Changes

'"''Sydney ''' is a city in [[New South Wales]], [[Australia]].

''Single off-peak train fare from Sydney Central = $3.40'' Catch the a train to Glenfield station on the Cambelltown line and from there you can either walk down ''the private road Roy Watts Roadroad all the way to Cambelltown road and then turn right, a option which requires you to squeeze through a hole in a fence. This private road also has "no trespassing" signs at the start of it! Otherwise just walk down Glenfield road, it takes longer but has no fences to squeeze through or high fenced private property to traverse. At the end of Glenfield road turn left on to Cambelltown road and walk up to the truckstop called 'Uncle Leo' s Roadhouse'. Its about 3km walk from the train station to the roadhouse. Ask drivers at this truckstop for roughly twenty minutes until a ride down the Hume Fwy, and try to get a ride that will take you at least to 'Pheasants Nest' which is the next large gas station about 60 kilometres down the road. If you get asked to leave the gas station by the Uncle Leo's Roadhouse staff, or if you prefer to just thumb it, 100m further on down Cambelltown road there is good place for cars to pull over just after the freewaytraffic lights. There The road is busy here and the traffic moves fairly fast, but its easy to catch a truckstop as well as a fairly busy ride. (Still valid, confirmed by matsvm on9-ramp.04-2017)

 ''Single off-peak train fare from Sydney Central = $4.50'' Catch a train to to Macarthur Station at the end of the Campbelltown line to Macarthur Station, walk north to Narellan road and try to find a car there. If you want to increase traffic, follow Narellan Road to the intersection of Hume Hwyand try on the onramp. Note: don't try to cut through the university from the train station directly to the intersection of Hume and Narellan - unless you are happy to climb a fence.

'' Much slower Slower than the Hume but more scenic ''

 ''Single off-peak train fare from Sydney Central = $3.40'' Take a train to Heathcote station on the illawarra Illawarra line to "Heathcote". Cross the railway bridge and walk to the highway. There is a large petrol station on your left, Caltex I think. This is the last petrol station for quite a way so lots of cars heading south stop here. If you get tired of waiting at the petrol station then walk up the highway for 5 minutes heading south - past the caravan park there is a good spot with a stopping lane, and the cars are only just coming out of 50km speed limit here. Verified, still worked on April 11, 2017. I waited at the caravan park for just 3 min! Good spot.

''Single off-peak train fare from Sydney Central = $5.80'' Catch a train to Dapto station on the Woolongong line (about $5 concession). It's about a 2 hour train ride and you end up an easy the highway is about 200m walk from the highwaystation. There's a shopping centre ("Dapto Mall") on the highway near the train station, if you walk about 600m south from here there you'll find a bus stop with a long line of sight for drivers to see you, and room for them to pull over. Louisa and Liam waited here for 15 minutes until they got a ride to Nowra.

==== Option 1 ==== ''Single off-peak train fare from Sydney Central = $5.80'' Catch a train to Hexham station on the Hunter line, it brings you about 200 kms north of Sydney where the Pacific Highway begins. This train journey does take 3 hours, so if you prefer to start closer to Sydney and probably hitch faster than the train would take to get to Hexham, then follow Option 2 below.  To get to Hexham catch a train on the Newscastle and Central coast line and get off at Hamilton Station to switch trains to the Hunter line for the last few stops til Hexham. From the station cross the foot bridge and hitch near the bus stop. The two traffic is fast moving but there is room for people to pull over. [[User:Peacehead|Peacehead]] got a ride from a truckie all the way to Byron from here. [[User:Blink0|Blink0]] (CET) got offered several rides from here, and finally accepted a ride going with a German backpacker all the way to Byron Bay on a 2 day roadtrip ==== Option 2 ==== ''Single off-peak train fare from Sydney Central = $3.40'' Catch a train to Wahroonga station on the Berowra line. Exit the station, walk south to the Pacific Highway, then turn right and walk west up the Pacific Hwy (A1) for about 600m. Just across a bridge over the Pacific Motorway you will see the onramp leading to the north down to the Motorway. Hitch at the onramp where there is a small but suitable space for cars to stop. The Pacific Motorway (M1), formally the "F3 Freeway", is the main roadways out roadway going North from Sydney, catering for a lot of Sydney come traffic. There isn't a lot of time for drivers to see you and most traffic follows the double lane righthand turn from the Pacific Hwy, but even so, you shouldnt wait long for a driver to stop. If you are hitching to Gosford it should be very easy and quick to get a ride. If you want to go further north up the coast (Byron Bay etc) dont take a ride offer to Gosford, instead try and get a junction around Hornsbylift at least to the next big gas station about 20kms past the Gosford turn off, on the way to Doyalson or Morisset. Other options for getting a lift north up the M1:

