Ashleigh & Luke

Place guide · New South Wales

Sydney in a campervan

Metro into town, Bondi by train, and a pie at the oldest pub

Sydney is where our Sydney to Melbourne coastal drive begins. Park the van outside the centre, Metro or train in, and spend the day on the harbour, Bondi and a few favourite neighbourhoods. Here's what parking, tolls and tunnels mean for a high-roof van, plus the stays and walks we'd do again.

2WD verdict

Yes, but don't drive the van into the centre. Sydney's roads are all sealed; the problems are parking, tolls and height. We'd recommend parking the van outside the centre and taking public transport in. On our day we took the Metro into the city.

Key points

  • Park outside, ride in. Transport for NSW Park&Ride car parks give you up to 18 hours' free parking when you complete a public transport trip.
  • Tap and go. Metro, trains and ferries take a contactless card or phone, at Opal fares with daily and weekly caps.
  • Tolls are cashless. Use a tag or pass, or pay within 72 hours of your trip.
  • Check your height. The Sydney Harbour Tunnel and most city tunnels have a 4.4 m height limit, and vans over 2.8 m high pay the higher Class B toll on most toll roads.
  • Heading out? The Blue Mountains are within 2 hours' drive, NSW National Parks says.
Before you go. Always double-check that walks, roads and attractions are open before you go, to avoid disappointment, and check current fees at the time of booking. Closures and prices can change at short notice.
Our last day in Sydney with Dad. The Metro, the Opera House, the Botanic Gardens, the Fortune of War and saying goodbye. Watch on YouTube

Parking, tolls and tunnels in a van

City of Sydney on-street meters charge by the hour, and you must follow the signs for time limits, loading zones and clearways (City of Sydney: using a parking meter). Transport for NSW Park&Ride car parks give you up to 18 hours' free parking when you complete a public transport trip, tapping on and off with the same accepted Opal or registered contactless card (Transport NSW: Park&Ride car parks).
The Sydney Harbour Bridge and Harbour Tunnel are tolled, and all vehicles pay the same, from $2.85 off-peak to $4.55 in the weekday peaks. On most other Sydney toll roads, vehicles over 2.8 m high or 12.5 m long pay the higher Class B rate (NSW Government: toll costs by road). Tolls are cashless: use a tag or pass from E-Toll or Linkt, or pay within 72 hours of your trip to avoid an unpaid toll notice and fees (E-Toll: travelling without an account or pass). The Sydney Harbour Tunnel and most city tunnels have a 4.4 m height limit (Transport for NSW: using Sydney tunnels).
You can pay for Sydney's Metro, trains and ferries by tapping on and off with a contactless card or phone, and you get Opal fares, including daily and weekly caps (Transport for NSW: contactless payments).

For somewhere to sleep, apps such as WikiCamps Australia list campgrounds and caravan parks around Sydney, with recent reviews.

Getting around: Metro and trains

We leave the van outside the centre and Metro or train in. From Discovery Parks Lane Cove the Metro into town is easy; or the last time we stayed in the city without the van we stayed at Adge Hotel in Surry Hills and walked most places; apart from Bondi which is a train or bus ride away from the city centre. Tap on with a contactless card or phone.

You can pay for Sydney's Metro, trains and ferries by tapping on and off with a contactless card or phone, and you get Opal fares, including daily and weekly caps (Transport for NSW: contactless payments).

Harbour, ferries and the bridge

The Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House across the water, framed by palm trees and purple jacaranda blossom
Sunny SydneyFrom our Instagram · view the post

Opera House, Luna Park and a pie at the oldest pub

We love walking and exploring the city parks, the shops, the skyline and, of course, the harbour. The Metro into town from Discovery Parks Lane Cove is fairly new, and so we found it clean and really easy to use. Unlike cities like Melbourne in Victoria where you'll need a local transport card (myki), in Sydney you can just use your bank card, or tap on and off with a mobile — we got off at Martin Place and walked about seven minutes to the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge (see it in our video). Round through the Botanic Gardens for the classic photos of both and beautiful scenery, plant life, and normally lots of runners and sunbathers. After we enjoyed oysters and a pie at the Fortune of War, which calls itself Sydney's oldest pub (see it in our video).

