Australia questions

[Sun 4-ever]

We are a group of 4 adults traveling on a cruise from Hawaii to Sydney in September. We will dock in Sydney on October 10th and will be renting a car. Where can we rent a car from? We will be traveling up to the Blue Mountains and have reservations at the Blue Sisters Motel for 2 nigh's, we are looking for a hotel to stay in on the 12th somewhere between Katoomba and Sydney. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[GUT2407]

Google car rental, there are a million choices. Hertz, Avis, Eurocar all spring to mind.

 

I think you are on Carnival Legend if I've got the right one from your signature so will dock at the OPT, The Rocks, you'll probably need a cab to the car rental agency.

[Aus Traveller]

I suggest going straight up to Katoomba and stay an extra night at the accommodation you have already booked - if you can get the extra night. I feel it is better to do that - less bother packing up and moving the next morning after just one night. It is much more relaxing to say in the one place the extra night.

[Sun 4-ever]

GUT2047 yes we will be on the Legend. Can you give me a few town names between Katoomba and Sydney for us to stay in one night?

[OzKiwiJJ]

As Aus Traveller says, it really isn't worth staying somewhere on the way to the Blue Mountains, unless you stay right in Sydney itself.

 

It's only a couple of hours drive to Katoomba and the suburbs of Sydney stretch right to the foothills of the Blue Mountains. Most of the small towns up to Leura and Katoomba don't have much in the way of accommodation either. It would be better to go straight to Katoomba and use that has a base for exploring the area. All the sights are easily accessible from there. There is a HoHo bus that circles around between most of the main attractions in Katoomba and Leura, and it's easy to drive to other places.

Edited December 20, 2016 by OzKiwiJJ

[MicCanberra]

There are a couple of rental car places near Town Hall, which is 2 stops away from Circular quay (OPT) on the train.

[Gerko]

Most of the car rental depots are in William St, which is probably a $15-20 cab ride or a 20-30 min walk but if its prebooked some of them may be happy to deliver to the dock for collection.

As has been mentioned Katoomba to the city is really only a two hour drive but if you really want to break the journey I'd suggest trying either the Novotel Rooty Hill or the Mercure Penrith. Both are good hotels located in Sydney's western suburbs, on your route from the Blue Mountains and both are connected to major clubs (Rooty Hill RSL and Penrith Panthers) which are huge venues full of restaurants, bars, gaming, entertainment and so on. A bit like the casinos in Las Vegas but with only poker machines, and lots of them.

[6666oz]

Be very carefull driving here in Oz, as we drive on the other side of the road to you, and it really messes with your brain, check to see if you need to hold an international drivers licence.

[Blue Elephant]

I would also advocate just going straight to Katoomba. Katoomba is close enough to Sydney that many residents commute daily to jobs in Sydney.

 

half way between Sydney and Katoomba places you in suburban Sydney. If you don't feel like you can get off the ship, pick up the hire car, and drive to Katoomba all in the one day, you would be better off staying a night in the Sydney CBD.

 

It would be an easy train trip to Katoomba from Central station. You could then collect a hire car in Katoomba and save yourself negotiating Sydney traffic and the drive up to Katoomba. I haven't checked all the details of this, but the train to Katoomba definitely runs. My daughter caught one to Blackheath a few years ago.

 

as you are from the US, you may not have thought about train travel. I have noticed this in posts about European travel from US cruisers.

[Aus Traveller]

Be very carefull driving here in Oz, as we drive on the other side of the road to you, and it really messes with your brain, check to see if you need to hold an international drivers licence.

I am sorry to contradict the above comment, but I wouldn't bother getting an international driving licence. We have driven in literally a couple of dozen overseas countries (including extensively in Europe) and after the first couple of trips didn't bother getting the international licence. Not one hire car company wanted to look at it. They just took a photocopy of the Australian licence/s.

[SinbadThePorter]

We are a group of 4 adults traveling on a cruise from Hawaii to Sydney in September. We will dock in Sydney on October 10th and will be renting a car. Where can we rent a car from? We will be traveling up to the Blue Mountains and have reservations at the Blue Sisters Motel for 2 nigh's, we are looking for a hotel to stay in on the 12th somewhere between Katoomba and Sydney. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Katoomba is not that far from Sydney and tell to tell the truth most of the suburbs between the city and the mountains are not inspiring.

 

For the extra day I'd stay in the mountains. Or else since you have a car, spend a night further west in Bathurst, which is town with some historical significance.

 

The drive time back from Bathurst is about 3.5 hours depending on traffic (of course).

 

If you are coming back to Sydney airport, you could either pick up a hire car there and bring it back, or pick up from somewhere that lets you bring the car back to the airport.

[The_Big_M]

It comes down to what you prefer, but I'd say the train is a more comfortable and scenic trip up the mountain, especially as you're not familiar with the layout and likely driving on the other side of the road. They have services every hour and travel time is similar so I'd probably go for that for the comfort and convenience. Then it depends what you need the car for in the mountains as well, whether you're just staying locally in Katoomba or travelling around. Economically, I'd say it would work out similar.

