SYD - ZQN

$238 Find Cheap Flights from Sydney to Queenstown - Compare and Save

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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$337
Typical prices: $394-$583
Jetstar
Sat 1/20Sun 2/11
SYD - ZQN • Non-stop
Cheapest one-way
$238
Typical prices: $236-$353
Jetstar
Thu 2/1
SYD - ZQN • Non-stop
Nonstop flights
You can fly direct with Qantas Airways, Virgin Australia and others. Average duration is 3h 01m.
Direct flights
+1
Direct flights
+1
Avoid delays
Most punctual • 86% on-time
Best time • Fewest delays
Insights
Insights
When to book
in advance
Our data shows that travelers who book at least 16 weeks in advance save around 39% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 15% price drop
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
+1
Top layover airports
Cheapest • Avg $447 (round-trip)
Shortest trip • 7h 21m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
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We hope you love your trip to Queenstown!
Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Expert advice
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Sydney to Queenstown (SYD-ZQN)

 
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent round-trip flight deals from Sydney to Queenstown

Wed, Jan 20 - Thu, Feb 11
Jetstar Logo
6:15 am - 11:10 amSYD  Sydney Kingsford Smith-ZQN Queenstown Intl
2h 55mnonstop
Jetstar Logo
9:00 pm - 10:20 pmZQN  Queenstown Intl-SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith
3h 20mnonstop
$337Jetstar
Tue, Feb 9 - Wed, Feb 17
Jetstar Logo
6:15 am - 11:10 amSYD  Sydney Kingsford Smith-ZQN Queenstown Intl
2h 55mnonstop
Jetstar Logo
9:00 pm - 10:20 pmZQN  Queenstown Intl-SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith
3h 20mnonstop
$355Jetstar
Wed, Jan 20 - Sat, Feb 6
Multiple Airlines Logo
7:45 pm - 3:55 pmSYD  Sydney Kingsford Smith-ZQN Queenstown Intl
18h 10m1 stop Christchurch
Multiple Airlines Logo
9:00 pm - 10:20 pmZQN  Queenstown Intl-SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith
3h 20mnonstop
$388Multiple Airlines
Fri, Jan 29 - Tue, Feb 9
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:15 am - 11:10 amSYD  Sydney Kingsford Smith-ZQN Queenstown Intl
2h 55mnonstop
Multiple Airlines Logo
2:35 pm - 7:50 amZQN  Queenstown Intl-SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith
19h 15m1 stop Christchurch
$411Multiple Airlines
Sun, Mar 14 - Sun, Mar 21
Air New Zealand Logo
9:00 am - 2:05 pmSYD  Sydney Kingsford Smith-ZQN Queenstown Intl
3h 05mnonstop
Air New Zealand Logo
3:45 pm - 5:05 pmZQN  Queenstown Intl-SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith
3h 20mnonstop
$414Air New Zealand
Wed, Dec 9 - Wed, Dec 16
Air New Zealand Logo
9:00 am - 2:05 pmSYD  Sydney Kingsford Smith-ZQN Queenstown Intl
3h 05mnonstop
Air New Zealand Logo
5:15 pm - 6:35 pmZQN  Queenstown Intl-SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith
3h 20mnonstop
$419Air New Zealand
Wed, Nov 25 - Mon, Dec 7
Qantas Airways Logo
4:05 pm - 9:05 pmSYD  Sydney Kingsford Smith-ZQN Queenstown Intl
3h 00mnonstop
Qantas Airways Logo
7:00 am - 8:20 amZQN  Queenstown Intl-SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith
3h 20mnonstop
$460Qantas Airways
Tue, Nov 24 - Mon, Dec 7
Qantas Airways Logo
4:05 pm - 9:05 pmSYD  Sydney Kingsford Smith-ZQN Queenstown Intl
3h 00mnonstop
Qantas Airways Logo
7:00 am - 8:20 amZQN  Queenstown Intl-SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith
3h 20mnonstop
$460Qantas Airways
Mon, Nov 30 - Wed, Dec 9
Emirates Logo
4:05 pm - 9:05 pmSYD  Sydney Kingsford Smith-ZQN Queenstown Intl
3h 00mnonstop
Emirates Logo
7:00 am - 8:20 amZQN  Queenstown Intl-SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith
3h 20mnonstop
$509Emirates
Wed, Feb 10 - Fri, Feb 19
Emirates Logo
4:05 pm - 9:05 pmSYD  Sydney Kingsford Smith-ZQN Queenstown Intl
3h 00mnonstop
Emirates Logo
7:00 am - 8:20 amZQN  Queenstown Intl-SYD Sydney Kingsford Smith
3h 20mnonstop
$509Emirates
Booking Insights

Price, demand and travel trends for Sydney to Queenstown flights

Use KAYAK data on prices, travel dates, airlines and seasonal trends to compare options and book flights with more confidence.

