In partnership with Fiji Airways
If Fiji, New Zealand and Australia are all on your bucket list, you don’t necessarily have to plan three completely separate vacations. I traveled through all three on one South Pacific trip with Fiji Airways, creating a Fiji, New Zealand and Australia itinerary that took me from Fiji to Auckland, Sydney, the Whitsundays and Melbourne.
You can turn the long journey from the U.S. to this side of the world into one incredible multi-country trip.
I traveled through Fiji, New Zealand and Australia with Fiji Airways, and instead of treating Fiji as somewhere I’d have to come back and visit separately, it became part of the adventure.
My trip took me from Fiji to Auckland, Sydney, the Whitsundays and Melbourne. I stayed at some beautiful hotels along the way, including Hilton Fiji Beach Resort & Spa, Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa, Cordis Auckland and three InterContinental properties in Australia.
So if you’re wondering about the best way to travel from the U.S. to Fiji, New Zealand and Australia, here’s how I did it and how you can use my itinerary to start planning your own South Pacific adventure.
Why Visit Fiji, New Zealand and Australia in One Trip?
Let’s start with the obvious: getting to this side of the world from the U.S. is a journey.
That’s exactly why I loved the idea of turning one long trip into several completely different experiences.
Fiji gave me the tropical island vacation.
New Zealand gave me the beautiful landscapes and countryside.
Sydney gave me the iconic Australia experience I’d pictured in my head.
The Whitsundays felt like another island vacation altogether.
And Melbourne gave me a completely different Australian city experience.
Five stops, three countries and completely different vibes throughout the trip.
If you’re already traveling this far, combining destinations can be such a good way to make the most of the journey.
My South Pacific Itinerary
Fiji, New Zealand & Australia Itinerary at a Glance
Route: U.S. → Fiji → Auckland, New Zealand → Sydney, Australia → Whitsundays/Hayman Island → Melbourne, Australia
Countries: Fiji, New Zealand & Australia
Airline: Fiji Airways
Trip style: Tropical resorts, city exploring, sightseeing & island stays
Best for: Travelers who want to combine several South Pacific destinations into one trip
My trip looked like this:
Fiji → Auckland, New Zealand → Sydney, Australia → Whitsundays/Hayman Island → Melbourne, Australia
Now let’s get into where I stayed and what I did in each destination.
STOP 1: FIJI 🇫🇯
Fiji was the perfect place to begin this trip.
After traveling such a long distance, I didn’t immediately want to land somewhere and start running around sightseeing.
I wanted sunshine, a beautiful hotel, good food and somewhere I could actually relax.
Fiji gave me exactly that.
Where I Stayed in Fiji
I experienced two resorts during my time in Fiji:
Hilton Fiji Beach Resort & Spa
My first stay was at Hilton Fiji Beach Resort & Spa.
Staying at a resort when you first arrive is such a nice way to ease into the trip, especially after a long international flight.
I could settle in, enjoy the resort and get into vacation mode before moving on to the next country.
Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa
I also stayed at Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa.
This was another beautiful resort experience and another reminder that Fiji doesn’t have to be just the place where your plane connects.
If your flight itinerary allows it, I would actually give yourself time to experience Fiji.
That was one of my biggest takeaways from this trip.
Instead of looking at Fiji as the place you pass through on the way to Australia or New Zealand, make it part of your vacation.
You’re already there!
STOP 2: AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND 🇳🇿
From Fiji, my adventure continued to Auckland, New Zealand.
And this is where the trip completely changed.
I had gone from tropical island views in Fiji to the beautiful green landscapes New Zealand is famous for.
Where I Stayed in Auckland: Cordis Auckland
I stayed at Cordis Auckland, which became my base while exploring.
When I’m doing a multi-stop trip like this, where I stay matters a lot.
I’m not interested in spending half of my day trying to get back and forth from my hotel. I like having somewhere comfortable and convenient to return to after a full day of exploring.
And there was one experience I definitely wasn’t leaving New Zealand without doing.
Hobbiton Day Trip From Auckland
One of my biggest New Zealand experiences was visiting Hobbiton Movie Set.
Even if you’re not a huge Lord of the Rings fan, this place is beautiful.
