Pooch

With apologies for late notice, please downgrade me to bronze ... Unexpected circumstances preclude my attendance. I do hope to catch up with many of you in SYD either pre- or post- Do.

Enjoy Newcastle,

Regards,

Pooch

smitty06

Hello,
I am hoping to get some advice about transportation. I arrive on AA Friday morning into Sydney and depart on AA Monday morning. Please advise the best way to get to Newcastle. Better yet, is anyone with a similar itinerary that wants to travel together?

Oz Fest

There will be others doing the same.

Tom911 is taking the train to Newcastle Friday noon. He is very experienced in using Aussie public transport. (Probably better than local frequent flyers).

Easy to get to central train station by rail from SYD
There is some transport information in post 4

Flight information in post 6 is being updated as it becomes known. (click the blue google doc link)
Smitty06 & Perk flights Friday arrival & Monday departures are close
If anyone wants their travel details listed please Private Message PM or post

tom911

I'll be heading.to Newcastle from Syndey Central around noon on Friday. RestlessinRNO will likely be with me. We can sort out a meeting spot and exact train a few days out. Make sure you purchase an Opal card and charge it prior to departure. I bought mine at a convenience store in the train station.

Will probably host a Pub dinner the night before.

Tom in the air to Taipei

Fredd

We'll miss you!

Austin787

I also arrive Sydney Friday morning, on United. I plan to take the train to Newcastle.

Pooch

Thanks Fredd(s) and ditto but hope to catch up in Sydney.

Bundy Bear

You can pick up the Opal card at the airport train station, tell them where you are going and they will suggest an amount to add to the card.

Please note you can only buy an Opal card using Mastercard or visa unless you visit a 7 Eleven or Woolworths grocery shop where American Express is accepted.

$19.61 from Airport International to Newcastle.

Train from airport into Central and then change to the long distance trains.

Usually the suburban trains come into the higher number platforms and the intercity (Newcastle depart from the lower number platforms.

http://www.sydneytrains.info/

For timetable information, Central Coast and Newcastle Line.

Trains to Newcastle from Central run every 30 minutes; example 12:15 and 12:45pm.

Journey for the 12:15pm arrives at 2:51pm so almost 3 hours.

Please note the train only goes to Hamilton, the 3 stations Wickham, Civic and Newcastle were closed in December 2014, Wickham will be reopened at the end of 2017 where it will become a major interchange for buses and light rail.

Only got my first Opal card less than a month ago, shows how much I have visited Sydney in the past 5 years, I may have used the airport a few more times.

smitty06

Awesome. Maybe we will be on the same train.

Oz Fest

3 of you arrive at SYD close together
SYD is very busy that time on morning with many wide body long haul flights arriving from 06:00 to 08:00
UA839 LAX Wed 22:25 24-May SYD Fri 06:45 26-May Austin787
AA73 LAX Wed 23:00 24-May SYD Fri 07:15 26-May Smitty06
QF162 WLG Fri 06:20 26-May SYD Fri 08:00 26-May Perk

smitty06

Awesome, would love to travel to Newcastle together.

Also, I depart on AA72 on Monday at 1015. Will I need to return to Sydney Sunday night?

Bundy Bear

I would take the train back to Sydney on Sunday night and look at Sydney CBD hotel or an airport hotel, depending on your hotel brand of choice and price.

Oz Fest

On the way out. There will be others
QF161 SYD Mon 09:40 29-May WLG Mon 13:55 28-May Perk
AA72 SYD Mon 10:15 29-May LAX Mon 06:15 29-May Smitty06

Flights know to date are linked in post 6

Austin787

I arrive on UA863, SFO-SYD.

JohnK

Any suggestions/recommendations for hotel/motel near the Crowne Plaza for AUD120/night?

I just cannot justify spending ~AUD220/night or 35,000 IHG points/night.