  • Luna Park. We took the Metro across the water and felt like kids with candy floss.
The Manly ferry from Circular Quay. The F1 Manly ferry is a regular Sydney Ferries service from Circular Quay. You don't need to book; tap on and off with Opal, a contactless card or your phone (Transport NSW: F1 Manly ferry; Transport NSW: paying for your ferry trip). In a 2WD: leave the van outside the centre.
The Rocks Markets. Its markets run every Friday from 10am to 3pm, and on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 5pm (The Rocks: The Rocks Markets). In a 2WD: come by public transport to Circular Quay or Wynyard.
Walking or climbing the Harbour Bridge. Walking across on the pedestrian footpath, on the eastern side, is free (BridgeClimb: Sydney Harbour Bridge walk guide). BridgeClimb is a paid, guided climb with dynamic pricing; adult tickets for the Summit Climb were listed from $375 (BridgeClimb: prices). BridgeMuseum, in the south-east pylon, is from $39.95 for adults online (BridgeMuseum: plan your visit).
Taronga Zoo by ferry. Ferries leave Circular Quay Wharf 4 every 30 minutes and take 12 minutes, arriving by the Lower Zoo Entrance (Taronga Zoo: getting here). In a 2WD: the ferry is the easy way.
Mrs Macquarie's Chair. The NSW Government says the chair was carved out of a sandstone ledge by convicts in 1810 for Governor Macquarie's wife Elizabeth, and is one of the best vantage points over Sydney Harbour. It's on Mrs Macquaries Road, at the edge of the Botanic Garden. See NSW Government: Mrs Macquarie's Chair.

Where to stay with a van

Overnight with a van (quick take). We base outside the centre with Ron and Metro in — our stay was Discovery Parks Lane Cove (also listed by NSW National Parks as Lane Cove caravan park). Rules for sleeping in a vehicle sit with each council and with parking signs, so we don't treat metro Sydney as one blanket rule. Plan a booked park or room, read the signs where you stop, and check the park or council page for the suburb you're in (NSW National Parks: Lane Cove caravan park, checked 6 November 2026).

With Ron we base outside the centre and Metro in; when we're not with Ron we stay central and walk. We'd treat central Sydney as somewhere to book a park or a room rather than look for a free spot.

  • With Ron — Discovery Parks Lane Cove. We've stayed at Discovery Parks Lane Cove — a great park with Metro links into the city. While we were there they had a coffee van that parks at the front of the park, so you don't have to go far to start your day right.
  • Without Ron — Adge Hotel, Surry Hills. We've stayed at Adge Hotel in Surry Hills — a great central location, and we walked most places from there. Breakfast at The Rusty Rabbit in Darlinghurst is probably one of the best breakfasts we've had in Australia, with really awesome vibes: you're among the locals on their school runs and business dealings, and you really feel part of the city. Evening drinks at Surly's were one to remember — the $1 wings and the vibe stuck with us.
  • Bonnie Vale. Outside Sydney, one of our favourite beach campgrounds — a really cute area, close enough to escape the city without feeling like you've left, while still being in nature with ocean views.
NSW National Parks lists a caravan park inside Lane Cove National Park at Macquarie Park, with powered sites, sealed roads and 2WD access; North Ryde station is about 900 m away, so it works as a base for the train into the city (NSW National Parks: Lane Cove River caravan park). South of the city, Bonnie Vale campground near Bundeena in Royal National Park has caravan and powered sites, toilets and hot showers; park entry fees aren't included in the camping fee, check-in is 2pm and check-out 10am, and a ferry runs from Bundeena to Cronulla (NSW National Parks: Bonnie Vale campground).

