Kiwi-Tastic! Air New Zealand Offers a Money-Saving New Air Pass

Travel from the West Coast of the United States to New Zealand in 2011, and you're likely to pay something in the neighborhood of $1100 to $1200 for your round-trip flight. But if you can commit before November 8, you'll not only pay less for the TransPacific airfare, you'll snag a pass that allows you to jump to four gateways within the country for no extra charge.

The Rotorua Region of New Zealand (photo by Phillip Capper)

Drumming up business for the beginning of its off-season (February 28, the starting date for flights on this sale, is also the beginning of New Zealand's winter), Air New Zealand is offering its Kiwi Explorer Pass for just $998 (including fuel surcharges but not taxes, which will add about $95 to the final cost). Pass-holders will be allowed to travel anytime between February 28 and April 30 to Queenstown, Christchurch, Rotorua and Auckland, allowing for a much more streamlined tour of the country than is usually possible (for budget travelers, at least).

Complete details, with all the fine print, can be found at the link above.