For a lot of Australians, when they think of Hawaii, they think of Waikiki, offering easy access to the beach, the convenience of the city, and beautiful views. While Waikiki is a great choice for travelers, Hawaii has many destinations worth visiting, including the luxurious Kohala Coast, nestled on the Big Island's northwestern side. The Kohala Coast typically has fewer crowds than Hawaii's busier cities, is known for its intense black lava fields, and offers Australian travelers the ideal holiday with beautiful, white-sand beaches, crystal blue water, delicious food, and luxury accommodations.
Here are some important travel tips to be aware of as you plan your trip from Australia to Hawaii's Big Island, from flights to cultural etiquette and more.
What Makes the Kohala Coast Different From the Rest of Hawaii
The Big Island is roughly twice the size of all the other Hawaiian islands combined, and the Kohala Coast is its most exclusive stretch of coastline. Rather than one long strip of hotels, it has several resort communities spread out along the water, each built around its own beach: Hapuna, Mauna Kea Beach, Kaunaoa, and the black lava coastline around Mauna Lani.
The landscape itself is only part of what makes this coast special. You'll drive in through fields of black lava rock, then arrive at a coastline of white sand and turquoise water. It's a striking contrast, and one Australians who've spent time in the arid regions of the country tend to appreciate more than most.
Golf, snorkeling, sailing, and some of the best sunset-watching in the Pacific are all popular attractions on the Kohala Coast, without the crowds of Waikiki. For travelers coming from Sydney or Melbourne who already have a beach at home, the Kohala Coast's appeal isn't the beach itself so much as the room to actually enjoy it.
Getting From Australia to the Kohala Coast
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The good news for Australian travelers is that Hawaii's Big Island is more reachable than many people expect. Sydney typically has the best direct connections, with Qantas, American, Alaska, and other carriers operating nonstop flights to Honolulu (HNL) in around nine and a half to ten and a half hours, roughly on par with flying to Bali and back a couple of times over, or shorter than a Perth to London leg.
Travelers from Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth generally connect through Sydney, Manila, or one of the US West Coast gateways, which adds a few hours but still keeps the Kohala Coast within reach of a single long travel day.
Once you land in Honolulu, there's one quick interisland flight of around 45 minutes to reach Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport (KOA) on the Big Island. And from Kona Airport, it's a straightforward 25 to 40-minute drive north along the coast to Mauna Lani Resort or Mauna Kea Resort.
Because Hawaii is a US state, Australian passport holders need to apply for authorization under the ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) program before departure, assuming you qualify for visa-free travel under the Visa Waiver Program. It's a short online form, best completed a few weeks ahead of your trip rather than the night before you fly. For the most up-to-date information, however, we encourage you to visit the official CBP ESTA website.
Timing Your Trip: Why Reversed Seasons Work in Your Favor
One of the more underrated perks of traveling to the Kohala Coast is its warm, sunny year-round weather, with temperatures generally in the mid-70s to 90 degrees Fahrenheit (roughly 24 to 32 degrees Celsius) in summer and in the mid-60s to mid-80s (roughly 18 to 29 degrees Celsius) in winter, making it a great destination for any time of the year. The best part for Australian travelers, specifically, is that your seasons and Hawaii's don't line up, making it the ideal winter escape for you and your family.
Booking during the Australian winter (June through August) lines up with Hawaii's warmer summer season, and gives you lots of guaranteed sunshine. Conversely, if you're chasing whales, the reverse is true: humpback whales migrate to Hawaiian waters roughly from December through April, which happens to overlap perfectly with Australia's summer break around Christmas and into the new year.
Worth knowing before you lock in dates: Australian and US school holiday calendars don't match, so vacation rentals on the Kohala Coast may have more availability and lower rates during Australia's summer break than during the busier US holiday windows around Presidents' Day and July 4th. However, Christmas time sees a huge peak in travel, so for Australians looking to lock in a lower rate for summer vacation, booking after New Years and before spring break in the US (typically in March or April) is the best way to get a luxury rental at a better rate.
