Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - 12 hours in Sydney? Where, what, etc

I'm taking advantage of United's $865 IAD-SYD fare and will be spending a day in Sydney before hopping on a VirginBlue flight to Brisbane at 6pm. I'll be there a couple of days, then Melbourne, then back home.

I arrive on a Monday morning at 6am, after a 20hr journey from IAD. Obviously the first item on the docket is to nap, shower, and change clothes. Any recommendations on hotels at SYD airport to do that? Or maybe a "no tell motel" :p ?

Obviously the harbo(u)r area is a good place for photo opps. Any suggestions, tips, etc would be welcome. Thanks!

I'm taking advantage of United's $865 IAD-SYD fare and will be spending a day in Sydney before hopping on a VirginBlue flight to Brisbane at 6pm. I'll be there a couple of days, then Melbourne, then back home.

I arrive on a Monday morning at 6am, after a 20hr journey from IAD. Obviously the first item on the docket is to nap, shower, and change clothes. Any recommendations on hotels at SYD airport to do that? Or maybe a "no tell motel" :p ?

Obviously the harbo(u)r area is a good place for photo opps. Any suggestions, tips, etc would be welcome. Thanks!

If you are adventurous, you could buy a return train ticket from the airport to Central station, get a room at a hostel, shower etc (just be careful w your bags), get a homungous coffee then head 5 mins west to Chinatown for a decent meal. Walk 10-15mins west from there to Cockle Bay / King St Wharf along the harbourside, then walk northeast to the Harbour Bridge. Get another supercaffeinated double espresso (not from Starbucks or Gloria Jeans!) at The Rocks before walking around Circular Quay and the Opera House. Walk back to Circular Quay to get a ticket for the Manly ferry.

Maybe a Sydney Explorer on-off bus pass around the sights is the best option...have a quick look at everything over a couple of hours (but don't get sunburnt - get sunscreen and a hat!) :D .

If you are making good time it may be possible to get the ferry there, grab a bite at the wharf at Manly then get the next ferry back and then the train at Circular Quay back to the airport. You'd not want to linger though, so maybe just choose a hotel or place close to where you want to go.

If it were my 20hr trip I'd desperately want a shower and a nice breakfast, then have a plan to be busy until it is time to return to the airport.
Will you have more time later in Sydney, so that you can focus on a pleasant non-rushed stopover?

Thanks- those are very helpful suggestions!

I may just end up leaving the heavy bag at the airport and bringing a chance of clothes and a day pack. Sounds like the weather will be very nice this time of year.

Is there much time savings between taking a train into Sydney and a cab at that time of morning? How much is cab fare from SYD into downtown? Hopefully not as much as in London!

Forget about the cab. You'll probably get stuck in morning traffic.

The train station is underneath the airport.

This website might help http://www.sydneyairport.com.au/SACL/To+and+From+Airport/Trains/default.htm


As for your bags, don't forget to leave enough time on your return to the airport to pick up your bags from the International Terminal and then get back to the Domestic Terminal (separate buildings).


Evan :->