[Homerclese]

I am sorry to contradict the above comment, but I wouldn't bother getting an international driving licence. We have driven in literally a couple of dozen overseas countries (including extensively in Europe) and after the first couple of trips didn't bother getting the international licence. Not one hire car company wanted to look at it. They just took a photocopy of the Australian licence/s.

 

Yes, same here. I've not driven in that many countries but I have driven extensively in the US and Europe and I've never had an international driver's licence. The rental companies recognise your regular licence. I've never found driving on the opposite side of the road to be difficult either; usually takes me just a few minutes to swap things around once I get behind the wheel (and, in fact, I find the trickiest part is climbing into the passenger seat instead of the driver's seat but, after that, it's easy...)

 

I concur with other posters that there's no need to stop between Sydney and Katoomba.

[Duck Creek]

Sun 4 ever

 

This is a link to the NSW Roads website for the visitors section.

This may clarify the licence rules.

 

http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/roads/using-roads/visitors.html

[MicCanberra]

International tourists and visitors driving in NSW must observe the licence requirements for visitors. You must carry your licence with you when you are driving and there is an on-the-spot fine for not having your licence with you. Your licence must be written in English or, if the licence is not in English, carry an English translation or an International Driving Permit.

[GUT2407]

GUT2047 yes we will be on the Legend. Can you give me a few town names between Katoomba and Sydney for us to stay in one night?

 

Go the whole way and have an extra day in Katoomba.

 

If you insist on an overnight, Parramatta or a Windsor (a little out of the way but full of history)

[6666oz]

While I am not going to ague the toss over this,

all I said was check to see if they need a IDL,

 

I did not say buy an IDL no matter what, all we know about the person is they are are part of a group of adults on a cruise from Hawaii to Sydney,

wanting to hire a car,

we know nothing of who they are or their background,

 

they may not even be American Citizens holding an American drivers licence,

 

but looking at several sites like Budget they give some good advice about hiring a car in Australia.

 

 

Can I rent a car with an International driver’s license?

 

A. The renter must have held a valid driver's license for at least 12 months and must present it at the time of rental. The licence must be valid at the time of rental and remain valid throughout the rental period. All drivers must meet Budgets’ requirements.

Budget in Australia will accept the following drivers license:

 

• A driver's license issued by any state or territory in Australia or New Zealand.
  
• A driver's license issued by any United States, territory, or possession.
  
• A valid driver's license issued by a country participating in the 1949 Geneva convention on Road Traffic or the 1943 Convention on the Regulation of Inter-American Automobile Traffic. (Call your nearest reservation office for participating countries.)
  
• Any foreign renter must carry a driver's license written in English. Any customer carrying a non-English license must also present an International Driving Permit that is written in English.
  
• International driving permits serve only as a translation, and are valid if presented in conjunction with an official driver's license of the issuing country.
  

Edited December 20, 2016 by 6666oz

[mrs and mrs]

And don't forget the scenic surrounds of Mt Druitt.:eek:

[MicCanberra]

And don't forget the scenic surrounds of Mt Druitt.:eek:

 

I have climbed Mt Druitt, it was a Whalan time.:D

[mrs and mrs]

By choice I guess, or was it the nearest safety zone.

[Gerko]

If you are coming back to Sydney airport, you could either pick up a hire car there and bring it back, or pick up from somewhere that lets you bring the car back to the airport.

 

I doubt any major car rental would have a depot in Katoomba, and you'd be paying a pretty steep oneway fee to pick up there and drop off at the airport. Best you either get the car in Sydney and return it to Sydney, or as some have suggested, take a train and enjoy the sights out the window.

[lyndarra]

I doubt any major car rental would have a depot in Katoomba, and you'd be paying a pretty steep oneway fee to pick up there and drop off at the airport. Best you either get the car in Sydney and return it to Sydney, or as some have suggested, take a train and enjoy the sights out the window.

There are car rental outlets in Katoomba. GIYF.

[GUT2407]

I doubt any major car rental would have a depot in Katoomba, and you'd be paying a pretty steep oneway fee to pick up there and drop off at the airport. Best you either get the car in Sydney and return it to Sydney, or as some have suggested, take a train and enjoy the sights out the window.

 

I know that Thrify and Hertz both have depots there.

[MicCanberra]

Still has the one way fee to think about unless the OP is to catch the train to and from Katoomba.

[christodan]

Agreeing with the others. You wouldn't want to come all this way and stay in Sydney suburbia for the night. Because there is no town between the Blue mountains and Sydney, it's suburbia all the way. Better to stay in Bondi or the city as the drive is not long.

Also is there any reason you chose that place in Katoomba? The Blue mountains has many lovely B&Bs. I prefer Leura myself for the quaint village feel of the mountains. Staying at a motel isn't really going to give you the right impression of the place.

Edited December 30, 2016 by christodan