Compare Cheap Flights from

Sydney to Newcastle

Compare Cheap Flights from Sydney to Newcastle

Newcastle is located about 160 km north of Sydney and is the second largest city in New South Wales. Like Sydney, Newcastle is made up of a beautiful coastline and is one of the oldest cities in Australia. But Newcastle has a lot that makes it unique as well. The city has a laid-back feel to it, making it a popular spot to escape from your hectic schedule for a few days. As well as its beaches and surfing, Newcastle has an exciting food and drink scene. The CBD is full of great cafes that may even rival your regular spots in Sydney. Head just outside the city, and you can taste wines in the Hunter Valley or hit the beaches of Port Stephens. Newcastle has so much to offer visitors, making it a great holiday spot for Sydneysiders without having to go too far.

Less than an hour away, Newcastle is the perfect spot for a quick getaway from Sydney. Regional Express offers return flights from Sydney to Newcastle every day, averaging about 20 flights each week. These flights are direct and will get you into Newcastle in a quick 45 minutes. Hahn Air also offers cheap flights from Sydney to Newcastle; however, they only fly the route about once a week and include a short stopover in Taree.

Have we got you thinking about booking cheap flights from Sydney to Newcastle? Webjet compares cheap airfares from Sydney to Newcastle to make sure you get the best rates. Book yourself some return flights from Sydney to Newcastle, and use our guide below to start planning for your holiday from SYD to NTL.

Things to do in Newcastle

ANZAC Memorial Walk

This is a short coastal walk built on the edge of a cliff. The walkway was built to commemorate the soldiers from Australia and New Zealand who fought in World War I. The boardwalk is only 450 metres long and has steps connecting it down to Bar Beach. The views along the walk are incredible, with the coastline on one side and the city on the other.

Go to the Beach

Newcastle and its surrounding region are known for their beautiful beaches and coastline. Newcastle is an especially great spot for surfers. All beaches around Newcastle are nice, but some of the most incredible ones to add to your list are Bar Beach, Nobby’s Beach, Newcastle Beach, and Cave Beach.

Fort Scratchley

Located at the top of a hill, Fort Scratchley offers amazing panoramic views of Newcastle’s beaches, harbour, and CBD. It was built as a defence fort in 1882 and played an active role in World War II. Today, Fort Scratchley is a museum where you can tour the fort and learn about Newcastle’s role in past wars.

Ocean Baths

One of the greatest things you can do in Newcastle is go for a relaxing bath in the ocean. There are several ocean baths along Newcastle’s coastline that are similar to the Bondi Icebergs pool in Sydney. Located right on the ocean, the pools fill with ocean water as waves crash over the sides. The most popular ocean baths to visit in Newcastle are the Newcastle Ocean Baths and Mereweather Ocean Baths. They are great, but for the most natural experience, head to Bogey Hole. It is located among cliffs and, rather than seeming like a pool, Bogey Hole feels like swimming in a naturally-made pond by the ocean.

Wine Tasting in the Hunter Valley

The Hunter Valley is one of the most popular wine regions in Australia. You can’t book cheap airfares from Sydney to Newcastle and not visit the Hunter Valley. Located just west of Newcastle, it makes for a great day trip. The Hunter Valley is widely considered to have the best semillon wine in the world. It also has some great varieties of chardonnay, shiraz, and verdelho. There are several organised wine tours you can take from Newcastle. Or if you’d prefer to rent a car for the day and do a self-driving tour, there are 150 different vineyards that open up their cellar doors for tastings.

Port Stephens

Just north of Newcastle is another beautiful coastal area called Port Stephens. This area is full of beaches and is a popular spot for water sports, such as sailing, kayaking, and paddle boarding. From Port Stephens, you can regularly spot the resident pod of dolphins, and at certain times of the year, you can see whales making their migration along “Humpback Highway.”

When should you book return flights from Sydney to Newcastle?

