Where do your friends live? How are you meeting up with them. There may be
other alternatives. As someone else has replied, the train from the
airport
to the city is the best option.

They live not far from Bondi Beach. I'm going to have to get my luggage and
get to their house. The map I have of Sydney's CitiRail has a Bondi
Junction station, so I'm hoping I can take it there from the city and then
see if they can pick me up. (These are people I've never met, so I don't
want to take too much advantage of their good will in already letting me
crash there!)

I get in around 8AM on a Friday. I assume that this will be during rush
hour, right? So should I not take the train from the airport? Will I have
problems with my bags & the commuters? Should I just give in & take a taxi?

Thanks!

Sarah