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Sailing to Australia on a sailboat is not an easy feat, which is why you need to be well-prepared before setting off on your journey. One of the most important considerations you’ll want to keep in mind throughout the planning process is how long will it take for you to sail to and from the Land Down Under.
It takes approximately 12 days to travel from New Zealand to Australia at 5 knots on a sailboat. Traveling from New York to Australia on a 5-knot sailboat would take 114 days. Ultimately, the exact time will depend on ocean currents and weather conditions.
In the rest of this article, I’ll discuss how long it takes to sail to and from Australia on a sailboat in greater detail. I’ll also take you through the weather you can expect on different routes and how the time on a sailboat compares to a cargo ship. Therefore, be sure to read on if you want to learn more.
How Long Does It Take From Australia to New Zealand?
It takes around 12 days to sail from Australia (Lorne) to New Zealand (Port Taranaki), based on a speed of 5 knots (9.26 kilometers per hour). The distance between these two ports is approximately 1400 nautical miles or 1611 regular miles (2592.65 kilometers).
The exact time it takes to sail from Australia to New Zealand depends on several factors, including:
- Boat size. The boat’s length directly affects its speed, meaning the longer the boat, the faster it’ll be.
- Ocean current. If you’re sailing in the same direction as the current, the boat will naturally move faster than if it was going against it. Many factors can cause ocean currents, but one the most important element to consider is wind.
- Average speed. The boat’s average speed will determine how long it takes to get to your destination.
Below, you’ll find a table that shows how long it takes to sail to New Zealand from Australia using varying speeds.
| Speed (knots) | Distance (Nautical miles) | Standard miles | Time in days (approx.) |
| 5 | 1,444 | 1,661 | 12 |
| 7 | 1,444 | 1,661 | 8 |
| 9 | 1,444 | 1,661 | 6 |
Keep in mind that the above graph is based on sailing specifically from Lorne, Australia, to Port Taranaki, New Zealand. Sailing to and from different points in each country would change the specific distance and amount of time required.
This route goes in a relatively straight line directly from one country to another, so it’s a pretty straightforward journey.
You would need to cross the Tasman Sea to make this trip, notorious for being dangerous due to the choppy currents and winds. Many people who have attempted to sail across this sea have disappeared or died. Therefore, it’s rarely recommended to make this trip in a sailboat (or any boat)!
How Long Does It Take From New Zealand to Australia?
It takes around 6 or 7 days to sail from New Zealand to Australia on a sailboat, based on a speed of 9 knots (16.67 kilometers per hour). At 5 knots (9.26 kilometers per hour), it takes 12 to 15 days. The time required will depend on the ocean’s currents and weather conditions.
Sailing from New Zealand to Australia generally won’t take the same time as sailing from Australia to New Zealand. It may take a few extra days when traveling from New Zealand because you may have to sail against the current.
You can use the above graph as a rough guide but you may need to add a few extra days to account for the unfavorable weather conditions.
How Long Does It Take From the U.S. to Australia?
It will take 125 days to sail from the U.S. to Australia, based on a speed of 5 knots (9.26 kilometers per hour). The exact amount of time it takes will depend on the specific locations you’re leaving from and going to, as well as your vessel’s speed.
To make it easier, you can check out the tables below to get a better idea of how long it takes to sail from different parts of the U.S. to Australia.
Sailing from Florida to Australia
| Speed (knots) | Approx. distance (nautical miles) | Approx. distance (regular miles) | Time in days |
| 5 | 13,470 | 15,500 | 112 |
| 7 | 13,470 | 15,500 | 80 |
| 9 | 13,470 | 15,500 | 62 |
(Estimated time in days calculated on Calculatorsoup.com)
Keep in mind that the time required can greatly vary depending on the route you take. The table above is based on sailing down into the South Atlantic Ocean to the bottom of Argentina and then sailing across the South Pacific Ocean.
The South Pacific Ocean is warm and tropical, so this would undoubtedly be a hot trip.
