Most major airports in New Zealand, such as Wellington (WLG), Christchurch (CHC), Auckland (AKL), and Queenstown (ZQN) offer flights to Las Vegas, usually with stopovers in Los Angeles, Honolulu, Dallas-Fort Worth, Vancouver, San Francisco, Tokyo, or Houston, depending on where you fly from and which travel company you fly with.
If you plan on heading to Sin City in the United States from one of these New Zealand airports, here are some of the key things to expect from the journey, including the average time it takes to get there, where you will fly to (your final destination), what the weather will be like when you arrive, some of the local customs you will encounter, and whether you need a visa to visit Las Vegas.
Do New Zealand citizens need a visa to visit Las Vegas?
No. New Zealand citizens can travel to Las Vegas for business or pleasure trips without having to get a visa, provided they plan on staying for 90 days or less. They can enter the US under the VWP (Visa Waiver Program) using their machine-readable NZ passport, and the VWP also allows NZ citizens to apply for a visa waiver using the ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization).
What to expect from the journey from New Zealand to Las Vegas
The quickest, easiest, safest, and most reliable way to get to Las Vegas from New Zealand is to fly. A direct flight from Auckland AKL) to Las Vegas (LAS), for example, takes around 22 hours and 45 minutes. The total distance of this long-haul flight from Auckland to Las Vegas is around 10,900 kilometres.
Flights with stopovers can take up to 33 hours or more. The main airport in Las Vegas, the Harry Reid International Airport, is situated just outside of the city, around 8 kilometres to the south, meaning your final stretch of the journey to your Las Vegas accommodation is only a short commute that takes around 10 to 15 minutes by car.
What are the most iconic casinos I should visit first on The Strip?
Most people visit Las Vegas to try their luck at one or more of the iconic land-based casinos on The Strip. People living here today also have access to a handful of online casinos with a minimum deposit of 10 (e.g., $/€/£ etc) requirement, plus a guaranteed welcome bonus for all new players.
If you enjoy playing slot machines or classic table & card games online at legally permitted iGaming websites, but want to try the real thing and take in the sites, sounds, and smells of a land-based casino in Las Vegas, the top five venues to check out first on The Strip are the following world-famous casinos:
- Caesar’s Palace
- The Bellagio
- Mandalay Bay
- Wynn Las Vegas Casino
- Binion’s
If you still have time to visit more Las Vegas casinos, then you may also like to check out The Venetian, the Luxor Hotel & Casino, The Golden Nugget, the ARIA Resort and Casino, Red Rock, Planet Hollywood, and the New York-New York Hotel & Casino, to name a few.
While most people travel to Las Vegas on vacation during the summer months when it’s warm and sunny, with average temperatures frequently reaching above 100°F, a growing number of tourists from across the globe prefer to visit here when it’s much cooler during the autumn/winter/spring months when temperatures reach average highs of 58°F and lows of 38°F from December through to January and around 42°F and 64°F in February.
What else is there to do in Las Vegas besides playing at the casinos?
Las Vegas casinos are undoubtedly the best in the world, offering the best video slots, traditional table and card games like blackjack, roulette, craps, and baccarat, and many other bingo & lottery-style games.
However, Las Vegas has become known for more than just casino entertainment on The Strip. There’s so much more to do and see here, with events, services and activities that appeal to everyone from the thrill-seeking adventurer to the more laid-back tourist who wants to just sit back and relax and be pampered.
There are hundreds of indoor and outdoor activities to consider booking tickets for before arriving in Vegas, and the best way to get around is either on foot, by car, or by booking one of the many guided tours available here.
The casinos have huge entertainment venues for stage shows, where you can watch the world’s best musicians, bands, singers, stand-up comedians, and magicians. The city also has some of the world’s best restaurants and bars, as well as high-end shopping centres, luxury spa facilities, swimming pools, art exhibitions, museums, roller coasters and other fairground rides, and so much more.
There’s something to suit travellers of all ages, genders and backgrounds, and the city caters to everyone from lone travellers (backpackers) and couples to small and large families or groups of people.
Final thoughts
When travelling to Las Vegas, whether from New Zealand or any other starting point, don’t forget that tipping is a way of life here. Also, you may find that when pre-booking accommodation in Las Vegas, the resort fees are typically not included in the initial hotel price.
Take appropriate clothing for various weather conditions, and remember that some casinos or their VIP rooms may have a strict dress code.
Finally, to ensure you have a safe and fun time when visiting Las Vegas, perhaps consider setting a reasonable spending budget long before going because you don’t want to spend more money than you can afford.