International

So what about getting here ? For those of you that are coming from overseas we highly recommend Qantas being an all Australian airline. But there are many other airlines that fly directly to Sydney. Other include, British Airways , Japan Airways, United , Air New Zealand and Virgin. Check out our carriers page that lists most of the major carriers into Sydney.

International visitors will arrive at the Sydney International Terminal at Charles Kingford-Smith Airport located about 15 minutes and 10 kilometres south of the city of Sydney.

Allow approximately one hour to clear both customs and immigration. For details about bringing things into Australia please check the Australian Customs Page.

Domestic

For those of you flying from within Australia try either Ansett or Australian, which have flights from all major capital cities.

Domestic visitors will arrive at the Sydney Domestic Terminal at Charles Kingford-Smith Airport located about 15 minutes and 10 kilometres south of the city of Sydney. Visitors who arrive on Qantas flights QF 1 - QF 399 will arrive at the Sydney International terminal. Remember if you do arrive at the International terminal you will need to show some form of photo to pass through customs and immigration.

Getting to the City

Taxis

Sydney taxis are common and reliable and denoted by the standard taxi sign on top of the vehicle. An orange light on the top of the taxi lets you know whether it is currently available for picking up passengers. If the light is on then the car is available, simply hail the taxi from the sidewalk. All taxis require the occupants to wear seatbelts and most prohibit the smoking of cigarettes while travelling inside the car. The cost of taxis varies but in most cases you'll find that it costs about $ 1 flag fall and 20 cents per kilometre. A typical trip from the airport to the centre of the city, depending on traffic should not set you back more than $ 15. Some of the major taxi companies include :

• ABC

• RSL

Shuttle Buses

Public Transport

Private Cars

The three major entry routes to Sydney are from the North, West and South.

North

In most cases you will enter the outskirts of Sydney from the Northern Expressway known as the F3. This terminates just south of Hornsby at Pearces Corner. You should now find yourself on Pennant Hills road running south. Follow the signs until you reach Observatory Park just past Pennant Hills and turn right down Beecroft road. Follow this through Beecroft and then into Epping. At Epping you will cross over the railway bridge and continue straight onto Epping Road, going towards Lane Cove. Follow this road through Lane Cove and Artarmon until you reach the Gore Hill express way, which is merely an extension of Epping Road. Following the Gore Hill Expressway through will take you onto the Cahill Expressway that leads to the Harbour Bridge. As you approach the Bridge the right lanes continue on the Cahill Expressway that goes over Circular Quay and through the Domain tunnel. The middle lanes allow the option of either going through the Harbour Tunnel which emerges at the Domain tunnel or taking the Bradfield Freeway over the Bridge and into the city north.

The lanes on the Harbour Bridge vary depending on the time of day. During the peaks 7 am - 10 am and 5 pm - 7pm the lanes directions are varied to cope with additional traffic. Remember that all south bound traffic over the bridge or through the tunnel must pay a $ 2 toll. There are automatic and manual pay stations with neither accepting 1 cent, 2 cent or 5 cent pieces.

South

 The major route to Sydney from the south starts at Campbelltown on the South Western Freeway. This continues until it reaches the M5 expressway at Liverpool. All vehicles on the M5 incur a $ 2 toll in either direction. The M5 continues until it reaches King Georges Road. Turn right at King Georges Road and proceed through Beverly Hills after which turn left onto Stoney Creek Road. Stoney Creek Road will continue through Bexely until the intersection with Forest Road. Turn left into Forest Road and proceed to Arncliffe. At Arncliffe Forest Road intersects with the Princes Highway. Turn left onto the Princes Highway and follow it through the suburbs of Tempe, Sydenham, St. Peters. At St. Peters, near the railway station the Princes Highway becomes King St through the suburbs of Newtown and Chippendale. At Chippendale turn right onto Broadway which will take you into the south of the city.

West

Entering Sydney from the West usually occurs along the M4 motorway at Penrith. Follow the motorway all the way from Penrith to Strathfield. A $1.50 toll is incurred by all travellers from Parramatta to Strathfield. The termination of the M4 should place you on Parramatta Road running east towards the city. Follow Parramatta road through the suburbs of Ashfield, Petersham, Annandale and Camperdown. At Chippendale Parramatta will become Broadway which will take you into the south of the city.

Those choosing to arrive by sea will probably receive the best view of Sydney Harbour as they make their way from the entrance to the Harbour, past the Opera House and into Circular Quay. All international vessels will dock at the International terminal located next to the rocks.

The other big advantage you will have if you choose to arrive by sea is that fact that you don't need to travel to get to the city, you're there !

The major stop for trains into Sydney will be Sydney Terminal at Central railway station located just south of the city in Surry Hills.

All interstate train terminate here. Local suburb trains depart from platforms to the east of Sydney Terminal.