Western Sydney Airport from the South Coast
Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport opens on 25 October 2026. From most of the Illawarra and Shoalhaven it is only about 11 km further than Sydney Airport — and OSPIPO charges the same fixed fare to either airport.
The short answer: From Wollongong, Kiama, Nowra or Jervis Bay, Western Sydney Airport (WSI) at Badgerys Creek is about 11 km further than Sydney Airport by road — roughly the same drive — and OSPIPO's fixed fare is the same to either airport: Wollongong $341, Kiama $408, Nowra $510, Jervis Bay $572 per car (Helensburgh $290 and Stanwell Park $305 cost a little more; Kangaroo Valley is $460). There is no direct train from the South Coast to WSI, and the Metro to the airport is not open yet. OSPIPO pickups at WSI are from the pick-up zone just outside the terminal.
Western Sydney Airport opens on 25 October 2026
Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport at Badgerys Creek takes its first passenger flight on Sunday 25 October 2026 — Jetstar to the Gold Coast. For the South Coast it is a second Sydney airport that sits at almost the same driving distance as Kingsford Smith: from Wollongong to Nowra it is about 11 km further, while Kangaroo Valley is about 20 km closer and the northern villages of Helensburgh and Stanwell Park about 26 km further.
Who flies from WSI
- Jetstar — from 25 October 2026: Gold Coast, Melbourne and Brisbane.
- Air New Zealand — from 26 October 2026: Auckland, three times a week.
- Singapore Airlines — from 23 November 2026: daily to Singapore.
- Vietjet — from January 2027: Ho Chi Minh City.
- Fiji Airways — from 19 March 2027: Nadi, three times a week.
- Qantas — from 28 March 2027: Melbourne and Brisbane on QantasLink.
Schedules as reported on 9 October 2026; check with your airline before you book.
South Coast to WSI — fixed fares and drive times
| From | OSPIPO to WSI | Drive to WSI | Drive to Sydney Airport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helensburgh | $290 ($48 more than Sydney Airport) | ~75 km · ~1h | ~45 km · ~50 min |
| Stanwell Park | $305 ($40 more than Sydney Airport) | ~75 km · ~1h | ~50 km · ~50 min |
| Austinmer | $298 (same fare) | ~70 km · ~1h 5m | ~65 km · ~1h |
| Thirroul | $304 (same fare) | ~65 km · ~1h 5m | ~60 km · ~1h |
| Wollongong | $341 (same fare) | ~85 km · ~1h 10m | ~75 km · ~1h 10m |
| Figtree | $350 (same fare) | ~90 km · ~1h 10m | ~75 km · ~1h 10m |
| Dapto | $367 (same fare) | ~95 km · ~1h 20m | ~85 km · ~1h 15m |
| Albion Park | $387 (same fare) | ~105 km · ~1h 25m | ~95 km · ~1h 25m |
| Shellharbour | $374 (same fare) | ~115 km · ~1h 30m | ~100 km · ~1h 25m |
| Shell Cove | $374 (same fare) | ~105 km · ~1h 25m | ~95 km · ~1h 25m |
| Minnamurra | $393 (same fare) | ~120 km · ~1h 35m | ~105 km · ~1h 30m |
| Kiama Downs | $397 (same fare) | ~120 km · ~1h 30m | ~105 km · ~1h 30m |
| Kiama | $408 (same fare) | ~125 km · ~1h 35m | ~110 km · ~1h 35m |
| Jamberoo | $410 (same fare) | ~115 km · ~1h 35m | ~105 km · ~1h 35m |
| Gerringong | $450 (same fare) | ~130 km · ~1h 40m | ~120 km · ~1h 40m |
| Gerroa | $443 (same fare) | ~135 km · ~1h 45m | ~125 km · ~1h 45m |
| Berry | $480 (same fare) | ~145 km · ~1h 50m | ~135 km · ~1h 50m |
| Shoalhaven Heads | $469 (same fare) | ~150 km · ~1h 55m | ~135 km · ~1h 55m |
| Kangaroo Valley | $460 ($29 less than Sydney Airport) | ~125 km · ~1h 45m | ~145 km · ~1h 55m |
| Bomaderry | $499 (same fare) | ~160 km · ~2h 5m | ~150 km · ~2h |
| Nowra | $510 (same fare) | ~165 km · ~2h 10m | ~155 km · ~2h 5m |
| Culburra Beach | $539 (same fare) | ~185 km · ~2h 25m | ~175 km · ~2h 25m |
| Callala Bay | $555 (same fare) | ~185 km · ~2h 25m | ~175 km · ~2h 25m |
| Currarong | $588 (same fare) | ~195 km · ~2h 35m | ~185 km · ~2h 35m |
| Huskisson | $572 (same fare) | ~185 km · ~2h 30m | ~175 km · ~2h 30m |
| Vincentia | $572 (same fare) | ~190 km · ~2h 35m | ~180 km · ~2h 30m |
| Hyams Beach | $578 (same fare) | ~195 km · ~2h 35m | ~180 km · ~2h 35m |
| St Georges Basin | $542 (same fare) | ~185 km · ~2h 25m | ~175 km · ~2h 25m |
| Sanctuary Point | $548 (same fare) | ~195 km · ~2h 35m | ~180 km · ~2h 30m |
Fares are fixed per car for up to 3 passengers, either direction, with tolls, GST and the NSW levy included; Jervis Bay is the same as Huskisson. Distances and times are by road from each suburb centre, typical outside peak hours (OpenStreetMap routing, measured October 2026).
