Booking Your Reception

It is a good idea to organise temporary accommodation before you arrive. This can be done online here.

You must advise the International Student Support Team of your temporary accommodation details, as well as any reception needs you might have, at least two weeks prior to your arrival.

Reception Service

Students studying at the Callaghan campus in Newcastle

The University provides a free transport service for students who make their way to Newcastle by plane or train. The service collects students from either Newcastle airport or Newcastle Train Station and transfers them to either their initial accommodation or to the University.

For booking information, please email: International-Support@newcastle.edu.au

Students studying at the Ourimbah campus on the Central Coast

The University provides a free transport service for students studying at the Ourimbah campus. This service collects students from Sydney's International Airport and transfers them to either their accommodation on the Central Coast or to the University campus at Ourimbah.

For booking information, please email: International-Support@newcastle.edu.au

On Arrival in Sydney

Most international students arrive in Australia at Sydney's International Airport and then travel to Newcastle by air, train or bus. Regardless of the method of travel between Sydney and Newcastle, all passengers arriving at Sydney International Airport must collect their belongings from the luggage carousel and pass through Customs and Quarantine.

Currency Exchange

It is a good idea to exchange your currency for Australian dollars while still in the Arrivals Hall at Sydney International Airport.

Traveling from Sydney to Newcastle or Ourimbah

By Air

Students who choose to fly from Sydney to Newcastle (approximately 30 minutes) should book their domestic flight at the same time as they book their international flight. Newcastle airport at Williamtown is about 35 minutes drive from Newcastle city centre or the University. Aeropelican and Qantas run flights to Williamtown. Flights leave from the Qantas Domestic Terminal and transfers between airport terminals are possible by train, taxi or bus.

Baggage can be checked directly through to Newcastle at the domestic airline counters in the international terminal at Sydney.

There is no airport close to Ourimbah so students studying at this campus should choose one of the other transport options.

By Rail

There are regular trains from Sydney's International Airport to Sydney's Central Station where you can change trains to go to Newcastle or Ourimbah. The cost of travel between Sydney's International Airport and Sydney's Central Train Station is about AUD 14. You can buy a ticket for your entire journey (i.e Airport - Newcastle/Ourimbah at the Airport Train Station.

The journey to Newcastle can vary, depending on the number of stations your train stops at. As a general rule, the journey from Central Station to Newcastle Station takes about 2.5 hours. The train trip from Central Station to Ourimbah Station takes about 1.25 hours.

It costs approximately AUD18 one way from Central Station to Newcastle and approximately AUD10 one way from Central Station to Ourimbah.

If you wish to be met at the station by a hire car service, you will need to email us before you arrive in Australia at: International-Support@newcastle.edu.au to let us know your arrival time in either Newcastle or Ourimbah.

By Bus

You can book the reception service online with Happy Cabby, who will bring you to Newcastle.

The time for the journey between Sydney and Newcastle is approximately 3 hours and varies depending on the number of stops the bus makes en route. Similarly, it takes about 2 hours to travel by bus to Ourimbah from Sydney. This transport option is a good idea if you have lots of luggage and costs approximately AUD55 (Make sure that you have Australian currency). There is no need to leave Sydney's International Airport building if you are travelling by bus, as the bus driver will meet you at the McDonald's Restaurant and the Krispy Kreme shop inside the terminal near Gates A and B. You should remain in this vicinity while waiting for the bus driver to meet you.