Sydney Airport — Local services in Sydney

Welcome to Sydney. International flights land at the Sydney International Airport which is located about 10km south of the Sydney CBD. Once you pass through Customs, you'll exit out of the airport at the ground level through either Exit A or Exit B. The two exits are located about 300 metres apart from each other. There are a number of easy-to-access transport options located near the exit gates. A private hire car or limousine is the most expensive option, and can be pre-booked with a simple search of the internet. The cost of a private car or limo starts at about $US50 - on average, would cost about $US70-$US100 for about an hour. The next most expensive travel option would be a local taxi. Cabs are always parked ready to take fares. You'll find the large taxi rank at the southern end of the Sydney International Airport. As your taxi leaves the airport, the fare will automatically increase by about $US3 - this is the taxi airport fee. Taxis to the city take about 20 minutes and can cost $US35 - the cost and time can depend on traffic jams - be aware if you land at 6am (which a lot of international flights do) a ride in a taxi before 10am means you will be stuck in peak hour traffic. Other options: If a friend or relative picks you up at the airport, they'll be hit with a $US15-$US30 airport parking fee. Your overseas Uber app also works here in Australia. Passengers can request Uber cars through a virtual queue system and be met by drivers at the international airport's free public pick up zones. Follow the bright green signs to the Priority Pickup area for your uberX, uberXL or UberSELECT ride. One of the most popular ways for travellers to exit the airport is via the underground railway. The train leaves approximately every ten minutes from the Sydney International Airport - you'll find the entry to the railway station located at the northern end of the Sydney International Airport. Trains from this location head north to Sydney ending up on the City Circle underground rail network and other trains travel south-west towards Campbelltown. Before jumping on the train you'll need to buy an Opal card - You'll find a ticket window and automated machines selling these travel passes near the entry gate to the train station. Opal cards can be used across Sydney's train, bus and ferry network. The cost of travelling out of the airport precinct by train is $AUS16.90, plus the general train fare - in other words, it could cost you about $AUS21 to get to Sydney's CBD - (this is about $US16). Opal cards can also be purchased at the Newslink shop or WH Smith bookshops located inside the terminal. Opal cards are smart cards and can be topped-up with cash either via the Opal card app, automated Opal machines located at train stations or at most news outlets and convenience stores across Sydney. If you're planning to stay in Sydney's CBD for a few days, I would recommend buying an Opal card and putting $US30 onto it - the card will come in very handy as you travel around the city. Remember to tap on before each journey and tap off at the end of each journey. The cheapest way to travel from the airport, and it is not loudly promoted, is via a suburban bus. Airport workers use this option because they can skip the $16.90 gate fee that comes the train fare to and from the airport. The bus leaves from a bus stop located on the ground level - outside the arrival gate at the northern end of the Sydney International Airport. Before leaving the terminal to walk to the bus stop, visit the Newslink or WH Smith bookshops and buy an Opal card - I recommend putting at least $10 onto the Opal card before catching the bus. Buses leave here and travel to Mascot and Bondi Junction train stations, and also to Burwood in the inner west. From these train stations you can easily travel to Sydney's CBD area. Most airport employees catch the 400 bus from the airport to Mascot train station - which is located about one bus stop after the domestic...

I am a UK based Cruise Travel agency owner and we recommended our guests to take cruises out of Sydney and, have a good pre-stay before, as a really great experience.

I am giving Sydney airport, just one star, not because of, the majority experience, which we found excellent, but because of what, in my view, appears to be, an overwhelming failure, of airport management, to proactively work to prevent, some taxi drivers, scamming travellers at Sydney airport on the fare for journeys into the City from the airports own official stand.

We had cruise customers to Australia (Feb 25) report to us a great holiday but, in feedback, told us the fare in the early evening with good traffic flow to a Circular key hotel to be 80-90 Aus dollars. ( I had told them, in pre-brief, that I had, expected, up to 55 Aus.)

On 14th April 2025, my wife and I arrived in Sydney airport and decided to take a regular taxi to our Circular key area hotel from the airport official stand, where there appeared to be an official staff member. It was not pre-booked taxi.

