Last minute deals: Melbourne affordable choice

By VICTORIA BARTLE

UNDER $400

Fly to Melbourne daily from Auckland for $399 return with Emirates Airlines.

The daily flights are available until October 25, departing from Auckland at 4pm. The return flight leaves at 8.30am.

You must include a Saturday night in your stay and the maximum stay is 30 days.

Pay within 72 hours of booking or by September 30 at the latest. Payments must be cash, cheque or Eftpos.

Contact: Itchyfeet Travel (09) 480 1008.

UNDER $800

Relax in the State of Victoria's Yarra Valley, with two nights in a new boutique country lodge, a rental car for four days and a night's accommodation in Melbourne.

Starting at $799 a person (share twin), the package - available for sale until Tuesday, September 30 - includes return airfares from Auckland to Melbourne. Airport taxes are extra.

Contact: Great Holiday Escape freephone 0800 446 543.

UNDER $2400

A five-day airfare and accommodation package to Cape Town will cost $2386 - with a tour of Table Mountain thrown in - but you must travel by the end of this month.

Available for sale until Friday, the package includes return airfares from Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch to Cape Town, four nights' accommodation with breakfasts, return airport transfers in Cape Town and a morning tour of the mountain. Airport taxes are not included.

This price is based on twin-share accommodation.

Contact: Flight Centre freephone 0800 354 448.

UNDER $3300

Fifteen nights at sea amid the luxury of a three-year-old, 14-storey cruise liner are half-price with a special package from P&O Cruises.

Cabins originally available at $6435 a person now cost $3217 (based on double accommodation) and all meals on board and port charges are included.

Passengers taking advantage of the two-for-one fare will sail between San Francisco and Auckland early next year. The liner Aurora will sail from San Francisco on January 31, heading for Hawaii, Samoa, Fiji and then to Auckland, docking on February 16. The fares cover the cost of the cruise only, and not airfares.

Contact:
P&O Cruises freephone 0800 441 766. On the web: