If I asked you if Australia was on your ‘Bucket List’, what would your response be?
I’m guessing you would say “Yes.” Most American’s I’ve spoken to respond that way.
And yet the other response I receive is “Sure, but Its too far.” Australia isn’t too far, that’s just a perception.
How Far is Australia From the USA?
It is 9,429 miles as a plane flies from the USA’s west coast to Australia’s east coast.
In comparison it is:
10,173 miles from Los Angeles to South Africa where you want to go on safari,
and
8,985 miles from Los Angeles to Jakarta, Indonesia, taking direct flights, and that is going to be a long flight so why would you do that.
Here Are Options To Break Up Your Long Haul Flight to Australia
There are much easier flights to take to get yourself to Australia in order to have a different flying experience than 15 hours on a non stop, long haul flight. Let’s look at those options:
Option 1 – Travel via Fiji
If you fly Fiji Airways out of the West Coast of the USA, when you arrive in Nadi, Fiji it is around 5 am in the morning (Fiji time). This flight is an overnight flight, as it leave from around 10pm to close to midnight. You are likely to be tired and ready to sleep as soon as you board the plane.
When you arrive in Fiji, you exit the international flight and move through transit, a simple process. You do need to complete a customs card and move through another security checkpoint. Once you are inside the next terminal you have time for food and a bathroom stop and to walk around before boarding your next flight to Australia. I personally like this option as it breaks up the long flight.
Then your next flight to Australia is anywhere from 3 hours to 5 hours depending on your inbound destination. Fiji Airways is now flying directly into more Australian East Coast gateways, meaning you have direct options rather than needing another internal flight.
**You do not need any visa’s to transit through Fiji on route to Australia.
Option 2 – Travel via New Zealand
West Coast USA gateways offer flights via Air New Zealand.
Arriving into Auckland you must have an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority), even though you are transiting through New Zealand. You must purchase your NZeTA prior to arriving in New Zealand using the approved App.
Transiting through Auckland International Airport is similar to Fiji. You do need to be aware that if you bought any duty free items, such as liquids, they will be checked and if you are above allowable limits, they may be confiscated prior to you boarding your flight to Australia.
As a transiting passenger you are not allowed to leave the Auckland International Airport.
Option 3 – Travel via Hawaii
Travelling to Australia via Hawaii is a little different as you are traveling to a U.S. state first. This means there is no need for visa’s. You may even fly from the USA on one airline and travel onward to Australia, via Honolulu, with another airline.
Depending on how you book your flights, you may have additional time, such as a day, to spend in Hawaii. Flights from the West Coast of the USA travel to Hawaii at various times during the day, so understanding the layover time is going to be key.
It is also important to understand if you are allowed to leave the airport or not.
Hawaiian Airlines fly from the US West Coast to Hawaii, and from there you can connect with a Jetstar flight into Sydney in Australia.
* Tahiti is technically half way between continental USA and Australia but there are currently no direct flights between Papeete, Tahiti and Australia.
No More Excuses For Not Traveling to Australia
As you can see there are a number of different options available to you, to travel to Australia.
It will be your choice if you wish to take the direct long haul flight that lasts for 15+hours USA West Coast to Australian East Coast.
Or choose one of the three viable options for breaking up the long haul trip, and potentially spending a night in one of these other amazing places.
Consider these options next time you tell yourself “Australia is too far away”.. it’s really not as far as you think.