Getting to Sydney

The most popular and convenient way to get to Sydney is by air, and most visitors arrive at Sydney International Airport, which is located just south of the city. Buses and trains also arrive in Sydney from other parts of Australia, and the roads are very good. If you drive yourself, make sure you are aware of the enormous distances between the country’s cities.

By car

The Pacific Highway from the north has been upgraded, making for a more enjoyable drive, and the Hume and Federal highways to the south are excellent roads. Driving from Canberra takes just over 3 hours and from Melbourne, it takes just under 10 hours. When driving long distances, be sure to avoid driver fatigue by sharing the driving and taking rest breaks every 2 hours.

By rail

Sydney is connected by railway to Melbourne in the south; Adelaide and Perth in the west; and Cairns in the north. There is an extensive rail network within NSW, operated by Countrylink. In Australia, the train tracks in NSW are a different size to those in Queensland, so travellers must take a bus at the Queensland border to change to a different train. Trains are modern and well-equipped. Sydney’s Central Station, on Eddy Avenue, just south of the city centre, is a grand old building, lined with newsagents, coffee shops and restaurants as well as transport and tourist information offices.

By bus

Sydney is served by interstate buses from all major cities around the country. Buses are modern and air-conditioned and travel passes are available. The major interstate bus operator is Greyhound (www.greyhound.com.au/default.aspx). Regional and interstate bus services are available to all major cities at the Sydney Coach Terminal outside Central Railway Station. All major bus companies have offices here.

By air

Sydney Kingston International Airport is located nine kilometres south of the city centre and is a modern facility offering daily scheduled flights to and from a large number of Australian, Asian and international destinations. The Airport Link is a fast and convenient way to reach the centre of Sydney. Trains run approximately every 10 minutes and the journey into the city takes only 13 minutes. The international and domestic rail stations link directly to the City Circle, which means most city destinations are within a short walk of stations. Buses are also available. Meanwhile, taxis are on hand, as are car hire companies.

Sydney International Airport

Sydney Airport operates two terminals. T1 handles international arrivals and departures, while T2 is the domestic terminal. Flights operate daily to cities such as London, Paris and New York. ATMs and money exchange facilities are conveniently located throughout both terminals. Both duty-free and GST-free shopping outlets are on hand. There are a number of information desks located within the terminal. These desks are staffed by a team of volunteers, known as Gold Ambassadors. The Sydney Airport Gold Ambassador Programme provides airport help and customer service for passengers and visitors to T1 international terminal.

Sydney airport transportation

Airport Link is a fast and convenient way to reach the centre of Sydney. Trains run approximately every 10 minutes and the journey into the city takes only 13 minutes. The international and domestic rail stations link directly to the City Circle, which means most city destinations are within a short walk of stations. The international rail station is located at the northern end of the terminal and is accessible from the Arrivals level.

Many shuttle bus companies provide transport between the airport and most Sydney suburbs and regional areas. These buses need to be pre-booked. Sydney Buses has a scheduled service between Bondi Junction and Burwood, which includes stops at the T1 and T2 terminals. Clearly marked bus stops are located on the Arrivals level of each of these terminals.