Canberra Flights

Canberra is by design a little isolated from the rest of the world in terms of air travel. Whether by design or not, it is not a publically international airport, meaning there are not flights landing here from the US or mainland Asia.

Connections to Canberra can be made through Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane to most other countries. Internal Australian flights travel throughout most of the country however.

The airport is basic and utiliatarian, but then again when in Canberra, you probably are not going to be staying for a long layover, so there is not much to it by design.

We Canberrans love to laugh at our city's weaknesses. Our airport is "international" in name only. You cannot fly directly into Canberra on an international flight, unless you are Bill Clinton, in which case they will clean up the extreme ends of the runway to ensure Airforce 1 can land safely.

To get into the city from the airport you have three choices: airporter bus (15 min trip departing hourly, stops at city hotels, $7 one-way $12 return); taxi ($20); or get collected by your friends (priceless). Canberrans generally choose to get collected.

There is no train network in Canberra. Local buses operate to all suburbs, but not the airport. You can connect to the buses from the airporter stop in the city.

Canberra is well serviced by airline flights by Virgin Blue and Qantas to Brisbane and Melbourne, with somewhat fewer flights to Adelaide. Qantas and Virgin have flights to Sydney. The locally owned Brindabella Airlines has flights from Canberra to Newcastle, Albury and Traralgon. Jetstar does not fly to Canberra, probably the only large destination it does not visit in the country (ask it's owner Qantas why). The new discount airline, Tiger Airways, also now flies between Canberra and Melbourne.

The airport bills itself as 'Canberra International' but technical limitations would confine any international flights to relatively close destinations. In any case, no airlines currently provide international services from Canberra to even New Zealand, though the option is available to them.

Updated 27 March 2008

Unfortunately, because of a combination of its position in a valley and the temperature inversions which develop inland in calm conditions, Canberra is prone to fogs on winter mornings: sometimes lasting until noon. This can cause havoc with airline services to and from Canberra, and is most likely in the period from May to August, on up to one day in three or four depending on the weather conditions.

The weather criteria for aircraft to land are somewhat more stringent than for departures, so often the aircraft which have overnighted at Canberra are able to depart when the fog lifts a little, while other aircraft remain unable to land. If the fog persists as low stratus cloud, flights can be considerably delayed.

This means that when you are planning airline travel to and from Canberra, it is wise to avoid bookings on morning flights and, in any case, discount seats are usually more readily available on mid-afternoon flights. If you must make a morning departure, try for the earliest flight because it is probable the aircraft will at least be on the ground and able to go when any fog lifts.

Well if you could ,go by car, its some 270km south west of Sydney. Takes some hours, but the views when you approach Canberra are really lovely.

Plane services from all major cities in Australia. Qantas and Ansett.

Regular buses from Melbourne and Sydney.

Train from Sydney.
Because Canberra is a small place, most of the major attractions can be accessed by walking. Good public transport is available as well

Canberra is only 3 hours from Sydney. There is a great 2-lane highway and it is very easy driving. There is an airport which is services regularly from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. There is a daily train service from Sydney. The bus service to and from Sydney is excellent.
Canberra has a great bus service - very easy to get around the city. You can buy a day pass or weekly pass - not sure how much - but will get prices.