Adelaide, Here We Come. New Direct Flights From Christchurch
For the first time ever, a direct commercial air service will connect Christchurch and Adelaide, with Air New Zealand today announcing a new twice-weekly route launching this summer. The service marks a historic step forward in trans-Tasman travel and strengthens the long-standing sister city relationship between Christchurch and Adelaide.
Operating out of Christchurch every Friday and Monday from 27 October 2025 to 28 March 2026. The flights are perfectly timed for long weekend escapes or easy business trips. Flights will depart Christchurch in the early evening arriving in Adelaide late evening, with the return service leaving Adelaide the following morning and touching down in Christchurch after midday. The service adds over 15,000 seats two-ways across the summer season.
Christchurch and Adelaide have officially been sister cities for over 50 years, they celebrated the milestone in 2022 with civic events and signed a Memorandum of Understanding to deepen ties across tourism, trade, education and culture.
This new direct air link brings that partnership to life, connecting people and places. It offers Kiwis a new gateway to explore South Australia's rich food, wine and cultural scene, and as easy for Australians to experience the South Island's alpine beauty, adrenaline-fuelled adventures and world-famous hospitality.
Christchurch Airport Chief Executive Justin Watson says the route adds strength to the airport's growing network:
'This service is another fabulous addition to our trans-Tasman network. It builds on a strong civic and regional connection and supports more Kiwis and Aussies to explore each other's backyards all year round.'
Mayor of Christchurch Phil Mauger says the announcement is another milestone in a long and proud friendship:
'Adelaide and Christchurch are sister cities with shared values and strong ties. With over 50 years of formal connection behind us, this new service is awesome, it opens the door to even more exchange, tourism and opportunity.'
Hon. James Meager, Minister for the South Island, says the new service reflects the region's appeal:
'The South Island is one of the most spectacular tourism destinations in the world. A direct link gives even more Australians the chance to experience our unique landscapes, adventure and culture, and it's a major win for our economy heading into the busy summer.'
Adelaide Airport Managing Director, Brenton Cox, said:
'We're delighted that Air New Zealand has recognised the strong pent-up demand between Adelaide and Christchurch.
'Our data shows that close to 50,000 passengers are travelling indirectly between Adelaide and the South Island each year, with a relatively even split of inbound and outbound travel, so we're confident that there will be significant interest in this new service. The majority of travellers between Adelaide and New Zealand are either on holiday or visiting family and relatives.
'We have no doubt a non-stop service to Christchurch will prove attractive to South Australians.
The announcement rounds off a bumper few weeks for Christchurch Airport, following Qantas's decision to increase capacity on its Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne routes, Singapore Airlines boosting international summer connectivity, and Air New Zealand's jet service addition to the Christchurch–Hamilton route. And earlier today, Air New Zealand announced 36 new flights between Auckland and Christchurch between June and October adding 14,600 seats to their schedule.
Together, these moves are a bold endorsement of the South Island, and a proud reminder that Christchurch Airport is not just connecting regions but delivering for New Zealand.
^ Mondays services will be operated 18:50 – 20:55 between 27th October till 24th November 2025.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Otago Daily Times
6 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Will axing petrol tax be a game-changer?
