Sydneysiders have been giving up their cars in droves. In the census data of 2016, over 10% of households had no car at all. And that number has been on the rise since COVID-19. In fact, April 2020 showed a drop in new car sales of 48.5%, the biggest decline in the last 30 years.
Commuters in Sydney are also some of the biggest users of public transportation with 20.9% using public transport on a daily basis. But public transport, while great for getting to the usual spots along train and bus lines, isn’t great for letting you explore out-of-the-way places that make a road trip something special.
Popcar is one of the fastest growing car sharing companies in Australia. With Popcar you can take all the road trips you want, on your own terms, with flexibility that suits you. And you can get to those special places that you simply can’t via public transportation.
Anthony Welsh, Director of Popcar, says, ‘Our customers don’t want to queue in long lines at rental agencies. They want the ease of online booking and local pick up. They want to be able to grab a car and go without worrying about a bunch of forms and insurance add-ons. And we want to help them do just that.’
Sydney is a jumping off point for some incredible road trips, and the Popcar team have pulled together some of their favourites:
THE GRAND PACIFIC DRIVE
Head south to the Royal National Park where you can start the 140-kilometre Grand Pacific Drive. The Grand Pacific will take you through sun-dappled rainforests, over the iconic 665-metre Sea Cliff Bridge and through salty coastal townships like Kiama and Shoalhaven.
Once you’ve arrived in Jervis Bay (with it’s incredible white sand beaches) you can choose to head back to Sydney via the Southern Highlands or through the quaint Sapphire Coast regions. Along the way visit an oyster farm, get a birds-eye-view from the Illawarra Tree Top Walk and feel the spray at the Kiama blowhole.
LIGHTING RIDGE
If you’re looking for a drive to really test your mettle, why not try the nine-hour trek to Lighting Ridge. Along the way check out Katoomba’s antique stores, pop into a cellar door or two in Mudgee and visit historic Gilgandra, home of the Coo-ee Heritage Centre. Once you’ve arrived in Lighting Ridge you can tour an opal mine, try fossicking or relax in one of the town’s naturally heated bore baths.
Sometimes the roads can be tricky along this route. One of Popcar’s SUVs might be a great choice.
Unmissable Cabin Tours
Within an hour or two of Sydney, there are a string of incredible, not-to-be-missed cabin retreats. Grab your best friend, or get the boys together, and make road trip of it, travelling between these cabins and grabbing adventures along the way. Start with Wollemi Cabins in the Blue Mountains, where you can rent an actual cave and bask in a hot tub set among the wild, untamed rainforest.
Next you’ll want to squeeze in trips to the Woolshed Cabins, Studio Cottages and the Old Shack. End your trip at the Season of Mists cabin, a luxury getaway perched atop the apex of Kanimbla Valley. It has incredible panoramic views and a gorgeous sun deck for taking your morning coffee and recovering from an epic adventure.
So, plan a road trip with the girls, get the boys together for a weekend and let Popcar take you somewhere exciting.
‘We’re so proud to be able to keep Australians out and about, and having adventures, despite this challenging time,’ says Anthony.
No car? You can still have the perfect weekend away with Popcar
Sydney, Australia … living in the big city is great. There’s so much to do and see and city dwellers can rely on public transport to get where they need to go, without succumbing to the expense and hassle of owning their own car. Public transportation is convenient, sustainable and budget friendly. But it does make hard to get away.
Having a weekend adventure can be difficult if you don’t have a car. Public transport won’t always get you to the unique or off-the-beaten-track places that we really crave. But Popcar is helping to change that.
So, if you’re looking for a little break, here are the top five places that Popcar can take you next weekend:
1. THE HUNTER VALLEY
A gorgeous two-hour drive will find you away from the big smoke, and amongst the vineyards of the incredible Hunter Valley. With 150 wineries in the region, you’ll want to try to varietal specialties of the area, like Shiraz and Semillon. Get your adventure on with an off-road Segway Tour or take a Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride.
Grab one of Popcar’s sports options – like the Toyota 86 – and make the drive part of the adventure.
2. THE BLUE MOUNTAINS
The Blue Mountains are some of the most beautiful and iconic parts of NSW and the best place to get a good nature recharge. But it can be tricky and annoying to get to by train. Popcar makes it really easy, even if you only have one day.
Head out to explore the wide range of hiking trails around the park. Or take the experience up a notch and book a canyoning tour, complete with abseiling and deep dives into icy rock-hewn streams.
3. HYAMS BEACH, JERVIS BAY
The South Coast has some of the best beaches in the state – yes, even compared to Bondi. And Hyams Beach near Jervis Bay is the best of the best. It’s a fantastic spot for a weekend getaway. Picture bright-white sand and crystal blue water surrounded by the incredible bushland of Booderee National Park.
Use a hybrid car to get there, and feel good about protecting these beautiful natural areas.
4. BUBBLE TENT IN CAPERTEE VALLEY
Capertee Valley is the world’s second largest canyon. Surrounded by World Heritage-listed wilderness, with stunning sandstone cliffs that dominate the escarpment, it’s truly an awe-inspiring place. You can experience it in all its stunning beauty from your very own Bubble Tent – the ultimate glamping adventure. The Bubble Tents are clear, inflatable tents with stargazing telescopes, a fire pit and an outdoor bath.
Only three hours from Sydney, you might as well be a world away. You’ll definitely need a car to get here, and a 4WD is recommended, so consider an SUV for this trip.
5. PORT STEPHENS SAND DUNES
Port Stephens is great for whale watching, and for catching a glimpse of playful dolphins or basking seals. But for real adventure you can’t go past a visit to the Stockton Sand Dunes. Take the 1.5-hour quad bike tour and experience the vast ‘desert’ of dunes, try your hand (or legs) at sandboarding and have a go at digging for water.
If you’ve come for the weekend and brought a four-legged companion, the team at Stockton will even look after them while you take your tour.
‘When we launched Popcar in 2016 we couldn’t imagine the world the way it is now. But we’re proud to be helping people to get out and about, having adventures and new experiences, despite lockdown conditions,’ says Anthony.
Popcar
Phone: 1300 707 227