Roberta Aguirre
New Zealand's South Island is famous for its pristine wilderness and outdoor experiences. It offers breathtaking scenery, adrenaline-pumping activities, fascinating cultural experiences, and some of the best food and wine on the planet. The two major airports on the South Island are Christchurch and Queenstown. Christchurch Airport is New Zealand's second-busiest airport, and the country's first international airport. It is considered an international and domestic flight hub for the South Island. Queenstown Airport is another airport located in the South Island, nestled in between mountains. The airport offers a true taste of what New Zealand is all about as you land in this super scenic airport location.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airports in South Island, New Zealand | Christchurch, Queenstown, Dunedin |
| Major Airports | Christchurch, Queenstown |
| Second-largest airport in New Zealand | Christchurch Airport |
| Christchurch Airport Hub | South Island |
| Annual passengers at Christchurch Airport | 5.5 million |
| Christchurch Airport distance from city centre | 10km |
| Queenstown Airport location | Surrounded by mountains |
| Queenstown permanent population | 16,000 |
| Dunedin Airport location | West of central Dunedin |
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What You'll Learn
- Christchurch Airport: New Zealand's second-busiest airport, and the South Island's flight hub
- Queenstown Airport: A small airport in a popular tourist destination
- Dunedin Airport: International in name, but mostly domestic in practice
- Wellington Airport: The North Island's capital city airport
- Auckland Airport: New Zealand's largest and busiest airport
Christchurch Airport: New Zealand's second-busiest airport, and the South Island's flight hub
Christchurch Airport is New Zealand's second-busiest airport and the primary flight hub for the South Island. It is located about 10-12 kilometres (6-7.5 miles) northwest of Christchurch's city centre, in the suburb of Harewood. The airport is approximately a 20-minute drive from the city centre. It is easily accessible by public buses, shuttles, and taxis. Additionally, there are numerous car and campervan rental companies near the airport, providing complimentary shuttles to and from their depots.
Christchurch Airport is an international airport, offering flights to and from various destinations, including Australia, Fiji, Singapore, and Dubai. It also serves as a domestic flight hub, connecting travellers to a range of destinations within New Zealand, such as Nelson, the North Island, South Island, and the Chatham Islands. The airport is curfew-free and operates 24 hours a day.
The airport has a range of shops, services, and attractions to cater to travellers' needs and enhance their overall experience. These include gift shops, food courts, and coffee bars. Christchurch Airport also participates in the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard Scheme, demonstrating its commitment to accessibility and inclusivity.
Christchurch Airport has a rich history, dating back to its official opening on May 18, 1940. It became New Zealand's first international airport on December 16, 1950. Over the years, the airport has undergone significant expansions and improvements, including the addition of an international wing in 1966 and the construction of a new international terminal in 2004.
The airport is equipped with two perpendicular runways, the primary runway being 3,288 metres (10,787 feet) long. This length makes it suitable for large aircraft, such as the Boeing 747 and Airbus A380, which only a few airports in New Zealand can accommodate. Christchurch Airport also serves as a base for Antarctic scientific expeditions and is a southern hemisphere hub for the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA).
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Queenstown Airport: A small airport in a popular tourist destination
Queenstown Airport is nestled between mountains and is a gateway to Queenstown and the lower South Island of New Zealand. It is a small airport with a single terminal that handles both international and domestic flights. The airport is just 15 minutes from downtown Queenstown, providing convenient access to this popular tourist destination.
Queenstown is known for its stunning landscape and vibrant culture, offering a range of outdoor experiences such as kayak tours, hiking adventures, and rafting trips. It is also a destination for adrenaline-pumping activities, cultural exchanges, and exciting adventure tours. The region is famous for its wine, and Queenstown is a starting point for exploring the South Island's natural wonders.
The airport has undergone several expansions since the 1990s to accommodate the introduction of international flights and the rapid increase in passenger numbers. In 2015, a new $17 million international terminal was opened, doubling the size of the airport's international operations. Queenstown Airport now offers daily flights from New Zealand's main centres and services from four east coast Australian ports, including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and the Gold Coast.
The airport has a single-level terminal with nine gates and does not currently utilise jet bridges. However, the 2015 expansion included the construction of a mezzanine level to enable the possible future provision of jet bridges. Queenstown Airport has also invested in safety and efficiency improvements, including installing runway lighting and an engineered materials arrestor system (EMAS) to prevent aircraft from running off the runway.
Queenstown Airport is a true taste of what New Zealand has to offer, providing a scenic and convenient gateway to the South Island for travellers seeking adventure and natural beauty.
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Dunedin Airport: International in name, but mostly domestic in practice
The South Island of New Zealand is known for its pristine wilderness and outdoor experiences. The two major airports on the South Island are Christchurch and Queenstown. However, another airport on the South Island is Dunedin Airport, previously known as Dunedin International Airport.
