Ok, people, is 6.5 hours long enough to get out of the airport and into town, maybe see something? or would I be trapped in the airport the whole time? And could I do it cheap?

j.

If 6.5 hrs is time between one arrival and other plane departure, you'll be really limited but not impossible depending on time of day, how busy immigration/customs are.

If your luggage is being checked through, and you dash from aircraft to immigration and then on to customs with just a shoulder bag or whatever, make sure you have a chockie bar in it to declare as you will get through the red declarations line quicker than the green line where you can get held up just because of more people there and then some getting selected at random.

There are trains from the airport leaving about every twelve minutes, and takes about 20-25 minutes to get from airport to Circular Quay station, costs about $22 return.

If you are there within two hours say, down at the Quay where ferries leave from, either 15 minutes on a Jet Cat (dearer) or 30 minutes to see Sydney from the harbour slower, Sydney Transport details and do it slow one way, faster the other and you have probably got time to either have a quick walk yo the ocean side or just enjoy a trip to Manly and back for a splendid way of seeing some of Sydneys best features and then use extra time for a walk about the Rocks area before getting a train back to airport, checking in without luggage, if you are there an hour before flight, you would be OK.

Alternately, forget doing the Harbour both ways and use the extra hour or so to enjoy your walk around the Rocks (adjacent to the Quay) and also to take in a walk around to the Opera house side, even on into Botanical Gardens a bit.

Edit Seeing as station names will be unfamiliar to you, its International Airport and Circular Quay, timetable page here and Rocks Area if you do not know it is the historical heart of Sydney, where first settlement landing was.

But you're coming halfway around the globe, not to have more time in Oz?!

Thanks Gonorth-

Actually, I got a sweat deal on a flight from NZ to NYC, and it just happens to include a layover in Oz. I'm in NZ most of the time- I'm sure I'll take advantage of some of the freedom air deals and sneak back over before the end of summer- even if I do just hit the gold coast/ play at the theme parks for a week.

I have five years down here- wouldn't want me to see everything all at once, then have nowhere left to go, would you?

j.

That's cool Jayn but don't go sweatin too much on that sweat deal you got.
If it's possible, you'll certainly get a few more frequent flyer points going NZ-NY via Sydney, and just out of interest, who was that sort of deal through as does seem odd.
No doubt you'll find that you can visit a few other islands as well reasonably cheaply from NZ.

The carrier is United (more flights thru SYD than AKL), got the tix from expedia.com
The chick at STA saw the fare, but couldn't find availability, and it doesn't show up on kayak.

Some day I might even learn how to spell.

j.

if you are walking around the Rocks, you can walk up the southeast pylon of the Harbour Bridge and see the city from a unique vantage as well as catch a bit of the city history for around $8.

i did the same thing once. I had a layover in Sydney when flying from NZ to San Francisco. I think I had about the same amount of time, left the airport, walked around the harbor a bit, over to the Opera House and up through thte gardens. I didn't get on any ferries at all, although that would've been nice. I don't think that I wanted to venture too far away....
I did have to pay for a visa though in order to leave the airport. I think it was about $20?

Yeah, already got my visa-y thing- one of the airlines has been running some really good deals- figured I might as well get the electronic whoseywhatsis, so I can take advantage.

wow- only about 5 more days till I go- is it time to get excited yet?

j.

If you want a really quick ferry trip and still get a good look at the city from the other side- take the Mosman ferry across ( I think Wharf 4 or 5) You go by Kirribilli house- (Where John Howard lives) and get a really great view of the opera house- I think the whole trip takes about 40 minutes round trip- is very relaxing and great scenery. Either stay on for the whole ride and relax- or get off at Cremorne Point and walk to the end of the little park for great photo ops. The ferry will be back to get you in 15-20 minutes. Unbelievable views! Easy and cheap- about $6-8 (or buy a day tripper pass for $15 plus airport extension and it will be included. The day tripper would include all train ferry and bus travel you would want to do outside of the airport fee.)

Definately go see the rocks! It is easilly walkable from Circular Quay. Have a beer in one of the pubs. How can you come to oz and not have at least one celebratory bevvie on Ozzie soil! Another good spot for a cold one- is Opera bar- located- literally underneath the Opera house- the outdoor seating is right on the harbour. Awesome!