Sydney Harbour, Sydney, New South Wales © Qantas Airways
Getting here: find cruises and flights to Australia
Adventure awaits. Get ready to pack your bags and hit the sea or sky. Here’s our guide on getting to Australia.
From the sun-soaked outback to the crystalline waters of the Great Barrier Reef, there are thousands of ways to see Australia. But first, you have to get here. You can reach our beautiful country in a number of different ways – enough to suit every budget, timeline and itinerary.
Reaching Australia by air
Qantas, Melbourne, Victoria © Qantas
Sydney airport, New South Wales © Destination NSW
With a number of direct flights from the US and Canada to Australia, the land of koalas and kangaroos is closer than it's ever been before – a lineup of new and existing flight paths make getting here as easy as putting a shrimp on the barbie. Travellers can choose from a wide range of airlines, including Qantas, Delta, United, American Airlines, Air Canada, Hawaiian Airlines, Jetstar, and Air New Zealand. Each airline travels to Australia using their largest aircrafts to ensure your flight will be as comfortable as possible.
Direct services typically depart from the west coast of the US and Texas, and in Canada, Vancouver. Easy connections can be made from the East Coast and Mid-west to most of Australia's capital cities, including Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide and Darwin. If you're travelling from other cities across North America, there are easy and convenient layover options to get you Down Under in no time.
The good news is, most flights leave just after 10pm. Just in time for a good night's sleep before arriving Down Under for a typical Aussie breakfast and a flat white.
Direct flights to Sydney
| Departure city | Airlines | Flights per week |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles International (LAX) | Qantas American Airlines United Delta
|
8 7 7 9
|
| San Francisco International Airport (SFO) | United |
7 |
| Vancouver International Airport (YVR) | Qantas Air Canada |
3 10 |
| Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Qantas Hawaiian Airlines Jetstar |
6 5 3 |
| Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) | Qantas | 7 |
| Houston International Airport (IAH) | United Airlines | 5 |
Flights are also available on Air New Zealand via Auckland. *Flight schedules current as of December 2022 |
||
Direct flights to Melbourne
| Departure city | Airlines | Flights per week |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles International (LAX) | Qantas United Airlines |
7 7 |
| San Francisco International Airport (SFO) | United Airlines | 7 |
| Honolulu International Airport (HNL) | Jetstar | 2 |
| Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) | Qantas | 3 |
Flights are also available on Air New Zealand via Auckland. *Flight schedules current as of December 2022 |
||
Direct flights to Brisbane
| Departure city | Airlines | Flights per week |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles International (LAX) | Qantas |
7 |
| San Francisco International Airport (SFO) | United Airlines | 3 |
| Vancouver International Airport (YVR) | Air Canada | 6 |
Flights are also available on Air New Zealand via Auckland. *Flight schedules current as of December 2022 |
||
We value all our airline partners providing flights to Australia. Flights schedules continue to change and be updated, so be sure to visit our airline partners for the most up-to-date schedules on departures to Australia.
Reaching Australia by sea
Circular Quay, Sydney, New South Wales © Hamilton Lund, Destination NSW
If cruising the open seas is your preferred way to travel, there are plenty of options for you to sail your way Down Under. There are a number of spectacular cruises, from 18 nights, that offer luxurious and comfortable ways to travel to Australia.
You can embark on a cruise to Australia from North American ports with operators including Celebrity Cruises, Cunard, Holland America, Royal Caribbean, Seabourn and Silversea. These cruises often offer packages that include many of Australia’s major cities and tourist destinations, so you can tick off a lot of your bucket list without even having to unpack!
