Cheap flights to Sydney

Peak Season:

There are lots of reasons to take cheap flights to Sydney at any time of year but summer is peak tourist season when Sydney’s beach culture comes into its own. Iconic stretches such as Bondi, Manly, Coogee, Bronte and Cronulla, are just some of the beachside suburbs to visit; there are more than 30 beaches within half an hour of the city. For nightlife, the lively buzz of Darling Harbour attracts people of all ages, and the balmy evenings make for pleasant wining and dining. Sydney has a temperate and sunny climate and temperatures generally reach the high 20s, though it can reach the high 30s. Adequate sun protection is a must, especially at the beach. Sydney has lots of summer festivals, carnivals and competitions which can bump up the prices of flight tickets. One of the most popular is the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in February/March, one of Sydney’s biggest international events. New Year’s Eve is also a huge crowd-puller, book your flights to Sydney and accommodation well in advance if you plan on visiting at this time. Other busy periods include: October school holidays, Christmas holidays and Easter holidays.

Off Season:

Sydney cools off in winter (June to August) but temperatures rarely drop below 7C. This can be an ideal time to visit with less tourists and cheap flights to Sydney up for grabs. Take a jacket and umbrella to ward off any rain showers.

How long is the flight to Sydney?

Flights from Auckland to Sydney – 3 hrs 35 mins

Flights from Wellington to Sydney – 3 hrs 40 mins

Flights from Christchurch to Sydney – 3 hrs 30 mins

Flights from Dunedin to Sydney – 6 hrs 35 mins

Which airlines operate flights to Sydney?

Air New Zealand, Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin Australia are the airlines that operate the most regular flights to Sydney from New Zealand. You could also check out Emirates, China Airlines, Etihad and China Southern.

How to get from the airport to the city centre?

Sydney International Airport (SYD) is located 8km south of the city centre. Rail stations are located in the international and domestic terminals. Trains run every ten minutes and take 13 minutes to the centre, from where connections can be made for all suburban services. Each terminal has its own taxi rank and supervisors at peak times ensure a smooth flow for arriving passengers. There’s a $2 airport surcharge for taking a taxi from any of the airport taxi ranks. Public bus 400 runs between the airport and Bondi Junction. Private shuttle buses run to and from the airport and must be pre-booked; hotel buses are also available.

What is good to know if travelling to Sydney?

• There are plenty of vantage points from which to enjoy Sydney’s stunning vistas. For the adventurous, a Harbour Bridge Climb tour takes you across catwalks and ladders to the top of the main arch for 360-degree views. At the northeast end of the Royal Botanic Gardens, there are panoramic views from Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, a ledge carved out of sandstone for the former governor’s wife to enjoy the views. Or you can take the 40-second ride up the high-speed double-decker lifts to the observation deck of the Centrepoint Tower, 260 metres above ground level.
• Taronga Zoo, opened in 1916, is located in a spectacular elevated waterfront setting overlooking the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Cove and the Opera House. The zoo, which boasts Australia’s finest collection of native animals as well as exotic species, is a 12-minute ferry ride from the CBD. The Sky Safari cable car can whisk you from the zoo wharf up to the zoo entrance.
• The Rocks, Sydney’s oldest preserved colonial area, is where the first English settlers landed in 1788. Its modern makeover has transformed the area into a thriving shopping and entertainment precinct, with many galleries, museums, lively pubs, as well as the popular weekend arts and crafts market.
•  Another sight on the settlement trail is Fort Denison, where early convicts were confined and punished. A fort was built on the site to protect Sydney Harbour in the 19th century. Now part of Sydney Harbour National Park, you can take a guided tour and have lunch in the café. 
• Sydney’s impressive Aquarium has the largest collection of Australian marine life. You can also see the sharks being fed on the Shark Explorer glass-bottomed boat.
• From Circular Quay, take the 30-minute ferry ride to Manly, a popular seaside resort since 1880. Apart from the beaches, Manly is a great place for heritage walks, galleries and museums and weekend markets. Manly hosts many eclectic festivals, and has buzzing pubs and restaurants.
• Bondi beach is an Australian institution, but other popular Sydney beaches include Coogee, Manly, Balmoral and the glamorous Tamarama and Palm Beach.
• Catch a moonlight flick with the Sydney skyline, Opera House and Harbour Bridge as a backdrop at the St George Open Air Cinema, adjacent to the botanic gardens (near Mrs Macquarie’s Chair). Screenings start at dusk and there are superb views from the café and bar.

What airport do you fly into for flights to Sydney?

Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD), located 7.5 km from the city centre, is the airport you fly into when you book flights to Sydney.