How far is Australia from New Zealand?
Australia and New Zealand are separated by the Tasman Sea. The distance between Sydney and Auckland is about 2,150 kilometres, and a flight between the two cities takes around three hours.
The Tasman Sea is often called the ditch by Australians and New Zealanders. It lies between Australia's southeast coast and New Zealand's west coast and is known for rough weather.
The closest points are between the southeast of Tasmania or Victoria and New Zealand's South Island, though they are still well over 1,500 kilometres apart. Flights from Melbourne or Sydney to Christchurch or Queenstown take about three hours.
Close neighbors
Despite the distance, the two countries have very close ties. Citizens can generally live and work in each other's countries, and there is strong travel, trade and sporting rivalry between them.
The Tasman Sea is named after the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman, who sailed across it in 1642 and became the first European to reach New Zealand.
People sometimes mistakenly think New Zealand is part of Australia or very near it. In fact, it is an independent country with its own government, currency and culture.