By Liam Isola Today, we’re sharing a special deal to go down under. You can fly to Australia from the US for under $500 round trip, but you have to act fast. That’s because JetStar is discontinuing its low-cost flights from Honolulu to Sydney in late October. Until then, you’ll be able to grab some great deals.
From the mainland US, especially from the West Coast, it may make sense for you to book a flight to Honolulu and a one way to Sydney. From California that could cost as little as $406 one way and $775 roundtrip
The cheapest nonstop flights to Australia from Los Angeles are to Brisbane, and they start at $950 round trip. So, this could be a great option for anyone who wants to visit both Hawaii and Australia from California, and has a bit of time on their hands.
Fly to Australia: The Best Deal to Sydney
The best deal to Australia from Honolulu is an astounding $428 round trip. That is an absolutely great deal which might only be available for another day or two.
The flights, on low-cost Australian carrier Jetstar, are one month apart, giving you plenty of time to explore a few places in Australia. You could also book a one way flight to Australia and take advantage of its popular one-year working holiday visa. But more on that later.
The Honolulu to Sydney flight is at 1:20 p.m. on Sunday, September 21st, and costs just $232 as of the time of publishing. You can also get the $232 price on October 22nd and 24th. However, taking those October flights would mean any nonstop flight back would be much more expensive.
The last Jetstar flight back from Sydney to Honolulu is on October 24th. That leaves Qantas and Hawaiian, which are much more expensive, as the only nonstop options back to Honolulu afterward. So, booking the September 21st flight is the way to go.
On the way back, there are $196 flights on Jetstar from Sydney to Honolulu on October 19 and 22nd. There’s also a $210 flight on the 17th.
Now, very few, if any, of our readers live in Honolulu. So, we’ll share how you can get to Hawaii cheaply to explore the islands and head down under afterward.
Cheapest Way to Get to Honolulu from Mainland US
The cheapest way to get to Honolulu from the mainland US is from Los Angeles, LAX in particular. There are $174 flights on United, albeit on basic economy, to Honolulu every day from September 9th to October 7th.
If you’d like to use miles to book an economy flight, it’ll be 19.7k United miles + $5.60. Meanwhile, booking an economy flight with cash would run you $224.
Other California cities like San Francisco, Oakland, and Sacramento also have flights to Honolulu under $250 before September 21st.
You can also book a flight from Chicago to Honolulu for as low as 25k United miles + $5.60. The same goes for United hubs Denver and Houston if you’re a United Chase card member. The discounts on these flights are up to 61%. It’s often worth it to book with miles to plenty of destinations as a United cardmember, because of the huge discounts that come with it.
You can also get flights to Honolulu from Newark for 25k miles, but you’ll have to connect through another city first.
On the way back, the cheapest flight ($169) is actually to San Francisco but it’s still only $174 to LA. Plus, it’s under $250 to all of the California cities we mentioned, one way.
Why Visit Australia?
Australia is a massive country with diverse landscapes, unbelievable wildlife, livable cities, and plenty of outdoor activities. It’s a country that’s best experienced at a slow pace, which is why spending at least a month there is a good way to get a sense of it and get a lot of sun in the process.
Flying into Australia’s east coast, you could focus your travels on that area to save time and money. Sydney, Australia’s largest city, is worth at least 3-5 days of your time. Some of the obligatory tourist sites include the Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge, and beaches like Bondi, Coogee, and Manly.
Melbourne is another iconic city that’s a 90-minute flight from Sydney (~$35-50). Visit the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Queen Victoria Market, and Royal Botanic Gardens. Near Melbourne, you can drive the 150-mile Great Ocean Road.
It has attractions such as Bells Beach, London Bridge, the Twelve Apostles, and Great Otway National Park. Melbourne is also the closest city to Tasmania, Australia’s biggest island.
Driving distances between cities in Australia are incredibly long, which explains why many take working holidays there. People buy a camper, travel through the country slowly, and sell the camper at the end of their trip.
With just a month, it makes sense to fly. Other places to visit in Australia’s eastern half include Adelaide, Brisbane and its surroundings (Byron Bay, Sunshine Coast), and Cairns (Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest).
With more time, you could fit in Australia’s West Coast, with destinations like Perth and Nambung National Park.
The Outback is a bucket list destination, and Uluru (Ayers Rock) is its most iconic place. The 32-hour drive from Adelaide to Darwin through the Outback could be an unforgettable experience.
Back to Hawaii
After visiting Australia, you could spend a few days back in Hawaii, island hopping. If you’d like to stay on Oahu, where Honolulu is located, there are plenty of things to do.
Hike the Diamond Head Crater, head to beautiful Waimea Beach, and check out the Pearl Harbor National Monument.
The island of Maui is home to Haleakala National Park, while the Big Island (Hawaii) features Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, where you may be able to see some eruptions. One of the most beautiful hikes in the world, the Na Pali Coast, is located on the island of Kauai.
You can fly direct from Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii (the island) to destinations like LA, San Francisco, Seattle, and Las Vegas.
So, snag this deal to Hawaii and Australia while it still lasts!