Sydney/Macarthur

The Macarthur district is at the south-western residential outskirts of Sydney, further south of South West Sydney. It includes Campbelltown, Narellan and Mount Annan.

Understand
The Macarthur region is part urban and part rural. As a consequence it provides an ideal base for exploring both city and country, providing modern accommodation and easy road and rail access to Sydney and to the countryside. Comprised of the three local government areas of Campbelltown, Camden and Wollondilly, it offers many local attractions, including parks alongside the Nepean River, Dharawal National Park, the Australian Botanic Gardens, Thirlmere Rail Heritage Centre, Wineries, Festivals and numerous recreational activities.

Get in
The general rule of Sydney public transport applies: the closer you remain to the CBD the greater the likelihood of public transport being an effective way of getting there. Buses and train lines thin out in both density and frequency the further out towards the southwest suburbs you head, however for the careful transport planner, you can manage to get to most destinations without a car.

By car
The principle road corridor through Macarthur is the Hume Motorway (M31). To reach the Macarthur Region from central Sydney, first follow the tolled M5 South-Western Motorway. At Prestons the M5 merges into the toll-free M31, which heads south towards Campbelltown and beyond to Canberra and Melbourne. Take care at Prestons not to end up on the M7.

The M31 Hume Motorway has exits at Glenfield, Ingleburn*, Leumeah*, Campbelltown, Wilton, Bargo and Mittagong. (*partial-exits)

If you are travelling out from the city (or from Sydney Airport) towards the south-west for a day trip you'll be moving against the peak, and can expect a quick run on the motorway. Travel times can easily triple during peak commute times. However, if you are staying along the Hume Highway for some cheap accommodation to access Sydney or the airport, the M5 could be your nemesis. You may be bumper-to-bumper with people who had the same thought as you on the M5 while your flight is departing.

There are also a choice of slower roads, that travel through the suburbs and countryside of the area, but these are often winding at times.

By train
The electrified Sydney Trains network extends from central Sydney to Macarthur Station. Stations within the Region along this route are Campbelltown, Leumeah, Minto. Ingleburn, Macquarie Fields and Glenfield. Sydney Trains provide departure timetables and a suburban network map

Arrivals at Sydney Airport Domestic or International Terminals can catch the train to Macarthur directly on the T8 South Line.

Change at Glenfield for trains to and from the South West and Parramatta.

South of Macarthur Station, Campbelltown and Macarthur are served by diesel trains on the Southern Highlands Line, with stations at Menangle Park, Menangle, Douglas Park, Picton, Tahmoor and Bargo. The line extends further south to Mittagong & Bowral in the Southern Highlands; and terminates at Goulburn.

By bus
Buses service the region and information can be obtained from the private operator's website.

See




Paintball
The areas around Campbelltown are best known for its paintball parks.



Buy
There is no shortage of shopping malls all the way to Macarthur Square adjacent to Macarthur Station in the more distance

Go next

 * Bankstown and Cabramatta
 * Camden
 * Picton
 * Bowral
 * Canberra