Flying from Johannesburg to Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport (SYD): What you need to know
Johannesburg's main base, O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), is where countless incredible trips begin. Explore the departure options from here when searching for a flight from Johannesburg to Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport (SYD).
Hop on a direct Johannesburg to Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport flight and you'll be traveling for around 12 hours.
The timezone in Sydney is UTC+11, which is nine hours ahead of Johannesburg. Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport is located in Sydney.
The most popular route is from O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) to Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport (SYD). There are 5 direct services every week. Qantas operates a 5:15pm departure between JNB and SYD.
Arrive at the airport on time so you don't miss your flight from Johannesburg to SYD. Be there at least two hours ahead for international flights and an hour early for domestic departures to skip the mad dash to your gate.
With more people on the move during peak seasons, it's wise to get to your terminal even earlier. Two hours for domestic flights and up to four for international trips will allow for extra wait times.
Airports in Johannesburg
O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB)
Fly without interruptions from O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB). Nonstop flights from Johannesburg to Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport (SYD) are available from here.
You can lock in a direct flight from Johannesburg to Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport with Qantas. This leading airline offers services from JNB.
Most passengers choose to fly with Qantas between JNB and SYD.
Qantas is the top-ranked carrier for punctuality on this route.
Stopovers are the perfect opportunity to break up your trip and possibly even explore another city. When browsing cheap flights from Johannesburg to SYD leaving from O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), deselect the 'Direct flights only' box to discover where you can stop along the way. Popular options include:
Dubai Airport (DXB)
Changi International Airport (SIN)
Hamad International Airport (DOH)
Located around 29 kilometers from the center of Johannesburg, JNB can be reached in about 30 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The journey by public transport will take roughly 1 hour 10 minutes.
In search of a comfortable hotel close to O.R. Tambo International Airport? If you've booked an early flight from Johannesburg to Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport, these accommodation options will have you sleeping moments from your check-in counter:
Of all flights departing from O.R. Tambo International Airport, 77.1% arrive as scheduled at their destination.
Lanseria International Airport (HLA)
Depending on traffic, you can drive to HLA from Johannesburg's center in around 50 minutes. The airport is roughly 48 kilometers away.
Start your vacation early with an additional night away from home. Before your Johannesburg to SYD flight, kick back in one of these hotels near Lanseria International Airport:
About Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport (SYD)
Have a late flight from Johannesburg to Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport? Don't let it end in exhaustion. Stay at one of these hotels near SYD and fast-forward to bedtime:
Fast-track your adventure by picking up a Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport rental car. Grab your wheels from simba car hire, Bargain Car Rentals or Yes Drive and explore beyond Sydney's usual tourist stops.
Lock in the best rate by booking your ride around two weeks ahead of your Johannesburg to Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport flight.
Getting from Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport (SYD) to central Sydney
Central Sydney is around 18 kilometers from Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport and takes about 20 minutes to reach by car. See what your options are for making the trip into the city, whether that's with a cab, car rental or ride-share.
It typically takes 25 minutes if you're using public transport.
How to find the cheapest flights from Johannesburg to Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport (SYD)
Currently, $436 is the best price we've found for a one-way ticket from Johannesburg to Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport. The cheapest price for a return flight is $740. Remember fares may change due to availability at the time of booking.
Booking in advance is often the key to finding a cheap flight from Johannesburg to SYD. Fares tend to rise as demand increases, so the closer you get to departure, the more expensive your ticket may be.
If you have some flexibility with your trip dates, try using the 'Whole month' tool. It'll show you the cheapest price across every month when searching for your Johannesburg to Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport ticket.
Spend less time searching for cheap plane tickets from Johannesburg to SYD by creating a Price Alert. We'll send you an email or notification through the app when a lower fare pops up.
Tailor your trip using filters. Choose your preferred departure and arrival times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort your results by 'Cheapest,' 'Best' or 'Fastest' flights from Johannesburg to Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport.
The best time to fly from Johannesburg to Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport (SYD)
July is the most popular month for flights from Johannesburg to Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport (SYD). Visit Sydney in April for a more laid-back experience.
Book a Johannesburg to SYD plane ticket departing in January if you're eager to explore the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures in Sydney to range from 17ºC (63ºF) to 32ºC (90ºF).
July has temperatures of between 5ºC (41ºF) and 19ºC (66ºF). Look for cheap tickets from Johannesburg to Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport around that time if you like traveling in cooler conditions.
More about Sydney
Once you've booked your flight from Johannesburg to Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport, find a hotel that puts you in a great location. Make one of these options your base for exploring Sydney:
Your Sydney visit should come with a side of sightseeing. Major attractions worth exploring include Sydney Harbor, Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Harbour.
Explore more of Australia
Canberra is just one of the many places in Australia waiting to be explored after you've seen Sydney. Around 241 kilometers away to the south-west, its top attractions include Australian War Memorial, National Gallery of Australia and National Portrait Gallery.
Newcastle is another sought-after destination in Australia and is around 129 kilometers north-east of Sydney. No trip is complete without experiencing Merewether Beach, Bathers Way Coastal Walk and Nobbys Beach.