Travel
A realism tattoo artist an easy trip south of Sydney
Port Kembla is about 90 minutes south of the Sydney CBD. Clients come down from all over Sydney for a full day of custom realism with Dylan.
~1.5 hrs
by car from the Sydney CBD
~2 hrs
by train from Central
~75 min
by car from Sydney Airport
1 day
per session, $2,000
Getting here
By car, train or plane.
- By car: head south on the M1 Princes Motorway past the Royal National Park and down Mount Ousley into Wollongong, then on to Port Kembla. Allow 80 to 100 minutes from the CBD depending on traffic, and more on Friday afternoons. Some routes out of the city use tolled motorways. [Parking at the studio.]
- By train: South Coast Line trains run from Central to Wollongong. Some services continue to Port Kembla; others need a change at Wollongong or Coniston. Allow about two hours and check the Transport for NSW Trip Planner on the day.
- From Sydney Airport: about 75 minutes by car, or take the airport line into the city and connect to a South Coast train.
Clients regularly make the trip from the Sutherland Shire, St George, the Inner West, the Eastern Suburbs, the North Shore, the Hills District and Western Sydney.
Planning your day
A day trip is very doable.
Sessions start in the morning and run most of the day, with breaks. A typical day looks like this:
- [Start time]: arrive, settle in and go over the final design and placement.
- Morning: stencil, then tattooing.
- Breaks: lunch and short breaks through the day. Bring food, water and something to do.
- [Finish time]: wrap, aftercare and the drive home.
If you’re getting a large piece or you’d rather not drive home tired, stay the night before or after. See where to stay.
Why make the trip
Specialist realism, full days.
Realism takes time and a specialist. Every piece is designed from scratch by Dylan and tattooed over full days in a private, appointment-only studio, not a busy walk-in shop. You get one artist’s full attention from the first line to the last. [Dylan: a line on why Sydney clients come down.]
After your session
The drive home.
Wear loose clothing that won’t rub the tattoo, and keep the wrap on as instructed. If you can, bring someone to drive home: a long day in the chair is tiring. You’ll get aftercare by email and a check-in after a week, and Dylan asks for a healed photo at around eight weeks.
Work clients have travelled for
Questions
Common questions
Yes. Most Sydney clients drive down in the morning and home the same evening. For large pieces or back-to-back days, staying nearby makes it easier.
Leave early and allow extra time, especially in peak hour. If you’re running late on the day, message the studio so the session can be adjusted. [Late arrival policy.]
Port Kembla has its own station on the South Coast Line, and Wollongong station has more frequent services. [Walking time from the station to the studio.]
For large pieces it’s sometimes possible, working on different areas so the skin isn’t overworked. Mention it in your application. [Dylan’s policy on consecutive days.]
More travel guides
Ten minutes from the Wollongong CBD, close to the whole Illawarra.
Have a piece in mind?
Books open a few times a year. The waitlist hears first.