Hotels in Sydney - Getting to and from Sydney, Australia
Getting to and from Sydney and around once there: Below is a comprehensive guide to transport to from and around Sydney covering the Buses, Taxis, Flights, Trains, Cycling, by Car and much more.
Don’t forget to check out our other sections for details on Hotels in Sydney, Things to Do & Attractions in Sydney, plus candid traveler photos and reviews.
Use the search form to review and book hotels in Sydney – at up to 70% off.
Transport – Sydney:
Sydney travel is exciting any season. While many cities have an off-season, there’s not really any downtime in Australia’s biggest city. Year-round sun and pleasant temperatures mean that you can expect hassle-free holidays and vacations whatever the calendar says. That doesn’t mean, however, the Sydney is boring—this city along the harbour is always pulsing with energy and exciting things to do.
Many arts aficionados wrap their Sydney tourism plans around the schedule of the one of the most distinctive landmarks in the whole world—the Sydney Opera House. The distinctive white roof covers several stages and event spaces where symphony orchestras, ballet dancers, and rock stars perform. If you’re particularity interested in seeing a certain performance, you could plan your Sydney travel for the same time. Imagine how amazing it would be seeing your favorite band at one of the coolest stages anywhere. You also could to the reverse and see who’s playing while you’re in town; there’s always something cool going on here.
Hotels in Sydney - Getting around Sydney and transport
You also can go behind the scenes with tours of the Sydney Opera House, which are available year-round and in several different languages. Experiential packages add to the tour with high tea or a ride on a seaplane over the scenic harbor, both memorable options on the Sydney tourism scene. Another package begins with a VIP tour of the opera house followed by a water taxi ride to see the koalas at the Taronga Zoo.
Under the sails of the opera house, you’ll have the chance to follow in the footsteps of big-name stars while walking across the stages and visiting the dressing rooms.
After the trip to the zoo, you’ll have several hours to explore and see a collection of amazing animals. If you’re wanting to book this package, the best time to go to Sydney Australia is between the middle of September and the beginning of March.
In the Northern Hemisphere, this stretch of time would signal the arrival of colder weather, but it’s just the opposite in Sydney. Many people enjoy this aspect of Sydney tourism—they can get on a plane and leave behind the snow and the gray days and arrive in a place filled with blue skies and warm temperatures. If you just can’t take one more cold month, this is the best time to go to Sydney Australia.
Thanks to the shelter provided by the harbor and a number of other factors, the weather is pretty wonderful in every season. The summers are warm, but the heat is not oppressive, and winters are still nice enough for surfing and strolling the beach. The spring and fall both feature plenty of sunny days that will provide a nice backdrop to any Sydney travel plans.
For surfers—both experts and those who want to learn—the best time to go to Sydney Australia is whenever you can get there. Bondi Beach is a year-round haven for surfers and anyone who is looking to spend time along one of the greatest beaches anywhere.
The waves, espresso shops, and frequent surfing contents draw all types of crowds, as do the art galleries and theaters. The beach is accessible year-round, and lifeguards, easy to identify by their blue uniforms, are on patrol 365 days a year. Surf schools are available no matter when you plan to travel to Bondi Beach, so you can leave Sydney a much more skilled surfer that when you arrived.
Flying into Sydney:
Hotels in Sydney - Transportation options
Cheap flights to Sydney Australia bring you to a national gateway and hub of transportation—all at a great price.
The Sydney International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world, handling nearly 100,000 passengers a day. In fact, near half of the international passengers who arrive in Australia by air arrive on Sydney flights. The airport handles about one quarter of the domestic air traffic.
As an international hub, Sydney flights depart from countries all around the world, places as diverse as London, Dubai, and Bangkok. With connecting flights, Sydney and its beautiful beaches are only two or three connecting flights away.
If you can be flexible with your departing cities or where you connect, it might be easier to find cheap flights to Sydney Australia. Flexible schedules are another way to find bargains on airfare to Sydney. Because of the year-round pleasant weather, there’s not really an off-season for tourism, but flexible travel planers are the key to great deals in any season. A great way to start or end your search for airline tickets to Sydney is with the booking tool right on this page, which can help you with car rentals and hotels as well.
