Jetlag Away

Jet lag from London to Sydney

Flying from London to Sydney is 9 to 11 hours east on the clock, depending on the date. When the gap is 9 hours, Jetlag Away moves your body clock earlier, the harder direction, starting in the nights before you fly. When it is 10 or 11 hours, it takes the long way round and moves your body clock later instead.

The route where the season changes the strategy. Britain and Australia move their clocks in opposite directions at different times of year, so the gap is not one number. When it is small enough, the plan moves the clock earlier. When it is large, moving it later round the day is as quick and runs with the clock instead of against it: the long way round. The example plans below show both.

The shift through 2027

The difference between the two clocks changes when either country changes its clocks, so the same flight is not the same trip all year. This is the shift for a departure at 21:00 London time, measured at each end at the moment you are there, the way the app measures it.

DepartingShiftWhat the plan does
1 January – 27 March11 hours eastThe long way round: 13 hours later
28 March – 1 April10 hours eastThe long way round: 14 hours later
2 April – 30 September9 hours eastMoves your clock earlier
1 October – 30 October10 hours eastThe long way round: 14 hours later
31 October – 31 December11 hours eastThe long way round: 13 hours later

From 10 hours eastward, moving the clock later round the day is as quick as moving it earlier, and it runs with the clock rather than against it. That is why the plan changes direction with the season. The long way round explains the choice.

How long it takes

The plan moves your sleep a little each night before you fly, then sets light, sleep and caffeine on local time until the shift is made. How much it does before departure, and how many days after landing carry light instructions, depend on the intensity you choose. These are the app's figures with its default limits: never woken before 05:00, never kept up after 01:30. They are a schedule, not a promise of how you will feel.

9 hours east

IntensityBefore you flyAfter landing
Gentle1.5 hours, 3 nights8 days
Moderate2 hours, 4 nights6 days
Aggressive2 hours, 4 nights5 days

10 hours east

IntensityBefore you flyAfter landing
Gentle1.5 hours, 3 nights9 days
Moderate2 hours, 4 nights7 days
Aggressive2 hours, 4 nights6 days

11 hours east

IntensityBefore you flyAfter landing
Gentle1.5 hours, 3 nights8 days
Moderate2 hours, 4 nights7 days
Aggressive2 hours, 4 nights6 days

An example plan in July

Leaving London at 21:00 on 1 July 2027 and landing in Sydney at 04:00 on 3 July, local time. 9 hours east, so the plan moves your clock earlier. Built at the moderate intensity for someone who usually sleeps 23:30 to 07:00.

The nights before you fly

London time.

The day you fly

Sydney time: from the day you fly, the plan runs on your destination's clock.

After landing

Sydney time.

An example plan in February

Leaving London at 21:00 on 12 February 2027 and landing in Sydney at 06:00 on 14 February, local time. 11 hours east, so the plan takes the long way round and moves your clock 13 hours later. Built at the moderate intensity for someone who usually sleeps 23:30 to 07:00.

The nights before you fly

London time.

The day you fly

Sydney time: from the day you fly, the plan runs on your destination's clock.

After landing

Sydney time.

The figures on this page are computed by the same code the app runs, for 2027, from an example flight. Jetlag Away is a scheduling tool and not medical advice. If you have a sleep or circadian disorder, or any diagnosed condition affected by sleep, talk to a healthcare professional first — see the health disclaimer in our terms.

Last reviewed 10 October 2026. Published 10 October 2026.

All guides to jet lag and the body clock