Day trips and coastal walks

Bondi to Coogee

We've got the train out to Bondi a few times and we love the area — the beach and the coastal walks. There's also a quite famous local sea pool (Icebergs) where you can also get food, but we have to admit we've never been in, although it looks tempting on a hot day!

The Bondi to Coogee coastal walk. The walk is 6 km one way and takes two to three hours, past Bondi, Tamarama, Bronte, Clovelly and Coogee beaches. It has some steep sections of stairs and isn't suitable for prams or wheelchairs. In a 2WD: parking is limited around Bondi and Coogee, so it recommends public transport, with buses from Bondi Junction (Sydney.com: Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk).

Royal National Park

Royal National Park. It's the world's second-oldest national park, founded in 1879, and within an hour's drive of the CBD. Gates are open 7am to 8.30pm, and entry is $12 per vehicle per day, paid with the Park'nPay app, pay machines or at entry stations. Highlights include Wattamolla, Wedding Cake Rock and Lady Carrington Drive (NSW National Parks: Royal National Park). The Coast Track is 27 km one way from Bundeena to Otford over 2 days, Grade 4, and whales pass between May and October (NSW National Parks: the Coast Track). In a 2WD: yes, on sealed roads to the main day-use areas.

Northern Beaches stay and a harbour view

Northern Beaches Council says Sydney Lakeside Holiday Park is one of the only beachfront caravan and camping spots in Sydney, about 40 minutes from the CBD and across the road from North Narrabeen Beach, next to the Narrabeen Lagoon Trail (Northern Beaches Council: Sydney Lakeside Holiday Park). The park lists powered, unpowered and ensuite sites at 38 Lake Park Rd, North Narrabeen (BIG4 Sydney Lakeside Holiday Park: caravanning and camping).

Leaving Sydney

West: the Blue Mountains in a campervan, a common stop before or after the city, and you don't need a van to do it, you can get a train there from the city. South: our Sydney to Melbourne coastal drive, which starts with Coledale Camping Reserve, about an hour south. North: our East Coast guide, all the way to Byron Bay, K'gari and Cairns.

FAQs

Can you drive a campervan in Sydney?

Yes, but we'd recommend parking outside the centre and taking public transport in. Parking is metered, tolls are cashless and most city tunnels have a 4.4 m height limit.

Do campervans pay more on Sydney toll roads?

On most Sydney toll roads, vehicles over 2.8 m high or 12.5 m long pay the higher Class B rate. On the Harbour Bridge and Harbour Tunnel all vehicles pay the same.

How do you pay for public transport in Sydney?

Tap on and off with a contactless card or phone, or an Opal card. You get Opal fares, including daily and weekly caps.

How long is the Bondi to Coogee walk?

It's 6 km one way and takes two to three hours. We've done it, and it's a great way to see the beaches.

Where can you stay in a campervan near Sydney?

We've stayed at Discovery Parks Lane Cove, which has Metro links into the city, and Bonnie Vale is one of our favourite beach campgrounds south of Sydney. NSW National Parks also lists Lane Cove River caravan park at Macquarie Park, about 900 m from North Ryde station, and Bonnie Vale campground in Royal National Park, which has caravan and powered sites.

How much is entry to Royal National Park?

It's $12 per vehicle per day, and the gates are open 7am to 8.30pm.

Is there a beachfront caravan park in Sydney?

Sydney Lakeside Holiday Park at North Narrabeen is one of the only beachfront caravan and camping spots in Sydney, about 40 minutes from the CBD.

Fees, rules and opening hours were correct as of 04/11/2026 — always double-check before you go.

Sources

Our own experience comes from harbour days in Sydney (in the video above), stays at Discovery Parks Lane Cove with Ron and Adge Hotel in Surry Hills when we're without him, Bondi by train, Luna Park, The Rusty Rabbit, Surly's, Bonnie Vale, and other trips through the city. For everything else, we've linked the official pages below, so you can check them before you go.

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