When traveling from the US, you’ll most likely pass through the Los Angeles Airport. The bulk of cheap flights to Sydney Australia from the States begin at LAX. Several different airlines offer Sydney flights, including ones based in Australia and the biggest American carriers. Whichever one you choose, you can expect the trip to take about fourteen hours to cover the 7,500 miles between the two major cities.
After a long flight, some travelers will be ready to start exploring, while others will want to get some rest at one of the nearby airport hotels, especially those not used to crossing the International Date Line. If you’re not flying through Los Angeles, chances are you’ll catch flights from one of the other major West Coast cities, including San Francisco and Seattle. With connecting flights, you could find yourself along the West Coast in just a few hours, no matter if you call Manhattan, NYC, or Manhattan, Kansas, home, or some other American city for that matter.
While many passengers begin their vacations to Sydney in the US, others begin their flights from one of the Asian cities. A typical flight from Beijing takes about twelve hours, while the trip from Tokyo or Seoul clocks in just under twelve hours. Even if you don’t make a home in Asia, you could plan exciting vacation packages that visit places throughout the Eastern Hemisphere. If you’re willing to spend some time on a plane, you can see some amazing places on the same trip away from home.
No matter where you purchase airfare to Sydney, you’ll still arrive at the same place—the Sydney International Airport. This well-equipped airport has a modern and comfortable international terminal. Internet stations are located throughout the terminal, as are food vendors and shops. An information desk is staffed by experts schooled on all of the things to do in Sydney. In the international terminal, you’ll also find easy access to the baggage claim and trolleys that can take you to the parking lot. When it is time to catch your return flight home, you’ll appreciate the friendly gate agents and plentiful ticketing counters, meaning you can spend more time enjoying the amenities of the airport rather than waiting in line.
More detail on Sydney Airport and transportation links:
Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (IATA: SYD) is Australia’s busiest airport and is the main gateway to Australia. It is located only 8km from the City centre in Southern Sydney on the northern shores of Botany Bay. Sydney Airport is the oldest continually operated commercial airport anywhere in the world.
Over 35 airlines fly in and out of Sydney Airport with daily flights linking Sydney to key destinations on every continent. The Asian-Pacific transport hubs of Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Tokyo and Seoul have several daily flights, as do various European centres (especially London) via Asia or the Middle East. North America is connected via Los Angeles, San Francisco and Vancouver. Direct flight links also exist with many destinations within New Zealand.
Travellers from Europe and the Middle East tend to travel into Sydney via Asia. Travellers from South America can fly direct from Buenos Aires or Santiago via Auckland.
You can fly to Sydney directly from all other Australian capital cities and from many major regional airports. Otherwise, you need to fly to the state capital and transfer to a Sydney flight. Sydney can be reached within an hour and a half from Melbourne and Brisbane, 45 minutes from Canberra and just under four hours from Perth and Alice Springs
Airlines and terminals:
Check the terminal that you are arriving at or departing from carefully.Sydney airport requires the following minimum connection times: – From Domestic Flight to Domestic Flight: 30 min – From Domestic Flight to International Flight: 1h – From International Flight to Domestic Flight: 1h15 – From International Flight to International Flight: 1h
International terminal (T1) handles all international flights and some domestic flights. Check your itinerary and flight number as connections, customs etc will take longer when arriving or departing from the International Terminal even on a domestic flight. You do not need a passport when travelling domestically, just hang on to your boarding pass.
Domestic terminal 2 (T2) is the largest domestic terminal. Airlines using this terminal include Qantas & Qantaslink (Qantas flights 1600 and above), Aeropelican, Regional Express (Rex), Jetstar, Tiger and Virgin Blue.
Domestic terminal 3 (T3) handles only Qantas flights from 400-1599, which are mainly the inter-capital services.