How much is a round-trip flight from Sydney to Queenstown?

Round-trip flights from Sydney to Queenstown typically range from $394 to $583. The lowest price found in the past 5 days was $337, on Jetstar.

What's the cheapest day of the week to fly from Sydney to Queenstown?

Based on deals KAYAK users found in the last 12 months, Wednesday is the cheapest day of the week to fly from Sydney to Queenstown. It’s 4% cheaper than the average day, while Thursday is the most expensive, with prices 5% higher.

What’s the cheapest month to fly from Sydney to Queenstown?

•May and June are the cheapest months to fly from Sydney to Queenstown at $405 round-trip.
•December ($575) and July ($512) are the most expensive months.
•The price difference between flying in the cheapest and most expensive months is 41% on average.
This is based on KAYAK aggregated and averaged internal data over the past 12 months.

When are flights from Sydney to Queenstown the cheapest?

Flights from Sydney to Queenstown are cheapest 16 weeks before departure. Booking in this window typically costs about 39% less than the average last-minute fare (within 2 weeks of the flight), based on KAYAK data.

Expert advice

Expert advice for your flight from Sydney to Queenstown

 
KAYAK teamed up with top travel experts to share the best tips for your journey.
Our travel experts
Jessica Macdonald

Jessica Macdonald

Expert on Air New Zealand

Currently based in Scotland after living in South Africa and the United States, Jessica has been writing travel and aviation content for more than 10 years. She regularly contributes to Travel + Leisure and TripSavvy, and has had work published by Condé Nast Traveller and The Independent. She has traveled to more than 50 countries across six continents.

Bill Fink

Bill Fink

Expert on Qantas Airways

Bill is an award-winning travel writer with extensive credits covering airlines and the aviation industry for publications including AARP, AFAR, The Points Guy and Yahoo. Based in Portland, Oregon, Bill has traveled to more than 75 countries - and been late for his flight in most of them. He once achieved top-level frequent flier status for all of American, Delta and United Airlines during a single year.

Key details for Sydney to Queenstown flights

Low season

March

Cheapest flight

$238
Beat the crowds with an average 20% drop in travelers.
The most popular month to fly with an average 17% increase in travelers.
One-way flight from Sydney to Queenstown

When to book flights from Sydney to Queenstown

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Sydney to Queenstown based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated round-trip price

Your Sydney to Queenstown flight questions, answered

Find helpful answers about this route, including flight times, airports, airlines and booking tips.

  • What are the earliest and latest flights from Sydney to Queenstown?

    These are the earliest and latest flight times available from Sydney to Queenstown:

    • Earliest: departs at 6:15 am and lands at 9:16 am
    • Latest: departs at 4:15 pm and lands at 7:16 pm.

    The flight takes about 3h 01m.

  • What cabin classes can I book on flights from Sydney to Queenstown?

    Two cabin classes are available on flights from Sydney to Queenstown:

    • Economy Class
    • Business Class

  • How long is a flight from Sydney to Queenstown?

    A nonstop flight from Sydney to Queenstown takes 3h 01m, covering 1,204 miles.

  • Do I need a passport to fly from Sydney to Queenstown?

    Yes, a valid passport is required for this international route. Many destinations require at least six months of validity beyond your travel dates. Check your passport expiry well before booking.

  • How much should I expect to pay for a Sydney to Queenstown flight?

    Round-trip flights from Sydney to Queenstown range from $394 to $583, with an average of $475 over the past 12 months. Anything below $394 counts as a good deal.

  • How expensive are last-minute Sydney to Queenstown flights?

    Last-minute fares on this route (booked within two weeks of departure) run 35% above the $475 route average. Book 16 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

  • How much can I save by taking a layover when flying from Sydney to Queenstown?

    On this route, layover flights are cheaper than nonstop options on average. Layover fares average $447 round-trip via Christchurch (CHC), compared to $475 for nonstop.

  • How does on-time performance compare across airlines flying from Sydney to Queenstown?

    Qantas Airways is slightly above the route average for timely arrivals, while Jetstar has a lower on-time arrival rate. On-time arrival rates on Sydney to Queenstown flights are:

    • Qantas Airways: 86% on time
    • Jetstar: 82% on time
    • Air New Zealand: 80% on time

    Overall, flights on this route are punctual 83% of the time on average.

  • What is the standard checked-bag allowance on flights from Sydney to Queenstown?

    There is no standard. Checked-bag policies vary by airline on this route. Most carriers charge $23–$100 for the first checked bag in economy. Premium fares and elite-status bookings typically include a free checked bag.

