24 January, 2020
Destination Profile
Cheap flights to Papeete from New Zealand take five hours in the air. Whisking you across the South Pacific to the capital of a country that's famed for its white-sand beaches, azure lagoons, and honeymoon-worthy overwater bungalows, they are understandably sought-after among Kiwis on the hunt for real R&R. But before you snorkel sideways to find the coral reefs of Bora Bora, it might be worth planning a few days in Papeete itself. It's the capital of French Polynesia; a place where Chinese cookhouses mingle with pearl emporiums and bumping tiki bars.
A reconstructed royal palace, Papeete Town Hall is the jewel in the crown of the French Polynesian capital.
Get ready to be stunned by Tahiti's rainforest-fringed coves, black-sand beaches, and gushing inland waterfalls.
Lush rainforests frame azure lagoons in gorgeous Bora Bora. No wonder this is the honeymoon destination of choice in French Polynesia.
Right now, the most affordable time of year to take a flight to Papeete is October/2025.
Qantas Airways, Air New Zealand and Air Tahiti Nui have non-stop flights from New Zealand to Papeete.
The cheapest airline that flies from New Zealand to Papeete is Air Tahiti Nui.
Qantas Airways is the best airline to fly between New Zealand and Papeete and it flies direct.