Travelling from Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport (SYD) to Christchurch International Airport (CHC): what you need to know
Around 3 hours 5 minutes is how long you can expect to be travelling on a direct flight from Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport to Christchurch International Airport.
Christchurch's timezone is UTC+13, which makes Christchurch two hours ahead of Sydney.
You can choose from 38 weekly Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport to Christchurch International Airport flights. The 07:50 departure with Emirates is the earliest flight you can take. Qantas operates the latest service of the day at 18:55.
Your SYD to CHC flight won't wait if you're running late, so show up at the airport on time. Arrive up to one hour in advance for domestic flights and two hours ahead when you're flying internationally.
During popular months such as April, you'll want to get to the airport earlier. Arrive two hours before a domestic departure and four hours ahead of an international flight when you fly during a peak period in general.
A variety of airlines offer direct flights from Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport to Christchurch International Airport, so getting to Christchurch (and then seeing more of New Zealand!) is easy. Leading carriers that fly nonstop include:
Emirates is the airline most travellers choose to fly with on this route.
The most punctual carrier that offers SYD to CHC flights is Air New Zealand. Its services land without delay 78.33% of the time.
Consider adding a stopover when booking your ticket from Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport to Christchurch International Airport. Just deselect 'Direct flights only' to break up your trip, or perhaps see a new city along the way. Here's where you can stop between SYD and CHC:
Auckland Airport
Queenstown Airport
Melbourne Tullamarine Airport
How to find the cheapest flights from Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport (SYD) to Christchurch International Airport (CHC)
$286 is currently the lowest price for a one-way Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport to Christchurch International Airport flight. Return flights start at $534. These fares may change based on demand and availability.
Book six months before your departure date. After looking at the numbers on our calendar, this is how far you'll want to book ahead to secure cheap tickets from SYD to CHC.
Plan your trip for May. That's the cheapest month for flights from Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport to Christchurch International Airport. If your travel dates are flexible, try out the 'Whole month' tool to see the cheapest airfare across every month.
Never miss a deal on cheap flights from SYD to CHC by creating a Price Alert. We'll send you an email or notification on the app when a new low fare is offered.
Tailor your trip with filters. Choose your preferred departure and arrival times, total journey duration and airlines. You can also sort results by 'Best,' 'Cheapest' or 'Fastest' flights from Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport to Christchurch International Airport.
Handy information about Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport (SYD)
69.62% of flights departing from Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport touch down at their destination on schedule.
Central Sydney to Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport is around 18 kilometres. Depending on traffic, it'll take you about 20 minutes to get there if you're driving, ride-sharing or catching a cab.
The journey on public transport takes about 25 minutes.
Get your holiday off to a hassle-free start by staying near SYD. Whether you're boarding an early flight from Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport to Christchurch International Airport or want to avoid feeling rushed, these stays are perfect:
Arriving at Christchurch International Airport (CHC)
If you're coming in on a late Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport to Christchurch International Airport flight, nothing tops the convenience of staying near the terminal. Grab your luggage from the carousel and then be resting shortly after at one of these hotels near CHC:
Go where the road takes you with a Christchurch International Airport rental car. Pick up a set of wheels from Yes rentals, Discount Car Rentals or mode rentals and discover more of Christchurch and beyond.
To lock in the lowest price, book your vehicle from Christchurch International Airport around three weeks ahead.
Getting from Christchurch International Airport (CHC) to central Christchurch
Christchurch International Airport to the centre of Christchurch has a drive time of around 1 hour. It's approximately 56 kilometres away.
When to fly to Christchurch International Airport (CHC)
It's time to pick your travel dates for your flight from Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport to Christchurch International Airport. February is the most popular month to head to Christchurch. If you like a quieter vibe, go in April.
When booking your flight from Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport to Christchurch International Airport, think about the kind of weather you enjoy. January is the warmest month in Christchurch, with temperatures ranging from 10ºC to 24ºC.
Search for cheap tickets from SYD to CHC in July if you like cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 1ºC and 12ºC on average.
Explore more of New Zealand
Christchurch has plenty going for it, but there are so many other corners of New Zealand just waiting to be discovered. Around 322 kilometres north-east of Christchurch, a visit to Wellington will keep you on the go. Don't miss top attractions like Museum of New Zealand (Te Papa Tongarewa), Weta Workshop and Wellington Cable Car.
Dunedin is another essential stop in New Zealand and is around 290 kilometres south-west of Christchurch. No trip is complete without visiting Larnach Castle, Otago Peninsula Museum and Historical Society and Cadbury World.