  • Which aircraft model is used most often on flights from Sydney to Queenstown?

    The Boeing 737-800 Passenger/BBJ2 (winglets) family is used most often on this route, operated mainly by Qantas Airways and Emirates. Other aircraft seen on the route include Airbus A320-100/200 variants.

  • How are flight departures from Sydney to Queenstown spread across the day?

    Morning is the busiest departure period on Sydney to Queenstown flights, with 84% of flights leaving in that window. Afternoon departures account for 16%, evening flights for 0%, and night flights for 0%.

  • Have flight prices from Sydney to Queenstown changed much recently?

    Yes. Based on fares seen in the past 5 days, round-trip prices on this route showed a wide range, from about $337 to $1,211. That means the highest observed fare was about 4x higher than the lowest one.

  • How are flight prices from Sydney to Queenstown looking right now?

    One-way fares from Sydney to Queenstown are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about $249, which is 13% below the typical average for this route.

  • What car rental options are available at Queenstown Intl Airport (ZQN)?

    Queenstown Intl Airport (ZQN) hosts 5 major car rental companies, with daily rates starting from around $4 for economy cars. Top options include:

    • EZU Car Rental
    • Mode
    • New Zealand Discount Car Rentals
    • Snap Rentals
    • Yes Rentals

  • Which airports can I use when flying from Sydney to Queenstown?

    Flights from Sydney to Queenstown usually depart from Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD) and arrive at Queenstown Intl (ZQN).

  • What time of day has the fewest delays on flights from Sydney to Queenstown?

    Afternoon flights have the fewest delays on this route, while morning departures tend to have the most.

  • At what point is a flight considered delayed from Sydney to Queenstown?

    A flight is considered delayed when it departs 15 minutes or more after its scheduled time. This is the standard used by the US Department of Transportation and most airline industry reporting. On the Sydney to Queenstown route, 17% of flights were delayed in the past 3 months, with delays averaging 1h 36m.

  • Which airports do connecting flights from Sydney to Queenstown pass through?

    One-stop flights from Sydney to Queenstown most commonly connect through:

    • Melbourne (MEL) - 34% of one-stop connections
    • Brisbane (BNE) - 32% of one-stop connections
    • Auckland Intl (AKL) - 25% of one-stop connections
    • Christchurch (CHC) - 6% of one-stop connections

  • Can I save money by using flexible dates for flights from Sydney to Queenstown?

    Yes. Flexible dates can save you up to 9% on flights from Sydney to Queenstown. Wednesday is the cheapest departure day at $459 round-trip on average, while Thursday is the most expensive at $501, a difference of $42.

    KAYAK's flexible dates feature shows options up to 3 days before and after your selected dates, making it easier to compare nearby fares.

  • What airlines fly from Sydney to Queenstown?

    4 airlines operate flights between Sydney and Queenstown. The airlines offering nonstop flights on this route include:

    • Qantas Airways
    • Virgin Australia
    • Air New Zealand
    • Jetstar

  • How much time can I save by choosing a different layover airport from Sydney to Queenstown?

    Flying via Melbourne (MEL) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time at 7h 21m, compared with 11h 02m via Auckland Intl (AKL) and 11h 34m via Brisbane (BNE).

  • What is the time difference between Sydney and Queenstown?

    Queenstown is 2 hours ahead of Sydney (New Zealand Time vs Eastern Australia Time). Plan for the time shift when scheduling connections or first-day activities.

  • Which airlines offer extra legroom and free seat selection on Sydney to Queenstown flights?

    Among airlines operating Sydney to Queenstown flights:

    • Virgin Australia: offers free seat selection
    • Qantas Airways: offers extra legroom
    • Emirates: offers free seat selection

    Extra legroom and free seat selection availability depends on fare class and route.

  • Which airlines include bags at no extra cost on Sydney to Queenstown flights?

    Here are some options for this route, based on selected ticket types and cabin classes:

    • Jetstar: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy Class
    • Virgin Australia: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy Class
    • Air New Zealand: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy Class

    Bag allowance can vary by ticket type, cabin class, route and airline, so always check the fare details before booking.

  • Can I buy a New Zealand SIM card at Queenstown Airport?

    Yes, there are prepaid SIM cards available for mobile phones and wireless devices at Paper Plus in the main terminal. There is also Vodafone, who can get your service connected and online straight away, they generally have cheap prepaid services.

  • Is Sydney Airport wheelchair accessible?

    Yes, Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport is well equipped for travellers who are disabled or mobility impaired. There are designated parking and drop-off zones for passengers requiring assistance, as well as lifts, ramps and travelators throughout the airport. Disabled toilets and ATMs are provided throughout the airport, and there is also a Hidden Disability Program for those needing to signal to staff that they may need additional time or support.

