SEQ - ZQN - Fares

[Deleted member 29185]

Hi all.

I want to take the family skiing in the Qld Sept/Oct school holidays.

Big ask, but does anyones crystal ball predict possible sale fares?

(couldn't care less about which carrier).

The current $300-$400 each way each pax is ridiculous in my tight ar*e world.

 

[Andyzx]

Check the NZ scholl holidays, if your not in the same weeks you should find somethings. It will depend on what the snow is like. Last year they had a Oz only special to fill up some space just before the season started. If you havent found soething by May then start panicing. Try CHC instead if you get stuck and drive, its a pretty good trip.

 

[k_sheep]

^^ what he said.

Generally it's more expensive to fly into ZQN. Many more flights to CHC, which makes for more choices and better price. It's a nice drive!

 

[Princess Fiona]

Drats you just missed a sale! I booked mine for July school hols last week. I looked at all options and ended up with QF to AKL with connections. I found that it was cheaper by booking multicity than direct. Last year with NZ I booked SYD-AKL-ZQN-SYD, AKL-ZQN booked separately also much cheaper than the direct return.
PM me if you want any more info on this trip as we have been doing it for 5 + years and fallen into every trap on the wayside

 

[eastwest101]

Last year with NZ I booked SYD-AKL-ZQN-SYD, AKL-ZQN booked separately also much cheaper than the direct return.
PM me if you want any more info on this trip as we have been doing it for 5 + years and fallen into every trap on the wayside

Princess Fiona sounds like the expert on this question and has some good advice as well as looking at the CHC option that others posted previously. I have done direct and via AKL before once or twice and have often found that flying NZ to AKL and then AKL-ZQN is often surprisingly cheaper and relatively painless as well, connections aren't too bad. Of course YMMV.

 

[Deewhy]

If you are willing to take the NZ/VA options, then they regularly have sales maybe once a mth? Signup to NZ's newsleter and you'll notice of them. Then u should also be able to book VA for thee same price. Did this last year and this year. Managed a fare for under 280 return syd to zqn albeit early in the season
They shouuld start advertising your dates soon. Keep an eye out for it.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Quick update to this, received notification of a schedule change on our flights for July. The JQ flight ZQN-AKL is now departing after the connecting flight AKL-SYD. Time machine needed
Now re-booked by the Premium desk on the pricier direct ZQN-SYD flight all for the same Sale fare

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Quick update to this, received notification of a schedule change on our flights for July. The JQ flight ZQN-AKL is now departing after the connecting flight AKL-SYD. Time machine needed
Now re-booked by the Premium desk on the pricier direct ZQN-SYD flight all for the same Sale fare

Even better!

Thanks for all the replies, I'll do the sign up with ANZ and watch for sales. The reason for the question was that I could get Hilton ZQN on the Any week-end anywhere sale to give me 4 stays......2 nights + 2 nights for ski days and a mid stay night being on an overnight Milford Cruise (which don't start again until Sept. hence the later season preference). Since airfares are more expensive than accommodation, I decided to forego the AWAW Hilton sale and watch for dates for airfare sales instead!

I'm assuming Late Sept/early Oct is still skiable around ZQN?

 

[Major]

I'm assuming Late Sept/early Oct is still skiable around ZQN?

I have been in ZQN in January and it snowed on The Remarkables. I don't think you will have a problem

 

[eastwest101]

I'm assuming Late Sept/early Oct is still skiable around ZQN?

I am not a total expert but I think you should be safe to have snow in Late Sept in Queenstown, but even if it isn't a good season, it may not be as nice snow as earlier in the season.

It will still be better snow, slopes, scenery and cheaper to ski in NZ even with paying for flights to ZQN than it is to Ski in Australia (which is the worst value place to ski in the world right now due to high costs/AUD).

If you were really unlucky and the snow has gone you can still do Milford Sound, tour the wineries, go hiking, hot air balloonong, jetboating, biking, quadbiking, horse riding, bungee jumping etc etc so the kids won't be bored!!

 

[Deewhy]

Hi all.

I want to take the family skiing in the Qld Sept/Oct school holidays.

Big ask, but does anyones crystal ball predict possible sale fares?

(couldn't care less about which carrier).

The current $300-$400 each way each pax is ridiculous in my tight ar*e world.

swanning_it.... email from Air NZ for sales on now. VA should have reciprocal one on too. Dates available are til 18/19 Sep so don't know if that is near your school hol's date eg Syd to ZQn or BNE to ZQN $179 one way, no bag.


Sale ends 26 Feb.