# Where should I stay for the 2027 New Year's Test at the SCG in Sydney? > New Year's Test 2027 at the SCG, 4 to 8 January: where to stay in Sydney, ranked by time to the ground, with light rail, the walk from Central and tickets. - Source: https://clevertourists.com/resources/where-to-stay-for-the-new-years-test-sydney-scg - Authors: Evan & Clara, Clever Tourists (first-hand, from years of travel across 20 countries) - Published: 2026-10-20 - Last updated: 2026-10-30 **The 2027 New Year's Test, Australia v New Zealand, runs from Monday 4 to Friday 8 January 2027 at the Sydney Cricket Ground, according to the SCG and Cricket Australia, with a 10:30am start. Stay in Surry Hills to walk to the ground from the best food area in range; stay around Central if you are coming straight from the airport.** Book now: the Test falls in peak Sydney summer, straight after New Year's Eve. We were in Sydney from 17 to 19 February 2023. The ground and transport details below come from the SCG and Transport for NSW. ## The Test: dates, start time and tickets The match is sold as the **NRMA Insurance Pink Test**, the fourth and last Test of the series against New Zealand, and it supports the McGrath Foundation. The SCG gives **Monday 4 to Friday 8 January 2027, with a 10:30am start**. General gates open at 9:00am, and members' gates at 7:30am. Cricket Australia's summer schedule gives the same dates. If you have not been to a Test: it is one match played over up to five days, and tickets are sold by the day. Play is split into three sessions with breaks for lunch and tea, and usually finishes in the early evening. A Test can finish early if one side wins, so Day 5 on Friday 8 January may not happen. **Tickets** are sold through Ticketmaster from the SCG's event page, in listings for Days 1 to 3 and Days 4 to 5. We found no 2027 prices, so check the page. By tradition, Day 3 (Wednesday 6 January) is Jane McGrath Day, when the crowd wears pink, but the SCG's listing does not say so for 2027. A past New Year's Test made Day 5 entry by donation; that is not confirmed for this match, so do not count on it. ## Getting to the SCG **Light rail:** take the **L2 Randwick** or **L3 Kingsford** line from Central (Chalmers Street) to the Moore Park stop. Both also start at Circular Quay. Trams run every 5 to 15 minutes, with extra services between Central and Moore Park at major events. The L1 line does not go there. **On foot from Central:** about 2.3 km, roughly 20 to 25 minutes, per Transport for NSW. Leave Central by the Devonshire Street exit, go up Devonshire Street, cross South Dowling Street and follow the Albert 'Tibby' Cotter Walkway to Driver Avenue, opposite the ground. After play this is often the better option than the tram queue. Parking is limited, clearways apply on nearby roads during major events, and cars left in them are towed. Do not drive. Stop lifts on the light rail have had outages, so check for your day if you need step-free access. **From the airport:** take the T8 train to Central, then the L2 or L3. An airport station access fee applies, and Transport for NSW has said event travel does not cover it. Our [Sydney Airport to the city guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/sydney-airport-to-city-guide) compares the options. ## Where to stay, ranked by time to the ground This ranking is our judgement, based on time to the ground. The Central walk comes from Transport for NSW. Everything marked roughly is our own estimate, so check it in the Transport NSW trip planner against your actual hotel. **1. Surry Hills.** Roughly 15 to 20 minutes on foot. The best food area in walking range, and you skip the tram entirely. **The catch:** mostly small hotels, some hills, and noise near the bars. **2. Paddington and Darlinghurst.** Roughly 15 to 25 minutes on foot from the Oxford Street side. Terraces and bars with real character. **The catch:** few hotels. **3. Central and Haymarket.** Roughly 5 to 10 minutes by light rail, or 20 to 25 minutes on foot. The airport train and Chinatown's food are right there, and there is a wide range of rooms. **The catch:** tram queues after play, so walk if you can. **4. CBD and Circular Quay.** Roughly 20 to 25 minutes direct on the L2 or L3. Harbour views and ferries for the rest of your stay. **The catch:** the post-New Year period makes this a hard area to book, and the ride back is long after a hot day. **5. Randwick and Kingsford.** Roughly 10 to 15 minutes on the L2 or L3, against the main flow of the crowd. Quieter, and often less in demand than the centre. **The catch:** far from the sights. ## When to book We have no sourced hotel rates for this Test, so this is about timing. The Test starts in early January, so there are only about two months of lead time from this article. It also comes during the school summer holidays and in the days after New Year's Eve, usually one of the busiest stretches of Sydney's year. If you are coming for the fireworks too, see our [Sydney New Year's Eve guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/sydney-new-years-eve-fireworks-2026-best-spots-tickets) and book both as one stay. Book the nights you hold tickets for, and go cancellable if you hold a Day 4 or Day 5 ticket. Bring a hat and sunscreen: January days at the ground can be very hot. Visitors to Australia need permission to enter, so read our [Australia ETA guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/australia-eta-app-how-to-apply-guide) early, and our [tipping guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/tipping-in-australia-restaurants-guide) before you arrive. ## Frequently asked questions ### When is the New Year's Test in 2027? Monday 4 to Friday 8 January 2027 at the SCG, Australia v New Zealand, with a 10:30am start, according to the SCG and Cricket Australia. ### How do I get to the SCG? Take the L2 Randwick or L3 Kingsford light rail from Central to Moore Park, or walk about 2.3 km from Central in roughly 20 to 25 minutes. The L1 line does not go there. ### What is the best area to stay for the SCG? Surry Hills, for food and a walk to the ground of roughly 15 to 20 minutes. Central and Haymarket suit you if you want the airport train. These rankings are our judgement, based on time to the ground. ### Which day is the Pink Test's Jane McGrath Day in 2027? By tradition it is Day 3, which would be Wednesday 6 January 2027, but the SCG's listing does not say so for 2027.