Planning Your Trip From Phoenix to Australia: What You Need to Know

Thanks for visiting our website! We at Go Walkabout Travel are your Australia Travel Specialists for Phoenix Arizona

With over 30 years of experience designing customized itineraries for our clients traveling from Phoenix to Australia and New Zealand, we have an encyclopedia of knowledge to assist you.

Our Australia and New Zealand Travel Specialists for the Phoenix region were born and raised in The Land Down Under. You are guaranteed to receive specialized knowledge when we create your travel package that only a local would know.

Here are some tips from our Australia and New Zealand Travel Experts on what you need to be mindful of when planning an Australia and New Zealand Vacation from Phoenix.

Read Our Most Frequently Asked Questions


If you are a US Citizen, you will need a visa when enjoying a vacation in Australia and New Zealand. Your Australian and New Zealand Travel Specialists can assist you with these. You must have at least six months of validity left on your US passport from when you arrive back in the USA and also declare any criminal records upfront when applying for your visa- otherwise, you may be denied entry. Our Down Under Travel Specialists prefer to issue visas before issuing your international airline ticket to Australia and New Zealand.

Like anywhere in the USA, traffic and flight delays can cause mayhem and a really bad start to your vacation! If you are traveling to Phoenix Airport from other areas in Arizona i.e Scottsdale, Flagstaff or Tucson then please leave yourselves plenty of time. It is way better to be checked in and enjoying a drink than to be stressed at the beginning of your dream holiday!

Flying times from Los Angeles to Sydney in the land down under are approx 15 and a half hours in one direction with Qantas- this does not include the flight from Phoenix to Los Angeles Airport and your airport connection times. Of course, you can always fly with Air New Zealand and have a stopover in New Zealand, The Cook Islands, Fiji, or the beautiful islands of French Polynesia/Tahiti as well! Flight time from LA to Auckland, New Zealand is approx 13 hours.

Jet lag always hits the hardest upon your return back to Phoenix Arizona after enjoying your luxury vacation in Australia and New Zealand. Allow yourself an extra day or two before going back to work. Trust us you will be happy with our advice! Majority of the flights from North America land in New Zealand and Australia in the morning so forcing yourself to get outside and stay active for the day will help you to adjust quicker at the beginning of your vacation.

If you are booked on an Escorted Bus Tour in either country we recommend you arrive two full days minimum into your starting city. This will not only allow for any flight delays but also give you some time to adjust to time zones and spend time checking out your arrival destination.

We need time to start planning and designing you a once-in-a-lifetime custom itinerary to travel Down Under. The earlier you book the better chance you have of getting to stay in the best accommodation options and getting your first choice on small group tours. Australia and New Zealand are getting busier and busier with events and conferences so play it safe and have your customized vacation package tailor-made early!

It is wise to have a mixture of accommodation when you plan a trip to Australia and New Zealand. There are some tight luggage restrictions on some domestic flights these days and if you are going for several weeks or more you will need to do some laundry. Your accommodation choices in Australia range from luxury high-end island retreats like Hayman or Lizard Island on The Great Barrier Reef, the apartment stays in which you can do your own cooking and laundry, or hotels that range from 3-5 stars… i.e The Four Seasons Hotel in Sydney Australia.

In New Zealand there are many different accommodation options ranging from apartment stays, bed and breakfasts, boutique hotel stays, Luxury Lodges and a really special treat for at least one night is a Farm Stay with a local family.

Time Zones! Just like North America not all areas of Australia have Daylight Saving. When on a flight with-in Australia always listen to the flight attendant to check if the time has changed. Even cities that sit above each other have different time zones during daylight saving… i.e Sydney and Brisbane.

New Zealand also switches its time zones during the year so once again make sure you watch out for any time changes!

Please keep an eye on the Phoenix Airport website on your day of departure! It is really important that you check and double-check the Phoenix Airport website departures to make sure your connecting flight to your International flight to Australia and New Zealand is operating on time. Also, check your International departure cities website to keep on top of any delays or changes. Most airlines these days do not advise if there are any schedule changes or delays right prior to a flight date. If they do it is usually way after the incident! Remember if you do notice a delay make contact with your Australia and New Zealand Travel experts.

We look forward to designing your customized vacation from Phoenix to Australia and/or New Zealand. We can tailor-make you an amazing once-in-a-lifetime trip whether you are planning an action-packed family holiday, attending a conference, celebrating a wedding anniversary, taking advantage of that well-deserved graduation gift, or finally getting to relax on that luxury romantic honeymoon.

For more information on planning a handcrafted vacation from Phoenix to Australia or New Zealand with your Travel Specialists click on the link below.

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