Flying from Australia to Canada on Points (with a Hawaii Stopover)

First, Some Context

When we returned from our trip to New Zealand, the only trip we had booked was the Quest for Snow Hill, which was 10 months away. Having no trips in the immediate future is one of the few things that causes me anxiety. If you are curious, another thing which causes me anxiety is a weather forecast of over 30c (86f), given we don’t have air conditioning. Anyhow. We ended up booking two trips: Svalbard for polar bears  and Churchill for polar bears.
 
And then in May I received some interesting news. My role would be made redundant as of the end of June. I had the option of looking for another role, but instead, I started looking for flights. We decided to add four weeks in British Columbia before going to Churchill because, well why not?

Flying from Australia to Canada on Points (with a Hawaii Stopover)

Finding reward seats from Australia to the U.S. or Canada feels like trying to photograph a tufted puffin from a moving zodiac. Next to impossible. But more on that later.

 

Here’s the workaround: don’t fly directly there. We pieced together a trip from Melbourne to Honolulu on points, then booked a separate reward ticket from Honolulu to Vancouver. Two flights, two tickets, the same amount of frequent flyer magic, and a bonus layover in Hawaii. Since we didn’t want to stay on Oahu, we added a short hop to the Big Island on Hawaiian Airlines.

Melbourne to Honolulu

The overnight flight from Melbourne to Honolulu was 10.5 hours, and surprisingly painless. U.S. immigration took all of 30 seconds, thanks to Global Entry. Our bags were waiting, and the walk to the domestic terminal could not have been easier.

 

Airplane view of Honolulu airport runway and skyline

 

I had padded in four hours between flights (separate tickets = extra caution), but honestly we could have done it in 90 minutes. Instead, we sat around until the airline finally let us check in. The short hop to Kona took less than an hour, but the views out the window — turquoise water, lava fields, and the Big Island stretched out below — were worth it.

The Rental Car Debacle

Avis, oh Avis. The pain started with the shuttle. There was no orderly queue, and the drivers never stopped in the same place, which meant the people who showed up last often pushed their way on first. We weren’t in a hurry, but after 16 hours of travel it was grating. The only real tip if you are in a hurry is to walk down to the first terminal where there are no crowds. Think of it as fishing upstream.

 

Kona airport map showing correct pickup zone in green

 

Once at Avis, the line to check in dragged. Our first car was horrific: littered with food waste and covered in handprints, sunscreen smears, and general grime. We started taking photos to document it, then gave up and asked for another vehicle. The replacement SUV was technically an “upgrade,” but still pretty grim. This was the first of two strikes against Avis on this trip.

Rear view of dirty black Kia Sportage with Hawaii plate
Man driving Kia with arm on dirty black center console
Passenger foot near dirty glove box in Kia SUV
Fun fact: Hawaiian sunscreen is all mineral-based, which is great for reefs but apparently impossible for rental car companies to clean off vehicles. We later chatted with other travellers who had the same issue. Business opportunity for someone [erha[s?

Killing Time Before Check-In

With hours to burn before hotel check-in, we made our way north towards Hapuna Beach. We stopped at King’s Marketplace for Andy’s favourite musubi at L&L BBQ. If you want to stretch your food dollar on this part of the Big Island, the food court is a solid option.

Man eating spam musubi at L&L BBQ restaurant

We had booked a room at the Westin Hapuna Beach on points (thanks to last year’s Marriott credit card sign-up and a timeshare presentation we endured), so expectations were low: base-level room, no view. No luck on early check-in, but we did score an upgrade and a pair of leis at the front desk. Small wins.
The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort stone entrance sign

 

By 3 p.m. we had the room key in hand. The room was similar to last year, just on a lower floor. It was just down the hall from the self-service laundry (which we didn’t know existed and had brand new GIANT American-size washer/dryers). Considering this was all on points, we were freakin’ giddy.

Modern hotel room with balcony and king bed

Scenic view of Hapuna Beach with palm trees and ocean

We dumped our bags, and headed straight to the beach. Two lounge chairs, one umbrella, and an accidental nap later, we finally admitted we were running on fumes.

Beach chairs and umbrellas on sunny tropical beach

Dinner with a View

That evening, we grabbed the shuttle over to Mauna Kea. First stop: the beach bar. Second stop: the “other” bar for dinner. Simple, casual, and exactly the kind of low-key evening you want after a long travel day.

 

Vibrant ocean sunset with boats and tiki torch

Coffee, Fried Pickles, and a Bogan Haul

We woke up totally refreshed, no jetlag in sight. Staying awake on arrival day (and maybe a couple of mai tais) worked its magic.

 

At the Westin, we already knew the coffee situation. Two options: in-room pod coffee or $8 USD at the Piko Coffee Bar. And that is before tax and tip! Not this year, my Marriott friends. We came prepared. Enter the Yeti French press, packed from home and filled with Kona beans we had bought at King’s Marketplace. Ten cups later, it had already paid for itself.

 

Person pressing French press coffee with ocean view

 

First stop of the day: Quinn’s Almost by the Sea. It’s a hole-in-the-wall we stumbled upon a few years ago, and it has become a must every trip. Fried pickles? Yes, please. Portions? Ridiculously large. Note to self: share a main next time.

 

Man enjoying sandwich and fries at tropical café

 

After lunch, it was pure American shopping: Walmart, Target, Costco — the trifecta. Because who doesn’t need 100 tablets of paracetamol for $2? Our bogan “haul” included bulk yoghurt, muffins, and other room-picnic essentials.

 

Travel essentials and snacks laid out on hotel bed

 

The rest of the afternoon was far more civilised. We parked ourselves on the beach until the sun began to dip, then took the shuttle back to Mauna Kea, found a spot at the bar, and enjoyed a casual dinner with a view.

Two Days That Felt Like a Holiday on Their Own

Our first two days on the Big Island were a mix of poolside naps, cheap shopping thrills, and navigating the quirks of Hawaiian car hire. It was the gentle reset we needed before chasing the wilder side of Hawaii — and nature was about to deliver.

 

Andy and Jennifer Martin

We’re Andy and Jennifer—two former corporate executives who chose long ago to prioritise experiences over stuff while pursuing our passions for travel and photography. From the Arctic to Antarctica, and most places in between, we’ve captured the world through our lenses and love sharing those stories. Our careers gave us the means, but our purpose is inspiring others to explore and helping people create images they’re proud of.

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