Sydney’s Kingsford Smith Airport is a springboard to the rest of the world, with a range of carriers ready to whisk you away to destinations from Kuala Lumpur to London.
But if you’re visiting rellies on the other side of the world with your kids, the pre-flight period can be fraught with anxiety about everything from getting to departures on time to staving off teenage tantrums.
Fear not — these 10 chillout hacks for Sydney flyers will make you so relaxed you’ll practically levitate to your plane seat.
1. Mindfulness
Whether you’ve got a genuine fear of flying or herding your family onto a flight makes you more antsy than an echidna, downloading a mindfulness app like Smiling Mind is a good move — and best of all, it’s free.
2. Fairground attraction
If you build in time between leaving home and catching your flight, a pit stop at traditional Sydney fairground Luna Park is a fab way to distract restless rug rats — there are rides, sideshow games and snacks aplenty.
3. Park life
For a slightly more sedate pitstop on the way to the airport, pull up at Sydney Park for a couple of hours. There’s a children’s playground, barbecue facilities and wonderful wetlands packed with wildlife.
4. Beaches
If beaches are more your bag than green spaces, there are plenty of splendid sandy spots near Kingsford Smith. Brighton-Le-Sands is close by and Lady Robinson’s Beach is in striking distance too — take a break and dip your toes in the refreshing water.
5. Airport kids area
When you’ve got younger children, airport entertainment areas are a godsend because they’ll stop you tearing your hair out during delays. And it’s easy to find Sydney airport child zones — they’re located at gates 10, 32, 50, 53 and 59.
6. Shopping
If you’re after a bit of pre-flight retail therapy, Kingsford Smith airport is full of fair dinkum shops. There’s everything from Calvin Klein underwear Coach handbags to put a smile on your face and get your credit card glowing.
7. Massage
When you need someone to knead those pesky knots out of your neck, a pro masseuse fits the bill brilliantly — Mandarin Massage at Sydney Airport will sort you out good and proper.
8. Food
Filling your stomach with delicious food means there’s no room left for butterflies — and Sydney’s blessed with excellent airport eateries like Bar Roma, Bistro 2020 and Soul Origin, so get stuck in.
9. Wing and a prayer
When you’re an adventurer with a spiritual side, it’s tough finding a private airport area to commune with your higher being. But luckily, Sydney has a prayer room on level 3 of international terminal 1 for exactly that purpose.
10. Parking
When you’re vacationing with kids, traveling to the airport in your own car can sometimes be the most convenient option — it’s usually more comfy than public transport and you can blast out your own tunes without complaints. Book Sydney airport parking with Looking4.com and you’ll fly feeling confident that your car’s secure.
That’s our list, but please share your own Sydney travel tips in the comments section.
