Compare: Sydney→Perth (3,291 km) vs Sydney→Auckland (2,156 km). Sydney → Auckland wins by 1,135 km (34%). Side-by-side with flight & drive times.
By SnapDistance Team · Updated April 21, 2026
3,291 km
2,045 miles · Flight: ~4h 37min · Drive: ~53h 29min
2,156 km
1,340 miles · Flight: ~3h 12min · Drive: ~35h 2min
✓ Shorter route
Difference: 1,135 km (34%) · Flight time difference: ~1h 25min
Verdict
Sydney → Auckland is the smarter pick if travel time and emissions matter most: it is 1,135 km (34%) shorter, saves about 1h 25min of flight time, and cuts roughly 289 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Choose Sydney → Perth only if the destination itself is the reason for the trip.
Sydney → Auckland is the shorter route at 2,156 km, which is 1,135 km (34%) shorter than Sydney → Perth. You would save approximately 1h 25min in flight time by choosing the shorter route.
| Metric | Sydney → Perth | Sydney → Auckland |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (km) | 3,291 | 2,156 |
| Distance (miles) | 2,045 | 1,340 |
| Flight time | ~4h 37min | ~3h 12min |
| Driving time | ~53h 29min | ~35h 2min |
| Road distance (est.) | ~4,278 km | ~2,803 km |
| Drivable? | Yes | Yes |
| Cross-continental | No | No |
| Initial bearing | 264° (W) | 106° (ESE) |
| Time-zone shift | -2h | +2h |
| CO₂ – flight (per pax) | ~839 kg | ~550 kg |
| CO₂ – driving (per car) | ~732 kg | ~479 kg |
| Fuel cost (est.) | ~$428 USD | ~$280 USD |
Flying from Sydney to Perth produces roughly 839 kg of CO₂ per passenger, based on the ICAO/EEA short-haul emission factor of ~0.255 kg per passenger-km. The Sydney → Auckland flight emits about 550 kg. Choosing the shorter route saves approximately 289 kg of CO₂ per traveler — equivalent to 14 typical tree-years of carbon sequestration. For comparison, driving emits roughly 732 kg and 479 kg per car respectively — meaningful only when the car carries multiple passengers.
The Sydney to Perth route covers 3,291 km (2,045 miles), staying within Oceania. Sydney (population: 5,312,163) is located in New South Wales, Australia, while Perth (population: 2,085,973) is in Western Australia, Australia.
The Sydney to Auckland route covers 2,156 km (1,340 miles), remaining within Oceania. Sydney (population: 5,312,163) is in New South Wales, Australia, and Auckland (population: 1,657,200) is in Auckland, New Zealand.
Flying from Sydney to Perth takes approximately 4h 37min, while Sydney to Auckland takes 3h 12min. If driving is an option, expect roughly 53h 29min for the first route and 35h 2min for the second.
Since both routes depart from Sydney, this comparison is especially useful for travelers deciding between Perth and Auckland as a destination.
The 1,135 km difference between these routes is substantial and will significantly impact travel time and cost.
Both routes are drivable, with road distances of approximately 4,278 km and 2,803 km respectively. For road trips, the shorter route saves roughly 1,475 km of driving.
Perth (Australia) has a population of 2,085,973 and is located in the Western Australia region of Oceania. It's a significant city with good transport links and cultural offerings.
Auckland (New Zealand) has a population of 1,657,200 and is situated in Auckland, Oceania. This city serves as an important regional hub with solid connectivity.
Choose this route if your priority is reaching Perth (Australia) — a city of 2,085,973 in the Western Australia region of Oceania. Despite being the longer of the two at 3,291 km, it makes sense when Perth itself is the destination, the schedule fits better, or ticket prices are noticeably lower. Driving is realistic at this distance, with an estimated 4,278 km of road and a fuel cost band around $428 USD. The initial bearing is 264° (W), so a great-circle flight leaves Sydney heading roughly W.
This route is the right call if you are heading to Auckland (New Zealand) — a city of 1,657,200 in the Auckland region of Oceania. It is also the shorter of the two at 2,156 km, saving about 1h 25min of flying and around 289 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Driving is feasible — expect roughly 2,803 km of road and a fuel cost in the $280 USD range. Departing Sydney, the great-circle bearing toward Auckland is 106° (ESE).
Sydney (-33.87°, 151.21°) and Perth (-31.95°, 115.86°) sit with a time-zone shift of -2 hours. Sydney (-33.87°, 151.21°) and Auckland (-36.85°, 174.76°) have a +2-hour offset. Both routes have manageable time-zone shifts, so jet lag should not be a major factor.
Auckland is closer at 2,156 km, which is 1,135 km (34%) shorter.
3,291 km (2,045 miles). Flight: ~4h 37min.
2,156 km (1,340 miles). Flight: ~3h 12min.
Flying to Auckland is faster at ~3h 12min, saving about 1h 25min compared to Perth.
All distances on SnapDistance are calculated using the Haversine formula, which determines the great-circle distance between two points on Earth's surface. This gives the shortest possible distance over the globe, which is the measurement used for aviation and navigation. Actual travel distances by road or rail are typically 20-40% longer due to terrain, borders, and infrastructure routing. Flight times assume 800 km/h cruising speed with 30 minutes for takeoff and landing. Driving estimates use 80 km/h average speed with a 30% road distance factor.
📍 Data: Coordinates from OpenStreetMap contributors. Distances calculated using the Haversine formula. Travel times are estimates only. Last verified: April 21, 2026.