It's (almost) in our backyard

You know what? Sometimes, long-haul flights can be quite the commitment. We all love to travel (obviously), but when even your smartphone is confused by the number of time zones you’ve crossed, you can start to have second thoughts. That’s what’s so great about New Zealand – it’s only a few hours away. You can settle in, enjoy a complimentary meal, jump on the in-flight Wi-Fi, and before you know it – you’ll be in an entirely new country.

In fact, it’d take you more time to watch The Lord of the Rings trilogy (filmed at more than 150 locations in New Zealand) than it would to fly to NZ from any major Australian city, so make sure you watch them all pre-flight. Or, if you’re a true fan, experience them first-hand on the official Hobbiton tour.

You don't need a VISA

Thanks to a reciprocal arrangement with our Kiwi cousins, Australians don’t need a visa to visit New Zealand. That means it’s the ideal destination for a spur-of-the-moment trip (especially given the short flight time).

Think about it, if you’re halfway through the working week and feeling like you’re stuck in a rut, you can book a flight with a few clicks, get voice-activated flight updates thanks to the new Virgin Australia Alexa skill, spend the weekend exploring an entirely new country, and be back at your desk on Monday morning. If you’re looking for something to recharge your batteries, a weekend overseas jaunt could be just what you need.

Given that the country is divided into the North (Te Ika-a-Māui) and South (Te Waipounamu) Islands, we’d suggest confining yourself to just one for a short trip. That way, you’ve always got an excuse to come back.

It's packed full of incredible experiences

Speaking of the North and South Islands, no matter where you land, there’s going to be something exciting to sink your teeth into.

For the thrill seekers, there’s Queenstown. You can go sky-diving, ziplining or simply enjoy the stunning sights and incredible wine. Or there’s Auckland, a beautiful city in its own right, but also a short ferry ride to Waiheke Island, home to more incredible wine (there’s a theme here). It’s also a short drive from Lake Taupo and everything else the North Island has to offer. Then you’ve got the Hot Pools and Mud Pools of Rotorua and the Abel Tasman National Park (perfect for kayaking) just a short boat ride from Wellington.

You’ll be planning your return before you even board the plane home.

The culture is (mostly) similar

If you’re an Australian visiting New Zealand, you might get the sense of having travelled through the looking glass. There’s a pervasive sense of things being simultaneously familiar and foreign at the same time. This un-reality makes everything feel fresh and exciting, even if you’re just cruising down the street in Auckland or Wellington.

On a more practical tip, it also means that you’re not going to encounter language barriers (unless you count the accent), and the currency exchange is pretty simple to master. If you’re taking a little bit of time for your trip, New Zealand is ideal for exploring by car. Your existing Australian license is valid in the country (even a provisional license), so it’s as simple as hiring a ride and hitting the road.5. Velocity Points for indulging your online shopping habit

…Until it's not

There are also a stack of things that are entirely unique to New Zealand. Like, for instance, the fact they call an Esky a ‘chilly bin’. In fact, if you’re particularly enamoured with linguistic anomalies, NZ the place to be. Could we suggest that you plan a visit to Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu in Hawke’s Bay? Bonus points if you type it into your GPS instead of cutting and pasting.

New Zealand also has a rich Indigenous history, and Māoris make up 14 per cent of the population. Their cultural traditions are alive and well, and it’s possible to partake in an experience that’s entirely unique to New Zealand’s native peoples. Try a hãngi meal, cooked low and slow in an earth oven, or explore a marae – the traditional tribal meeting ground of the Māori.

You'll earn Bonus Velocity Points and Status Credits

Still not sold? Well, did we mention that – in honour of Virgin Australia increasing its capacity on flights across the Tasman –  we will hook you up with a whopping five Velocity Points per dollar spent on eligible flights¹ between Australia and New Zealand? And as if that isn’t compelling enough, we’re also offering and increased Status Credit earn rate² on the same flights; at least 23kgs of checked baggage, a substantial in-flight meal and drink included in all fares; and where available, in-flight Wi-Fi³ (including 15 minutes on the house).

If you’ve been meaning to tick Aotearoa off the ol’ travel bucket list, there’s never been a better time. So, what are you waiting for?

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