Facilities at Airport:
T1 (International terminal) has food and shopping both before and after immigration and security. There is an open air beer garden and bistro by check in Bay A on the departures level. There are cafes on both departures and arrivals level. Good coffee and food can had for a reasonable price, but it is easy to buy bad overpriced coffee and food too. Departures has cheaper prices than downstairs at arrivals. There is a better and cheaper choice of food before going through security, at the large central food hall in departures. Avoid currency exchange offices (see the Currency exchange section).
Two free showers for both males and females are available by check in bay ‘A on the departures level. There is also an open air observation deck, with the entrance next to check-in bay B on the departures level, through the bistro and up the elevator. A post office is in the check in area, but it is only open business hours. Post boxes are available after customs. There is a small kids play area after security. There is a large duty free shop selling alcohol, cigarettes, perfume and electronics available when departing and arriving. There are some free Internet terminals in departures, even a few before security. There are paid Internet terminals too and downstairs in arrivals. Trolleys cost money landside of security. Pick one up airside where they are free, or out in the carpark where they have been left by previous users.
T2 has a large food and shopping area, with a large selection of food outlets located to the right after you go through security. There are also gift shops, bookshops and some clothing stores. There are nice views over the tarmac from the eating area. There are ATM’s before and after security. Everyone is able to go through security, whether travelling or not.
T3 (Qantas Domestic) has a food hall with a variety of food and coffee. Nice Thai is available for around $15 or Hungry Jacks for normal prices. The food hall is airside of security, but you do not need to be a passenger to pass through. Most food and drink places and the security checkpoint close 30 minutes or so before the last departure. Don’t expect to be able to get anything at all if you are arriving on a late flight. Don’t expect people to be able to get to the gate to meet you on a late arrival as they will have to wait at baggage claim if you arrive after the last departure. There are Wi-Fi and Internet terminals available for $5 per hour.
For accomodation at Sydney Airport, just use our hotel search form at the top of the page. You can book hotels in real time and for same day bookings. Payment is accepted by credit card. You can also call us at the phone number at the top of the page for urgent bookings.
Overnight:
Due to curfew laws, no planes arrive or depart between 11PM and 5:30AM. The domestic terminals (T2 an T3) close after the last flight has cleared (around 11PM) and reopen at 4AM – you cannot remain in the terminal.[4] T1 (international) also closes around 11PM and reopens at 4AM – but there is small transit area with basic facilities that you can remain in if you are already in the terminal (landside). This is located on level 1 near the entrance to the train station. There are limited seats and it fills up quickly when security starts herding people out of the terminal. The last train service departs at 11:45PM.
Transfer between terminals:
Transfer between domestic terminals T2 and T3 must be done on foot. Follow the signs either via the railway station underground, or across the car park.
Transfer between T1 and T2/T3 is 4 km by road, as the terminals are on opposite sides of the airport tarmac. You will have to use one of the following methods to transfer.
An Air-side shuttle is available free of charge if you are connecting through with Qantas or a One World partner airline, or between Virgin Blue and a codeshare flight or other international Virgin Flight (for example United Airlines).
T-bus ($5.50) outside the terminal building. The T-bus is a dedicated terminal shuttle and uses the normal roads. It will take around 10 minutes but can be stuck in Sydney traffic at peak times. Runs at a 10-20 minute frequency and you pay the driver on boarding.
Catch the train ($5), which is part of the Sydney suburban train system, not a terminal shuttle train. It is a 2 minute journey with around 10-15 minute frequency. Follow the train signs from the terminal. Make sure you are going the right way and stay on the train only a single stop. This method is faster and more frequent than the T-bus.
Taxi ($10). A taxi driver may not be happy transferring you between terminals, as he/she would have been expecting a trip to the city or farther and may have been waiting in a queue for an hour or so. Still, you want to get between terminals, so load up your luggage in the boot, sit firmly in the seat, close the door, tell the driver where you want to go, and ignore everything else. The trip will take around 10 minutes. It is a legal requirement for the taxi driver to take you there but unfortunately not a legal requirement for them to smile while doing so. This problem has been slightly reduced by a new system that allows the driver to tell the taxi controller that they received a short fare and so are then allowed to jump the queue.