Scrapping petrol tax may, or many not, be transformative, Angela Curl and Caroline Shaw write. The way we get around is unfair, and unhealthy. Some people travel a lot, creating disproportionate harms on people and the planet, such as pollution, injury risk and physical inactivity. Others cannot afford to travel enough, missing out on things that are important, such as catching up with loved ones or healthcare appointments, or end up having to forego expenditure on other important things, such as food. Replacing fuel excise duty (or petrol tax) with electronic road user charges for all vehicles — as announced by Transport Minister Chris Bishop last week — offers an opportunity to transform the way we fund and pay for our transport system in a way that works for people and the planet by reflecting the true costs imposed when we use the roads. Bishop said "it isn't fair to have Kiwis who drive less and can't afford a fuel-efficient car paying more than people who can afford one and drive more often." On the whole, we agree. We know that those households with the lowest income drive far less (about 100km a week less) but also have to spend a much greater proportion of their income on getting around (16% of income compared with 9% for higher-income households). Those on lower incomes are also far less likely to be able to afford an electric vehicle with cheaper running costs, instead paying the relatively more expensive petrol tax. However, Bishop's proposal represents a narrow view of the harms, or wider costs, of driving to society. It is largely based on the assumption all vehicles should contribute "fairly" (based on weight and distance travelled) towards road maintenance, operations and improvements. But a pricing structure that also accounts for the costs to our health system of injuries, pollution and physical inactivity caused by the transport system, might also include differential charging for different types of vehicles. For example, we know that SUVs cause more severe injuries to those outside of the vehicle, and while EVs reduce tailpipe emissions, they still contribute to congestion and injury risk. The proposal does suggest that weight, as well as distance travelled, will be factored into pricing; however, it should also consider the damage that heavier and larger vehicles do to people and the environment. A change in the way we are charged for using the roads offers a real opportunity to design a progressive charge that alleviates costs pressures for those already struggling to pay for the driving they need to do, while reducing levels of driving overall. One way to achieve this would be through increasing the rate per km, above a certain amount of kilometres driven. Given the costs involved in running and operating the scheme, and that this needs to be revenue-generating for government, it seems unlikely there will be a reduction in the cost of travel in real terms for everyone. However, if the government is committed to fairness, it needs to ensure costs do not escalate for those who can least afford it and who have few alternatives. The proposed changes to road user charges are most likely to be successful and acceptable if they are accompanied by investment in public transport, walking and cycling and alongside strategic urban planning that supports local access to the things we all need such as shops, schools and sports grounds. The most straightforward way to ensure that charging for using the roads does not force people into situations where they have to forego other essentials is to ensure that it is easy and safe to get around in other ways, or that we do not need to travel as much. For both fairness and health and wellbeing we need to continue to improve travel options other than driving. Bishop presented this as a new way to fund our roads, but we should be taking a more holistic view — this is an opportunity to think about how we fund our transport system. Using revenue raised to reduce the need to drive can make charging for driving more acceptable. Bishop said: "This is a once-in-a-generation change. It's the right thing to do, it's the fair thing to do, and it will future-proof how we fund our roads for decades to come." This policy has the potential to be truly transformative and be part of creating a transport system (not just roads) that is fairer, and healthier for everyone. It can be done. The question is, will it? — Newsroom • Dr Angela Curl is a senior lecturer in the University of Otago department of population health, Christchurch; Caroline Shaw is a lecturer and researcher in the department of public health, University of Otago, Wellington.
NZ Herald
16 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Kentucky: Exploring Louisville's epic food scene
