Planning a trip to Australia
Few destinations capture the imagination quite like Australia. A continent and a country all at once, it's a place where coral reefs and rainforests meet red-rock deserts, cosmopolitan harbor cities give way to wide-open outback, and a beachside fish and chips can be as memorable as a fine-dining tasting menu. Whether you're drawn to the harbor energy of Sydney, the coastlines of the Gold Coast, the reefs off Queensland, or the wine country and wildlife beyond the cities, Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines can help you get there.
Flying to Sydney (SYD) with Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines
Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines offer the most direct route from the Pacific Northwest to Australia, connecting Seattle and Portland to Sydney with a layover in Honolulu. From Honolulu, Hawaiian's long-haul, widebody Airbus A330 aircraft fly to Sydney five times a week year-round. Remarkably, the Seattle–Sydney routing adds only four nautical miles to the journey—flying essentially the same path as a nonstop. Guests can choose from three classes of service aboard the A330: lie-flat Premium Cabin seating, Extra Comfort, and Main Cabin, with complimentary Starlink high-speed Wi-Fi available onboard.
Best time to travel to Australia
Australia's seasons are the reverse of the Northern Hemisphere, so summer runs December through February—warm, lively, and ideal for beaches, though it's the busiest and priciest time to visit. Spring (September through November) and fall (March through May) are the standout seasons, with mild weather, thinner crowds, and pleasant conditions across most of the country. Winter (June through August) brings cooler temperatures down south but is the perfect time to visit the tropical north, including Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef, when humidity and rainfall ease.
How long is the flight to Australia?
Nonstop service from Honolulu to Sydney takes roughly 10 to 11 hours depending on winds and direction. If you're connecting from Seattle, Portland, or another U.S. city through Honolulu, total travel time will vary with your layover.
What's the best way to get around Australia?
Australia is vast, so domestic flights are often the fastest way to cover long distances between major cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. Within cities, public transport networks—trains, trams, buses, and ferries—make getting around easy, and a rechargeable contactless transit card (such as Sydney's Opal card) streamlines local travel. For exploring coastal drives, wine regions, or the outback at your own pace, renting a car offers the most flexibility.