Australia
South AfricaSydney to Cape Town shipping route.
6,523 nautical miles via Cape of Good Hope, about 19.4 days of steaming at 14 knots.
Sea Distance Between Ports: Sydney and Cape Town
Port to Port Distance on the map, along real shipping lanes.
SydneyCape of Good HopeCape TownShipping time from Sydney to Cape Town
| Route | Distance | 12 kn | 14 kn | 18 kn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| via Cape of Good Hope (shortest) | 6,523 nm | 22.6 d | 19.4 d | 15.1 d |
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About the Sydney to Cape Town shipping route
The shipping route from Sydney, Australia to Cape Town, South Africa covers 6,523 nautical miles port to port, via Cape of Good Hope. On a globe the two ports sit 11,008 km apart, so the ship sails 1.10 times the straight line distance. On the way the vessel passes Cape of Good Hope.
Shipping time depends on speed. At 14 knots, a common container ship service speed, the passage takes 19.4 days at sea. Slow steaming at 12 knots stretches it to 22.6 days, while 18 knots brings it down to 15.1. Container transit time on a liner service is longer than the steaming time: ships call at other ports on the rotation, and cargo may transship at a hub. Add terminal time at Sydney and Cape Town to plan the full ocean transit time.
Container freight rates on Sydney to Cape Town move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Cape Town (ZACPT) carriers give about 3 free days before demurrage and detention charges start, so plan the truck or rail pickup before the box lands.
Of the 65 port to port routes from Sydney in this directory, Cape Town is the 26th shortest. Closer destinations include Oakland (6,506 nm), Nhava Sheva (6,271 nm) and Durban (6,142 nm).
FAQ
How many nautical miles from Sydney to Cape Town?
The port to port distance from Sydney to Cape Town is 6,523 nautical miles (12,081 km), via Cape of Good Hope. The route passes Cape of Good Hope.
What is the shipping time from Sydney to Cape Town?
About 19.4 days at 14 knots and 15.1 days at 18 knots of steaming, without port calls. Scheduled liner services add calls and transhipment.
Is the return route the same?
The reverse route Cape Town to Sydney has its own page with the same distance and route.
More port to port distance
- Sydney to Melbourne596 nm
- Sydney to
Auckland1,284 nm - Sydney to
Tanjung Priok3,932 nm - Sydney to
Manila3,938 nm - Sydney to
Singapore4,223 nm - Sydney to
Kaohsiung4,356 nm - Durban to Cape Town875 nm
Lagos (Apapa) to Cape Town2,619 nm
Mombasa to Cape Town2,631 nm
Santos to Cape Town3,508 nm
Buenos Aires to Cape Town3,846 nm
Salalah to Cape Town4,010 nm
How we count: sea routes follow shipping lanes and canals, time is pure steaming at 14 knots without port calls. Engine navo-distance-time 0.3.0. See all sea distance between ports or the Shipping Routes Directory.