Qantas announces new trans-Tasman route from Auckland

Thursday, 15 May 2025

Adelaide is a humming city with great art and exciting food.

It was 20 years ago that Qantas last flew direct between New Zealand and South Australia. Now, it’s bringing the route back.

The airline will begin seasonal direct flights between Auckland and Adelaide on October 31 through to May 3, 2026.

A Boeing 737-800 will be used for QF176 Auckland to Adelaide on Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays with an approximate flight time of 4 hours and 50 minutes.

Launch fares start at NZ$699 economy return.

It is the second New Zealand route announcement Qantas has made this month. Last week, it confirmed the much-speculated direct flights between Auckland and Perth.

Once launched, the two new routes will introduce over 110,000 seats between Australia and New Zealand each year and increase Qantas’ capacity to Auckland by almost 10%.

Qantas will fly a Boeing 737-838 on the route.

Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace said there has been a strong demand from New Zealanders looking to explore more of Australia.

“Our new international flights will give both business and leisure travellers more choice when travelling to South Australia and open up more inbound tourism opportunities with connections for customers to Auckland and New Zealand through our Jetstar domestic network.”

Tourism New Zealand chief executive René de Monchy said the route was fantastic news.

“Having another direct flight available makes it even easier for visitors to book their trip here, and Auckland is an ideal gateway for our South Australian friends and whānau to start their journey throughout New Zealand.”

Kiwis can get closer to kangaroos on South Australia’s Kangaroo Island.

Air New Zealand also flies non-stop to the South Australian capital on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Baird Bay on the Eyre Peninsula, South Australia.

New Zealand is the equal second largest source market for visitation to South Australia, behind only the UK and equal with China, according to the South Australia Tourism Commission.

“Tourism expenditure from New Zealand grew by 29% in the last year, with 48,000 visitors coming to South Australia in 2024. Kiwis are also staying longer in the region, with the average length of stay up 56% to 11 nights. The amazing food, beautiful wine and stunning landscapes across the whole region are all enticing Kiwis to visit,” said the commission’s regional manager for New Zealand Stacey Kerr.

“From Adelaide’s cultural and events calendar, to the vineyards of Barossa, the dramatic scenery of Kangaroo Island and the mighty Murray River, there is much to discover. Off-the-beaten-track landscapes like the Eyre Peninsula and the Flinders Ranges are also proving to be a drawcard.

“New direct flight choices on top of what is already available make Adelaide and South Australia an attractive choice for Kiwis looking for a ‘something different’ holiday.”

Auckland Airport’s chief customer officer, Scott Tasker, said the route is welcome news not just for Kiwi travellers looking to experience the best of Adelaide and South Australia, from major international festivals and the Ashes at the Adelaide Oval to the wine regions of the Barossa and Adelaide Hills, but also for New Zealand’s tourism sector.

“Not only does Qantas’s entry add some healthy competition on the Auckland–Adelaide route, but it will also stimulate travel demand and make it easier for Australians to visit New Zealand. With so many Kiwis living in Australia and vice versa, there’s always strong demand for travel to reconnect with friends and whānau and more flights will help meet that need.

“For New Zealand’s tourism sector, this is about more than convenient flights – it’s about accelerating our recovery,” Tasker said.