Melbourne Return from Wellington $506, Auckland $514, Christchurch $534, Queenstown $643, Hamilton $696 & Dunedin $710 @ BTF

Trans-Tasman fares to Melbourne are sitting at reasonable levels out of New Zealand for late 2026 and the first half of 2027, with Wellington the cheapest departure point at $506 return. Auckland follows at $514 and Christchurch at $534, while the provincial and southern ports - Queenstown from $643, Hamilton from $696 and Dunedin from $710 - are also in the mix.

These fares are spread across Emirates, Qantas, Air New Zealand, Virgin Australia and other carriers, so the airline varies by origin and date. Check the booking link for the exact airline on your dates before you commit - not every origin has a non-stop Melbourne service, and some fares combine airlines with a connection en route. If yours does connect, it's worth checking the Melbourne Tullamarine (MEL) minimum connection time against your itinerary, particularly if you're carrying on to another Australian city.

All prices below are return fares in NZD.

About the Airlines

• Emirates - the Dubai-based long-haul airline isn't part of a global alliance but is a major Qantas partner, with codeshares and loyalty tie-ups worldwide.
• Qantas - Australia's flag carrier and a oneworld founding member, covering Australian domestic routes plus New Zealand, Asia, North America, Europe, Africa and the Pacific.
• Air New Zealand - New Zealand's flag carrier and a Star Alliance member, known for a friendly, distinctly Kiwi onboard experience across NZ domestic, Australia, the Pacific, North America and key Asian routes.
• Virgin Australia - a full-service Australian airline focused on domestic travel and short-haul international services, with Velocity partners including Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways and United.

About Melbourne

Melbourne rewards wandering. The laneways off Flinders and Collins Streets hide bars, street art and some of the country's best small cafes, while Federation Square, the National Gallery of Victoria and the Queen Victoria Market are all within an easy tram ride of each other - and the City Circle tram loop around the CBD is free. Sports fans can time a trip around the MCG, and the city is the obvious base for day trips out to the Yarra Valley wineries, the Mornington Peninsula, or the Great Ocean Road and the Twelve Apostles. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable times to visit, though Melbourne's weather is famously changeable year-round, so pack layers whenever you go. For more planning ideas, see the official Visit Melbourne site.

Summary:

• Auckland - Melbourne (Tullamarine) return (12 Oct 26 - 11 Dec 26) from $514 return

• Christchurch - Melbourne (Tullamarine) return (14 Oct 26 - 10 Dec 26) from $534 return

• Dunedin - Melbourne (Tullamarine) return (14 Oct 26 - 11 Dec 26) from $710 return

• Hamilton - Melbourne (Tullamarine) return (14 Oct 26 - 30 Jun 27) from $696 return

• Queenstown - Melbourne (Tullamarine) return (29 Jan 27 - 23 Jun 27) from $643 return

• Wellington - Melbourne (Tullamarine) return (13 Oct 26 - 15 Jun 27) from $506 return

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Also consider having a look at the current best found deals by city - Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton, Queenstown, Wellington.