Sydney Airport: how much time do we really have??
 

Arriving from Hobart on Virgin Australia around noon and our connecting flight to Honolulu is at 9:30 pm on Hawaiian Air. We'd like to do something fun in that layover but I'm sure I have closer to 5 hours than 9! Assuming VA will not check the bags through on Hawaiian, what's going to be involved with 1)collecting bags, 2)transferring to the International terminal, and either 3)checking in at Hawaiian (probably too early at noon) or leaving them in left luggage? My gut says move to the International terminal immediately, deal with the bags and THEN grab a train into Sydney for at least lunch and a walk around. We have been to Sydney several times so not trying to really sight-see. Better suggestions from those in the know, please! Thanks much.

Yes I suggest you do just that. Go straight to Terminal 1, leave your luggage then hop on a train to town. Then allow time to get back in plenty of time to checkin to Hawaiian ( 2-3 hours before departure). I would suugest you go to Circular Quay for a walk/look around then maybe have lunch at MCA or one of the Rocks pubs. Depends on what you have previously seen here though.

Agree with Peterlan. Just one thing though: the train to and from the airport is very reliable if it's during the week, but sometimes on weekends they are doing trackwork and trains are replaced by buses. They take longer by up to 30 minutes. You'll know if it's a bus as soon as you go to the ticket counter.

Very helpful, thanks. Does the train only go to the CBD, or is there another stop for the Museum of NSW?

Would totally agree to Peteralan. He already explains it all with the complete details.

Yes it goes to the CBD stations including Museum Station. You walk across the park to the museum itself. There is also the Museum of Sydney walking distance from Circular Quay.I imagine you mean the main museum?

I think we will take your entire advice here. It's our 5th, and maybe last, trip to Australia, and while we're spending all of it in our beloved Tasmania, hard to pass up seeing the bridge, opera house and that whole area one more time. Thanks everyone.

Closest train stop to AGNSW is St James, that's on the route from the airport (you could get off at any of the city circle stops). From there it's only about a 5 minute walk across Hyde Park and into the Domain.