Visa
All non-Australian citizens travelling to Australia require a visa.
If you have a valid New Zealand passport, you can travel to Australia and you will be issued with a Special Category Visa (SCV) on arrival.
Some European citizens can apply online for an e-Visitor visa, while citizens from some eligible countries can apply online for an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). See the Department of Immigration and Citizenship website for details. Both the ETA and e-Visitor visas are stored electronically, rather than a stamp or label in your passport. They show up as part of your passport record when Customs officials check your passport details. You need to apply at least 2 weeks prior to your travel date.
If you are unable to apply online, you can obtain a visa by visiting an Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate where a standard visa will be issued. Please allow at least 6 - 8 weeks to obtain your visa. We strongly advise you to apply as early as possible.
You can request an invitation letter for visa application purposes after you have registered and paid your registration fee. If you need to cancel due to visa issues, please provide supporting evidence and we will refund your registration in full.
Travel to Sydney
If travelling to Sydney from overseas then you will arrive at Sydney's Kingsford Smith International airport. Sydney is very well connected to the rest of the world with direct flights from most countries. The airport is about 10km away from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) or the city.
From the airport, if you are heading to UNSW then you could take a taxi. The journey will last 15 to 20 minutes and should cost around $35. All taxis are licenced and all journeys are metered. Alternatively, the route 400 bus from the airport to Bondi Junction travels up Anzac Parade and stops opposite UNSW. The bus takes about 40 minutes and costs about $3.50.
Warning: if you are travelling from UNSW to the airport, note that not every 400 bus goes to the airport. Please check the timetable carefully and if in doubt, ask the driver before you get on.
If you wish to go to the city from the airport, the Airport Link train runs regularly and takes about 15 minutes to reach Central Station. From there you can take the City Circle train to all central destinations.
Most people from within Australia who do not live in Sydney will also arrive by air, at Sydney's domestic terminal. The directions given above also apply for domestic arrivals.
Travel around Sydney
Sydney has an extensive public transport network involving trains, buses and ferries. There is a lot of information on the Transport Infoline webpage.
If travelling with a group of people, a taxi could be an affordable alternative. These can be hailed on the street or ordered by telephone.
Travelling to the University of New South Wales on public transport will involve getting on a bus. (UNSW does not lie on a rail line.) For general information about Sydney's buses including timetables and maps, visit the Sydney Buses site. More details about how to catch buses to the University of New South Wales are given below, or see the UNSW Transport Guide.
Note that some Sydney bus routes are PrePay-Only at all times, and all bus stops in Sydney's central business district are PrePay-Only between 7am and 7pm on weekdays. If you will be catching buses regularly while in Sydney you should consider buying a MyBus Travel Ten ticket. These are simply ten bus tickets for a discounted price. A MyBus 2 ticket covers the journey from Central Station to UNSW and a MyBus 3 ticket covers the journey from Circular Quay to UNSW or from the Airport to UNSW. You can also get a MyMulti ticket which gives you unlimited travel on all buses, trains and ferries for a day, a week, or more. MyBus and MyMulti tickets are available from most convenience stores and newsagents. More detailed information on bus tickets can be found here.
Travel to the University of New South Wales
See the UNSW Transport Guide for detailed information. A short summary is given below.
The University of New South Wales is situated on several bus lines. From Central Station catch the 891 Express bus or routes 391, 393, and 395. These depart from Eddy Ave and stop at the University of New South Wales Kensington Campus. The journey takes around 15 minutes on the express and around 25 minutes on the other routes, depending on traffic.
From Circular Quay catch the 392, 394, X94 (express), L94 or 396 to UNSW Kensington Campus. The journey should take about 30 minutes.
From Bondi Junction take the 400 bus which passes UNSW on its way to the airport.
From Coogee Beach catch the 370 bus which travels along Coogee Bay Road and passes UNSW on High Street.
Parking is restricted on the University of New South Wales campus, with only a limited number of Pay and Display parking spaces available for those without a permit. A one-day parking permit can be purchased at $17 each.