The Cheapest Way to Get to Tahiti from Australia!

Kerry Purnell
Nov 10
3 min read

Updated: 4 days ago

Dreaming of Tahiti but can’t stomach those $3,000 flights? We get it! The good news is there’s a clever way to reach this South Pacific paradise for a fraction of the cost — and it comes with a bonus stop in the stunning Cook Islands. With a mix of Jetstar sales, Qantas points, and a little flexibility, you can hop from Australia to Tahiti for less than most people spend on a weekend getaway. Here’s exactly how we did it — step by step!

Passports ready! Boarding our flight from Cook Islands to Tahiti

Here’s how we did it — and how you can too!

💸 Step 1: Fly Jetstar to Rarotonga (Cook Islands)

From Sydney (and soon Brisbane!) you can fly Jetstar direct to Rarotonga.

Flights are often on sale for as little as $259 one way — such a steal for a South Pacific paradise!

And if your like me and collect Qantas Points ( I am absolutely obsessed with collecting points 😅), you can often reduce those fares dramatically.

We paid only $100 per adult and $50 per child using points.

🌴 Step 2: Hop from Rarotonga to Tahiti

Once you’ve got your ticket Rarotonga, check Skyscanner for the cheapest day to fly to Papeete (Tahiti).

Air Tahiti runs this route from $390 one way.

Unfortunately, we couldn’t use points for this leg, but it’s still much cheaper than flying direct from Australia.

And just like that — boom! — you’re in Tahiti! 🏝️

✈️ Step 3: Getting Home (Without Spending $3,900!)

Here’s where it can get tricky…

Flights from Papeete to Brisbane can cost as much as $3,900 one way per person — yep, ouch.

But with some planning (and flexibility), you can get that down to around $1,000, and even cheaper if you fly midweek.

We found Wednesday flights to be the sweet spot — as low as $700–$800.

Check out Skyscanner for the cheap day and once you’ve found your cheapest day, book via the Qantas app and use your points.

We ended up paying $200 per person, flying via Auckland.

🌺 And Voilà!

You’ve just reached Tahiti for a fraction of the usual price, with a tropical stopover in the Cook Islands — two island paradises in one trip!

Top tips:

Use Skyscanner - this is by far my favourite website for finding flight deals
Be flexible with dates, and book in advance
Fly with hand luggage only. Luggage is always included when booking with points, however, if you end up taking lots of domestic flights, it can start to add up.

FAQs

What is the cheapest city in Australia to fly to Tahiti from?

Sydney and Melbourne usually offer the best deals because they have more airline competition. Jetstar start flying Brisbane - Cook Islands direct from May 2026.

What is the cheapest month to fly to Tahiti?

February, March and November tend to have the lowest prices. Avoid school holidays.

What airlines fly cheapest to Tahiti from Australia?

Air New Zealand is usually the cheapest.

For more Budget Travel Tips for Bora Bora, click HERE!

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