Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TICKETS
Automated online ticket sales work well if you're doing a simple one-way or return trip on
specified dates, but are no substitute for a travel agent with the low-down on special deals,
strategies for avoiding layovers and other useful advice.
Round-the-world (RTW) tickets
If you're flying to New Zealand from the other side of
the world, RTW tickets can be bargains. They're generally put together by the big airline al-
liances, and give you a limited period (usually a year) in which to circumnavigate the globe.
You can go anywhere the participating airlines go, as long as you stay within the prescribed
kilometre extents or number of stops and don't backtrack when flying between continents.
Ticket providers include the following:
Oneworld
(
www.oneworld.com
)
Skyteam
(
www.skyteam.com
)
Star Alliance
(
www.staralliance.com
)
Circle Pacific tickets
This is similar to a RTW ticket but covers a more limited region, us-
ing a combination of airlines to connect Australia, NZ, North America and Asia, with stop-
over options in the Pacific islands. As with RTW tickets, there are restrictions on how many
stopovers you can take.
Sea
It's possible (though by no means easy or safe) to make your way between NZ and Australia,
and some smaller Pacific islands, by hitching rides or crewing on yachts. Try asking around
at harbours, marinas, and yacht and sailing clubs. Popular yachting harbours in NZ include
the Bay of Islands and Whangarei (both in Northland), Auckland and Wellington. March and
April are the best months to look for boats heading to Australia. October to November is a
peak departure season in Fiji to beat the cyclones that soon follow in that neck of the woods.
There are no passenger liners operating to/from NZ, and finding a berth on a cargo ship
(much less enjoying the experience) is no easy task.
