Cheap Flights to Sydney

When to fly to Sydney

Peak Season:
The Australian summer is peak season. The months between December and the start of March are when the city comes to life and most travellers take cheap flights to Sydney for the theatre, exhibitions, street performances and, of course, the beaches.

Off Season:
Winter (June 1-August 31) is off season when flights and hotels are cheaper. Winter in Sydney still means mild temperatures – perfect for walking tours of the city – and there’s the opportunity to go skiing in the Snowy Mountains, a five-hour drive away.

Overview

Sydney, Australia’s oldest and biggest city, has everything you’d expect from a world city. Its location on one of the most beautiful harbours, its greenness, climate, safety, and even excellent transport system make it an unforgettable destination.

The Sydney Harbour, home to the shell-shaped opera house and the steel-arch bridge, is one of the most stunning harbours in the world. A string of golden, inner-city beaches runs on either side of which the most famous is Bondi, and others, no less beautiful, include Tamarama, Bronte and Manley.

Long, long before there were cheap flights to Sydney, Australia’s first European settlers landed at The Rocks. At the foot of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and on the western shores of Sydney Cove, this old colonial district is a buzzy area with cafes and restaurants standing amid the historic buildings.

Aside from the landmarks and beaches, Sydney revels in its foodie reputation. While it has its fair share of museums, theatres and art galleries perhaps the best thing is having a view of the water at sunset, a plate of Sydney rock oysters and a glass of local white wine.

How long is the flight to Sydney?

Flights from Canada to Sydney, Australia range anywhere from 18h to 27h, depending on which Canadian city is the departure location. Canadian cities that have flights to Sydney are Edmonton, Calgary, Montreal, Vancouver, and Toronto.

Where can you get direct flights from Canada to Sydney, Australia?

Travelers can get direct, nonstop flights to Sydney, Australia via Air Canada if they fly out of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. These direct flights out of Vancouver are about 18h long.

How do you get from Sydney Airport to the city centre?

Sydney Airport sits in the suburb of Mascot, just 8 km south of Sydney city centre. The Airport Link train travels from the Sydney Airport to downtown Sydney, as well as to other suburbs on the southwestern side of the city. Travelers can get to the city center fairly quickly by airport taxi or train. Both options take about 13m to 20m, depending on traffic.

What are some things to do in Sydney, Australia?

Families, couples and solo travelers can easily find activities and places to visits while in Sydney. The Sydney Opera House is a must-see destination and offers riveting entertainment experiences ranging from musical theatre and comedy shows to lectures, masterclasses and, of course, classical music recitals. Visitors can also experience the iconic building via the Sydney Opera House Guided Walking Tour. As for other artsy destinations and activities, Sydney offers the State Theatre, Opera Australia, the Sydney Lyric Theatre, the Capitol Theatre, the Museum of Sydney, the Hyde Park Barracks Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia and much more.

For families with little ones who can’t spend all day walking or maybe can’t tolerate multiple museum visits, there are many alternatives. Whole families can enjoy the Whale Watching Sydney tour, the Powerhouse Museum, Cockatoo Island, the Australian National Maritime Museum and the Wild Life Sydney Zoo.

For visitors looking to be a little more outdoorsy and adventurous, the Bondi to Coogee Beach Coastal Walk, the Sydney BridgeClimb, Coast Warriors, Barefoot Downunder, Edge Rock Adventures, the Bronte Beach Pool, the Walking with Wombats Day Tour, snorkeling and scuba diving at the Gordons Bay Nature Trail, Australian Surf Tours and the Blue Mountain Eco Tours, just to name a few. And for travelers looking to hike and really get to know Sydney’s landscape, there are many great hiking spots: the Fairfax Heritage Track, Blue Mountains National Park, the Three Sisters Walk, the Hermitage Foreshore Walk, Sydney Harbour National Park, the Burrawang walk, Kamay Botany Bay National Park and Ruined Castle.

Do I need a passport or visa to fly to Sydney, Australia?

Yes, travelers from Canada do need a passport to visit anywhere in Australia, including Sydney — as well as an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). An ETA grants travelers to Australia via Canada multiple trips within a year, but no one trip can exceed 90 days. Fortunately, because Canada’s passports are so robust and allow its holders to travel to so many countries, travelers from Canada to Australia only need a passport and ETA and are not required to obtain a visa.

Sydney climate

Southern hemisphere seasons are reversed. Australia enjoys its summer between December and March when temperatures range between 19 and 26 degrees Celsius (66-78 Fahrenheit). Summer days can hit 30 degrees (86F). The winter season runs from the start of June to the end of August. Temperatures are still mild and hover between 8 and 16 degrees (46-60 F).

Getting around Sydney

Sydney is a city built around its harbour, and that’s where you will find some of the best sightseeing. 

The public passenger ferries are run by Sydney Ferries and you can board a monorail down to Darling Harbour. 

There are plenty of ways to get around the city. The By Sydney Explorer and By Bondi Explorer buses stop almost anywhere you’d want to go in the city and around the harbour and beaches. 

Take the light-rail tram line to Chinatown, Paddy’s Markets or Darling Harbour. You don’t need to drive, and the one-way streets and lack of parking will eat up your time. Taxis are all over and easy to hail on the street. 

Adventurous travellers who don’t fear heights can join the Sydney Harbour Bridge climb, which walks across catwalks and ladders across the arch of the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge.   

Sydney airport overview

Sydney Airport (SYD), also referred to as Kingsford-Smith Airport, is situated in the suburb of Mascot, near Botany Bay, approximately 6 miles (9km) from Sydney, Australia’s largest city and main commercial and tourist hub. It is one of the oldest continuously running airports in the world and, having handled just over 35.9 million passengers in 2010, is Australia’s busiest aerial hub.

Comprising three passenger terminals, namely International Terminal T1 and Domestic Terminals T2 and T3, Sydney Airport is home to a vast array of world-class shopping and dining venues, as well as a host of facilities and amenities for both tourists and business travellers. Check-in, baggage claims, immigrations, customs and security are generally smooth and painless; however, like most international airports, standard airport processes can slow down during peak times. 

In essence, Sydney Airport is clean, efficient and well maintained. Better yet, transport to and from the airport is abundant and therefore makes this airport an ideal gateway for those travelling to Sydney and surrounds.