A Few Practical Differences Worth Knowing Before You Go
Hawaii runs on US customs, and a handful of small differences are worth planning around so nothing catches you off guard on arrival.
Currency and Credit Cards
Hawaii uses US dollars, and credit and debit cards are accepted almost everywhere, including for smaller purchases. It's still worth notifying your bank of your travel dates and checking for foreign transaction fees before you leave.
Tipping
Unlike Australia, tipping isn't optional in the US and is typically expected. Expect to tip around 18 to 20% at restaurants, and similar amounts for tour guides, drivers, and spa services. It can feel unfamiliar at first, but it's simply factored into the cost of dining and activities on the island.
Driving
Americans drive on the right-hand side of the road, the opposite of Australia, and most rental cars are automatics with the gear stick on the wrong side for Australian habits. It only takes a day or two to adjust, but take it slow on your first drive out of the airport, particularly through roundabouts and turning lanes.
Time Difference
Hawaii sits far behind Australian time zones, generally around 20 or 21 hours depending on the season and which state you're traveling from (Hawaii doesn't observe daylight saving as parts of Australia do). In practical terms, you're likely to land the same calendar day you left, or even the day before, so be prepared to have jet lag. It may be best to plan for a slower first day so you can catch up on rest.
Language
English is the primary language spoken throughout Hawaii, so there's no language barrier to worry about, one less thing to plan around compared with most other international holidays.
Getting Around Once You're There
A rental car is essential for a trip to the Kohala Coast. The region is spread out along Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway, and having your own vehicle means you can move between beaches, restaurants, and resort communities on your own schedule rather than relying on shuttles. All the major international rental companies operate out of Kona Airport, so booking ahead, especially during peak Australian travel windows, is worth doing early.
Where to Stay: Why a Private Rental Beats a Hotel Room
For Australian families and groups used to booking private rental properties along the coast at home, a private vacation rental on the Kohala Coast will feel familiar, and it tends to make more financial sense than a hotel room if you're traveling with several people.
A two or three-bedroom rental at communities like Mauna Lani Terrace or the Hapuna Beach Residences gives you a full kitchen, a private lanai, and access to resort pools and grounds, often for less than the cost of a comparable hotel suite. That matters on a trip far from home: being able to cook a simple breakfast rather than paying resort restaurant prices for every meal saves a lot of money for a two-week stay, which tends to be the typical trip length for Australians coming to visit.
A couple tips from our team for making the most of it:
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Book ahead of the shoulder seasons. The best value windows tend to fall just outside US school holidays, which don't overlap with Australian ones, so a bit of calendar comparison goes a long way.
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Choose multi-bedroom over multiple rooms. If you're traveling as a family or with friends, one larger rental is almost always better value, and more comfortable, than splitting into separate hotel rooms.
Is the Kohala Coast Worth It for Australians?
Given the flight length and the time difference, it's a fair question. For travelers who want a genuine change of pace, warm water, uncrowded beaches, and a level of space and privacy that's hard to find on a shorter-haul island holiday, the answer is yes. Because the flight itself is such a commitment, it's best treated as a week or two-week-long escape rather than a quick long weekend, so you have enough time to make the trip worthwhile.
Start Planning Your Kohala Coast Escape Today
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The Kohala Coast offers something genuinely different from the rest of Hawaii: warm water year-round, some of the best beaches in the Pacific, and a level of quiet luxury that's increasingly hard to find.
Our team at South Kohala Management manages a collection of private Big Island vacation rentals across the Kohala Coast's best resort communities, from oceanfront residences at Hapuna Beach to golf-course villas at Mauna Lani. Our team is happy to help you find a home base that makes the long flight worth it. Feel free to contact us for help planning your trip!
Start browsing our Kohala Coast vacation rentals and give yourself the holiday that's worth the trip across the Pacific.