Flights from Sydney to Wellington

Compare Cheap Flights from Sydney to Wellington

As the capital city of New Zealand, Wellington is an exciting city teeming with history, culture, art, shopping, and a great food and drink scene. Although Wellington is a fairly small city, it makes up for that with its big personality. It has been referred to as the world’s “coolest little capital” due to everything it has to offer. Within the city centre, there are lots of galleries and museums, restaurants, cafes, and craft beer bars. Wellington has an artistic feel to it and is a hub for live theatre, comedy shows, and music. There is lots of natural beauty as well between the large Wellington Harbour and the mountains and hills that surround the CBD. From Wellington, you are within easy access to some incredible hiking spots as well as the Martinborough wine region. If you would like to continue your New Zealand adventure, you can catch the ferry from Wellington to the South Island–a ferry ride that has been referred to as the most scenic in the world. Booking cheap flights from Sydney to Wellington is a great way to spend a long weekend or to start an adventure around New Zealand.

Start planning your holiday to New Zealand’s capital with Webjet’s cheap airfares from Sydney to Wellington, NZ

The best time to visit Wellington

Like much of New Zealand, Wellington has four distinct seasons. Summer experiences the warmest and sunniest weather, bringing with it the city’s high season. People flock to Wellington from all over in the summer to enjoy the city’s outdoor activities and calendar of summer events. If you are planning to book return flights from Sydney to Wellington in the summer, be prepared for higher than usual hotel rates. To make the most of your budget, try to book your hotel as far in advance as possible when you’ll be visiting during the summer.

Winter in Wellington gets cold, windy, and rainy, but it’s also the best time to find great deals on hotels. Winter is the city’s low season, so you can bag a bargain at some of Wellington’s top hotels. Although weather is chilly, you can still look forward to plenty of sunny days. And on the rainy days, there are plenty of indoor activities to keep entertained including museums and an array of craft beer bars.

For great hotel rates as well as beautiful weather, consider booking cheap airfares from Sydney to Wellington in the shoulder seasons of spring and autumn. Temperatures average about 15°C, which is the ideal weather to take advantage of the many hikes around the Wellington area. Spring and autumn are also a great time to experience the city’s Botanic Gardens. During the spring, the gardens are bursting with colour and beautiful scents, while autumn brings with it some vibrant foliage.

Departing From Sydney

Sydney Airport (SYD) is one of the largest international hubs in Australia. The airport is 7 kilometres (4.3 miles) from the CBD, making it quick and easy to get to.

Qantas, Virgin Australia, Air New Zealand, Jetstar, and Emirates offer regular cheap flights from Sydney to Wellington. On an average day, there are about 25-30 return flights from Sydney to Wellington Airport (WLG) available. The majority of these flights travel direct, getting you into Wellington in about 3 hours 15 minutes.

Getting to Sydney Airport

The most affordable way to reach Sydney Airport is on the Airport Link train. You can catch this train from a variety of stations throughout the CBD and Sydney suburbs. Trains depart from Central Station, Wynyard, Darling Harbour, and Bondi. You can even catch the train from suburbs as far as Wollongong. The train fare varies based on where you are travelling from and starts at $18.70 AUD from the CBD. A train from central Sydney will get you to the airport in a fast 15 minutes, and trains from Bondi take about 45 minutes. You can purchase an individual ticket or pay with your Opal card.

For the most direct journey to the airport, you can catch a taxi or an Uber from all locations around the city. A taxi from the CBD will get you to the airport in about 20 minutes for a fare of $45 to $60 AUD. Taxis from Bondi will get you to Sydney Airport in less than a half hour for a fare of $45 to $65 AUD.

Parking at Sydney Airport

Sydney Airport offers several different car parks to accommodate all different budgets. In order to lock in the lowest rate on parking, be sure to pre-book your parking spot.

Where to Park at Sydney Airport

• The cheapest parking option at Sydney Airport is the Blu Emu car park. It is located outside the airport, and a shuttle comes regularly to get you there. Parking rates start from $30 AUD per day to park.

• For the most direct access to the International Terminal, park in the P7 car park. It offers covered parking and is a 5-minute walk from the terminal. Parking rates start at $55 AUD per day.