Sailing from New York to Australia
| Speed (knots) | Approx. distance (nautical miles) | Approx. distance (regular miles) | Time in days |
| 5 | 13,600 | 15,700 | 114 |
| 7 | 13,600 | 15,700 | 81 |
| 9 | 13,600 | 15,700 | 63 |
(Estimated time in days calculated on Calculatorsoup.com)
Sailing from New York to Australia would be similar to sailing from Florida. The route would be generally the same, but it would take longer since New York is further north.
This route is based on sailing down past South America. You would sail by Venezuela, Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina and then sail up toward the East coast of Australia, near Byron Bay.
There is of course the option of going through the Panama canal which will save you a lot of time but maybe not as much as you thought, read more in this article.
The first section of this route would require sailing down the North Atlantic Ocean. The winds in North America determine the weather here, but it can get quite windy at times, making this a relatively dangerous journey.
Sailing from California to Australia
| Speed (knots) | Distance (nautical miles) | Distance (regular miles) | Time in days |
| 5 | 6,196 | 7,130 | 51 |
| 7 | 6,196 | 7,130 | 37 |
| 9 | 6,196 | 7,130 | 29 |
(Estimated time in days calculated on Calculatorsoup.com)
Sailing from California to the East coast of Australia would be much quicker than sailing from New York and Florida.
The table above is based on a route that includes traveling South-West toward Australia through the North and South Pacific Ocean. For the most part, the Pacific Ocean should have stable temperatures and weather during this sort of sailing trip.
The boat would pass many small islands on the way to Australia, such as Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, and New Caledonia. However, due to the small size of these islands, you wouldn’t be able to see any of them throughout the journey unless you make landfall there, which most people do.
Sailing from Seattle to Australia
| Speed | Distance (nautical miles) | Distance (regular miles) | Time in days |
| 5 | 6,313 | 7,265 | 53 |
| 7 | 6,313 | 7,265 | 38 |
| 9 | 6,313 | 7,265 | 30 |
(Estimated time in days calculated on Calculatorsoup.com)
As you can tell, sailing from Seattle to Australia is similar to sailing from California. Traveling from Seattle takes slightly longer, and the route is somewhat more complex at the beginning of the journey.
Since Seattle is slightly inland, you need to sail through Puget Sound up toward Port Townsend. Then, you’ll be sailing right by the Canadian and U.S. border toward the Salish sea.
You would eventually reach the very edge of Washington state and travel toward the East Coast of Australia from there.
The weather on this trip would be the same as the weather on the journey from California to Australia, so it shouldn’t be too unstable.
How Long Does It Take To Sail From the USA to Africa?
It takes roughly 29 days to travel from the USA (Florida) to Africa (Western Sahara) based on a speed of 5 knots (9.26 kilometers per hour) and a distance of 4000 miles (6437.38 kilometers). Africa is a vast continent, so the timeframe of the journey will vary depending on your destination.
For the most part, traveling to Africa from the U.S. would involve sailing through the North Atlantic Ocean.
Now, let’s look at how long it takes to travel from different parts of the U.S. to other parts of Africa.
Sailing From California to South Africa
The sailing distance between California and South Africa would be around 11,185 miles (18,000.51 kilometers). Let’s look at how long it would take, depending on the boat’s speed, to travel this mileage.
- 5 knots (9.26 kilometers per hour): 81 days
- 7 knots (12.96 kilometers per hour): 58 days
- 9 knots (16.67 kilometers per hour): 45 days
You would travel down into the South Pacific Ocean and then turn up toward the South Atlantic Ocean after you’ve reached the bottom of Argentina. From there, you make your way up to South Africa.
If sailing across the South Atlantic Ocean, it’s best to avoid hurricane season; the journey can get dangerous during this time.
Sailing From Seattle to Nigeria
In this instance, the sailing distance between Seattle and Nigeria would be approximately 14,290 miles (22,997.53 kilometers).
