Blue Mountains (Katoomba)
About 90 minutes by road
Katoomba is about a 90 minute drive from Sydney via the M4 and the Great Western Highway. Echo Point looks over the Jamison Valley.
Sydney Airport car hire
Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Thrifty, Dollar, Redspot and Sixt serve Sydney Airport, and the handover point depends on the terminal. At T1 International the desks are in the Arrivals hall; at T2 and T3 Domestic most companies are on Keith Smith Avenue or Ross Smith Avenue, and Redspot runs a free shuttle to Mascot. Before using a toll road, check how your rental company pays for trips in this car.
Updated
Sydney Airport at a glance
- Airport code
- SYD, with T1 International and T2 and T3 Domestic
- Distance to the CBD
- About 8 km
- T1 International
- Desks in the Arrivals hall; Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Thrifty and Dollar cars are in the multistorey car park P7, opposite the terminal
- T2 and T3 Domestic
- Avis, Budget and Sixt on Keith Smith Avenue (Arrivals level); Europcar in the P2 car park; Hertz, Thrifty and Dollar on Ross Smith Avenue
- Drive to the airport
- About 25 minutes in light traffic
- Avis airport hours
- 5am to 11pm, seven days, with 24 hour drop off
Compare cars at Sydney Airport
Prices are shown in Australian dollars. Before you book, open the offer and check where that company's desk or depot is, the bond, and what the agreement says about the roads you plan to drive.
Preparing live car hire search
Picking up at Sydney Airport
The airport's own car rental page splits every company by terminal. Read the line for the terminal you land in, because the same brand uses different spots at T1 and at T2 and T3.
| Company | Where | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Avis | Desk in the terminalT1: desk in the Arrivals hall, cars in car park P7. T2 and T3: Domestic Terminal Arrivals level, Keith Smith Ave | T1: desk in the Arrivals hall, cars in car park P7. T2 and T3: Domestic Terminal Arrivals level, Keith Smith Ave |
| Budget | Desk in the terminalSame arrangement as Avis at T1 and at T2 and T3 | Same arrangement as Avis at T1 and at T2 and T3 |
| Europcar | Desk in the terminalT1: desk in the Arrivals hall, cars in P7. T2 and T3: P2 car park, Keith Smith Ave | T1: desk in the Arrivals hall, cars in P7. T2 and T3: P2 car park, Keith Smith Ave |
| Hertz | Desk in the terminalT1: Arrivals hall desk, cars in P7. T2 and T3: Ross Smith Avenue, South-East Sector | T1: Arrivals hall desk, cars in P7. T2 and T3: Ross Smith Avenue, South-East Sector |
| Thrifty | Desk in the terminalShared locations with Hertz and Dollar | Shared locations with Hertz and Dollar |
| Dollar | Desk in the terminalShared locations with Hertz and Thrifty | Shared locations with Hertz and Thrifty |
| Redspot | Shuttle to depotT1: counter between Arrival gates A and B, cars about 200 m away. T2 and T3: sign the contract at the in-terminal desk, then take the free shuttle to 7 Coleman Street, Mascot | T1: counter between Arrival gates A and B, cars about 200 m away. T2 and T3: sign the contract at the in-terminal desk, then take the free shuttle to 7 Coleman Street, Mascot |
| Sixt | Desk in the terminalT1: counter between Arrival gates A and B, cars about 200 m away. T2 and T3: Domestic Terminal Arrivals level, Keith Smith Ave | T1: counter between Arrival gates A and B, cars about 200 m away. T2 and T3: Domestic Terminal Arrivals level, Keith Smith Ave |
Collecting the car
- 1
At T1 International, go to the rental desks in the Arrivals hall. For Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Thrifty and Dollar, once you have your keys you are directed to the ground level of the multistorey car park P7, just opposite the terminal.
- 2
For Sixt and Redspot at T1, use the counter inside the terminal between Arrival gates A and B. Your car is in an allocated car park about 200 m away, outside the terminal.
- 3
At T2 and T3, all domestic pick-ups for Avis, Budget and Sixt are on the Arrivals level on Keith Smith Avenue. Europcar cars are in the P2 car park on the same avenue. Hertz, Thrifty and Dollar use Ross Smith Avenue in the South-East Sector.
- 4
If you hire Redspot at T2 or T3, you must complete the contract at the in-terminal rental desk before boarding the free shuttle from the kerbside stops to 7 Coleman Street, Mascot. You cannot collect the Redspot car if you skip the desk.
Returning your car at Sydney Airport
- 1
At T1, follow the airport signs to T1 International Arrivals, then the signs marked exclusively for Car Rental. Redspot and Sixt returns turn right into their car park on Arrival Court, Mascot, just before the Rydges Sydney Airport Hotel.
- 2
Sixt takes keys at its counter in the T1 Arrivals hall or in the after-hours key box trailer in Sixt parking bay 20. The Sixt returns car park is next to the lifts to International departures.
- 3
Redspot at T2 and T3 takes returns at 7 Coleman Street, Mascot, with a free shuttle back to the terminals. Avis offers 24-hour drop-off at its Sydney Airport branch.
- 4
Fuel rules are set by each supplier, so ask about the fuel policy at pick-up.
Drives from Sydney Airport
Distances are approximate and measured along the road.
Royal National Park and the start of the Grand Pacific Drive
140 km for the full drive
The Grand Pacific Drive runs from Royal National Park through Wollongong, Shellharbour and Kiama to Jervis Bay, crossing Sea Cliff Bridge on the way.
