Planning a trip Down Under? A flight from the U.S. can be expensive, so it’s worth saving your miles and getting your ticket for nearly free. It can take as little as 15 months to earn an award ticket to New Zealand, and as little as 18 months to Australia if you channel $1,500 a month through a recommended credit card.

When you earn miles you should always try to maximize them by flying the farthest you can using the awards available by your airline. One country that provides great value since its is about 14 hours away flying time from the U.S. west coast is Australia.

Finding premium award seats to Australia is not easy. They are considered the ultimate prize in frequent flyer circles because the flights are long and the award seats are scarce. And also because business and first class travel on Qantas, the Australian flagship carrier, is great. It rivals premium seats from the best airlines in the world, including Singapore, Cathay Pacific, and Emirates.

Australia is one of the most difficult destinations to get to on points and miles, with limited award availability. I had my work cut out for me when I tried to book three round-trip, first-class awards to Sydney this past December.

Traveling to the worlds smallest continent to dive the Great Barrier Reef is not beyond your reach. You don’t have to spend $1,500 for a plane ticket to Australia. There are plenty of airline programs that will get you to the land down under with miles.