It’s never a bad time to book cheap airfares from Sydney to Newcastle. Newcastle is in the temperate climate zone, meaning it experiences nice weather throughout the year. Newcastle has a laid-back atmosphere and doesn’t get too overcrowded. Its busiest times are are around Christmas, Easter, and school holidays, so if you’re looking for a quiet getaway, you may not want to book cheap flights from Sydney to Newcastle during those times.

Many consider spring the best season to visit Newcastle. The weather is warm, the sun is out, flowers are in bloom, and the city is not crowded. Summer experiences more heat and humidity, but the nice breeze off the ocean keeps Newcastle from getting too hot.

Autumn and winter see more rain than the other seasons, but are still nice times to book SYD to NTL flights. Autumn has comfortable temperatures, and winters are moderate with temperatures rarely dropping below 8 degrees.

Departing from Sydney

Sydney Airport is located just 7 km south of the CBD, making it easy and convenient to get to. Each day, you can catch a direct flight from SYD to NTL that will get you to Newcastle Airport (NTL) in just 45 minutes. Regional Express offers cheap flights from Sydney to Newcastle daily and is the quickest way to travel between the two cities.

Getting to Sydney Airport (SYD)

Sydney Airport (also called Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport) offers transport options to satisfy every budget. The most affordable way to get from central Sydney to the airport is to catch the Airport Link train. Airport Link departs from several different train stations around Sydney, including Central Station, Wynyard, Bondi Beach, and Darling Harbour. There are even Airport Link trains that depart from outer suburbs, such as Wollongong. Train times and ticket prices vary by departure point. Trains from the CBD only take about 15 minutes to the airport, while trains from Bondi take about 45 minutes. CBD train tickets are $18.70, and Bondi tickets are $19.70. You can purchase individual tickets or pay with your Opal Card.

With the airport’s close proximity to the CBD, you can get to the airport quickly in a taxi or an Uber. A taxi ride from the CBD takes about 20 minutes and costs about $45-$60. If you catch a taxi from Bondi, you’ll have a similar fare between $45-$65, and you’ll get to the airport in under a half hour.

Parking at Sydney Airport

The Blu Emu car park is the most budget-friendly option for parking at Sydney Airport. Blu Emu offers a free 24-hour shuttle bus service between the car park and the Domestic Terminal. The shuttle takes about 15 minutes and runs every 15-30 minutes. The Blu Emu car park costs around $30 per day, but by booking your spot in advance, you can get even better rates.

For the quickest access to the Domestic Terminal, the P1/2 car park is a convenient option. From the car park, you can walk to the airport in 5 minutes. Next door to that is the P3 car park, which is an 8-minute walk to the terminal. P1/2 parking costs $59 for one day and $133 for 3 days. P3 parking costs $48 for one day and $128 for 3 days. You can get even lower daily rates by booking in advance through the Sydney Airport website.

Arriving in Newcastle

Newcastle Airport (NTL) is located about 25 km north of the city. The airport is small with only one runway and receives domestic flights from several other cities around Australia.

Getting to the CBD from Newcastle Airport (NTL)

Once your SYD to NTL flight has landed, head outside the terminal for transport into Newcastle. From Newcastle Airport (NTL), you can catch the number 130 bus, which is operated by Port Stephens Coaches. The southbound bus will take you right into Newcastle’s CBD in about 40 minutes. The bus stops at the airport every hour. What’s great is you can use your Opal card on the airport bus and other public transport around Newcastle!

For a direct ride into the city, you can catch both taxis and Ubers just outside the terminal. The ride takes about 25 minutes, and taxi fare between the airport and CBD costs about $75. Driving yourself is also an option, since there are several rental car companies at the airport. You can rent a car for as low as $67 a day.

If you’re heading to the Hunter Valley or Port Stephens from Newcastle Airport (NTL), there are buses available. The Hunter Valley bus has a route between the airport and Maitland that makes several stops throughout the Hunter Valley. Port Stephens Coaches also pick up from the airport. Route 130 travels into the city, but if you catch it in the other direction, it will get you to Port Stephens as well as Anna Bay, Nelson Bay, and Fingal Bay. Both of these bus companies accept Opal cards.