Route notes
Why this routing works
This four-week economy itinerary is built as a simple out-and-back from Paris with one flown stop in Australia and a surface sector onward to New Zealand. Melbourne comes first for a shorter stay, which breaks up the outbound long-haul before the trip continues to Auckland overland.
Using Melbourne and Auckland as an open-jaw avoids backtracking for a same-city return within Australasia. The overland segment shifts the Australia-New Zealand connection out of the flight ticket and sets up the final long-haul return from Auckland to Paris.
With 5 nights in Melbourne and 23 nights in Auckland, most of the trip time sits at the second stop rather than being split evenly. That pacing suits a traveler who wants the ticket to cover the long-haul framework while keeping one regional sector flexible outside the flight plan.