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Overseas trips you can make over a long weekend (that you probably didn’t know you could)

We're not as remote as you might think we are.

Harbour at Noumea in New Calendonia.

Long weekends like Australia Day, Easter and the King's birthday are the perfect excuse to get away on a spontaneous trip. While exploring your own backyard on your days off is always a good idea, you might be surprised to know you can actually travel internationally for a decent 3- or even 4-day holiday from most capital cities in Australia.

And no, we're not just suggesting you pay our Kiwi friends a visit for the weekend… although there is that option.

To bring you the best destinations to jet set to, we sought out flights with a travel time of 4 hours or less because you shouldn't spend all your time flying when you should be maxing out your holiday hours.

Save on your luggage with these discounts:

Top overseas trips for the long weekend

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New Zealand

We’re going to get this one over and done with early. Located southeast of Australia, New Zealand makes for the perfect long-weekend break due to its proximity to Australia as well as the frequency of direct flights between major cities.

Flights from eastern Australia are between 3-4 hours to major New Zealand cities such as Auckland, Christchurch, Queenstown and Wellington. The shortest direct flight is between Sydney and Queenstown at 3 hours.

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New Zealand flights from $265.31

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Flights to Queenstown from $535

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New Zealand flights from $512

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Noumea

The French Polynesian territory of New Caledonia might seem a world away culturally, but it’s only a short flight from Australia’s eastern cities. Renowned for its beaches, marine life and island culture, you can get to it for under 3 hours from Sydney and Brisbane.

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Noumea flights from $1,139

BaliWedding

Bali

Australia’s love affair with Bali isn’t without reason. From its powder-soft beaches to its affordable budget flights, it’s best flown for a short trip from Perth or Darwin. If you’ve got a few more days to spare, you can get up to Bali from Sydney or Brisbane in a little over 6 hours.

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Bali flights from $504.49

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Bali flights from $600.85

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Flights to Bali from $504

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Bali flights from $1,066

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Dili, Timor-Leste

If you’ve seen and done Bali or are looking for a more authentic Indonesian experience, try East Timor’s capital Dili. Located on the north coast of the country, Dili features pristine views of the bay and Atauro Island. Darwin is the only Australian capital that offers short, direct flights to it, with a travel time of 1 hour and 20 minutes.

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Timor - Leste flights from $1,178.58

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Dili, Timor-Leste Flights from $1,678

FijiF

Fiji

Featuring over 300 islands and a tropical landscape of sandy beaches, crystal clear waters and rugged mountains, Fiji is a relaxing outpost not far from Australia’s east coast. Ideal for young families, honeymooning couples and pure relaxation, it’ll take you less than 4 hours to fly from Sydney or Brisbane, making it ideal for a 3- or 4-day holiday.

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Fiji flights from $399.60

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Nadi, Fiji flights from $645

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Flights to Nadi from $853

Vanuatu.Shutterstock

Vanuatu

Much like Fiji, Vanuatu is a South Pacific Island with a lot to offer families, couples and adventure seekers. Snorkel through coral oceans, unwind in plush cabanas and uncover historical WWI relics over a short trip. You can get here in just over 3 hours from Sydney or under 3 hours from Brisbane.

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Port Vila, Vanuatu flights from $597.09

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Flights to Vanuatu from $1,627

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Flights to Vanuatu from $539

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Solomon Islands

Brisbane is topping the list here for the best destination to start an international holiday that won’t waste your time to get to. On top of Fiji and Vanuatu, Brisbanites also have the option to travel to the Solomon Islands for a paradise-filled adventure that's less than 4 hours away. Dreamy, laid-back, historical and landscape rich, spend your days stretching out on the beach, swimming in lagoons or wandering volcanic rims. The choice is yours.

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Solomon Island flights from $728.09

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Solomon Island flights from $1,547

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Port Moresby

Papua New Guinea’s largest city is accessed easiest from Brisbane and is a grittier more city-based experience. With a flight time of just over 3 hours, over the course of your 3-day holiday, you can drink up views of the bay, scour marketplaces, chow down on local eats, visit museums and play it like a local.

