Find Cheap Flights from Wellington to Melbourne – Compare and Save

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Everything you should know

Direct flights
You can fly direct with Qantas Airways and Air New Zealand. Average duration is 4h 08m
Direct flights
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Direct flights
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Top routes
Cheapest • 28% average savings
Most popular
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Avoid delays
Most punctual • 95% on-time
Best time • Fewest delays
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When to book
in advance
Our data shows that travellers who book at least 17 weeks in advance save around 40% compared to booking last minute.
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Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 21% price drop
Most popular
Good to know
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Good to know
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Top stopover airports
Cheapest • Avg $548 (return)
Shortest trip • 8h 06m (one-way)
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Cheap Flights from Wellington to Melbourne (WLG-MEL)

 
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent return flight deals from Wellington to Melbourne

Multiple Airlines Logo
WLG  Wellington-ME1 Meldreth
4141 kmmulti-stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
ME1  Meldreth-WLG Wellington
4141 kmmulti-stop
Multiple Airlines
Booking Insights

Price, demand, and travel trends for Wellington to Melbourne flights

Use KAYAK data on prices, travel dates, airlines, and seasonal trends to compare options and book flights with more confidence.

What's the cheapest day of the week to fly from Wellington to Melbourne?

Based on deals KAYAK users found in the last 12 months, Saturday is the cheapest day of the week to fly from Wellington to Melbourne. It's 10% cheaper than the average day, while Thursday is the most expensive, with prices 5% higher.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Wellington to Melbourne?

•September is the cheapest month to fly from Wellington to Melbourne at $501 return.
•December ($798) and January ($692) are the most expensive months.
•The price difference between flying in the cheapest and most expensive months is 59% on average.
This is based on KAYAK aggregated and averaged internal data over the past 12 months.

When are flights from Wellington to Melbourne the cheapest?

Flights from Wellington to Melbourne are cheapest 17 weeks before departure. Booking in this window typically costs about 40% less than the average last-minute fare (within 2 weeks of the flight), based on KAYAK data.

Key details for Wellington to Melbourne flights

Low season

June
Beat the crowds with an average 22% drop in travellers.
The most popular month to fly with an average 23% increase in travellers.

When to book flights from Wellington to Melbourne

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Wellington to Melbourne based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated return price

Your Wellington to Melbourne flight questions, answered

Find helpful answers about this route, including flight times, airports, airlines, and booking tips.

  • What are the earliest and latest flights from Wellington to Melbourne?

    These are the earliest and latest flight times available from Wellington to Melbourne:

    • Earliest: departs at 06:00 and lands at 10:08
    • Latest: departs at 20:05 and lands at 00:13.

    The flight takes about 4h 08m.

  • Which cabin classes can I book on flights from Wellington to Melbourne?

    Two cabin classes are available on flights from Wellington to Melbourne:

    • Economy class
    • Business Class

  • How long is a flight from Wellington to Melbourne?

    A direct flight from Wellington to Melbourne takes 4h 08m, covering 4,141 km.

  • Do I need a passport to fly from Wellington to Melbourne?

    Yes, a valid passport is required for this international route. Many destinations require at least six months of validity beyond your travel dates. Check your passport expiry well before booking.

  • How much should I expect to pay for a Wellington to Melbourne flight?

    Return flights from Wellington to Melbourne range from $536 to $782, with an average of $634 over the past 12 months. Anything below $536 counts as a good deal.

  • How expensive are last-minute Wellington to Melbourne flights?

    Last-minute fares on this route (booked within two weeks of departure) run 40% above the $634 route average. Book 17 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

  • How much can I save by having a stopover when flying from Wellington to Melbourne?

    On this route, stopover flights are cheaper than direct options on average. Stopover fares average $548 return via Coolangatta Gold Coast (OOL), compared with $641 for direct.

  • What is the standard checked bag allowance on flights from Wellington to Melbourne?

    There is no standard. Checked bag policies vary by airline on this route. Most carriers charge $44–$142 for the first checked bag in Economy. Premium fares and elite status bookings typically include a free checked bag.

  • How are flight departures from Wellington to Melbourne spread across the day?

    Morning is the busiest departure period on Wellington to Melbourne flights, with 50% leaving in that window. Afternoon departures account for 50%, Evening flights for 0%, and Night flights for 0%.

  • What car hire options are available in Melbourne?

    Since Melbourne is served by multiple airports, car hire options and rates can vary depending on which one you fly into.
    Near Melbourne Airport (MEL) – daily rates from around $18:

    • Bargain Car Rentals
    • East Coast Car Rentals
    • EverythingFleet
    • Ace Rental Cars
    • Simba Car Hire

    Near Melbourne Avalon Airport (AVV) – daily rates from around $28:

    • Sixt
    • Yesaway
    • Economy Rent a Car
    • Kangaroo Rental
    • Hertz

  • Which airports can I use when flying from Wellington to Melbourne?

    Flights from Wellington to Melbourne usually depart from Wellington (WLG) and may arrive at several airports in Melbourne area, including Melbourne Avalon (AVV), Melbourne Moorabbin (MBW), Melbourne Essendon (MEB) and Melbourne (MEL).

  • What time of day has the fewest delays on flights from Wellington to Melbourne?

    Morning flights have the fewest delays on this route, while afternoon departures tend to have the most.

  • At what point is a flight considered delayed from Wellington to Melbourne?