Depending on the boat speed, let’s look at how long this sailing trip would take.
- 5 knots (9.26 kilometers per hour): 103 days
- 7 knots (12.96 kilometers per hour): 74 days
- 9 knots (16.67 kilometers per hour): 57 days
As you can see, this trip would be longer than traveling from California. However, you would be traveling in the same direction (down toward the bottom of Argentina and traveling up toward Africa).
In the beginning, you would need to sail through Washington state to get into the ocean by sailing through Puget Sound.
Sailing From New York to Kenya
11,000 miles (17,703 km) would be the approximate sailing distance between New York and Kenya. It’s important to note that the sailing distances I’m mentioning throughout this article are different from the general distance.
For example, if you were to fly to Kenya from New York, the distance would be around 7,300 miles (11748.21 kilometers), not 11,000 miles (17,703 km).
Now, let’s look at how long it would take to sail from New York to Kenya.
- 5 knots (9.26 kilometers per hour): 80 days
- 7 knots (12.96 kilometers per hour): 57 days
- 9 knots (16.67 kilometers per hour): 44 days
Sailing to Kenya from New York would be relatively straightforward in terms of the direction. You would head down the North Atlantic Ocean toward the South Atlantic Ocean until you reach South Africa.
From there, you would travel up North, between Madagascar and the rest of the continent, until you reach Kenya.
During this sailing trip, you would pass many countries along the way. They would include Venezuela, Brazil, Nigeria, Angola, South Africa, and Tanzania. Although you would be traveling past these countries, you may not see them all unless you’re sailing close to land.
Sailing to Australia on a Cargo Ship
Most standard cargo ships travel at a speed of 24 knots (44.49 kilometers per hour). With that in mind, you can approximately determine how long it might take for a cargo ship to reach Australia from different parts of the world.
Now, let’s see how the sailing time between the previously-mentioned origin locations and Australia changes. In this instance, the estimated time is based on a cargo ship traveling at 24 knots (44.49 kilometers per hour).
| Origin | Sailing distance (nautical miles) | Sailing distance (regular miles) | Time in days |
| California | 6,196 | 7,130 | 11 |
| New York | 13,600 | 15,700 | 24 |
| New Zealand | 1,444 | 1,661 | 3 |
| Seattle | 6,313 | 7,265 | 12 |
| Florida | 13,470 | 15,500 | 23 |
(Estimated time in days calculated on Calculatorsoup.com)
Important note: Not all cargo ships travel at 24 knots (44.49 kilometers per hour); some travel at slower speeds. Therefore, some cargo ships may take longer than others to reach Australia.
Can I Sail to Australia?
You can sail to Australia, the most common way to reach Australia by sea are cruise ships but many opt to sail a private catamaran or monohull for the adventure of a lifetime. The amount of time the journey will take will depend on where you’re coming from, the weather, and the ocean currents.
There are some cruises from the U.S. to Australia, but they are rare due to the length of the trip.
However, sailing to Australia on your own cruising sailboat is an amazing and possibly life changing experience. It can be dangerous due to strong currents and winds, but so is everything in life.
Conclusion
The time it takes to travel to Australia on a sailboat depends on the point of origin, weather, and ocean currents.
While you can expect to travel for 12 days to get to Australia from New Zealand on a 5-knot (9.26 kilometers per hour) sailboat, it could take a little more time on the way back due to weather and sea conditions.
Sailing from other countries worldwide to Australia can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months on a sailboat.
Sources
- MIT School of Engineering: What is the relationship between the length of a boat and its maximum speed?
- NOAA Ocean Exploration: What causes ocean currents?
- Paddling Magazine: Andrew McAuley Disappears On Sea Kayak Trip
- ScienceDirect: South Pacific Ocean
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Pacific Ocean
- The Geography of Transport Systems: Fuel Consumption by Containership Size and Speed
- Australia Cruise Guide: USA to Australia Cruises
- Calculator Soup: Speed Distance Time Calculator