Cars & Motorbikes Teaching a teenager to drive in Sydney - location ideas

It's that time. I have one daughter (Mimi) with her learner's permit now, and another one soon.
I've been a bit slack, but need to get some hours up with daughter #1 before #2 gets her permit or there will be tears - possibly mine.
I need a big open space where I can take Mimi to get a feel of driving where she won't hit anything. It's hard in the inner west because the streets are narrow and cars plentiful. Kids can't relax enough to think about driving - they (and their nervous dads) are constantly looking out for cars and cyclists.
A mate of mine in Brissy took his kids to a big truck parking area that was deserted on weekend. He had orange traffic cones to mark out a course and did lots of exercises with them - emergency stops etc. He taught his three daughters in a clunky manual 80s Pajero. So what do we know of in Sydney?
NB. I have resigned myself to leaving the inner west to find a likely location.
Scott

 

We took ours to a new housing estate, where there were roads built, buy no houses. Best after hours when its deserted.

 

I took my dad here for driving lessons. Some warehouses on this road are open on weekends and you can drive laps around their properties. Also the road is quite wide and empty.

Any industrial, warehouse area would be the same I think.

Dropped pin
near 26 Ferndell St, South Granville NSW 2142
Google Maps

 

First 3-5+ lessons should be with a registered driving instructor
Will save your hair and family relationships

I see plenty of L paters in Kurnell
Sir Joseph Banks drive in particular
You could drive there, setting an example and talk about various road rules
Let her have a drive, then go have some lunch (calm the nerves)
To try again in the afternoon, make a day of it.
If she takes to it ok Captain Cook drive back to Greenhills/Cronulla turnoff is a good few klm and a nice enough drive with only a couple of roundabouts to negotiate.

Industrial estates can also be good on weekends

 

if youre in Marrickville, how about the industrial area in St Peters/Alexandria eg Burrows Road etc. Fairly quiet. Just don't run into any trucks (or vice versa).

 

This brings back memories. I’m surprised my dad put up with me years ago.

 

Thanks all.
I like to idea of a housing estate, Skater, but they're all a long way out now.
Granville isn't too far - I guess, Zoolander.
Yes, she has done some lessons with an instructor, Stoffo, but they need to do some without.
Lacrim, Burrows Road etc area was quiet until WestConnex. Now it's all a building site and crazy on the weekends with diversions.
I'm pretty patient and relaxed. We were out a few weeks ago and when we finished I asked her if she thought she could drive us home and get it into the driveway. She was pretty confident. Some bricklaying is now on my 'to do' list.
Of course, she was pretty upset. I just said, 'Mimi, it wasn't a person so it doesn't matter. Mum has put a few dents on the car so you can write your name on this one.'

 

We used Lane Cove Business Park on the weekend - it is empty.

Suspect there are a number of similar places.

Started with a circuit of all left hand turns the reversed it for right hand turns and then venture in other parts of the circuit.

Couple of hours later we were out in the traffic. Save lessons for the technical and exam stuff - the start is easy.

 

I didn't think of Lane Cove or Olympic Park. Might be good Sunday morning spots.

 

I go to kingsgrove - Garema circuit.
Just a simple loop and minimal cars.

There's also an open air public car park there as well - usually empty on weekends

 

Silverwater. My dad taught me to drive there when I was 14.... yes, too young to actually have my L's...

 

Right past the prison?

 

Yep! But the streets were completely dead on a weekend. Zero traffic. I don't think parents would risk getting their kids behind a steering wheel before they have their L's anymore. But in the old days... you didn't have to do any set quantity of driving hours or log your driving to attempt to get your P's. And when we were kids in the back seat of the car, seatbelt wearing was optional.(Actually... we had a Holden Kingswood and a kid would sometimes sit in the middle of the front bench seat..... I have 3 siblings...)

My brother-in-law once fell out of his parent's car while it was going!

Ps. I never realised how close to Silverwater and dense Newington is!

 

Heads up... cemeteries are also good places for learner unicyclists to practise too

 

UWS parramatta (Rydalmere) campus has huge car park and empty on weekends. Then drive around Rydalmere or Ermington where streets aren’t that busy.

 

I thought about Rookwood, Rolf, but on the weekends it can get busy.
Another one we looked at was the old Callan Park site in Rozelle. It's only about 20 minutes away on weekends.
Might have a look at Kingsgrove.
Rydalmere is a fair way away.

 

That racetrack is dead boring.

 

Macquarie university car park - this is where I do my little rounds when learning in NSW. And once she's ready you can go to Epping road to enjoy the traffic (on weekdays. It's pretty ok on weekends)