Getting there without a car
There is no direct train from the South Coast to WSI, and the Metro line to the airport is not open yet. Until it opens, a free WSI Link shuttle runs between St Marys station and the airport about every 30 minutes — 4:30am to midnight Sunday to Thursday and 4:30am to 1am on Friday and Saturday — and new buses link the airport with Penrith, Oran Park, Campbelltown, Liverpool, Mount Druitt and Leppington. From the coast that means several changes; plan it in Transport for NSW Trip Planner.
Driving, parking and pickups at WSI
The airport is reached by the toll-free M12 Motorway. There are more than 6,000 parking spaces, a free 15-minute express pick-up and drop-off zone, accessible spaces and EV charging bays. Taxi ranks and rideshare pick-up zones are directly outside the terminal. With OSPIPO, drop-off is at the terminal kerb, and pickup is from the pick-up zone just outside the terminal — message your driver when you have your bags. Your flight is tracked, and the fare does not change if it lands late.
Sources: Australian Government (opening date); ACM regional newspapers, “Western Sydney Airport routes, airlines and public transport” (updated 9 October 2026); Transport for NSW, “Getting to Western Sydney International Airport”; fares from the OSPIPO fare engine. Checked 15 October 2026.
Common questions
Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport opens to passengers on Sunday 25 October 2026, with Jetstar's first flight to the Gold Coast. Air New Zealand starts on 26 October and Singapore Airlines on 23 November 2026.
About 85 km by road — about 70 minutes outside peak hours, about 11 km further than Sydney Airport. OSPIPO charges the same fixed $341 to either airport.
For most of the Illawarra and Shoalhaven it is about 11 km further, so the drive is similar. Kangaroo Valley is about 20 km closer to WSI; Helensburgh and Stanwell Park are about 26 km further.
$408 fixed with OSPIPO — the same as Kiama to Sydney Airport — per car for up to 3 passengers, with tolls, GST and the NSW levy included. A return booked together is $735.
Nowra is $510 and Jervis Bay, Huskisson and Vincentia are $572 — the same fixed fares as to Sydney Airport. The drive is about 2 hours 10 minutes from Nowra and 2 hours 30 minutes from Jervis Bay.
No direct one. The Metro line to the airport is not open yet; a free shuttle runs from St Marys station, and new buses link the airport with Campbelltown, Liverpool, Penrith and other centres. From the coast that means several changes.
Jetstar (Gold Coast, Melbourne, Brisbane) from 25 October 2026, Air New Zealand (Auckland) from 26 October, Singapore Airlines (Singapore) from 23 November, Vietjet (Ho Chi Minh City) from January 2027, Fiji Airways (Nadi) from 19 March 2027 and Qantas (Melbourne, Brisbane) from 28 March 2027.
From the pick-up zone just outside the terminal — message your OSPIPO driver when you have your bags. Your flight is tracked, and a late landing does not change the fixed fare.
Not from most of the South Coast — from Austinmer to Jervis Bay it is the same fare as Sydney Airport. Helensburgh ($290) and Stanwell Park ($305) cost a little more because WSI is further from them, and Kangaroo Valley costs less ($460).