One Way Car Hire Newcastle to Sydney

Free comparison tool · 1000s of rental cars · Major brands · No booking fees

: 170 km; Newcastle to Sydney Airport on the M1
: about 2 h 15 min; driving time without stops
: from $400; small car for 4 days, one-way fee included
: 6 companies; offer one-way hire on this route

Compare Car Rental Newcastle to Sydney

Hertz, Thrifty, Avis, Europcar, Budget and East Coast rent cars one way from Newcastle to Sydney. To book, enter Newcastle as the pick-up and Sydney as the drop-off. The results show only cars you can leave in Sydney.

There are no booking fees. Most cars come with free cancellation and unlimited kilometres.

Newcastle to Sydney One Way Car Hire Prices

The drive takes about 2 hours, so a short hire is often enough. A small car costs about $250 for 1 day and $360 for 2 days in total. An SUV costs about $340 for 1 day and $490 for 2 days.

For 4 days, a small car costs about $520 and an SUV about $660. A small car for 7 days costs about $660.

For a 4-day hire, early December, February and March are the cheapest times. Christmas week costs 50 to 60% more than usual. The January school holidays cost 10 to 30% more.

Cheapest to typical price for the whole hire, one-way fee included. Pick-up anywhere in Newcastle, November 2026 to March 2027, except Christmas week. Checked 19 October 2026.
Hire length	Small car	SUV
2 days	$270 to $360	$320 to $490
4 days	$400 to $520	$500 to $660
7 days	$500 to $660	$570 to $830

Typical price for the whole hire, one-way fee included. Pick-up anywhere in Newcastle, November 2026 to March 2027. Checked 19 October 2026.
Pick-up	Small car, 4 days	SUV, 4 days
Mid-November	$530	$760
Late November	$570	$800
Early December	$470	$590
Christmas week	$810	$1,000
Mid-January, school holidays	$580	$850
Early February	$450	$550
Early March	$480	$620

Newcastle to Sydney Relocation Fees

Do you include a relocation fee?

Yes. Most companies charge a fee to leave the car in a different city. The prices in our search include the one-way fee, so you can compare companies side by side. Before you book, check what your total price covers.

Distance Between Newcastle & Sydney

How far is Newcastle from Sydney?

About 170 kilometres from Newcastle to Sydney Airport, or 2 hours 15 minutes or more of driving, depending on traffic and route. From Newcastle Airport at Williamtown it is about 200 km. There are tolls along the way.

M1 Pacific Motorway

Via Wyong, the Hawkesbury River, NorthConnex

170 km · about 2 h 15 min · half a day

The direct way, motorway all the way to Sydney’s northern suburbs. The M1 itself is toll-free.

Central Coast

Via Swansea, The Entrance, Terrigal, Gosford

about 200 km · about 3 h · a day

Lake Macquarie and the Central Coast beaches. You rejoin the M1 at Gosford.

Newcastle to Sydney Drive: Attractions on the Road

The M1 is the quick way. The Central Coast route is slower and stays near the water.

Central Coast

The old Pacific Highway crosses the Lake Macquarie channel at Swansea. At The Entrance, pelicans are fed on the waterfront every afternoon. Terrigal has a surf beach and the Skillion headland.

Hawkesbury River

Brooklyn sits beside the M1 at the Hawkesbury River crossing, a good break before the last hour into Sydney.

Picking Up in Newcastle, Dropping Off in Sydney

Newcastle Airport is at Williamtown, about 25 km north of the city. Hertz, Avis and Europcar have counters there. Hertz, Thrifty and Budget rent from 50 Clyde Street, Hamilton North, about 4 km from the city centre. East Coast is at 849 Hunter Street. Search "Newcastle – All areas" as the pick-up to see them all.
You can drop off in the city centre or at Sydney Airport, about 10 km further south. Allow extra time in peak-hour traffic.
Check the Sydney drop-off address before you book. Avis, Budget and some Hertz cars go back to a depot in Penrith or Blacktown, 30 to 50 km west of the city centre. Thrifty, Europcar and East Coast cars go back to the city centre, Mascot or Sydney Airport.
The M1 has no tolls. NorthConnex, the M2, the Harbour Bridge and the Harbour Tunnel all charge tolls. Which of them you use depends on where you drop off. The hire company bills the tolls after the trip, often with an admin fee.

Newcastle to Sydney Car Hire FAQs

Can I hire a car in Newcastle and drop it off at Sydney Airport?

Yes, with some companies. Choose Sydney Airport (SYD) as the drop-off to see which ones. It is about 15 minutes past the city centre. Allow for city traffic if you have a flight to catch.

How long is the drive from Newcastle to Sydney?

About 2 hours from Newcastle to the Sydney city centre on the M1 in light traffic. Sydney Airport is about 15 minutes further. Allow more time in Sydney’s peak hours and on holiday weekends.

Which companies offer one way car hire from Newcastle?

Hertz, Thrifty, Avis, Europcar, Budget and East Coast rent one way from Newcastle to Sydney. For another drop-off, search with your own route and dates.

Is car hire from Sydney to Newcastle cheaper?

No. A typical car costs about 5 to 10% more from Sydney. The cheapest cars cost up to 20% more. The same 6 companies rent one way in both directions. See Sydney to Newcastle car hire.

Do one-way hires include unlimited kilometres?

Yes. Each result shows its kilometre allowance.

What is the excess on a one-way hire?

The excess is the most you pay if the car is damaged. Most cars have a standard excess of $5,000 to $6,000. Each result shows the excess for that car.

Popular One-Way Routes

The reverse trip and other one-way routes into Sydney:

See all one-way car hire in Australia.

Prices updated October 2026

Collecting in Newcastle? Our Newcastle car hire page lists the city depots, and Newcastle Airport (NTL) has its own comparison. At the Sydney end, Sydney car hire and Sydney Airport (SYD) cover the drop-off options.