Your Down Under adventure starts with flights to Australia

Flights to Australia: need to know

Cheap airline tickets to Australia

Australia didn’t get its nickname “Down Under” for nothing. It’s a long way from anything and flight prices reflect that. Qantas, Australia’s biggest airline, is ranked among the safest in the world and offering non-stop connections to Sydney from the US. United Airlines also flies non-stop.

When to book the cheapest flights to Australia

Australia is popular year-round but you’ll find that Christmas is peak season in Sydney and Melbourne and finding flights for cheap can be difficult. Try planning your vacation in Australia for February if you’re after the cheapest flight fares.

• Peak season: Australian summer, December to February.
• Low season: Winter, June to August.

Flight duration

A non-stop flight to Australia from New York takes 22 hours 45 minutes.

Experience Australia: sights, tours and activities

Australia is the sixth largest country and is a magnificent medley of beaches, coral reefs, deserts, wine country, mountains and more. Most Australians live on the coast and cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Canberra are attracting attention worldwide! Flip flops at the ready, we’re going Down Under!

Essentials in Australia

Bondi Beach: If you’re in Sydney, there’s only one place to be: Bondi Beach. It is one of the world’s greatest beaches with the foaming Pacific lapping at its shores. It’s the closest beach to the city centre, and a hot spot for surfers.

Great Barrier Reef: There are a lot of superlatives that are appropriate for the GBR but let’s just say that it’s the only living thing visible from space and that it’s bigger than the Great Wall of China. It’s a pretty remarkable place and is the best diving place on the planet. Period.

Uluru: Uluru is one of the country’s top sights and has practically achieved pilgrimage status. Most visitors will only stay in the National Park for a day, but the region is worth more than that. If you can, plan at least 3 days to hike, experience desert culture and take in the many moods of this giant monolith.

Visit www.australia.com for more info.

Hotels and accommodation in Australia

Australia has it all in terms of hotel accommodation. Stay at a chic boutique spot in Sydney or at a youth hostel in Melbourne. Camp in the Blue Mountains or stay with a local tribe near Uluru. Wherever you rest your head at night, make sure you book your hotels in Australia early if visiting during the Christmas vacation.