QANTAS: First international service from Adelaide to Auckland joins new Air NZ service to Christchurch

It’s been more than a decade since Qantas flew anywhere overseas out of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. It is also the city where I grew up. I can’t believe I missed these pieces of news. The inaugural Qantas flight to Auckland, New Zealand, departed from Adelaide on 31 October. Air New Zealand commenced a service between Christchurch and Adelaide a few days earlier. This adds two new services between Adelaide and Aotearoa, the land of the long white cloud. One to the North, and the other to the South Island.

Four flights a week, seasonal

The new route between Adelaide and Auckland runs four times a week, on Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Flights use the workhorse Boeing 737-800, complete with Qantas’ fast and free Wi-Fi, which is being rolled out internationally, starting with routes to New Zealand. The roughly six-month seasonal service operates between now and early May 2026. One-way economy fares start at around AU$359 during Qantas’ current international sale.

This service adds around 30,000 extra seats between Adelaide and New Zealand. Air New Zealand also flies to Adelaide from Christchurch.

One stop to New York

If your plan is to travel to the USA, then this service can provide a one stop service. You fly from Adelaide to Auckland, and then pick up QF3 on to New York. That means that South Australians can reach New York in about 21 hours. You have a short transit time in Auckland of roughly 90 minutes, which makes for a very efficient transfer. In Economy your looking at around AU$3,500, and in Business, around AU$9,000, as long as you don’t travel over the Christmas holiday period.

Qantas Flight Details

The 4.5-hour Adelaide to Auckland service will run four days per week between 31 October 2o25 and 3 May 2026.

• QF175 departs Adelaide 08:45, arrives Auckland 15:30 (Mon, Fri, Sat, Sun)
• QF176 departs Auckland 16:30, arrives Adelaide 18:50 (Mon, Fri, Sat, Sun)

Flights will be on a Boeing 737 with 12 Business Class seats. Expect fares in Business Class to be AU$2,259, and in Economy AU$654

Air New Zealand Flight Details

Also, a seasonal service, which will run twice weekly between 27 October 2025 and 27 March 2026. Flights will use a much more modern aircraft than Qantas with a narrowbody Airbus A320/321 neo.

• NZ262 departs Adelaide 07:00, arrives Christchurch 13:45 (Mon and Sat
• NZ261 departs Christchurch 18:20, arrives Adelaide 20:25 (Tues and Fri)

Economy airfares are around AU$934. There is no Business cabin on these aircraft.

2PAXfly Takeout

Great news for South Australians. These direct routes bypass transfers in Sydney, Brisbane, or Melbourne, creating a significantly shorter route to enjoy the charms of New Zealand.

You can now directly access both New Zealand’s North Island via Auckland, and the South Island from Christchurch. The frequencies might be less than daily, but they should work if you plan to spend around a week or more in the land of the long white cloud.