The rolling green hills, tiny Hobbit holes and countryside honestly look like something from another world—which, I guess, is the point.
Seeing Hobbiton in person was one of those experiences where the destination looks just as magical as it does in photos.
And after being on a tropical island in Fiji, spending the day surrounded by the green New Zealand countryside really showed me how different each part of this trip was going to be.
STOP 3: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA 🇦🇺
Next up: Australia!
Sydney was one of the destinations I was most excited about because there are certain places you’ve seen so many times in photos that seeing them in person feels almost surreal.
Sydney Harbour was one of those places for me.
Where I Stayed in Sydney: InterContinental Sydney by IHG
I stayed at InterContinental Sydney, and the location made exploring this part of the city so convenient.
When I’m visiting a city for the first time, especially on a packed itinerary, location is one of the biggest things I consider when choosing a hotel.
I want to be able to step outside and actually experience the destination.
And in Sydney, I wanted to be near the harbour.
Things to do in Sydney on This Itinerary
Of course, you can’t come all the way to Sydney and not spend time around Sydney Harbour and the Sydney Opera House.
One of my stops was Opera Bar, which is such a good place to sit down, have a drink and take in that famous Sydney view.
But one of my favorite ways to see Sydney was from the water.
I went out on a superyacht, which gave me a completely different perspective of the harbour, skyline, Opera House and Harbour Bridge.
There’s something about seeing an iconic city from the water that makes it feel even more special.
If you’re visiting Sydney for the first time, don’t schedule every minute of your day.
Leave yourself time to walk around the harbour, sit somewhere with a view and actually enjoy the fact that you’re in Sydney.
STOP 4: THE WHITSUNDAYS & HAYMAN ISLAND 🇦🇺
Then came the part of Australia that made me feel like I’d somehow started another vacation without leaving the same trip.
The Whitsundays.
If your idea of Australia is mostly Sydney, Melbourne and big cities, this part of the country might completely change that.
Where I Stayed: InterContinental Hayman Island Resort
I stayed at InterContinental Hayman Island Resort, and this was one of those stays where the hotel itself is part of the destination.
After exploring cities, arriving somewhere surrounded by beautiful water and island views was exactly the change of pace I wanted.
Hayman Island gave me that luxury island escape feeling.
This is also why I love building trips with completely different experiences.
Fiji was tropical.
New Zealand was green and scenic.
Sydney was energetic and iconic.
And then suddenly, I was back in paradise but this time on an Australian island.
If you have enough time on your Australia itinerary, I definitely think it’s worth looking beyond Sydney and Melbourne and experiencing another side of the country.
STOP 5: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA 🇦🇺
My final Australian stop was Melbourne.
And once again, it felt completely different from the destination I’d just left.
That’s something that really surprised me about Australia. You can experience such different styles of travel without leaving the country.
Where I Stayed in Melbourne: InterContinental Melbourne by IHG
For my Melbourne stay, I checked into InterContinental Melbourne.
After moving between several destinations, having a comfortable hotel to come back to makes such a difference.
By this point, I’d gone from resorts to cities to islands and back to another city.
Seeing Melbourne From Above
One of my Melbourne experiences was visiting Melbourne Skydeck.
There’s no better way to understand how big a city is than seeing it from above.
It was also a fitting way to end this part of my journey.
Looking out over Melbourne, I kept thinking about how much I had experienced during one trip.
I had started in Fiji, traveled through New Zealand and then crossed several completely different parts of Australia.
Can You Stop Over in Fiji on the Way to Australia or New Zealand?
Yes, and this is one of the reasons I lYes, and this is one of the reasons I loved traveling this route with Fiji Airways. Instead of treating Fiji as simply a connection on the way to Australia or New Zealand, you can build time in Fiji into your South Pacific itinerary and make it another destination on your trip.
For me, that meant starting the journey in Fiji, spending time enjoying the islands and resorts, and then continuing on to Auckland before traveling through Australia. If you’re coming from the U.S., it’s worth looking at Fiji Airways’ current routes and your available connections to see how Fiji can fit into your itinerary. Flight schedules and routes can change, so always check your specific travel dates before booking.oved traveling this route with Fiji Airways. Instead of treating Fiji as simply a connection on the way to Australia or New Zealand, you can build time in Fiji into your South Pacific itinerary and make it another destination on your trip.
