2023 Must-Read for New Students: USYD’s Free Airport Pickup Is Back — Arrive Before End of March to Enjoy It! Did You Know About the Airport Volunteer Service?
Semester 1 2023 is almost here. For students flying to Australia on their own for the first time, landing in Sydney can feel a little disorienting. Where do I go?Where do you wait for Uber?Where do you catch the train?Is there anyone at the airport who can help me? … Don’t worry — the University of Sydney has released an official guide for new students, covering exactly what to do after you land.
After landing, follow the crowd to collect your baggage and clear customs. You can then exit through Arrival Hall A or B.
Once you exit, take note — Sydney Airport has aNSWInternational Student Volunteer Help Desk, established jointly by NSW universities and Study NSW. They have been providing airport volunteer support for international students since 2015. After exiting the International Arrivals Hall, keep an eye out for the NSW volunteers (the desk is usually located in Arrival Hall A).Volunteers wear clothing printed with the Study NSW logo(previously blue and red, now apparently rose-pink — just look for the text on their chest).
Volunteer Desk Opening Hours The volunteer service is not available 24 hours a day, nor every day — current hours are Monday to Friday, 7:30 am to 1:30 pm. If you have any questions, feel free to contact the assistant below We’ll answer whatever we can
Next, you need to get to your accommodation. Most students choose one of three options: 1. Airport pickup service2. uber/taxi3. Train / public bus
1. Airport pickup service
USYD is offeringa limited-time free airport pickup service for returning students in S1 & S2 this year！
To use the free shuttle bus, you must arrive within the following windows:
2023 S1: Arrive in Sydney between 6 January and 31 March
2023 S2: Arrive in Sydney between 8 June and 31 August
Based on the hard-won advice of senior students, taxis are expensive — Uber is much more affordable. For this option, after leaving the terminal,look for the prominent bright-green signage and follow the green signs all the way to the Uber pickup zone.
3. Train / Public Transport
If you choose public transport, just follow the signage — the signs are large and very clearly visible throughout the airport.
To use public transport, you will first need an Opal card (NSW travel card). Sydney public transport does not accept cash. The Opal card looks like this ▼
Where can you buy one? Follow the sign, then take the escalator down,
There are staffed counters as well as self-service ticket machines.
That said, senior students generally advise first-timers not to take the train from the airport,because the airport rail line is expensive — a single trip costs close to $20. For that price, you would be better off splitting an Uber with a few classmates — it drops you door-to-door and saves the hassle of lugging suitcases through transfers. If you have questions on your way back to Australia, scan the QR code below to reach our assistant. We may not know everything, but whatever we do know, we will share with you.
Experiencing any visa issues or academic difficulties during your studies? Contact the assistant below at any time. More tips, perks and stories about studying in AustraliaFollow usand we’ll share them with you first▼▼▼