Your guide to booking Sydney to Queenstown flights

Get tips on when to book, when to fly and what to know before your trip.
  • If your dates are flexible, aim for a Wednesday departure and avoid flying on Thursday. On this route, Wednesday flights average $459, about $42 less than Thursday fares (8% savings) based on the last 12 months.
  • For the best chance at a low fare, aim to book around 16 weeks before you fly. On this route, that window historically saves about 39% versus last-minute pricing (KAYAK booking data, last 12 months).
  • If you can choose when to travel, plan your Sydney to Queenstown trip for May. Fares historically average $405 round-trip in that month - typically $170 less than the most expensive month, which is December (based on the last 12 months).
  • For the best chance of arriving on time, fly with Qantas Airways. Over the past three months, 86% of Qantas Airways flights from Sydney to Queenstown arrived on time, slightly above the route average of 83%. When flights on this route arrive late, they're delayed by an average of 1h 36m, so choosing an airline with strong on-time performance can make a difference if you're on a tight schedule.
  • If you have the time, taking a 1-stop flight through Christchurch Airport (CHC) can be cheaper than flying direct. The cheapest layover option averages $447 round-trip on this route - about $28 less than direct flights (based on the last 12 months).
  • If you're arriving late at night and need somewhere to stay, check out these hotels close to Queenstown Intl Airport.

    • DoubleTree by Hilton Queenstown
    • Holiday Inn Queenstown Remarkables Park By IHG
    • Sudima Queenstown Five Mile
  • If you want to send a postcard home once you’ve landed at Queenstown Airport (ZQN), you will find them available in multiple convenience and gift shops across the airport, and there is a mailbox right by the Paper Plus shop.
  • If you need any assistance on arrival at Queenstown Airport, there is an Airport Information Desk with friendly, helpful staff in the main terminal, next to Global Culture. The opening hours are 08:30-17:00 every day.
  • Getting to Sydney Airport (SYD) from the city is usually fastest by train; the journey from Sydney City to the airport takes about 13min. Airport Link trains run roughly every 10min, and the station is located at the northern end of the main terminal.
  • When collecting your luggage at Queenstown Airport, just keep an eye on the monitors for your flight number, but you will generally either need to be at Carousel 2 or 3. Trolleys are available free of charge. Oversized items like bikes or snowboards will be ready for collection at the oversize area next to the carousels.
  • If you need a moment without your luggage at Queenstown Airport, there are storage lockers available in a number of sizes, ranging in price from NZ $ 7 to 20 (A $ 6.50-18.50) per 12h.

Prefer to fly direct from Sydney to Queenstown?

 
Find which airlines fly direct from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport to Queenstown Intl Airport, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

Sydney Kingsford Smith to Queenstown Intl

Monday

Air New Zealand,Jetstar,Qantas Airways, +1 more

Air New Zealand,Jetstar, +2 more

Tuesday

Air New Zealand,Jetstar,Qantas Airways, +1 more

Air New Zealand,Jetstar, +2 more

Wednesday

Air New Zealand,Jetstar,Qantas Airways, +1 more

Air New Zealand,Jetstar, +2 more

Thursday

Air New Zealand,Jetstar,Qantas Airways, +1 more

Air New Zealand,Jetstar, +2 more

Friday

Air New Zealand,Jetstar,Qantas Airways, +1 more

Air New Zealand,Jetstar, +2 more

Saturday

Air New Zealand,Jetstar,Qantas Airways, +1 more

Air New Zealand,Jetstar, +2 more

Sunday

Air New Zealand,Jetstar,Qantas Airways, +1 more

Air New Zealand,Jetstar, +2 more

See more direct flights

Direct returns

Queenstown Intl to Sydney Kingsford Smith

Monday

Air New Zealand,Jetstar,Qantas Airways, +1 more

Air New Zealand,Jetstar, +2 more

Tuesday

Air New Zealand,Jetstar,Qantas Airways, +1 more

Air New Zealand,Jetstar, +2 more

Wednesday

Air New Zealand,Jetstar,Qantas Airways, +1 more

Air New Zealand,Jetstar, +2 more

Thursday

Air New Zealand,Jetstar,Qantas Airways, +1 more

Air New Zealand,Jetstar, +2 more

Friday

Air New Zealand,Jetstar,Qantas Airways, +1 more

Air New Zealand,Jetstar, +2 more

Saturday

Air New Zealand,Jetstar,Qantas Airways, +1 more

Air New Zealand,Jetstar, +2 more

Sunday

Air New Zealand,Jetstar,Qantas Airways, +1 more

Air New Zealand,Jetstar, +2 more

See more direct flights

More options for your flight from Sydney to Queenstown

Complete your trip to Queenstown with a hotel stay or car rental