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Port Moresby flights from $613.22

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Flights to Port Moresby from $1,124

International flights you can take under 4 hours from Australia’s capital cities

Find out where you can go. Note, unfortunately, there are no direct, international flights from Adelaide.

FromToFlight time (direct)
DarwinDili, Timor-Leste1 hour 20 minutes
DarwinBali2 hours 40 minutes
BrisbanePort Vila, Vanuatu2 hours 50 minutes
BrisbaneNoumea2 hours 10 minutes
SydneyNoumea2 hours 50 minutes
SydneyQueenstown3 hours
BrisbaneAuckland3 hours 15 minutes
MelbourneQueenstown3 hours 5 minutes
SydneyPort Vila, Vanuatu3 hours 30 minutes
BrisbanePort Moresby3 hours 10 minutes
BrisbaneHoniara, Solomon Islands3 hours 20 minutes
BrisbaneChristchurch3 hours 30 minutes
BrisbaneWellington3 hours 35 minutes
MelbourneChristchurch3 hours 15 minutes
BrisbaneQueenstown3 hours 30 minutes
MelbourneWellington3 hours 35 minutes
BrisbaneFiji3 hours 40 minutes
HobartAuckland3 hours 30 minutes (no direct flights)
MelbourneAuckland3 hours 30 minutes
PerthBali3 hours 45 minutes
SydneyFiji3 hours 55 minutes
SydneyWellington3 hours, 15 minutes
SydneyAuckland3 hours
SydneyChristchurch3 hours, 5 minutes

Four-day weekend?

If you can stretch your holiday even further and push that flight time just a smidgen, it’s possible to make it even further north than Bali. From Darwin, you can get up to Singapore in just 4 hours and 45 minutes, and from Sydney, you can now fly direct to Tonga in 4 hours and 35 minutes.

See deals and exclusive codes for the long weekend

Deal exclusive

5% off select activities with code FDEXOZ300

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10% off activities with code FD300

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5% off adventures with code

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Get 5% off activities with code

Code exclusive

10% off adventures with code

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10% off select hotels around the world

Get 10% off select hotels and free cancellation on selected hotels with Mate's Rates. T&Cs apply.
Deal

Up to 55% off international tours

Available for travel on select dates. Destinations include Australia, New Zealand, the USA, Greece, Japan, and more. T&Cs apply.
Deal

Up to 83% off Lux Exclusive hotel offers

Book luxury hotel stays and enjoy up to 83% discount at Luxury Escapes. Limited time offer. Available on select dates. T&Cs apply.
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Up to $59 off Gold Coast theme park passes

Available for travel on select dates. Other attractions include Warner Bros. Movie World, Sea World and Wet'n'Wild. T&Cs apply.
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Up to 34% off Australia holiday packages

Available on select dates when you book your hotel and flights together. Destinations include Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, and Gold Coast. T&Cs apply.
Deal

Broome Holidays from $1,103

Available on select travel dates when you book your flights or car and hotel together. T&Cs apply.
Deal

Up to 65% off last-minute escapes

Available on stays within the next 14 days. Destinations include Sydney, Gold Coast, Byron Bay, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane and Canberra. T&Cs apply.
Deal

Up to 65% off last-minute escapes

Available on stays within the next 14 days. Destinations include Sydney, Gold Coast, Byron Bay, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane and Canberra. T&Cs apply.
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Fiji flights from $399.60

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Nadi, Fiji flights from $645

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Flights to Nadi from $853

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Publisher

Stephanie Yip was the travel editor at Finder and has been writing about travel and lifestyle for over a decade. She has written for a range of travel publications including Thomas Cook Magazine and Showpo. Stephanie has a Bachelor of Communications from the University of Technology Sydney, Australia, and has visited over 50 countries (and counting). She has a passion for sharing her experiences and knowledge of travel and helping consumers stretch their travel cash while on holiday. See full bio

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