Auckland is typically 2 hours ahead of Sydney. Both cities observe DST but transitions may differ slightly, causing temporary 1 or 3-hour differences for a few weeks each year.
Auckland uses NZST/NZDT (UTC+12/+13) while Sydney uses AEST/AEDT (UTC+10/+11).
Business hours overlap almost completely! 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Auckland corresponds to 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM Sydney. Morning Auckland catches Sydney morning perfectly.
Auckland and Sydney are closely connected trans-Tasman cities. Qantas, Air New Zealand, and Jetstar operate many daily 3.5-hour flights on this busy route.