $557 | 15 Jul to 24 Jul |
| $577 | 25 Jul to 28 Jul |
| $557 | 30 Jul to 2 Aug |
| $557 | 4 Aug to 13 Aug |
| $568 | 9 Aug to 18 Aug |
| $557 | 14 Aug to 23 Aug |
| $586 | 19 Aug to 28 Aug |
| $558 | 24 Aug to 2 Sep |
| $568 | 29 Aug to 1 Sep |
| $589 | 3 Sep to 12 Sep |
| $577 | 8 Sep to 11 Sep |
| $557 | 18 Sep to 21 Sep |
| $568 | 18 Oct to 27 Oct |
| $557 | 23 Oct to 26 Oct |
| $557 | 28 Oct to 6 Nov |
| $557 | 2 Nov to 5 Nov |
| $557 | 12 Nov to 15 Nov |
| $558 | 17 Nov to 26 Nov |
| $557 | 27 Nov to 30 Nov |
| $569 | 2 Dec to 5 Dec |
| $568 | 16 Jan to 19 Jan |
| $569 | 21 Jan to 30 Jan |
| $568 | 31 Jan to 9 Feb |
| $557 | 5 Feb to 8 Feb |
| $558 | 10 Feb to 19 Feb |
| $558 | 15 Feb to 24 Feb |
| $567 | 20 Feb to 1 Mar |
| $557 | 25 Feb to 6 Mar |
| $557 | 2 Mar to 11 Mar |
| $557 | 12 Mar to 21 Mar |
| $557 | 17 Mar to 26 Mar |
| $568 | 27 Mar to 30 Mar |
- Cheapest :$539 return
Christchurch to Brisbane
Dates: 1 May 24 – 31 Mar 25
| Return Price | Travel Dates |
|---|---|
| $607 | 12 May to 15 May |
| $585 | 23 May to 26 May |
| $593 | 3 Jun to 6 Jun |
| $539 | 6 Jun to 10 Jun |
| $563 | 14 Jun to 17 Jun |
| $611 | 25 Jun to 28 Jun |
| $600 | 28 Jul to 31 Jul |
| $595 | 8 Aug to 11 Aug |
| $611 | 13 Oct to 16 Oct |
| $604 | 4 Nov to 7 Nov |
| $594 | 26 Nov to 29 Nov |
| $598 | 20 Jan to 23 Jan |
- Cheapest :$539 return
Christchurch to Gold Coast
Dates: 1 May 24 – 31 Mar 25
| Return Price | Travel Dates |
|---|---|
| $473 | 6 May to 9 May |
| $467 | 11 May to 20 May |
| $489 | 16 May to 25 May |
| $432 | 3 Jun to 6 Jun |
| $488 | 5 Jun to 8 Jun |
| $431 | 10 Jun to 13 Jun |
| $443 | 20 Jun to 29 Jun |
| $472 | 16 Jan to 25 Jan |
| $462 | 10 Feb to 13 Feb |
| $455 | 17 Mar to 20 Mar |
- Cheapest :$431 return
Wellington to Melbourne
Dates: 1 May 24 – 31 Mar 25
| Return Price | Travel Dates |
|---|---|
| $575 | 21 May to 24 May |
| $581 | 26 May to 4 Jun |
| $550 | 5 Jun to 8 Jun |
| $591 | 14 Aug to 23 Aug |
| $563 | 5 Feb to 14 Feb |
| $569 | 10 Feb to 19 Feb |
| $528 | 11 Feb to 14 Feb |
| $564 | 15 Feb to 24 Feb |
| $578 | 20 Feb to 23 Feb |
| $567 | 22 Feb to 25 Feb |
| $565 | 25 Feb to 28 Feb |
| $577 | 2 Mar to 11 Mar |
| $582 | 7 Mar to 10 Mar |
| $583 | 12 Mar to 21 Mar |
| $594 | 17 Mar to 26 Mar |
- Cheapest :$528 return
Wellington to Sydney
Dates: 1 May 24 – 31 Mar 25
| Return Price | Travel Dates |
|---|---|
| $592 | 1 May to 4 May |
| $565 | 21 May to 24 May |
| $589 | 26 May to 29 May |
| $581 | 5 Jun to 8 Jun |
| $587 | 10 Jun to 19 Jun |
| $587 | 15 Jun to 18 Jun |
| $587 | 25 Jun to 28 Jun |
| $600 | 30 Jun to 3 Jul |
| $602 | 20 Jul to 23 Jul |
| $598 | 25 Jul to 28 Jul |
| $586 | 30 Jul to 8 Aug |
| $586 | 4 Aug to 13 Aug |
| $548 | 9 Aug to 12 Aug |
| $586 | 14 Aug to 23 Aug |
| $586 | 19 Aug to 22 Aug |
| $598 | 29 Aug to 7 Sep |
| $554 | 30 Aug to 20 Sep |
| $586 | 3 Sep to 12 Sep |
| $586 | 8 Sep to 17 Sep |
| $577 | 13 Sep to 16 Sep |
| $588 | 18 Sep to 21 Sep |
| $586 | 23 Oct to 1 Nov |
| $586 | 28 Oct to 6 Nov |
| $586 | 2 Nov to 5 Nov |
| $588 | 7 Nov to 16 Nov |
| $586 | 12 Nov to 15 Nov |
| $586 | 17 Nov to 26 Nov |
| $598 | 22 Nov to 1 Dec |
| $586 | 27 Nov to 6 Dec |
| $586 | 2 Dec to 5 Dec |
| $596 | 16 Jan to 25 Jan |
| $586 | 21 Jan to 30 Jan |
