Pick up your campervan hire in Sydney

campervan apollo driving beach surfers
Meghan Advent
14 Apr, 2022
6 minutes to read

What you need to know when picking up a motorhome in Sydney

Sydney brings together the beauty of golden beaches and scenic harbour views with the excitement of a modern and thriving city. This New South Wales capital is on every traveller’s wish list, and its coastal location and proximity to many of Australia's top destinations make it the perfect place to start a motorhome holiday.

This international hotspot is a smorgasbord of attractions, from the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge to Bondi Beach and Darling Harbour. Its historic waterfront, stunning urban parks and world class culinary scene will keep you well entertained before striking out on a once-in-a-lifetime campervan tour.

Use this guide to jumpstart your holiday when you pick up your Sydney motorhome rental.

Where to pick up your Sydney motorhome

Sydney Airport

The main airport is a travel hub and a convenient and easy place to pick up your Sydney campervan. There are multiple leading motorhome companies with rental offices close by once you land. This includes JUCY Rentals, Mighty Campervans, Travellers Autobarn, Britz Campervan Hire, and Spaceships.

Taren Point

Taren Point is roughly 30 minutes south of the city’s CBD, so it can be a good spot to pick up your Sydney camper if you’re planning on a getaway down the coast. Both Cruisin’ Motorhomes and Apollo Campervans are top campervan rental companies in Australia and can be found not far from Taren Point Road.

Kingsgrove

The M5 is Sydney’s South Western Motorway, and it passes by the western suburb of Kingsgrove. This is where you will find Calypso and Kangaroo Campervans. The depots are roughly 30 minutes from the central city, and 20 minutes from the Sydney Airport. You can easily spend a few days exploring this New South Wales capital before picking up your motorhome at one of these near-highway locations.

A Jetstar plane parked at Sydney Airport.
Aerial view of Sydney at night.

What to do in Sydney before you leave

Walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is an icon for the city and Australia, and walking across it makes for a unique and unforgettable experience. The walk is itself is free, but for exhibits on the bridge’s construction and uninhibited views from the top, you can pay a small fee and head up the 200 stairs in the southeast pylon (the one closest to the city on the walkers’ side). For the adventurous, you can even book yourself in for the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb, where your path takes you up and along the adrenaline-inducing arches of this famous bridge to enjoy the city’s dramatic skyline from an incredible vantage point.

Bondi is at one end of a beautiful walking track that follows the bays around the water’s edge for 6 kilometres to Coogee Beach waiting on the other side.

Relax at Bondi Beach

Bondi Beach is just one of many of Sydney’s famous oceanside havens, but it is arguably the most well-known. It is where tens of thousands of locals and tourists visit every year, some of which come for the sand and the surf, while others visit for the events, cafes, restaurants and social atmosphere. As well as the beach itself, Bondi is at one end of a beautiful walking track that follows the bays around the water’s edge for 6 kilometres to Coogee Beach waiting on the other side.

Take the ferry to Manly

Manly is a popular destination just across the harbour from Sydney’s CBD, and taking the Manly ferry for a visit is a real must-do for first-time tourists. It’s as much a way to get from Sydney to Manly as it is a scenic boat experience, as you’ll pass right by the Sydney Opera House and get a stunning view of the Harbour Bridge as you cross. Once you’re in Manly, there are plenty of beaches, shops and an aquarium to discover.

People swimming at Sydney Bondi Beach.
Lit up palm trees with the Harbour Bridge in the background at The Rocks in Sydney.

Explore and dine at The Rocks

The Rocks is an area of Sydney’s city centre that wraps itself around the waterfront in a maze of streets filled with markets, chic bars, boutique stores, and relaxed coffee shops. If you’re looking to head out for a drink or a meal but aren’t sure where to go, simply make your way to The Rocks and you won’t have to stroll for long before you find somewhere that looks promising. You can take an official walking tour to learn more about the history of the area, and check out the events taking place during your time in the city.

Handy petrol stations around Sydney

Sydney is a city of drivers, so there are plenty of petrol stations all over the place, with many more dotted along main motorways in and out of town if you’re heading away on a road trip. Make sure you fill up your campervan before you leave the city, and top up the tank right before you drop it back at the depot as well. Here are a few spots that might be helpful not just for motorhomes but also for rental cars in Sydney.

  • Budget Petrol Botany Road: This petrol station is right by the airport where you might pick up your Sydney motorhome, so it can be a good spot to fill up right before you return it.
  • Coles Express Cowper Wharf Road: If you need to fill up while you’re in the CBD, it doesn’t get much more central than this. Plus, it’s open 24 hours, so you can go at any time.
  • Shell Pacific Highway: For those heading north, this Shell on the left side of the road is the ideal place to fill up before you begin your adventure.
  • Speedway Petroleum Princess Highway: The Princess Highway will take you south out of the city, making it a great spot to fill up if your travel plans take you that way.

Ready to book?

Loading...

Top motorhome road trips from Sydney

Perfectly placed on Australia’s east coast, Sydney is a dreamy location to pick up a motorhome and get driving. Whether you head north or south, you’ll enjoy unparalleled scenery and endless coastal towns and cities.

Sydney to Cairns: East coast bliss

There are few road trips that will really ‘do’ Australia like a Sydney to Cairns campervan road trip that could easily take more than a month to cover. You’ll set out from Sydney and travel more than 2,600 kilometres, ticking off major destinations and attractions such as the Gold Coast, Whitsunday Island, and the Hunter Valley along the way.

Sydney to Brisbane: A coastal dream

From Sydney, taking a motorhome road trip to Brisbane is practically a highlight reel of the east coast. You can make your way up north over the space of a few days or a few weeks and see some of the best sights in the country. The Blue Mountains, a glow worm cave, and Surfers Paradise are all on the itinerary, among many other hotspots.

Sydney to Adelaide: Down Under Wonders

From major cities and laid-back towns to days on the beach and hikes in the mountains, a road trip from Sydney to Adelaide in a campervan puts Australia in a nutshell and serves it up on a platter for your enjoyment. You’ll need a few weeks to take it all in and make the most of each stop as you visit memorable motorhome spots such as MelbourneCanberra, the Naracoorte Caves, and the Kinglake National Park. From Adelaide you may also get to continue westward to the jewel that is Perth, or just plan this as a separate road trip.