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Flights and stays in South Africa
180kSearch live prices
Flights to South Africa from Australia
Search fares from Australia, then sort the rest of the trip.
Sydney to South Africa takes about 14h 15m nonstop.
The cheapest return fare to South Africa seen in the week to 18 October 2026 was A$1,797 from Sydney, 2 stops, departing February 2027.
One of 4 fares seen on this route in the past week. A fare seen is not a fare still for sale - check the live price before you book.
Search flights to South Africa
Kiwi.com
Australia to South Africa
90kSearch fares
Aviasales
Sydney to Johannesburg
60kSearch fares
Prices are indicative, shown in AUD and refreshed from provider APIs where available. Always confirm the final price on the provider's site - it is the price that applies. We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never changes what you pay. A row labelled "Featured partner" holds a paid position at the top of the table. Partners are listed before providers who pay us nothing, as our terms set out; sorting by price ignores all of that and orders on the number alone. How we make money.
Compared side by side
| Search | Covers | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Trip.com Featured partner | Flights, hotels and packages | AUD |
| Kiwi.com Partner | Every Australian airport that flies to South Africa | AUD |
| Aviasales Partner | Sydney to Johannesburg, the busiest route Australians fly | Local currency |
What flights to South Africa cost from each Australian city
| From | Cheapest return seen | Stops | Departing | Seen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | A$1,797 | 2 | February 2027 | 17 October 2026 |
Fares are the cheapest return economy price a searcher was quoted on Travelpayouts / Aviasales flight price cache in the week to 18 October 2026, in Australian dollars, for the routes Australians actually fly. They are observations rather than an advertised price, they move daily, and they are not a guarantee that the seat is still there.
Which Australian airports fly to South Africa
2 Australian airports fly there direct. Passengers carried over the twelve months to 2026-06, from BITRE international airline activity. A busier route means more flights and more options when something goes wrong.
| From | To | Passengers a year |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | Johannesburg | 161,858 |
| Perth | Johannesburg | 128,758 |
When Australians fly to South Africa
January is the busiest month for Australian trips to South Africa and June the quietest, across 83,420 trips a year. The peak is when fares and accommodation cost most and when the cheaper insurance and eSIM options sell out first, so a trip that can move a few weeks either side of it is a trip that costs less.
Busiest monthJanuary
Quietest monthJune
Australian trips a year83,420
Rank among destinations24
Australian Bureau of Statistics, short-term resident returns. The full South Africa figures.
If you are not flying out of Sydney
The international leg is rarely the problem. The domestic flight that gets you to it is: Canberra to Sydney is cancelled 5.3% of the time against a national average of 1.9%. Book both legs on one ticket and a missed connection is the airline's to fix. On separate tickets it is yours, and the international fare is the expensive half.
Route and connection data for South Africa
Check these before you pay for a fare
Your passport
South Africa wants 30 days of validity beyond the day you leave. A fare is non-refundable long before a passport renewal is.
Entry requirements
No - Australian passport holders can enter South Africa without a visa for up to 90 days for tourism.
Travel insurance only covers a cancellation that was not already public when you bought the policy, so the cover is worth buying with the fare rather than in the last week. Compare cover for South Africa.
More South Africa essentials
South Africa visa and entry rules
Passport, visa, arrival cards and customs rules for Australian passport holders.
South Africa eSIM plans
Instant data, no physical SIM required.
South Africa travel insurance
Medical, cancellation and luggage cover for Australian travellers.
South Africa money and cards
Cards, cash and FX fees for Australian travellers.
South Africa airport transfers
Trains, buses, private transfers and taxis compared.
Driving in South Africa
International Driving Permit rules and car hire for Australians.
South Africa travel essentials
Adapters, plugs, tap water, tipping and health basics.
Things to do in South Africa
Attractions, tours and passes worth booking ahead.
South Africa flights FAQs
How much is a flight to South Africa from Australia?
The cheapest return fare to South Africa seen in the week to 18 October 2026 was A$1,797 from Sydney, 2 stops, departing February 2027. Across the 4 fares seen in the week to 18 October 2026, the cheapest from each city were Sydney A$1,797. These are fares that were seen, not fares guaranteed to still be available.
Can you fly direct to South Africa from Australia?
Yes. Sydney and Perth all fly there direct. The busiest route is Sydney to Johannesburg, carrying 161,858 passengers a year. Figures are from the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics.
When is the cheapest time to fly to South Africa from Australia?
Fares track demand, and Australian demand for South Africa peaks in January and bottoms out in June, across 83,420 trips a year. The months either side of the peak are usually the cheapest, because they are cheap for the airline to fill. The figures are Australian Bureau of Statistics counts of trips taken, not a fare forecast.
Should I book my domestic connection to Sydney on the same ticket as my South Africa flight?
Yes, wherever you can. Canberra to Sydney is cancelled 5.3% of the time against a national average of 1.9%, and on one ticket a missed connection is the airline's to fix - they rebook you onto the next flight to South Africa. On separate tickets the international fare is your loss. If the legs have to be separate, fly into Sydney the night before.
Planning South Africa?
We will send you the South Africa guide as it grows - what to book before you go, which eSIM and travel card are worth it there, and what things actually cost in Australian dollars.