For me, one of the biggest advantages of this trip was realizing that the journey to Australia or New Zealand doesn’t have to be something you simply endure.
It can become part of the vacation.
That’s where Fiji made this itinerary interesting.
If Fiji Airways works for your departure city and final destination, look at the routing and consider whether adding time in Fiji makes sense for your trip.
Instead of thinking:
“I have to fly all the way to Australia.”
Think:
“Can I turn the journey into a South Pacific trip?”
That change in mindset opens up so many possibilities.
You could relax in Fiji before continuing to New Zealand.
You could combine Fiji and Australia.
Or, if you have enough vacation time, you can create a bigger itinerary similar to mine and experience all three countries.
How Long Should You Spend on a Fiji, New Zealand and Australia Trip?
For a Fiji, New Zealand and Australia itinerary, I would recommend giving yourself at least two weeks if possible. With three countries, multiple flights and several very different destinations, you want enough time to enjoy each stop without feeling like your entire vacation is spent packing and heading back to the airport.
This is one trip I wouldn’t recommend squeezing into a week.
You’re traveling a long way from the U.S., and each destination deserves time.
If you’re planning something similar, consider how much of the trip you want to spend relaxing versus sightseeing.
Fiji and Hayman Island are great places to slow things down.
Auckland gives you access to New Zealand experiences and day trips.
Sydney and Melbourne deserve time to explore as cities.
The biggest mistake would be adding so many destinations that you spend your entire vacation packing, checking out of hotels and going back to the airport.
Build in breathing room.
Hotels From My Fiji, New Zealand & Australia Trip
If you want to recreate my trip, these are the hotels I stayed at:
Fiji
- Hilton Fiji Beach Resort & Spa
- Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa
Auckland, New Zealand
- Cordis Auckland
Sydney, Australia
- InterContinental Sydney by IHG
Whitsundays, Australia
- InterContinental Hayman Island Resort
Melbourne, Australia
- InterContinental Melbourne by IHG
I always recommend checking the location of your hotel against the things you actually want to do before booking.
A cheaper room isn’t always cheaper once you’re spending extra time and money getting everywhere.
For me, especially when traveling solo, convenience matters.
Tips for Planning a Fiji, New Zealand & Australia Trip From the U.S.
A few things I’d keep in mind if you’re planning your own trip:
Don’t automatically book the first Australia or New Zealand flight you find. Look at different routing options and see whether Fiji can fit naturally into the journey.
Give yourself enough time. Three countries is a lot. The goal isn’t to collect destinations; it’s to actually experience them.
Mix cities with relaxing destinations. I loved that this itinerary wasn’t city after city. Fiji and Hayman Island gave me time to slow down between busier destinations.
Choose your hotels strategically. Location becomes even more important when you’re moving around this much.
Pack with every destination in mind. Fiji, New Zealand and different parts of Australia can give you very different experiences, so don’t pack as though you’re going on one long beach vacation.
And finally, experience always comes before trying to squeeze everything in.
I’d rather leave a destination wanting to come back than spend an entire trip rushing from one attraction to another.
Would I Travel This Route Again?
Yes.
And that’s probably the easiest way for me to sum up this trip.
Before going, Fiji, New Zealand and Australia could easily have been three separate vacations in my head.
After doing this trip, I see them differently.
If you’re traveling from the U.S. and already making the long journey across the Pacific, it can be worth looking at how you can turn that flight into a bigger adventure.
Start with a few relaxing days in Fiji.
Continue to New Zealand.
Then experience completely different sides of Australia from Sydney Harbour to the Whitsundays and Melbourne.
One journey. Three countries. And somehow, every stop felt like a completely different vacation.
If Fiji, New Zealand or Australia has been sitting on your bucket list, save this Fiji, New Zealand and Australia itinerary for when you’re ready to plan your own South Pacific adventure from the U.S.
This trip was hosted in partnership with Fiji Airways. As always, all opinions and experiences shared are my own.
Planning another bucket-list trip? Read my 6-day Taiwan itinerary for Taipei, Sun Moon Lake, Tainan and the Taiwan Lantern Festival.