Travel
Travelling interstate for a realism tattoo
Collectors travel from around Australia and overseas for full-day realism with Dylan. Here’s how to plan a trip around your sessions.
SYD
the closest major airport
~75 min
from the airport by car
1 day
buffer before your first session
Multi-day
possible for large pieces
Flying in
Getting here from the airport.
Fly into Sydney Airport, then it’s about 75 minutes by car to Port Kembla. Without a car, take the airport line into the city and a South Coast Line train to Wollongong, or arrange a transfer. Allow a buffer day before your first session in case flights run late.
A hire car makes multi-day trips easier, but plan for someone else to drive or a short trip back to your accommodation after each session.
Booking around your trip
Tell Dylan your dates.
Say in your application that you’re travelling and which dates you can do. For large pieces, Dylan can sometimes book days close together, working on different areas so the skin isn’t overworked. Big projects like back pieces usually still need a few trips, spaced weeks apart. [Dylan’s policy on consecutive days.]
Healing on the way home
Flying with a fresh tattoo.
Flying after a session is usually fine. Wear loose clothing, keep the tattoo clean and covered as instructed, and avoid long periods pressing on it: an aisle seat helps for leg pieces. Aftercare comes by email, with a check-in after a week and a healed-photo request at around eight weeks.
Overseas clients
Coming from further away.
Overseas clients are welcome. Deposits are paid by card once you’re approved, and all communication is by email so time zones aren’t a problem. Plan your trip around confirmed dates only, and check your travel insurance before you book flights. [Dylan: anything specific for overseas clients.]
Worth the trip · 4.5M views
Colour dragon leg sleeve
A rare full-colour piece: a dragon breathing fire down the leg, for a client who travelled down from Queensland to start it.
Work clients have travelled for
Questions
Common questions
Usually, yes. Keep it clean and covered as instructed, wear loose clothing and avoid pressure on the tattoo during the flight.
Sometimes, for large pieces, working on different areas. Mention it in your application and Dylan will tell you what’s realistic.
Loose, comfortable clothes that give access to the placement, snacks, water, chargers and something to pass the time. Aftercare instructions come by email.
More travel guides
About 90 minutes down the M1. Plan the drive, the train and the day.
Have a piece in mind?
Books open a few times a year. The waitlist hears first.