Sydney to East London flights
East London lies 10,509 km (6,530 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 13 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 East London in Google Maps
| Sydney | East London | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Australia | South Africa |
| Population | 5.6 million | 478,676 |
| Elevation | 58 m (190 ft) | 48 m (157 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+10 (Australia/Sydney) | UTC+2 (Africa/Johannesburg) |
| Nearest large airport | SYD, 9 km out | ELS, 8 km out |
| Postal codes | 1001–2001 | 5201–5688 |
Clocks in East London are 8 h behind Sydney right now, so a 14 h 13 min journey lands only 6 h 13 min later by the destination clock.
What changes when you arrive in East London
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 East London
East London is served by one airport with scheduled flights. The closest large one is King Phalo Airport (ELS), 8 km (5 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 6,362 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft.
| Airport | Code | From centre | Longest runway | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| King Phalo Airport | ELS | 8 km (5 mi) | 6,362 ft | 435 ft |
One end has no runway over 10,000 ft, so at 10,509 km (6,530 mi) this pair is unlikely to be flown nonstop by a wide-body; expect a connection.
Book a flight to East London
Our airline partner is activating live fares for this site; the search below opens the moment that is done. Hotels can be booked now.
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 East London
Our booking partner lists 380 places to stay in East London. Of the 221 with a star rating, the largest group is 4-star (107), and 1 are five-star. Across 162 properties with at least 50 reviews, the average guest score is 8.3 out of 10. Guests have left 53,507 reviews in total.
Book a hotel in East London
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 East London from Sydney?
10,509 km (6,530 mi) in a straight line, south-west of Sydney.
How long does it take to get from Sydney to East London by air?
About 14 h 13 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 East London?
East London is 8 h behind at the moment (Africa/Johannesburg against Australia/Sydney).
Which airports are used for Sydney to East London flights?
Typically Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) to King Phalo Airport (ELS).
What currency do I need in East London?
The Rand (ZAR).
Where can I stay in East London?
Our booking partner lists 380 places to stay in East London, 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 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel 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.