| $586 | 26 Jan to 29 Jan |
| $586 | 5 Feb to 8 Feb |
| $586 | 10 Feb to 19 Feb |
| $588 | 15 Feb to 24 Feb |
| $596 | 20 Feb to 1 Mar |
| $589 | 25 Feb to 28 Feb |
| $586 | 2 Mar to 11 Mar |
| $598 | 7 Mar to 10 Mar |
| $586 | 12 Mar to 21 Mar |
| $586 | 17 Mar to 26 Mar |
| $586 | 22 Mar to 25 Mar |
| $598 | 27 Mar to 30 Mar |
- Cheapest :$548 return
Wellington to Brisbane
Dates: 1 May 24 – 31 Mar 25
| Return Price | Travel Dates |
|---|---|
| $608 | 11 May to 14 May |
| $612 | 21 May to 24 May |
| $629 | 26 May to 4 Jun |
| $631 | 31 May to 9 Jun |
| $606 | 5 Jun to 8 Jun |
| $617 | 10 Jun to 19 Jun |
| $617 | 15 Jun to 18 Jun |
| $628 | 14 Aug to 17 Aug |
| $620 | 19 Aug to 28 Aug |
| $635 | 24 Aug to 27 Aug |
| $587 | 29 Aug to 1 Sep |
| $616 | 3 Sep to 6 Sep |
| $581 | 8 Sep to 11 Sep |
| $615 | 18 Oct to 21 Oct |
| $581 | 23 Oct to 1 Nov |
| $550 | 28 Oct to 6 Nov |
| $570 | 21 Jan to 30 Jan |
| $587 | 5 Feb to 8 Feb |
| $539 | 10 Feb to 19 Feb |
| $565 | 25 Feb to 6 Mar |
| $590 | 12 Mar to 15 Mar |
| $557 | 17 Mar to 26 Mar |
| $590 | 22 Mar to 25 Mar |
- Cheapest :$539 return
Wellington to Gold Coast
Dates: 1 May 24 – 31 Mar 25
| Return Price | Travel Dates |
|---|---|
| $348 | 1 May to 10 May |
| $337 | 26 May to 29 May |
| $370 | 31 May to 9 Jun |
| $364 | 5 Jun to 14 Jun |
| $356 | 4 Aug to 7 Aug |
| $352 | 4 Sep to 8 Sep |
| $367 | 8 Sep to 11 Sep |
| $339 | 12 May to 15 May |
| $357 | 16 Mar to 19 Mar |
- Cheapest :$339 return
Queenstown to Melbourne
Dates: 1 May 24 – 31 Mar 25
| Return Price | Travel Dates |
|---|---|
| $448 | 12 May to 15 May |
| $446 | 3 Jul to 7 Jul |
| $470 | 8 Aug to 11 Aug |
| $498 | 21 Aug to 24 Aug |
| $448 | 4 Nov to 7 Nov |
| $445 | 13 Nov to 16 Nov |
| $438 | 15 Nov to 18 Nov |
| $436 | 26 Nov to 29 Nov |
| $435 | 27 Nov to 30 Nov |
| $451 | 7 Dec to 10 Dec |
| $456 | 11 Dec to 14 Dec |
| $456 | 5 Mar to 8 Mar |
| $456 | 19 Mar to 22 Mar |
- Cheapest :$435 return
Queenstown to Sydney
Dates: 1 May 24 – 31 Mar 25
| Return Price | Travel Dates |
|---|---|
| $589 | 15 May to 18 May |
| $582 | 29 May to 1 Jun |
| $550 | 12 Jun to 15 Jun |
| $580 | 16 Oct to 19 Oct |
| $492 | 28 Oct to 1 Nov |
| $515 | 30 Oct to 2 Nov |
| $515 | 13 Nov to 16 Nov |
| $504 | 27 Nov to 30 Nov |
| $530 | 5 Mar to 8 Mar |
| $530 | 19 Mar to 22 Mar |
- Cheapest :$492 return
Queenstown to Brisbane
Dates: 1 May 24 – 31 Mar 25
| Return Price | Travel Dates |
|---|---|
| $696 | 10 May to 14 May |
| $722 | 15 May to 18 May |
| $714 | 29 May to 1 Jun |
| $682 | 6 Jun to 10 Jun |
| $733 | 12 Jun to 15 Jun |
| $703 | 16 Oct to 19 Oct |
| $733 | 30 Oct to 2 Nov |
| $736 | 27 Nov to 30 Nov |
| $744 | 11 Dec to 14 Dec |
| $733 | 22 Jan to 25 Jan |
| $743 | 5 Feb to 8 Feb |
| $717 | 19 Feb to 22 Feb |
| $717 | 5 Mar to 8 Mar |
| $735 | 19 Mar to 22 Mar |
- Cheapest :$682 return
Queenstown to Gold Coast
Dates: 1 May 24 – 31 Mar 25
| Return Price | Travel Dates |
|---|---|
| $534 | 19 May to 23 May |
| $520 | 28 May to 1 Jun |
| $608 | 16 Oct to 19 Oct |
| $618 | 30 Oct to 2 Nov |
| $614 | 13 Nov to 16 Nov |
| $609 | 27 Nov to 30 Nov |
| $600 | 22 Jan to 25 Jan |
| $619 | 5 Feb to 8 Feb |
| $598 | 19 Feb to 22 Feb |
| $589 | 5 Mar to 8 Mar |
| $588 | 19 Mar to 22 Mar |
- Cheapest :$520 return
