Sydney – Guide to Sydney Airport (SYD)

Sydney (Kingsford Smith) airport is Australia’s busiest airport and main international gateway, situated on the northern shoreline of Botany Bay.

The airport offers a decent range of shops, restaurants, cafés and bars, plus leisure facilities such as children’s play areas and a pampering salon. A major expansion and upgrade project is currently underway, however, which will see Sydney airport’s facilities improve even further.

Flights from the UK to Sydney

Flights from the UK  to Sydney take about 23 hours. Flights from the UK to Sydney are operated by many international airlines including British Airways, Qantas and Etihad. Many of the flights to Australia depart from London Heathrow, but there are also flights  from regional UK airports such as Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle and Glasgow.

Wherever you fly from in the UK Sydney is only a day away.

Location and layout

Sydney Airport is located 6 miles south of Sydney in the suburb of Mascot and has three passenger terminals: Terminal 1, 2 and 3. Terminal 1 is known as the ‘International Terminal’, and an underground ‘Airport Link’ connects the International and Domestic terminals.

Getting from the airport to central Sydney

Trains, buses and taxis are available to get you from the airport into the city centre. Trains from the airport reach Sydney Town Hall in about 13 minutes. By road, the journey takes about 30 minutes.

The State Transit Website at www.131500.com.au has useful information about the various public transport options, including a trip planner providing you with detailed information on how to get to the city centre.

Facilities

When it comes to shopping, Sydney Airport offers more than 150 retail and service outlets, including duty-free, beauty salons, hairdressers, a wine shop, a popular MAC cosmetics shop, an Australian produce shop, international and Australian fashion stores, and a range of speciality boutique shops. This means you can browse and buy the latest electronic gadgets, music, games, books, clothing and accessories, and Australian souvenirs and gifts. For more information on shopping at the airport, visit www.sydneyairportshopping.com.au

Once you’re done shopping, if you still have some spare time on your hands you could pamper yourself at Body Inc. with a massage, a facial or a manicure – and they also offer hairdressing, waxing and body treatments.

On a more practical level, you’ll find Bureaux de change and ATMs in all terminals, plus postal services at Australia Post Shop (Departures level 2) and a post office (in the International Terminal). Internet terminals are available throughout the airport, as well as a public Wi-Fi network throughout both the International Terminal (Terminal 1) and the Domestic Terminal (Terminal 2).

Other useful airport facilities include a medical centre (T1 International Terminal), a pharmacy (Departures area), free showers (both Departures and Arrivals areas of the T1 International Terminal), a prayer room (T1 International Terminal), and children’s activity centres (T1 International Terminal).

Eating and drinking

The airport offers a decent range of restaurants, bars and cafés serving food and drinks, including Australian and international cuisine.

For a quick snack, there are take-away places such as Subway for sandwiches, and McDonald’s for burgers. There are healthier options such as Sumo Salad, bar snacks at places like Bondi Bar, and more substantial dishes at Australian and international restaurants including Nepalese cuisine at Jyona Beli and Italian at Prego trattoria.

Sydney airport hotels

If you need hotel accommodation nearby, there are several within a short distance that offer free or low-cost shuttle services to and from the airport. These include Ibis Hotel Sydney Airport, Airport Sydney International Inn, Holiday Inn Sydney Airport, and Stamford Sydney Airport Hotel, amongst others.

For more information about Sydney Airport (airport code: SYD), visit www.sydneyairport.com.au

Sydney’s attractive Harbour, golden surf beaches and sunshine make it a great outdoors city swimming with street cafés, and after dark it’s alive with trendy bars and clubs, and restaurants dishing up food from all over the world.

The Sydney Opera House stands proud at the edge of the water watching the yachts and sail boats navigate Harbour Bridge, another of the city’s key landmarks.

This vibrant city is Australia’s oldest and largest, regarded by many as the capital in all but name.

Flights to Sydney

Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport is Australia’s main international gateway, situated on the northern shoreline of Botany Bay.

Flights to Sydney are operated by many international airlines including Qantas, British Airways, Etihad Airways and Virgin – mainly from London Heathrow. There are, however, also flights from regional UK airports such as Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle and Glasgow.

Flights to Australia from London take approximately 23 hours.

Sydney’s top attractions

There’s stack to do outside in Sydney, apart from sipping a latte at one of the many buzzing cafés.

First off, there’s plenty of architecture to admire in the city centre, both old and new – from the iconic Opera House and modern glass and steel structures to the many grand old Victorian buildings such as the Sydney Town Hall and the Queen Victoria Building.

One of the main historical areas of the city is The Rocks, established shortly after the British penal colony was formed in 1788, with many buildings constructed from local sandstone (hence the area’s name). Interesting buildings such as Cadman’s Cottage and Sydney Observatory make the area popular with tourists, as well as the weekend Rocks Market, the souvenir shops and the historic pubs (two of which claim to be Sydney’s oldest: the Fortune of War and the Lord Nelson).

You could also catch some rays and go for a swim at Bondi Beach; learn to surf at Manly; or hire a kayak to explore the harbour. Back on land, Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens, home to over one million specimens, are just a short stroll from the Opera House, laid out on a slope overlooking the harbour. You could also take the coastal walk to Coogee; go on an excursion to one of the nearby national parks; or visit Sydney Olympic Park, home of the 2000 Olympics and now a parkland area with sporting facilities.

If you can drag yourself out of the sunshine, Sydney also has a wide range of top museums, galleries, theatres and concert venues for those seeking cultural sustenance. Apart from the obvious such as the Sydney Opera House, top cultural attractions include the Australian Museum (natural history); the Museum of Sydney; the Australian National Maritime Museum; the Art Gallery of NSW (classical, modern and Aboriginal art); Sydney Aquarium; the Powerhouse Museum (science and design); and the Museum of Contemporary Art.