Dunedin Airport is located in the Otago region of the South Island of New Zealand, serving Dunedin city and the Otago and Southland regions. It is one of two international airports in Otago, the other being Queenstown International Airport. Dunedin Airport is the fifth busiest airport in New Zealand by passenger numbers. It has a single runway, one terminal building with five gates, and customs facilities.
Despite being an international airport, Dunedin Airport primarily caters to passengers of short-haul aircraft and domestic flights. The airport's primary use has historically been for domestic travel, with most of its traffic coming from within New Zealand. In 2000, the airport handled 481,000 passengers, with the majority of these being domestic travellers.
Dunedin Airport received its first international flight in July 1994, and since then, it has expanded its international operations. In 1995, Kiwi Travel International Airlines and Freedom Air started regular transtasman flights. In 2005, a new international arrival area was added to the airport. However, even with these developments, Dunedin Airport remains quieter than other international airports in New Zealand, such as Auckland, Christchurch, and Queenstown.
Dunedin Airport offers various amenities and services for passengers, including a regional lounge, luggage storage, and a dedicated team to assist customers with disabilities or reduced mobility. The airport also has a range of facilities for passengers with invisible disabilities, such as a quiet seating area and stress-relieving measures.
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Wellington Airport: The North Island's capital city airport
Wellington Airport is an international airport located in the capital city of New Zealand, Wellington, at the southern tip of the North Island. It is not the main airport of New Zealand, but it does receive international flights from Australia, Fiji, and Sydney, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and Melbourne in Australia. The airport is situated eight kilometres southeast of downtown Wellington in the suburb of Rongotai.
The airport has a rich history, with the government considering various sites for its construction as early as 1937. The chosen site at Rongotai has seen upgrades and improvements over the years, including the addition of a major new domestic terminal in 1999, integrated with the international terminal built in 1977. In 2018, a new air traffic control tower was opened, designed by Studio Pacific and Paris Magdalinos Architects, featuring an innovative 12.5-degree angle that leans into the prevailing northerly wind.
Wellington Airport offers a range of facilities and services for travellers, including parking, duty-free shopping, toilets, showers, cafes, restaurants, bars, fast food options, currency exchange, ATMs, internet access, telephones, wheelchair access, baggage storage, and a parenting room. The airport also provides convenient transport options to the city centre, with the Stagecoach Airport Flyer service running every 20 minutes during the week and on weekends, passing through the city centre and continuing to Lower Hutt.
The airport is currently two-thirds privately owned by Infratil, with the remaining third owned by the Wellington City Council. In May 2024, the Council voted to sell its minority stake to fund a major disaster investment.
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Auckland Airport: New Zealand's largest and busiest airport
Auckland Airport is New Zealand's largest and busiest airport. It is located in the north of the North Island and is about a 20-minute drive from the Auckland city centre. The airport currently covers 1,500 hectares (5.8 sq. miles) of airport property and has a single 3,635 m (11,926 ft) runway, with a capacity of about 45 flight movements per hour. It is currently the busiest single-runway airport in Oceania.
The airport has two terminals: International and Domestic. All major airlines connecting New Zealand will fly into Auckland Airport, which is also well-connected to the rest of the country by a variety of domestic flight options. The SkyBus, a public transit bus, operates from the domestic and international terminals every quarter of an hour from 5 AM to 10:30 PM daily. The bus ride to the city takes about an hour, with adult one-way tickets costing NZD 17 and child tickets costing NZD 2.
The site of the airport was first used as an airfield by the Auckland Aero Club. From 1948 to 1960, the RNZAF Base Auckland at Whenuapai served as the civilian airport for Auckland. However, due to the hills adjacent to Whenuapai limiting the ability of newer aircraft to use the facilities, a September 1948 report recommended that Whenuapai Airport be replaced with a larger, purpose-built airport located in either Māngere or Pakuranga. In 1958, the New Zealand Government commissioned Leigh Fisher Associates to survey and design the international airport at Māngere. Work began in 1960, and the airport was officially opened in 1966.
Auckland Airport has been criticised by airlines for its high landing charges. However, research conducted in September 2010 indicates that the airport's international charges are slightly below the average of the 20 largest international airports flown by Air New Zealand. The airport has a diverse range of revenue streams, which has benefited it during downturns in international aviation. For example, in 2009, the airport delayed a scheduled increase in its landing charges to assist its airline customers during the recession.
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Frequently asked questions
Christchurch Airport is the second-largest airport in New Zealand. It is also the flight hub for the South Island.
Queenstown Airport and Dunedin Airport, both in the South Island, have direct flights from Brisbane.
Christchurch and Queenstown are the two major airports on New Zealand's South Island.
Besides Christchurch and Queenstown, some other airports in New Zealand's South Island include Dunedin, Hokitika, Invercargill, Nelson, and Picton.
