Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Melbourne to Wellington. The right side dominates this route: the Dandenong Ranges on departure are a substantial visual feature, and on arrival, the right side captures the Port Hills and the dramatic eastern approach to Wellington Harbour. The left side's takeoff view (Port Phillip Bay) is less distinctive than the right's mountain scenery.

During takeoff from Melbourne International (MEL), sit on the Right side for the best views. Right-side seats capture the Dandenong Ranges as the aircraft climbs eastward from MEL's primary runways (09L/27R). The ranges form a distinct forested ridge visible for the first 10-15 minutes of climb, providing strong visual contrast against the urban sprawl of Melbourne's eastern suburbs. Notable sights include: Dandenong Ranges (forested ridge to the east), Port Phillip Bay (broad water body to the west/left, receding), Melbourne CBD (urban grid visible briefly during initial climb), Yarra River valley (linear feature threading through suburbs below).

When landing at Wellington International (WLG), sit on the Left side for the best views. Left-side seats on approach to WLG offer unobstructed views of Wellington Harbour and the surrounding hills during descent. Approaching from the east (typical for westbound arrivals), the left side frames the harbour, the city's compact downtown, and the dramatic Port Hills that form the eastern backdrop—all key visual markers for the final approach. Notable sights include: Wellington Harbour (deep natural harbor, distinctive shape), Port Hills (steep forested ridgeline east of the city), Wellington CBD (compact urban core on the harbor's western shore), Cook Strait (visible to the north as the water passage toward the North Island).

The flight from Melbourne International (MEL) to Wellington International (WLG) takes Approximately 2 hours 15 minutes.

The flight crosses the Tasman Sea for roughly 1 hour 20 minutes of open water. The most notable midpoint feature is the gradual emergence of New Zealand's North Island coastline (Wairarapa region) on the eastern horizon approximately 45 minutes before landing, appearing first as a low landmass, then resolving into the Remutaka Range and surrounding hills as the aircraft descends toward Wellington. The Cook Strait becomes increasingly visible in the final 30 minutes of descent, with the North Island's southern tip and the Kaikōura Ranges (on the South Island, visible to the south) framing the approach corridor.