Sydney to Johannesburg flights
Johannesburg lies 11,041 km (6,860 mi) south-west of Sydney, -8 h on the clock. What the numbers say about getting there, and where to book.
A nonstop flight would take about 14 h 54 min gate to gate, based on the distance and typical cruise speed with taxi and climb allowed for; connecting itineraries add the layover on top.
Open Johannesburg in Google Maps
| Sydney | Johannesburg | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Australia | South Africa |
| Population | 5.6 million | 9.4 million |
| Elevation | 58 m (190 ft) | 1,767 m (5,797 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+10 (Australia/Sydney) | UTC+2 (Africa/Johannesburg) |
| Nearest large airport | SYD, 9 km out | JNB, 21 km out |
| Postal codes | 1001–2001 | 2000–2198 |
Clocks in Johannesburg are 8 h behind Sydney right now, so a 14 h 54 min journey lands only 6 h 54 min later by the destination clock.
What changes when you arrive in Johannesburg
Crossing from Australia into South Africa: money changes from the Dollar to the Rand (ZAR); sockets are AC power s and sockets: British and related types, BS 546, Euro, IEC 60906-1; the dialling code becomes +27; the emergency number is http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q1061257.
Airports at each end
Leaving Sydney
Sydney is served by one airport with scheduled flights. The closest large one is Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD), 9 km (6 mi) from the centre, whose 12,999-ft runway is long enough for long-haul wide-body aircraft.
Arriving in Johannesburg
Johannesburg is served by 2 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), 21 km (13 mi) from the centre, whose 14,495-ft runway is long enough for long-haul wide-body aircraft. The alternatives are Lanseria International Airport (HLA, 32 km).
| Airport | Code | From centre | Longest runway | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| O.R. Tambo International Airport | JNB | 21 km (13 mi) | 14,495 ft | 5,558 ft |
| Lanseria International Airport | HLA | 32 km (20 mi) | 10,000 ft | 4,517 ft |
Book a flight to Johannesburg
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Flights are sold here by AirOrSeaTravel through our booking partner, Nuitée, which takes the payment; the ticket is issued by the airline. How this works.
Staying in Johannesburg
Our booking partner lists 1,835+ places to stay in Johannesburg (statistics below are from the first 1,000). Of the 616 with a star rating, the largest group is 4-star (364), and 29 are five-star. Across 531 properties with at least 50 reviews, the average guest score is 8.4 out of 10. Guests have left 356,237 reviews in total.
Book a hotel in Johannesburg
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Johannesburg from Sydney?
11,041 km (6,860 mi) in a straight line, south-west of Sydney.
How long does it take to get from Sydney to Johannesburg by air?
About 14 h 54 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds for a nonstop flight. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Sydney and Johannesburg?
Johannesburg is 8 h behind at the moment (Africa/Johannesburg against Australia/Sydney).
Which airports are used for Sydney to Johannesburg flights?
Typically Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) to O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB); Johannesburg also has HLA.
What currency do I need in Johannesburg?
The Rand (ZAR).
Where can I stay in Johannesburg?
Our booking partner lists 1,835+ places to stay in Johannesburg, bookable on this site.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 13 September 2026. Hotel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.