Matt Jamie, owner and founder of Bourbon Barrel Foods, at work in his soy sauce microbrewery. Photo / Josh Merideth Matt Jamie doesn't believe in luck. He was just ready. The chef and entrepreneur guided us through his soy sauce microbrewery in Louisville, Kentucky, his hometown. Inside, a whiff of aged bourbon oak barrels simmered beneath the skin, spices smoked up, and a thick sludge of soybeans and wheat just carried on fermenting. All of those things are from the Bluegrass State. Delicious. Jamie is the kind of guy who could just as easily fit in as a venture capitalist of a hip start-up as he does as a bourbon experimentalist. A strategic artist you don't want to mess with. His tangents feel useful. He loves efficiency. And he's driven as hell. When asked why he got into soy sauce, Jamie's answer was simple: 'No one else was doing it'. He said he noticed there were plenty of similarities and parallels to the distilling of bourbon when he first started researching how to make soy sauce. 'I looked at that as an opportunity to really showcase what we can do with our native spirit, you know, both with just the barrel but using it as an ingredient and at the same time showcasing all the things that Kentucky has to offer culinarily, because we have such a great history with it.' That was 19 years ago. Today, he has around 54 people working for him at his company, Bourbon Barrel Foods, which produces over 150 products. If you visit a mainstream grocery store anywhere in the US, chances are you will see his spices, sauces, sweets, and snacks. And it's all made here. 'When people come to Louisville to experience bourbon in the city, it's like going to California to experience wine. You fly into San Francisco, you go out and visit your winery, it's a very romantic experience. 'And so, as Louisville started to position itself as the gateway to bourbon country and offering those experiences with visiting the distilleries, eating in our restaurants, it was missing what I started, which was that specialty food component,' he said. We then had a tasting of Bourbon Barrel Foods soy sauce products. It felt fancy and cool. Two things I am not. Nevertheless, the standout for me was the Bluegrass Soy Sauce, which my cheat sheet described as meaty, brothy, leathery, and briny with a subtle sweetness. I thought it was bloody good and different. Biscuit Belly Biscuit Belly in Louisville, Kentucky. Photo / Go to Louisville Lauren Coulter's mum wasn't much of a cook. Growing up, her best friend's grandma, 'Dit Dot', made fresh biscuits every morning. It's not a biscuit in the way Kiwis would expect - think scone but with more butter, fluff, salt and circular perfection. Lauren remembers Dit Dot rolling out dough in a warm kitchen, flour dusting the countertops, while they waited for that first golden pan to come out of the oven. 'Biscuits weren't just food — they were a signal that we were about to slow down, gather, and love on each other a little bit," Lauren told me. That fond memory eventually became a seed for what would become a real-life dream with Biscuit Belly, a 'Southern with swagger' restaurant franchise she co-owns with her husband. Today, there are 19 branches across the South - the first one set up right here in Louisville. But the couple weren't always restaurateurs. Before they decided to take the plunge and shift gears into a new industry, Lauren and Chad had successful careers as pharmacists. 'We joke that we went from pills to pimento cheese, but the truth is we were craving something more personal, more creative, and way more fun,' says Lauren. Lauren Coulter. Customers often remark that their biscuits are 'damn good'. For Lauren, it means this: 'A damn good biscuit is one that makes you stop mid-bite and say, 'Well, hell yes.' It's flaky, buttery, just a little crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and sturdy enough to hold up to gravy, fried chicken, or a runny egg.' 'There's something sacred about a classic: a fluffy biscuit smothered in scratch-made sausage gravy. But the best way to enjoy it? With a strong cup of coffee, in good company, on a slow morning. Maybe even in your sweats. Let it drip. Lick your fingers. That's the vibe,' she explains. It was still proper morning (before 10am) when I tried the Gravy Train: mini biscuits with pots of three gravies to try - sausage, mushroom and smoked gouda mornay. It's still very much Southern but a far cry from traditional. And that's sort of the point. 'We're not here to compete with your granny's kitchen—we're here to evolve the category. Southern breakfast has deep roots, and we're proud of that heritage, but there's also room for innovation, humour, and a little over-the-top indulgence," Lauren explains. 'We want people to walk away saying, 'I didn't know breakfast could be this fun.'' Unapologetically, it was a 'hell yes' from me. JJBakes & Co When chef Jackie Joseph lost her job during the pandemic, she took a gamble and applied to compete in season four of the Food Network's show Best Baker in America in 2021. It paid off - she won. 'So many times in the series I thought this is it ... I'm going home. I think it was just my own mental battle ... I felt I'm such an underdog going into the competition because I hadn't been in a kitchen for over a year,' Joseph told local news channel WHAS11. Four years later, I'm at the store Joseph set up with her $41,980 prize money (US$25,000). It's called JJBakes & Co and it's inside the Omni; a 4-star hotel a short drive from the city's airport. I eyed the banana bread. It was Jackie's grandma's recipe, the sales assistant told me. In the cabinet, it was a giant loaf and I thought I would get a slice. I was naive. This was the US, and they gave you the whole loaf. Now, I know most of the world's population hates this word - and I'm sorry but not really - this was incredibly moist. And incredibly banana-ry - that's key. The only downside was that it was also quite rich and I couldn't finish it. Regrets? I have none. Chef Jackie Joseph. Photo / The Food Network Checklist KENTUCKY, USA GETTING THERE Fly from Auckland to George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas with Air New Zealand, then direct to Louisville International Airport via United Airlines. DETAILS The journalist was a guest of Travel South USA.
