CBR-SYD Options

[Chucksta]

Planning to spend the day in Canberra sightseeing.

We need to travel to Sydney on a Friday evening.

1. What's the best time to depart from Canberra (in the evening) if we are driving to Sydney? To avoid traffic etc. Are there any tolls on the way?

2. Has anyone taken the train from CBR-SYD? It takes 4.5 hours (vs 3.5 hours driving).

3. The other option is to fly from CBR-SYD but all Dash 8 aircraft.

Would love to hear anyone's thoughts. I'm thinking of hiring a rental car in CBR and returning it in SYD.

 

[Himeno]

The QF flights between SYD and CBR are a mix of Dash 8s and 717s. If the flight number is QF15xx, it is a 717. QF14xx is a Dash 8.
There are no tolls on the Hume Highway. Only tolls are within Sydney metro area.

Is this a one way trip? Why not look at the bus?
Canberra Jolimont Centre near the Civic Bus Interchange/Canberra Center to Sydney Central Station (some buses stop at SYD T1 on the way).
Murrays
Home
Near hourly departures throughout the day.

 

[davidj]

Another vote for the bus. You're likely to get there sooner than flying.

 

[Denali]

Sydney traffic in every direction sucks on Friday night. Is the train direct? I like the idea of a bus to avoid dealing with the tolls and traffic. Did I mention Sydney traffic in every direction sucks.

 

[Chucksta]

So no one would recommend driving?

It’s a one way trip from CBR to SYD.

Wouldn’t the bus get stuck in traffic?

 

[Himeno]

Sydney traffic in every direction sucks on Friday night. Is the train direct? I like the idea of a bus to avoid dealing with the tolls and traffic. Did I mention Sydney traffic in every direction sucks.

The line goes from Kingston Station to Queanbeyan, then along the Bombala Line where it joins the Main Southern Line near Goulburn where it shares the line with trains to/from Melbourne. The line enters Sydney through Campbelltown and Liverpool.

 

[Himeno]

Wouldn’t the bus get stuck in traffic?

Depends on the timing and when the bus reaches Sydney. With an evening bus, most of the traffic in Sydney would be in the other direction. The busiest part of the route would be around Sydney Airport.

The longest bus trip I've had to Sydney was a morning bus that took 5 hours. But that went through Western Sydney first.

 

[harvyk]

Being CBR based I've done all 4 options between CBR-SYD.

1. What time do you want to be back in SYD if driving? I'd allow 4 hours for the drive. Stopping at either Marulan or Sutton Forest.

The drive itself is pretty uninteresting but easy. No tolls until you hit the M5 in Sydney.


2. The train is a milk run, stopping at each town along the way. Canberra station is in the middle of no where (Kingston) however there are buses and taxi's that'll get you there.

The train is my Mrs preferred way to get between CBR and SYD if it's just her.

3. It's a combination of dash 8's 717 and 737's on the CBR to SYD route. QF14xx = dash, QF15xx = 717. QF8xx = 737.
This is my preferred way of getting to SYD, as it's fast and there are lounges involved. However it's also the most expensive.

Finally you have the bus, it's cheap and frequent.

 

[Chucksta]

Being CBR based I've done all 4 options between CBR-SYD.

1. What time do you want to be back in SYD if driving? I'd allow 4 hours for the drive. Stopping at either Marulan or Sutton Forest.

The drive itself is pretty uninteresting but easy. No tolls until you hit the M5 in Sydney.


2. The train is a milk run, stopping at each town along the way. Canberra station is in the middle of no where (Kingston) however there are buses and taxi's that'll get you there.

The train is my Mrs preferred way to get between CBR and SYD if it's just her.

3. It's a combination of dash 8's 717 and 737's on the CBR to SYD route. QF14xx = dash, QF15xx = 717. QF8xx = 737.
This is my preferred way of getting to SYD, as it's fast and there are lounges involved. However it's also the most expensive.

Finally you have the bus, it's cheap and frequent.

Was thinking of leaving Canberra around 5pm. Hopefully get to hotel near the Rocks in Sydney by 9pm. Would this timing allow me to miss the Sydney traffic? Or can i leave earlier, aiming to arrive in Sydney around 8pm.

If I pick up a rental car in CBR how do I deal with the tolls in Sydney?

 

[harvyk]

Those timings will work.
Speak to the rental co about options for tolls.

If you were to leave at 4pm you'd beat the CBR traffic as well and SYD traffic wouldn't be all that bad by the time you got there.

 

[jase05]

So no one would recommend driving?

It’s a one way trip from CBR to SYD.

Wouldn’t the bus get stuck in traffic?

I would drive personally as I love driving. Due to family I’ve done that route more often than I care to remember and it’s a nice easy drive. Allow 4 hours but can be done it just over 3 hours if the traffic is light

 

[trooper]

Hugely important to know WHERE in Sydney......

If I'm flying out of SYD, then the Bus.

Going to see family in Castle Hill... Drive.

 

[earlyriser]

I like to work while I travel so I prefer the train as it is easier to get out the laptop than the bus. I have found the bus to get a bit crowded so being quite tall it can be a bit uncomfortable. If you are 6 foot or under, and don't need much more entertainment than a book, a nap, or looking out the window, then I say go for the bus.

 

[Himeno]

If you are 6 foot or under, and don't need much more entertainment than a book, a nap, or looking out the window, then I say go for the bus.

Many of the Greyhound and Murrays buses used on the interstate routes now have power and wifi.

 

[earlyriser]

Many of the Greyhound and Murrays buses used on the interstate routes now have power and wifi.

Right. In my experience, this doesn't help when you are 6'6 and sitting next to someone. It is uncomfortable to work compared to on the train.

 

[Mattg]

I did a write-up about the options a couple of years ago, the information is mostly still current: CBR-SYD: Plane, train, bus or car?

I'm still doing this trip roughly once a fortnight and usually take the train. It's a little slower but so much more comfortable than the bus for a similar price. You can have a hot meal, walk around, do some work etc. which I find you can't really do on the bus.