    A flight is considered delayed when it departs 15 minutes or more after its scheduled time. This is the standard used by the US Department of Transportation and most airline industry reporting. On the Wellington to Melbourne route, 11% of flights were delayed in the past three months, with delays averaging 1h 31m.

  • Which airports do connecting flights from Wellington to Melbourne pass through?

    One-stop flights from Wellington to Melbourne most commonly connect through:

    • Christchurch (CHC) – 58% of one-stop connections
    • Auckland Intl (AKL) – 30% of one-stop connections
    • Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD) – 11% of one-stop connections
    • Coolangatta Gold Coast (OOL) – 2% of one-stop connections

  • Can I save money by using flexible dates for flights from Wellington to Melbourne?

    Yes. Flexible dates can save you up to 15% on flights from Wellington to Melbourne. Saturday is the cheapest departure day at $571 return on average, while Thursday is the most expensive at $669, a difference of $98.

    Cheaper weekend fares like these are typical of routes dominated by weekday business travel.

  • Which airlines fly from Wellington to Melbourne?

    2 airlines operate flights between Wellington and Melbourne. The airlines offering direct flights on this route include:

    • Qantas Airways
    • Air New Zealand

  • How much time can I save by choosing a different stopover airport from Wellington to Melbourne?

    Flying via Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time of 8h 06m, compared to 9h 42m via Auckland Intl (AKL) and 10h 39m via Coolangatta Gold Coast (OOL).

  • What is the time difference between Wellington and Melbourne?

    Melbourne is 2 hours behind Wellington (Eastern Australia Time vs New Zealand Time). Plan for the time shift when scheduling connections or first-day activities.

  • What popular places can I visit in Melbourne?

    Some of the most popular sights in Melbourne are Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Crown Casino, and Marvel Stadium. These are among the most viewed places in Melbourne on KAYAK.

  • Which airlines offer extra legroom and free seat selection on Wellington to Melbourne flights?

    Among airlines operating Wellington to Melbourne flights:

    • Emirates: offers free seat selection

    Extra legroom and free seat selection availability depends on fare class and route.

  • Which airlines include bags at no extra cost on Wellington to Melbourne flights?

    Here are some options for this route, based on selected ticket types and cabin classes:

    • Air New Zealand: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class
    • Qantas Airways: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class
    • Emirates: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class

    Baggage allowance can vary by ticket type, cabin class, route, and airline, so always check the fare details before booking.

Your guide to booking Wellington to Melbourne flights

Get tips on when to book, when to fly, and what to know before your trip.
  • If your dates are flexible, aim for a Saturday departure and avoid flying on Thursday. On this route, Saturday flights average $571, about $98 less than Thursday fares (15% savings) based on the last 12 months.
  • For the best chance at a low fare, aim to book around 17 weeks before you fly. On this route, that window historically saves about 40% versus last-minute pricing (KAYAK booking data, last 12 months).
  • If you can choose when to travel, plan your Wellington to Melbourne trip for September. Fares historically average $501 return in that month – typically $297 less than the most expensive month, which is December (based on the last 12 months).
  • For the best chance of arriving on time, fly with Air New Zealand. Over the past three months, 95% of Air New Zealand flights from Wellington to Melbourne arrived on time, slightly above the route average of 89%. When flights on this route arrive late, they're delayed by an average of 1h 31m, so choosing an airline with strong on-time performance can make a difference if you're on a tight schedule.
  • If you have the time, taking a 1-stop flight through Coolangatta Gold Coast Airport (OOL) can be cheaper than flying direct. The cheapest stopover option averages $548 return on this route – about $93 less than direct flights (based on the last 12 months).
  • If you're arriving late at night and need somewhere to stay, hotels close to the airport you're flying into can be a convenient option.

    Near Melbourne Airport

    • Holiday Inn Melbourne Airport By IHG

    Near Melbourne Essendon Airport

    • Nightcap at Skyways Hotel

Prefer to fly direct from Wellington to Melbourne?

 
Find which airlines fly direct from Wellington Airport to Melbourne, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

Wellington to Melbourne

Monday

Air New Zealand,Qantas Airways

Air New Zealand,Qantas Airways

Tuesday

Air New Zealand,Qantas Airways

Air New Zealand,Qantas Airways

Wednesday

Air New Zealand,Qantas Airways

Air New Zealand,Qantas Airways

Thursday

Air New Zealand,Qantas Airways

Air New Zealand,Qantas Airways

Friday

Air New Zealand,Qantas Airways

Air New Zealand,Qantas Airways

Saturday

Air New Zealand,Qantas Airways

Air New Zealand,Qantas Airways

Sunday

Air New Zealand,Qantas Airways

Air New Zealand,Qantas Airways

See more direct flights

Direct returns

Melbourne to Wellington

Monday

Air New Zealand,Qantas Airways

Air New Zealand,Qantas Airways

Tuesday

Air New Zealand,Qantas Airways

Air New Zealand,Qantas Airways

Wednesday

Air New Zealand,Qantas Airways

Air New Zealand,Qantas Airways

Thursday

Air New Zealand,Qantas Airways

Air New Zealand,Qantas Airways

Friday

Air New Zealand,Qantas Airways

Air New Zealand,Qantas Airways

Saturday

Air New Zealand,Qantas Airways

Air New Zealand,Qantas Airways

Sunday

Air New Zealand,Qantas Airways

Air New Zealand,Qantas Airways

See more direct flights

More options for your flight from Wellington to Melbourne

Complete your trip to Melbourne with a hotel stay or car hire