Wollongong and Sea Cliff Bridge
On the Grand Pacific Drive
Sea Cliff Bridge is 665 m long and sits on Lawrence Hargrave Drive at Coalcliff, on the Grand Pacific Drive.
Hunter Valley
About 2 hours
The M1 is the most direct route from Sydney. If the valley is your whole plan, compare hiring at Newcastle Airport, a 50 minute drive away.
Canberra
About 3 hours
Canberra is about a three hour drive from Sydney. The Canberra Airport page covers hiring there.
If Dubbo is the primary stop, compare local airport hire with a car held for the entire Sydney-to-Dubbo drive.
If the Riverina is your destination, a Wagga Wagga Airport booking may spare you a longer hire from Sydney.
Guides for trips from Sydney Airport
Blue Mountains by carDrive from Sydney to Katoomba in about 90 minutes, then use sealed 2WD roads to Echo PointCar hire age rules in AustraliaCan you hire a car under 25 in Australia? Avis and Hertz set a 21-year minimum, with vehicle limits and a surcharge for younger driversCar Hire Cost in AustraliaThere is no fixed cheapest month for car hireCar hire excess insurance in AustraliaRenting a car in Australia: what the rental rate covers, what counter excess reduction, standalone excess cover and travel insurance pay, and what they exclude.Car Hire with a Debit CardA physical Visa or Mastercard debit card may be accepted, but a bond can reduce available fundsChild car seats in Australian hire carsChild car seat laws for hire cars in Australia: age bands, booster seat age by state, why overseas seats are not allowed, and what a rental company's terms say.Driving in Australia as a TouristVisitors can often drive on a valid overseas licenceDriving in Australia with a US licenceUS visitors can drive on a current English-language licence, subject to state rulesGrand Pacific Drive itineraryGrand Pacific Drive from Sydney: where it starts and ends, the Royal National Park entry fee, Sea Cliff Bridge, Kiama, drive times and one-way hire car options.Hire Car Fines in AustraliaTraffic and parking fines can follow a hire car driver after returnHire Car Rules by CompanyRental rules differ by company and agreementLong term car hire in AustraliaLong term car hire differs from a short rental
Driving around Sydney Airport
Sydney's toll roads
The toll roads are the Cross City Tunnel, Eastern Distributor, Hills M2, Lane Cove Tunnel, Military Road E-Ramp, NorthConnex, WestConnex, M5 South-West, Westlink M7 and the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Tunnel. Your rental company's toll option is the safe route; ask at the desk what fee it adds.
Check toll payment before adding a pass
An eMU Casual Pass can be linked to a rental car's plate for Sydney toll roads. Confirm the car's existing toll arrangement with the rental company before buying a separate pass. Airport parking and pickup charges are separate from road tolls.
Royal National Park entry fee
If you head south on the Grand Pacific Drive through Royal National Park, entry is $12 per vehicle per day. The park is open 7am to 8.30pm but may close for poor weather or fire danger, so do not plan a late exit.
Choose your terminal before you book
Sydney has three terminals: T1 International, and T2 and T3 Domestic. On the same booking, a company can hand over at different spots per terminal, as the table above shows.
Sydney Airport car hire questions
Rental terms differ by company. Where an answer depends on your agreement, we say so.
Which terminal are the Sydney Airport car rental desks in?
Desks for these companies are at T1 International, in the Arrivals hall, and there are domestic pick-up and drop-off points for T2 and T3. Domestic rental pick-ups and drop-offs are in the Domestic Terminal on the Arrivals level on Keith Smith Avenue, with the exceptions of Europcar (P2 car park), Hertz, Thrifty and Dollar (Ross Smith Avenue) and Redspot (shuttle to Mascot).
Is Terminal 2 domestic or international at Sydney Airport?
Domestic. The airport calls T2 and T3 Domestic and T1 International.
Where do I return a hire car at Sydney Airport?
At T1, follow the Car Rental signs from the T1 International Arrivals approach; Sixt and Redspot returns are on Arrival Court, Mascot, before the Rydges hotel. At T2 and T3, use the same locations as pick-up, or 7 Coleman Street, Mascot, for Redspot, which has a free shuttle back to the terminals.
Can I use an E-Toll pass in a Sydney Airport hire car?
An eMU Casual Pass can cover Sydney toll roads using a rental car's plate. First confirm the rental company's existing toll arrangement and charges. Airport parking and pickup charges are separate.
How long does it take to drive from Sydney Airport to the city?
Driving to and from the terminals takes about 25 minutes in light traffic. The CBD is 8 km away, and toll roads are covered in the driving notes above, so check your route before you leave.
How far is Sydney Airport from the CBD?
Sydney Airport is 8 km from the CBD.
Nearby and often combined
Sydney CBDCity depots, tolls and harbour trafficCanberra AirportCapital, snowfields and South CoastWollongongIllawarra coast south of SydneyNewcastle Airport (NSW)Port Stephens and the Hunter ValleyWestern Sydney International AirportLuddenham terminal; passenger flights from 25 October 2026New South Wales & ACT car hireEvery New South Wales & ACT pickup, road rules and seasonsCar hire in AustraliaLicences, tolls and where to fly in, state by state
Compare Sydney Airport car hire
Search live prices in Australian dollars, then check the pickup point and conditions on the offer.