Jetstar launches 'surf and ski' packages

New flights between Queensland and New Zealand's South Island ski fields from December will be used as a "surf and ski" package to promote both destinations in Australia, New Zealand and South-East Asia...

The Jetstar flights between the Gold Coast and Queenstown begin a couple of weeks before Christmas, with one-way sale fares available from Tuesday for $129.

Queensland Tourism Minister Peter Lawlor says promoting surf and ski holidays will attract not only Aussies and kiwis but international tourists looking for a dual-destination holiday.

"They can enjoy the Gold Coast's great surfing opportunities then move onto Queenstown for fabulous skiing in winter or some wonderful adventure experiences out of ski season," he said.

"There's benefits for both New Zealand and Queensland; we can attract people from Japan and China's also a growing market with huge opportunities where this surf and ski package could work well," he said.

Gold Coast Airport boss and Gold Coast Tourism chairman, Paul Donovan, said the new service will attract a lot of new visitors from the South Island.

"There's a big catchment area in places like Dunedin, Invercargill, the whole southland area will have direct access to the Gold Coast," he said.

"It gives us a lot of connectivity with a lot of international flights that are coming in - Japanese, Chinese, even Malaysian connections which are critical for a hub operation ... which we've been working towards for the past decade and which is really materialising now before our eyes."

Jetstar's David May said the Queenstown - Gold Coast connection will work well summer and winter.

"Queenstown is not just about skiing - it's one of the world's great mountain-biking, hiking and outdoor destinations in the world and we think it has a year-round proposition that works well with the Gold Coast and will draw customers from around the world."

Source: AAP