UNSW Airport Transfers to the Kensington Campus

UNSW's free airport pick-up: who it covers

UNSW says international students can book a free shuttle from Sydney Airport to their accommodation. According to the university, you must be a UNSW international student, you need your student ID (zID) to book, bookings must be confirmed at least two working days before arrival, and UNSW College students are not covered free and are charged. The free drop-off points it lists include the Kensington campus, New College, Jacaranda Hall and several student housing buildings in Kingsford, Redfern and Darling Square.

If that fits your plans, use it. Book SkyMiles instead when you are not eligible, when you missed the two-working-day window, when you are travelling with family, when your address is not on the list, or when you simply want a private car waiting for you.

Sydney Airport to UNSW: route and timing

The Kensington campus runs from Anzac Parade (the lower campus) up to High Street (the upper campus), with Botany Street and Barker Street on its other sides. From T1 International it is about 11 km by road, usually around 20 to 25 minutes off-peak. The domestic terminals are closer still. Your chauffeur tracks your flight and meets you in arrivals with a name sign, so a long immigration queue is not a problem.

By public transport, UNSW's own conference guide describes the train to Central and then the L2 light rail to UNSW High Street or the L3 to UNSW Anzac Parade, which means changing with all your bags. For a first arrival, a car is far less stressful.

UNSW gates and where we drop off

The campus is ringed by numbered gates. The L2 light rail stop is near Gate 9 at the corner of High Street and Wansey Road, the L3 stop is on Anzac Parade at the lower campus, visitor parking is in the Botany Street car park via Gate 11 and the Barker Street parking station via Gate 14. Colleges such as New College are on Anzac Parade. Tell us your college, residence or building when you book, and we will drop you at the nearest gate or street entrance rather than in the middle of a one-way loop.

Driving yourself later? UNSW says on-campus parking is complimentary from 7:30pm to 7:30am on weekdays and all day on weekends and public holidays, in marked bays.

UNSW airport transfers for families and groups

Parents often fly in to help a student settle in, then fly home a week later. An SUV fits up to 4 passengers with 3 large and 3 small bags; a Maxi 7 fits up to 6 passengers with 5 large and 4 small bags. If you are arriving with a group of friends on the same flight, our Maxi 11 takes up to 11 passengers with 8 large and 6 small bags. Book both directions together so the trip home is sorted. Visiting someone at Prince of Wales Hospital, across the road from the upper campus? See our Prince of Wales Hospital taxi page.

Fares and booking

Fixed fares start at A$70 for a sedan and A$80 for an SUV on short trips, and airport trips are priced on distance with the A$12 airport pickup charge included. Check the fare table on our Randwick airport transfers page for prices from the area, or use our fare calculator. Send us your flight number, arrival time, number of bags and your exact address, and we will confirm your booking by email with your chauffeur's details. Our Sydney Airport pick-up page explains where to meet your driver.

At the end of semester, or when you finish your degree, the trip runs the other way. We collect you and your bags from your college or flat with enough time for the airline’s check-in cut-off, and because the fare is per vehicle rather than per person, a friend on the same flight can share the car. Book a few days ahead, as end-of-semester departures tend to bunch together.

Frequently asked questions