Arriving in Wellington

Wellington has one airport, which is one of the international hubs in New Zealand. Wellington Airport (WLG) is located 8 kilometres (5 miles) southeast of the city’s CBD. Once your flight arrives in Wellington, there are several affordable options to reach your hotel in the city.

How to Get from Wellington Airport (WLG) to Your Wellington Hotel or Accommodation

Wellington Airport (WLG) offers an Airport Flyer bus, which is the official transportation option into the city. The Airport Flyer departs from the airport every 20 minutes and arrives into the CBD in about 30 minutes. You’ll have no trouble spotting the bus due to its bright orange colour! Bus fare into the centre costs $9 NZD and offers several major stops, including Courtenay Place, Willis Street, and Lambton Quay.

For an even more affordable option, you can catch the public bus into the CBD. From the airport, you can catch the bus from the corner of Broadway and Hobart streets, which is a 10-minute walk away. Catch the number 2 bus, which travels all through the city centre. Bus fare is typically $5 NZD. However, if you’ll be travelling by bus regularly throughout the trip, you can purchase a Snapper card, which will lower your fare to just $2.81 NZD.

For door-to-door service from Wellington Airport to your hotel, you can catch a taxi. Taxis arrive into the CBD in about 15 to 20 minutes and cost about $30 to $40 NZD.

Things to do in Wellington

Te Papa Museum

New Zealand’s national museum is located in central Wellington and boasts an impressive collection. Inside the museum, you’ll find exhibits focusing on all different aspects of New Zealand’s culture. These include displays on Maori culture, fault lines and seismic activity, art, and natural history. There are always new short-term exhibits opening as well, many of which have been designed by the famous Weta Studios. Entrance into Te Papa is free, but they always appreciate a small donation.

Zealandia

New Zealand has some fascinating native plants and animals. If you would like to experience some of this incredible nature up close, pay a visit to the Zealandia ecosanctuary. Many of the plants and animals within Zealandia are endangered, which is where Zealandia stepped in to get their populations back up. Throughout the sanctuary, there are lots of walking trails you can take. Something unique about Zealandia is that none of its animals are in cages, so while walking through the ecosanctuary, you’ll often see a native bird or small animal walking along beside you. In order to reach Zealandia, you can catch a free shuttle bus from the top of the city’s cable car.

Explore the Waterfront

Wellington’s CBD is based around a large harbour. All along the harbour, there are boardwalks and paths where you can walk and take in the views. In addition to seeing the harbour and boats, you can view mountains off in the distance. On the eastern end of the harbour, you can visit the popular Oriental Bay neighbourhood. There are steep hills beside the harbour where you’ll see colourful houses stacked over each other. Along the boardwalk, there are also blue and white boat houses as well as a small beach that’s a favourite among locals. Great bars and restaurants line the length of the harbour, offering lots of opportunities for a drink or a meal with a view.

The Weta Studios

When you think of movie production, Hollywood likely springs to mind. But did you know that Wellington has played a huge role in some of Hollywood’s major films? The Weta Studios are based in the city’s Miramar neighbourhood. The studios develop props, sets, special effects, and costumes. Some of the most acclaimed films they have been involved in are the Lord of the Rings movies, the Chronicles of Narnia, and Avatar. Guests are able to tour the studio to learn about their design process, see some of their most famous props, and maybe get a sneak peek into the next project they’re working on.
 

Ride the Cable Car to the Botanic Gardens

The bright red Cable Car is one of the most recognisable landmarks in Wellington. It first opened in 1902 and still operates on one of Wellington’s steepest hills. Catch the Cable Car from Lambton Quay and ride it all the way to the top, taking in the incredible views of Wellington along the way. At the top station, there is a viewpoint and a free Cable Car Museum where you can learn about its history. Just beside the Cable Car station at the top of the hill, you can also pay a visit to Wellington’s Botanic Gardens. It’s made up of incredible trees and flowers, many of which are native to New Zealand.

Mount Victoria Lookout

Due to Wellington’s hilly landscape, there are lots of hikes that will reward you with stunning views. The Mount Victoria Lookout is just outside the CBD and offers expansive views over the city, harbour, and surrounding mountains. The hike is quick, but can be steep and challenging at times, so be sure to wear comfortable shoes. The view from Mount Victoria is always beautiful, but is especially scenic at sunrise and sunset.