* [[The Pacific Highway]] is the name shared by Catch a number of roads which form a chain going up train to Turramurra station ($3.40) on the East coast of Australia. Between Sydney and HornsbyBerowra line, it is exit the main arterial roadstation, but between Hornsby and Gosford it has been, for walk to the most part, superceded by [[The "F3" Freeway]] (logically marked "National 1" on street signs), west about 200m and is only one lane in each direction for good stretches, twisty, turny and doesn't get much traffic (unless you arrive at the F3 is closed, in which case, you start seeing massive trucks trundling down tiny roadways)Pacific Highway. Due to Cross the low traffic volumes, unless you are wanting to stop between Hornsby road and Gosford (and you can get ask drivers filling up for a lift all north up the M1 at the 7-eleven service station there. This is the last servo heading up the wayPacific Highway (A1), it is recommended that you look at before the F3M1.

* [[The "F3" Freeway]] Catch a train to Thornleigh station ("National 1"$3.40) is on the main roadway running North from Sydney, catering for nearly all traffic. Being a Freeway, it is not open to pedestrian trafficHornsby line, exit the station and trying to walk along it is likely to attract unwanted attention from the copsnorth east up Pennants Hills road (A28). Options for trying to get There are 3 service stations and a lift up 24 hour McDonalds in the F3:** Try and meet drivers at direction of the gas stations ("service/petrol stations") around M1 within a kilometre walk from Thornleigh on [[Pennant Hills Road]] ("The Cumberland Highway")station. This road services the majority a lot of interstate and heavy traffic, and as these are the last fuel stops for anyone headed North, so most people will stop in, plus a 24 hour McDonald's also draws in traffichere.** If coming up The Pacific Highway from Sydney, the last fuel stop is You could try asking drivers at Turramurra.** Failing all that, there is any of these places for a truck rest bay at the end of lift north up the F3, under the roadbridge intersection with the Pacific Highway. Trucks tend to hold up here when they need to take their legislated rest breaks, or when traffic is so heavy that they'd rather let it all pass by. The rest bay is not well lit, and access to it is a bit sketchy (walking down active roadways), so this is a last resort optionM1.

Or, you can avoid === West towards ''Bathurst'' via the confusion caused by the exit from Sydney (and the fact that alot of drivers tend to have their blinkers on and aren't on the lookout for hitchers), and catch the train out of town and a bit further up the road.'Great Western Highway'' ===

* [[Gosford]] is one of ''Unverified Solution'': Catch a train to Glenbrook station ($5.80) on the Blue Mountians Line, exit the first major towns station and walk north of Sydneyup Ross street until you get to the Great Western Highway (about 400m). It is located a way off Ask drivers filling up at the Freeway, which may affect your chancesCaltex service station.

* Catch the train going to Newcastle and change at Hamilton station (just before Newcastle) for a train to Hexham ($8.30). Cross the foot bridge and stand near the bus stop. The traffic is fast moving but there is room for people to pull off. [[User:Peacehead|Peacehead]] got a ride from a truckie all the way to Byron from here. [[User:Blink0|Blink0]] (CET) got offered several rides from here== Food, and finally accepted going with a German backpacker all the way to Byron Bay on a 2 day roadtrip!Sleep ==