Bob, Williamtown is generally not active on weekends so a trip up the coast shouldn't require a clearance, if Willy is active, head from Maitland to Nobby's Point (stay to south and OCTA) then request a clearance to track up the coast (see ERSA for details), they'll give you a clearance at "not above 500'" and you follow the coast all the way up. There's also the VFR lane from Maitland that runs northbound under Willy airspace and doesn't require a clearance...it's actually an awesome trip up that lane.
Geoff, for the Bankstown lane, I'd recommend track to Menagle (staying south and outside Camden) then head north to Hoxton and Prospect Reservoir to minimise time over "built up areas" then follow the lane from there. While there is some flying over built up areas required, the purpose of the VFR lane is to provide the best route over those areas for light aircraft.
Cheers,
Matt.