Driving to Sydney Airport

[wendlle]

I'm from a small country town, and I mean small. 1500 people. I do drive to Canberra and am fine around there with a GPS but I've never driven to Sydney before, or even around the area AT ALL.

I can't get flights to QLD from Canberra for August so had to book flying out of Sydney which means I need to get to Sydney.
We will have to drive as the bus is a no go, it's too long and full of people i'd rather not be on a bus with my children with.
So I am deathly afraid of driving to Sydney airport.
We will be coming from the far south coast so going thru Wollongong. I've been looking at Google maps all day, the traffic looks hectic but I think I can do it.
My main questions are, can I do this and should I do this?

Looks like I need to park at the P2 parking to get a Virgin flight, I may also want to take the train from the domestic terminal. I'm assuming I can walk from the parking area at P2 to the terminal T2, should be right there right?
When I am following signage am I following departures or arrivals? I thought departures but someone told me arrivals, and now I'm more confused than ever.

We will be coming up the day before the flight, as the flight is at 9:20am so we will get a hotel for the night, most likely the Ridges at the INternational airport (we can just get the train over there) as I have a few points to burn and I do like their hotel.

Please can someone give me some good advice here.
I also thought about staying just outside the city but can't find any other long term parking options that are near a train station for us to take.

 

[Matt_01]

Are you on or near a train line that goes to sydney. My parents live in Kiama so when we fly into SYD we have started using the the train rather than hire cars and drive. From/to the airport you change trains at Wolli Creek to connect from/to south coast line.

 

[wendlle]

no, I am 3 hours from Canberra on the far south coast. No public transport at all except an extremely long bus.

 

[cove]

I would get the train from Wollongong to take the stress off the trip.

 

[eastwest101]

Normally I wouldn't recommend driving anywhere near Sydney airport but these are not normal times and there is only about 10% of cars around the airport that there usually is, because there are very little international or domestic flights operating at the presently.

If it's not soon then driving up and then trains and or taxi and uber might be an option.

 

[mrsterryn]

I am from that part of Sydney .
There isn't as much traffic as usual around the airport.
Also if you are at Ridges at international you would just catch the bus to domestic terminal. Much easier than the train , also cheaper
Canberra is quite a nice drive to Sydney. We have done part way to Canberra recently.
Hope it works out for you

 

[Franky]

no, I am 3 hours from Canberra on the far south coast. No public transport at all except an extremely long bus.

Perhaps you could consider a short bus?

 

[AIRwin]

Also if you are at Ridges at international you would just catch the bus to domestic terminal. Much easier than the train , also cheaper

The T-Bus is free:

Transit at SYD

Find information on getting between flights at Sydney Airport.

www.sydneyairport.com.au

From international to domestic, sit on the right hand side for views of the tarmac...

 

[mrsterryn]

The T-Bus is free:

Transit at SYD

Find information on getting between flights at Sydney Airport.

www.sydneyairport.com.au

Ahhh I thought you had to have a connecting flight to use that bus
Thanks for that information

 

[lakeman]

Hi Wendle ,had you thought of one of the other hotels closer to the domestic terminal?
They often have park and fly packages that can save a bit of money and have a shuttle bus making things easier .
The walk to the train platforms can be a chore with a few kids

 

[wendlle]

I would get the train from Wollongong to take the stress off the trip.

WE were thinking about this but where would we keep the car in Wollongong? If it is far from the train station that would be a problem.

Normally I wouldn't recommend driving anywhere near Sydney airport but these are not normal times and there is only about 10% of cars around the airport that there usually is, because there are very little international or domestic flights operating at the presently.

If it's not soon then driving up and then trains and or taxi and uber might be an option.

It is Mid August, Uber and Taxi aren't an option as we have two small kids who require car seats which we will not have with us.

Canberra is quite a nice drive to Sydney. We have done part way to Canberra recently.
Hope it works out for you

We aren't driving from Canberra to Sydney we are driving from the Far South Coast, so will be thru Wollongong, along the Princes Highway.

 

[Denali]

3hrs south from Wollongong, is a flight from Albury an option?

If taking a domestic flight, there are hotels closer. Stanford Plaza is about 850mtrs walk and they have park & stay deals.

And yes, you can do this. Just take it easy and if you miss a turn, dont panic, let the GPS recalculate and turn you around. I live here and still make mistakes as roadworks are always changing so give yourself a bit of extra time to get there.

 

[wendlle]

3hrs south from Wollongong, is a flight from Albury an option?

If taking a domestic flight, there are hotels closer. Stanford Plaza is about 850mtrs walk and they have park & stay deals.

And yes, you can do this. Just take it easy and if you miss a turn, dont panic, let the GPS recalculate and turn you around. I live here and still make mistakes as roadworks are always changing so give yourself a bit of extra time to get there.

Thanks Danali, We are no where near Albury, we are from Bermagui. Normally I would use Rex to get from Merimbula or Moruya to Sydney but they aren't operating on the dates we need.

Do you think it would be easier to get to the Stamford rather than the actual airport?

 

[cambriamarsh]

Thanks Danali, We are no where near Albury, we are from Bermagui. Normally I would use Rex to get from Merimbula or Moruya to Sydney but they aren't operating on the dates we need.

Do you think it would be easier to get to the Stamford rather than the actual airport?

There is aStamford at the airport reasonably close to Domestic

 

[Denali]

Thanks Danali, We are no where near Albury, we are from Bermagui. Normally I would use Rex to get from Merimbula or Moruya to Sydney but they aren't operating on the dates we need.

Do you think it would be easier to get to the Stamford rather than the actual airport?

The good thing is if you miss either the airport carpark or the hotel carpark, you just go around and circle back. Youre going to miss a turn off or make a mistake but easy to fix, just safely turn back so try not to stress too much about it.

 

[jase05]

Piece of cake driving to the airport, you will be fine. Allow yourself a bit more time if needed and as others have said if you take a wrong turn it’s very easy to rectify

 

[Spongbob]

Getting to the International terminal (T1) can be a challenge if coming from the M5.

 

[wendlle]

Getting to the International terminal (T1) can be a challenge if coming from the M5.

We aren't going to T1, T2 domestic from the M5.

 

[Spongbob]

Domestic is much easier

 

[Melburnian1]

The are three daily trains from Canberra railway station (in Kingston) that also stop at Queanbeyan. From memory both have car parks.

NSWTrainLink, the government-owned operator has special spacing (you know the term) on its trains while coronavirusaus is with us. Book online or by calling 13 22 32 0700-2200 hours daily.

The XPlorer railcar set has a buffet car on board. Seats are far more comfortable than the bus, and scenery away from the freeway/highway is pleasant.

More relaxing than driving!

You can change at Central to go to Sydney Airport.

I don't know why so many Canberra area residents seem unaware that there's trains to Goulburn, Bowral, Campbelltown and Sydney.

There are also NSW TrainLink road coaches from the south coast (such as Eden) than connect in Canberra with the train. See the 'southern NSW' timetable at the Transport for NSW site.

Alternatively, you could join the other rail line's train at Bomaderry station (Nowra, just over the river) where there is a good service to Wollongong and then on to Wolli Creek, where one can change for Sydney Airport trains. Easy - I've done it.