Patti & Liz,<BR><BR>Thanks for the replies! I hope Alan is out there somewhere too (and at this very moment devising some sort of plan for us)! - So, Liz, you had mentioned the idea of taking a train from the airport to Central Station, and leaving our bags there for a few hours- that is, if they still have a luggage storage area left now!?! And then if they do, taking the train on to Circular Quay... <BR><BR>I am going on Virgin Blue's site right now to check out if there is any info on checking our bags ridiculously early. Also, Patti, I will take your advice and in case of all these plans failing, we will take our luggage into the city and try to pay a nice hotel 10 or 20 dollars to store our stuff safely for a few hours.....WHEW! What a hassle!! (any suggestions on reliable hotels/nice concierges who might consider allowing us to do that?!?)<BR><BR>- Also, thanks for the info on Australian pre-flight times. I'm guessing that I'm just overly paranoid coming from one of the most nightmarish airports in the world. Here's hoping I don't get shot in the Int'l terminal on my way to/from Oz! <BR><BR>I will plan on getting to the airport a good 1 1/2 hours early for my flight to Cairns from Sydney and at least 2 1/2 hours early for our flight back to California.<BR><BR>Also, didn't know about the non-food issue on Virgin Blue (chose them because they were the cheapest, I guess now I know why!) - I'll be sure to bring snacks or money for snacks at least! <BR><BR>Many thanks again!!<BR><BR>P.S. sorry for starting a whole new message (my computer is wonky today and it's not letting me post a reply...)

Hi <BR>I would doubt that there wouldn't be a Luggage storage centre at Central Station and it is on your way through to anywhere else and certainly would be the best option IF they have the facility. Hopefully Alan can find that out for us for sure and certain. <BR>Also I really am sure that there would be something at the airport. Just another point too, Virgin Blue is at a different terminal from the rest of the Domestic area so be sure to ask to be let off there when you are returning from wherever. <BR>

liz,<BR><BR>thanks for all your help (again) i just replied to the other message post. did want to ask you about the "separate" terminal that virgin blue is at. is the airport not all connected - if i return to the int'l terminal to pick up my luggage will i have to exit the building and take a cab or shuttle to the virgin blue area?<BR><BR>thanks for your kind assistance!

Gee Leaving - you might be gone on one of these posts!!<BR><BR>There's a Holiday Inn at the Sydney Airport and you might call their international desk and ask if they would store the luggage for a fee. You could also contact Virgin Blue and ask if you can check your luggage in early (and it seems that you should be able to) and go from there. But try to have a hotel before you head into the city or go to the train station like Liz says and park said luggage there. It'll all work out and you'll probably have a good laugh about this when you're sightseeing around Sydney.

Hi, Stressed and everyone!<BR>I didn't see the first part of this thread, but since my name has been mentioned, I thought that I should "chime in", even though I have little to add to the suggestions above.<BR>I know that this luggage storage thing can be a problem in the post-September-11 climate, with everybody assuming the worst. I think I would ask the airline first-- surely they must hear this request a hundred times a day. There is, as Liz says, a luggage storage area at Central Station; there used to be lockers (cheap)plus a manned check-in counter (more expensive) at the George Street end of the interurban platforms (next to Platform 1), but they may well have removed the lockers after Septemver 11. Possibly your suitcases might have been too big for the lockers anyway... my memory is they only had a few large-capacity ones, and these were always the first to be taken (if you have only small bags, you can use the lockers at any public library, such as the NSW Library in Macquarie Street).<BR>There's a bus terminal in Eddy Avenue, directly under Central Station's interurban platforms (down the escalator)... maybe they have lockers?<BR>The distance between the Virgin Blue Terminal and the main domestic terminal is only a few paces, so you won't need a shuttle or taxi.<BR>

Just saw the rest of this post on the adjoining thread.... one revision from what I said above: while the Virgin Terminal is only a few paces from the Domestic Terminal, it's definitely a taxi or shuttle ride from the International Terminal.

There are storage lockers - quite large ones - at the Bus Terminal underneath Central Railway, so they could be an option if you don't find an easier one at the Airport.

Look at that Prue - she came up with the answer<BR><BR>thanks

WOW everyone! Thanks for all of the detailed info! It is much appreciated, and Patti, you're right, I'm sure I'll get to Sydney and this will be no big deal and I can giggle about it for awhile. Better safe than sorry though! Anyway, Alan, Liz, Bill, Prue, Pattie and everyone I've forgotten...you've been an EXCELLENT help! - Now, I better get back to the US site and help out all those travellers coming here! THANKS THANKS THANKS!

And the definitive word from Kingsford Smith's website! <BR><BR>located at: http://www.sydneyairport.com.au/Sydney+Airport/airport+info/international+terminal/baggage/Baggage+Storage+Service.htm<BR><BR>this link explains that yes, there is in fact a luggage storage service - so no, I won't be knocking on any doors to those of you who live in the area to drop off my luggage while i go sightsee! hehe. Anywho, this is for anyone else in the same predicament...<BR><BR>THANKS AGAIN!

Glad to hear that all ended well. Again, have a great trip and give us a report when you return.

Hi, L.F.O.S!<BR>This has been, I think, a very valuable thread... I learned a lot from reading everyone's replies. Now it's up to you to test out what everyone has told you. When you get back, and it's all history, can you post again and tell us how well your "solution" worked for you, as I am sure that all the regulars will soon be called upon to answer this question again (I know that on a post-September 11 holiday across the US by Greyhound Bus, this question of what to do with luggage for a day became a real issue for us, as all the lockers had "closed" signs on them, and everybody else we asked looked at our bags with unabashed suspicion.)<BR>Thanks, and have a great holiday!

alan and co.,<BR><BR>you can be sure that the second thing I do when I return from oz, will be to give you my trip report (and hopefully some pics and so on). the first thing will be of course...to book our next vacation! we're hoping for fiji or the maldives...<BR><BR>anyway, this forum has been inexplicably helpful to me, and i am speechlessly grateful! - look for my report duirng the beginning of november 2002 (or if i'm really together, the last week in october)!<BR><BR>thanks again and again to all of you - and if you have any US (specifically DC/NYC/AZ or CA questions), feel free to throw them my way!!! i check this site often!<BR><BR>

Hi again LFOS<BR><BR>Surprising news your offering advice on DC. I'm also from DC. And to be honest with you It makes me chuckle cause most people say that the people in the DC area are not friendly. I guess we can really prove them wrong...<BR>Take lots of pictures - and enjoy - we loved our trip and are planning on heading back for a longer stay.