Flying from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) to Queenstown Airport (ZQN): what you need to know
The average time for a direct flight from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport to Queenstown Airport is 3 hours 10 minutes.
Queenstown's timezone is UTC+13, making Queenstown two hours ahead of Melbourne.
Flights from MEL to ZQN start from 05:20 — the earliest with Jetstar. The last departure is at 13:50 with Virgin Australia Regional. In total, you can take your pick of 56 weekly Melbourne Tullamarine Airport to Queenstown Airport flights.
Arriving two hours before an international flight and one hour ahead of a domestic departure are golden rules for hassle-free flying. Get to the airport on time to catch your MEL to ZQN flight.
You'll likely experience bigger queues during popular months like January. Arriving up to four hours in advance for international flights and two hours for domestic departures is a smart move.
With direct flights from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport to Queenstown Airport available through a range of airlines, getting to Queenstown (and then other parts of New Zealand) is a snap. You can fly nonstop with:
Jetstar has the highest passenger demand on this route.
Jetstar is a leader in on-time performance for MEL to ZQN flights, with 84.44% of its services landing on schedule.
Consider adding a stopover when booking your ticket from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport to Queenstown Airport. Just uncheck 'Direct flights only' to break up your trip, or even explore someplace new along the way. Check out these options between MEL and ZQN:
Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport
Brisbane Airport
Auckland Airport
How to find the cheapest flights from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) to Queenstown Airport (ZQN)
The lowest price we've seen for a one-way Melbourne Tullamarine Airport to Queenstown Airport flight is R 2,538. A round-trip ticket right now is R 4,154. Depending on the availability and when you book, these fares may change.
Book five months before your departure date. After looking at the numbers on our calendar, this is how far you should book ahead to secure cheap tickets from MEL to ZQN.
The cheapest month for flights from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport to Queenstown Airport is April. Use the 'Whole month' tool to find the lowest prices if you have a flexible schedule.
Finding cheap flights from MEL to ZQN is a piece of cake with Price Alerts. Simply create one of these automatic alerts and we'll let you know as soon as a new deal comes up.
Tailor your trip using filters. Choose your arrival and departure times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort results by 'Best,' 'Fastest' or 'Cheapest' flights from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport to Queenstown Airport.
Handy information about Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL)
Of all flights leaving Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, 67.71% land on time at their destination.
Melbourne Tullamarine Airport is about 24 kilometres from central Melbourne. If you're driving, ride-sharing or catching a cab from the centre, it'll take 30 minutes or so to get there, depending on the traffic.
Taking public transport? Expect a trip time of around 40 minutes.
Booked an early flight from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport to Queenstown Airport? Avoid the hassle of rushing to the terminal (and sneak in some extra snooze time) by choosing one of these hotels near MEL:
Arriving at Queenstown Airport (ZQN)
Consider booking a hotel close to ZQN if you're on a late Melbourne Tullamarine Airport to Queenstown Airport flight. Pick one of these accommodation options and skip the long transfer:
Pick up a Queenstown Airport rental car and discover Queenstown and beyond with your own wheels. Yes rentals, Hao Rentals and mode rentals are top providers to choose from here.
For the lowest price, book your vehicle from Queenstown Airport about two weeks before you travel.
Getting from Queenstown Airport (ZQN) to central Queenstown
The street address for ZQN is P.O. Box 64.
Queenstown Airport to the centre of Queenstown has a drive time of about 15 minutes. It's approximately 8 kilometres away.
When travelling by public transport, expect a journey of about 20 minutes.
When to fly to Queenstown Airport (ZQN)
It's time to choose your travel dates for your flight from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport to Queenstown Airport. January is the busiest month to visit Queenstown. If you're after a more laid-back vibe, go in April.
Before locking in your flight from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport to Queenstown Airport, think about the type of weather you enjoy. February is the warmest month in Queenstown, with temperatures ranging from 6ºC (43ºF) to 18ºC (64ºF).
July has average temperatures of between -2ºC (28ºF) and 6ºC (43ºF). Look for cheap tickets from MEL to ZQN sometime around then if you want to travel in cooler conditions.
Explore more of New Zealand
Queenstown has plenty going for it, but there are so many other parts of New Zealand you'll want to see. About 354 kilometres east of Queenstown, a visit to Christchurch will keep you on the go. Start with popular sights like Little River Rail Station, The Monument Track (North) and Phytofarm Herbal Learning Garden.
Dunedin is another standout destination in New Zealand and is around 177 kilometres south-east of Queenstown. No journey is complete without visiting Larnach Castle, Otago Peninsula Museum and Historical Society and Cadbury World.