The time was about 6:20 pm road traffic flow was good, I was observing the meter, which by the 20 mins or so approx end of the journey, was showing nearly 90 Aus dollars and showed also 17 dollars of road tolls. The route taken was the appropriate one, we have been on it on past visits.

I naively, it now seems, took it at face value, when I asked,on arrival at the hotel, what the fare was, having also had the safety( or I so I thought) of having monitored the meter and I was asked for 86 Aus dollars and paid 90.

A staff member at the hotel, on arrival, enquired what had been the taxi fare and I was then, promptly told I had, likely, been scammed.

So, if I was scammed and if our February guests to Sydney were also scammed is that just unlucky? .. or is this concerningly widespread? ..well the latter, it now seems, is more likely the case, after doing some Australian internet research which showed that both the Daily Mail (July 2024) and the Daily Telegraph newspaper (Jan 2025) have run warning stories of major concern and I have noted there seems to be widespread consistent internet concern going back, at least two years, on the same point.

That all suggests a huge failure of responsibility, in my view, by the airport operator, who at the very least by now, I would have expected, to have a prominent large poster sign at the boarding point of taxis to say something like fare to Central Sydney more than 60 Aus dollars? Take the taxi details and just check you are getting the correct fare, adding perhaps a "report it" line email address.

So that's why I am giving Sydney Airport one star and why I will not be again recommending, our UK guests, to take a taxi from the airport until it looks like the airport really is trying to do something about preventing scammers that really let down, the majority honest drivers.

I did think the official taxi rank at the airport was shockingly quiet for a busy international airport .....is it that people are already taking other options because of this problem.?

Letting the scammers get away with it like this, lets down the likely overwhelming majority of taxi drivers that work really hard and professionally do a great job.

I am writing to the Chief Executive of the Airport and Government tourism minister too.

Really poor I feel Sydney Airport, I really did expect better and...

I have never experienced such appalling service from any provider as I have with Jetstar. I am currently on a holiday that started with a flight from Melbourne to Sydney on Thursday, 12th June. My friend and I were scheduled to return from Sydney to Melbourne on Monday, 16th June. However, on Saturday night, I dislocated my knee, which remained out of its socket for several hours. Thankfully, the incredible doctors and nurses managed to reset it, but I was left in a full-sized brace and on crutches for two weeks. I am unable to remove the brace or bend my left leg during this time.

The doctors provided extensive documentation for the airline, advising that I would need a seat with extra legroom due to my inability to bend my leg, as well as wheelchair assistance at the airport and on and off the plane. On Sunday, 15th June, I called Jetstar to notify them of these requirements ahead of my flight. I contacted Sydney Airport and spoke with the Jetstar team, who informed me that they couldn’t help as the trip was booked through Jetstar Holidays.

After multiple calls back and forth between the airport and Jetstar, no one could assist me. When I contacted Jetstar Holidays, they redirected me back to the initial team, who again claimed they couldn’t help. I requested to be transferred to someone who could assist, but they said this wasn’t possible. On one of my final calls, a representative told me that even if I managed to board the plane, they couldn’t provide a seat with extra legroom because I didn’t meet their criteria. When I asked what I should do, he dismissively replied, “I guess you’re at a dead end,” as if the entire situation was a joke.

At this point, I was exhausted and emotional from lack of sleep, and after two hours of futile calls, I decided to take a break. My friend, who is traveling with me, then tried calling Jetstar herself. After about 10 calls, not only did she fail to get a resolution, but she was also hung up on multiple times. We explored options like booking new flights or upgrading to business class, but the Jetstar team refused to help.

Eventually, we were told that they could arrange airport assistance but that any seating changes would have to be addressed by the flight attendants at the airport on the day of travel. The only other option was to be stranded in Sydney with nowhere to stay. With no help from Jetstar, I called my parents, who agreed to drive 9–10 hours to Sydney to pick me up and then drive another 9–10 hours to get me back to Melbourne.

This entire experience, following such a traumatic night, has been beyond disappointing. Jetstar’s complete disregard for customer care, especially in a situation involving medical needs, is unacceptable. If you value your health, safety, and peace of mind, avoid this airline at all costs. You never know when you might need assistance during a trip and with Jetstar, you’re unlikely to get it. I will never fly with...