Scoop
18 hours ago
- Scoop
Relocating Kiwis Push Up Premium Property Prices
Press Release – New Zealand Sotheby's International Realty New Zealand Sothebys International Realty managing director Mark Harris says buyers are looking to these regions as they seek more in a property; whether its more land, more features or a larger home. Selwyn in Canterbury, Nelson-Tasman and areas of the Waikato have been identified as emerging premium property hotspots, with an increase in property sales over $2 million. The increase is likely attributed to internal migration to these regions, as affluent Kiwi buyers relocate for lifestyle, space and quality new builds. New Zealand Sotheby's International Realty managing director Mark Harris says buyers are looking to these regions as they seek more in a property; whether it's more land, more features or a larger home. 'Many buyers at the moment are less focused on the postcode and more interested in the features of a property,' he says. 'What you pay for a villa in Grey Lynn might buy you a lifestyle block with a swimming pool in Selwyn. With the digitisation of the workspace, lowering interest rates and better roads and transport – particularly in Canterbury and the Waikato in relation to city and airport accessibility – it's never been easier for Kiwis to relocate.' In Selwyn, the population has grown by 19,381 internal relocators between 2018-2024, driving a 44% rise in median property prices to nearly $800,000 and a significant increase in homes selling above $2 million – a price point rarely seen there just a few years ago. In comparison, just seven homes sold for over $2 million in 2018, yet in 2024 there were 44 sales over $2 million – an increase of more than 500%. 'The wider Canterbury region is seeing a resurgence in interest, and in Selwyn, people are excited about the prospects of the area, now that it has re-established after the earthquake,' says Harris. 'It has good schools, jobs, lifestyle and is good value in comparison with the more traditionally sought-after suburbs of Merivale and Fendalton.' A similar trend is emerging in the Nelson-Tasman region, where lifestyle estates and coastal homes are now commanding higher prices. The region has welcomed 2,740 Kiwis relocating from other areas of NZ between 2018 and 2024, and it has consistently experienced solid year-on-year price growth of around 5.5%. High-end, $2 million-plus sales in the region have nearly tripled since 2018. 'These are not just statistical gains, they're people making intentional moves, often mid-to-upper income earners seeking quality of life,' says Harris. 'Our Nelson office has had one if its best six months on record, with the volume of sales up and some significant prices being achieved in the area.' The Waikato has also experienced a surge in domestic migration; 10,475 internal people moved to the region between 2018-2024. Sales of $2 million and over hit record highs in 2021, and while there's been some correction, 2024 still outperforms pre-Covid levels, with a steady average yearly increase in the median sales price by over 5%. Harris says many Kiwis are viewing the Waikato as a viable place to live due to improved road and transport connectivity with Auckland. 'The Waikato is also seeing a good pick up in results after a tough few years,' he says.'Cambridge and Tamahere are where young families are establishing themselves on lifestyle blocks close to great schools, with enough room for pools, animals and orchards, yet still close to Auckland and the coastal beaches.' About New Zealand Sotheby's International Realty New Zealand Sotheby's International Realty (NZSIR) is a specialist agency that focuses on the sale of premium property through quality marketing and global networking. Founded in 2005 by Mark Harris and Julian Brown, the NZ branch of the global company has 28 offices nationwide – Northland, Auckland Ponsonby, Auckland North Shore, Auckland Remuera, Auckland Eastern Bays, Auckland South East, Waiheke Island, Hamilton, Cambridge, Rotorua, Taupō, Napier, Ahuriri, Havelock North, Palmerston North, Masterton, Greytown, Kapiti, Wellington, Hutt Valley, Nelson, Marlborough, Christchurch, Wānaka, Arrowtown and its head office in Queenstown. It also has an Australian office in Melbourne, Victoria. NZSIR is part of Sotheby's International Realty – the world's leading luxury real estate company – with a global network of approximately 1,110 offices and more than 26,000 affiliated independent sales associates throughout 84 countries and territories. It is through this unparalleled luxury network that NZSIR is able to access and market properties on an international level. In 2022/2023 NZSIR was named Best International Real Estate Agency Asia Pacific (5-20 offices) at the International Property Awards and recently won Best Property Agency/Consultancy New Zealand at the 2025 International Property Awards for the Asia Pacific region.
