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. (Still valid, confirmed by Haoeg on 7th Sept 2018, waited at the onramp)

'' Much slower Slower than the Hume but more scenic '' ==== Option 1 ==== ''Single off-peak train fare from Sydney Central = $3.40'' Take a train to Heathcote station on the Illawarra line. 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. ==== Option 2 ==== ''Single off-peak train fare from Sydney Central = $5.80'' Catch a train to Dapto station on the Woolongong line. It's about a 2 hour train ride and the highway is about 200m from the station. There's a shopping centre ("Dapto Mall") on the highway near the train station, if you walk about 600m south from 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. === North towards [[Byron Bay]], [[Brisbane]] via the [https://hitchwiki.org/en/Pacific_Highway_(Australia) Pacific Highway] === There is a rough description outlining the major service stations along the way on the [https://hitchwiki.org/en/Pacific_Highway_(Australia) Pacific Highway] page.

Take ''Single off-peak train fare from Sydney Central = $10.20 (Central to Hamilton station)'' Catch a train to Hexham station on the illawarra 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 "Heathcote"Hexham, then follow Option 2 below. Cross  To get to Hexham catch a train on the railway bridge Newscastle and Central coast line and walk get off at Hamilton Station to switch trains to the highway. There is a large petrol station Hunter line for the last few stops til Hexham (in 2018 [[User:duckbilled-platypus|duckbilled-platypus]] never got checked on your left, Caltex I think. This is the last petrol station for quite a way Hunter line so lots of cars heading south stop hereonly bought ticket to Hamilton from Central. If you get tired of waiting at From the petrol station then walk up cross the highway for 5 minutes heading south - past the caravan park foot bridge and there is a good spot traffic light right there with space for cars to pull over.  [[User:Peacehead|Peacehead]] got a ride from a stopping lanetruckie 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 cars are only just coming out of 50km speed limit here. way to Byron Bay on a 2 day roadtrip

''Single off-peak train fare from Sydney Central = $3.40'' Catch a train to Dapto Wahroonga station on the Woolongong Berowra line . Exit the station, walk south to the Pacific Highway, then turn right and walk west up the Pacific Hwy (A1) for about $5 concession)600m. It's about Just across a 2 hour train ride and bridge over the Pacific Motorway you end up an easy 200m walk from will see the onramp leading to the north down to the highwayMotorway. There's Hitch at the onramp where there is a shopping centre small but suitable space for cars to stop. The Pacific Motorway (M1), formally the "Dapto MallF3 Freeway") on , is the highway near the train stationmain roadway going North from Sydney, if you walk about 600m south from here youcatering for a lot of traffic. There isn'll find a bus stop with t a long line lot of sight time for drivers to see youand most traffic follows the double lane righthand turn from the Pacific Hwy, but even so, and room you shouldnt wait long for them a driver to pull overstop despite the 'no stopping' signs. Louisa If you are hitching to Gosford it should be very easy and Liam quick to get a ride. If you want to go further north up the coast (Byron Bay etc) make sure you do not take a ride offer to Gosford, there is no northbound onramp at the Grafton offramp! Instead make sure that your ride can get you to at least the next gas station about 20kms past the first Gosford turn off, at Ourimbah or preferably Wyong on the way to Doyalson or Morisset.  ''Last verified: Dec 2019 (waited here for 15 minutes until they got for a ride to Nowra.)''

The two main roadways out of Sydney come *Catch a train to Turramurra station ($3.40) on the Berowra line, exit the station, walk to the west about 200m and you arrive at the Pacific Highway. Cross the road and ask drivers filling up for a junction around Hornsbylift north up the M1 at the 7-eleven service station there. This is the last servo heading up the Pacific Highway (A1) before the M1.

* [[The Pacific Highway]] is the name shared by Catch a number of roads which form a chain going up train to Thornleigh station ($3.40) on the East coast of Australia. Between Sydney and Hornsbyline, it is exit the main arterial station and walk north east up Pennants Hills road, but between Hornsby and Gosford it has been, for the most part, superceded by [[The "F3" Freeway]] (logically marked "National 1" on street signsA28), . There are 3 service stations and is only one lane a 24 hour McDonalds in each the direction for good stretches, twisty, turny of the M1 within a kilometre walk from Thornleigh station. This road services a lot of interstate and doesn't get much heavy traffic (unless the F3 is closed, in which case, you start seeing massive trucks trundling down tiny roadways). Due to and as these are the low traffic volumeslast fuel stops for anyone headed North, unless you are wanting to most people stop between Hornsby and Gosford (and you can get here. You could try asking drivers at any of these places for a lift all the way), it is recommended that you look at north up the F3M1.

* [[The "F3" Freeway]] ("National 1") is === West towards ''Bathurst'' via the main roadway running North from Sydney, catering for nearly all traffic. Being a Freeway, it is not open to pedestrian traffic, and trying to walk along it is likely to attract unwanted attention from the cops. Options for trying to get a lift up the F3:** Try and meet drivers at the gas stations ("service/petrol stations") around Thornleigh on [[Pennant Hills Road]] ("The Cumberland ''Great Western Highway"). This road services the majority 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 traffic.** If coming up The Pacific Highway from Sydney, the last fuel stop is at Turramurra.** Failing all that, there is a truck rest bay at the end of 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 option.===

Or''Unverified Solution'': Catch a train to Glenbrook station ($5.80) on the Blue Mountians Line, you can avoid the confusion caused by exit the exit from Sydney (station and the fact that alot of drivers tend walk north up Ross street until you get to have their blinkers on and aren't on the lookout for hitchersGreat Western Highway (about 400m), and catch the train out of town and a bit further . Ask drivers filling up at the roadCaltex 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. [[UserTrashwiki Link:Peacehead|Peacehead]] got a ride from a truckie all the way to Byron from here. [[Usertrash:Blink0|Blink0Sydney]] (CET) got offered several rides from here, and finally accepted going with a German backpacker all the way to Byron Bay on a 2 day roadtrip!

=== North-West towards ''Bathurst'' via Update (as of Dec2019): the camp spot described below has been cleared of bug trees and is pretty exposed now, plus it has been fenced off with a high fence. Although it''Great Western Highway ===s still possible to camp there, it is probably easier to find a camp elsewhere. There are a few parks around to catch a bit of sleep.