Living in Australia is fabulous when you’ve got tropical beaches and lush jungles on the east, desert sands stretching out west, and snow-capped, hike-worthy mountains down south. But after ticking off all those adventures, the urge to pack your bags and venture beyond Aussie borders kicks in.
Since we're kind of located in the middle of nowhere, jetting off on a European extravaganza or an epic American road trip might feel a tad tricky. So, let us redirect your attention to some equally lovely and far less expensive destinations.
The bond between Aussies and Kiwis is always friendly, especially when the rest of the world keeps mixing up our accents. Auckland has the most popular airport in New Zealand, and some of the cheapest flights, making it a great landing pad to explore the north island. You can also nab cheap flights to Wellington, but Queenstown is your best bet for venturing to the south island.
Cheapest time of year to fly: June. The cheapest one-way flights sit at around $300 from Australia's east coast.
There’s a reason Bali has become the home away from home for many Aussies. Well, many reasons actually. It’s beautiful, it’s cheap, and if you so choose to stray from the packed beach bars and shopping hot spots, it’s a wonderland of vibrant culture. If tropical relaxation is your goal, Bali’s airport in Denpasar is your best bet, but for cheap flights to Indonesia’s bustling capital, head to Jakarta.
Cheapest time of year to fly: Flights stay pretty cheap year-round, costing as little as $250 from Perth. But have a look from May to October when the climate is best.
Korea has taken the international stage by storm in recent years, thanks to the global rise of K-Pop, Oscar-winning films, Korean barbecue and world-leading skincare. Whether you want to cosy up in tiny teahouses, hunt for vintage treasures or get lost in vast forests, this vibrant city has something for everyone. It’s just over a two-hour flight from Seoul to Tokyo, so we say kill two birds with one stone and tick them both off.
Cheapest time of year to fly: Australia's major airlines are always slinging deals on flights to Seoul and Tokyo, so it's worth holding out for the next sale. After the peak travel period ends in February, prices tend to drop even further, with return flights often going as low as $600.
Singapore is usually overstepped as the layover on route to Europe, but this pristine country is worth exploring in its own right. From rooftop bars that overlook sparkling city lights to futuristic bayside gardens, Singapore feels like one of those utopian experiments straight off a movie set.
Cheapest time of year to fly: October is generally the best time to visit when tickets are just under $350 each way from Australia's major capital cities.
Bula! Get ready for island time. Once your plane lands in Nadi, forget about a watch. Fijians are all about kicking back and enjoying the beauty of their country and culture. The mainland has incredible marketplaces and beyond friendly locals. If you choose to cross water, the islands are your most beautiful screensaver, come to life.
Cheapest time of year to fly: You can snag flights to Fiji in October for about $450. Bonus: this is the best time to visit because of the pleasant dry season weather.
If you thought you struck gold with cheap flights to Vietnam, you’ll be beaming when you see the price of the food. Banh mi’s are already the go-to cheap lunch for office workers in Australia, but in Vietnam, you'll quite literally only pay a couple of dollars for jam-packed sandwich rolls, and that’s not to mention all the other incredible national dishes.
Cheapest time of year to fly: June to August tends to be the cheapest time of year to grab one-way tickets around the $350 mark.
In addition to Qantas’ trips to this tropical French paradise, you can also catch a flight with New Caledonia’s national carrier Aircalin. They’re known to do a pretty mean deal if you’re organised, and the island’s short distance from Australia makes it an incredibly scenic (and underrated) escape.
Cheapest time of year to fly: Around June, you can grab one-way tickets for about $400 from Sydney or Adelaide. But keep your eyes peeled for regular deals that slash that price almost in half.
Whether you’re temple hopping, pad thai-sampling, pristine water kayaking or nightlife partying, you’re never short of things to do in Thailand. It’s a beloved destination for Aussies and a great holiday destination for when you want to get away and not blow the budget while doing so.
Cheapest time of year to fly: November is the best time to visit Thailand, both for the best weather. The cheapest plane tickets go for around $320 a pop from Perth, with other good deals from Melbourne and Sydney.
Often passed up for its tropical Asian neighbours, like Indonesia and Vietnam, the Philippines' natural scenery is truly breathtaking. Here the pristine blue waters of Australia’s Whitsundays meet staggering cliff faces, underwater rivers and lush green jungles. You also can’t go by the local cuisine with all its salty-sweet combinations, like sticky adobo chicken and crunchy lechon pork belly.
Cheapest time of year to fly: It’s relatively cheap to fly to the Philippines year-round, where prices sit pretty stable at around $450 one way.
For Aussies dreaming of going on safari, one small roadblock is the time it takes to reach the African continent, plus the price to get there. Your best bet is likely a flight from Perth, and even then you’ll encounter a layover or two. Travel time is absolutely worth it for the one-of-a-kind wildlife experiences, and Nairobi is one of the cheapest countries to fly to in Africa.
Cheapest time of year to fly: From November to March, one-way tickets hover around the $450 price point.
Discover Time Out original video