Walk. If you have little luggage and some time to kill, the walk will take around an hour. There is a footpath the whole way, and has good views of planes taking off metres above your head, and of the Alexandra Canal. From T1 walk across the car park, across the crossing, under the underpass, and follow the Airport Drive footpath/cycleway to the right, keeping the canal on your left, and airport on your right. From T2/T3 follow the road out of the airport, and turn left onto Qantas drive, and keep the airport on your left. The route is not covered.
Sydney airport is world class in many respects, but terminal transfers are clumsy, and will surprise those who are used to terminal shuttles in other developed airports worldwide.
Between the airport and the city:
Sydney Airport is only 9 km from the city centre. Although driving, taxi or the train may seem like the only options to get to the city when you’re at the airport, there are cheaper ways to get there if you’re not already hiring a car. It is worth considering what your travel arrangements will be while in Sydney before purchasing a public transport ticket to the city as many multi-day and tourist tickets include some or all of the travel cost to to the city.
A train service known as Airport Link connects Sydney Airport and the CBD. The Airport railway line is part of the CityRail commuter rail system and shares a ticketing system, but the airport stations are privately owned and require have a $11.80 surcharge on top of a normal fare.
Single fares from the International Terminal station to the City are therefore $15.80 for an adult or $10.40 for child and $15/$10 from the Domestic Terminal station. At the airport you can buy a ticket directly to any Cityrail destination. The trains can be busy weekdays during the morning peak [07:30-09:30] as trains that service the Airport also carry commuters to the City. It is always possible to fit on but, sometimes, you may need to stand. Outside peak hours, if there are three or more people travelling together, a taxi may be cheaper and just as quick. If you are going back to the airport within a week, and you are buying a MyMulti ticket, then you can add unlimited airport trips onto the MyMulti for $18.
Mini-bus operators will drive a group of passengers to the city and deliver them to their hotels–a typical charge is $13 per passenger.
Taxis to the city centre should cost approximately $30 (including tolls), and more to other Sydney destinations (The Rocks $35-40.00, North Sydney $35, Manly $50, Parramatta $80-100 etc.) You can expect to pay a $2.50 airport taxi levy and a $5 Eastern Distributor toll on top of the metered fare. If you are arriving on a Friday evening, it is possible to face long queues for taxis. Asking the driver to take O’Riordan Street is a little slower but shorter and cheaper than the Eastern Distributor tollway.
Vehicle rental is available at all terminals from a variety of rental companies (see Sydney Airport website for current list ). After you rent a vehicle, you will be directed to pick it up at a parking space in the adjacent parking garage. You return the vehicle to the same area.
Local buses. The cheapest way from the airport to the city is by taking the local route 400 Sydney Buses route from the airport to Rockdale or Banksia station and a train from there to the city. The route 400 bus runs between Bondi Junction and Burwood and passes through the Domestic and International Terminals. The bus is $3.30 ($2.00 from International Terminal to Banksia only) and the train $4.00 for a single ticket. The bus stops are located outside T1 and T3 (but not T2) and the bus will display “Burwood” on its destination. There is only limited luggage space on the bus, but if you can manage backpacks or suitcases by yourself it should not be a problem. Rockdale station (but not Banksia) has lifts.
If you are planning to use public transport in Sydney for the week after you arrive it may be cheaper for you to purchase a $41.00 “MyMulti 1″ 7-day ticket (see below). These are not available on the bus, but are available at the Newslink newsagents in T1 and T2 arrivals, or at any CityRail station. (Note that if you buy a MyMulti ticket from any of the Airport stations you will pay a $11.80 surcharge).
Having someone pick you up. At T1 (International), a private car can not stop legally at the arrivals area to pick up someone from the curb. If you exit the car park within 10 minutes, it is free, otherwise it is $7 per half hour. At T3 (domestic terminals), cars can stop at the pickup area only if there is someone already at the kerb. At T2, there is a pick up area inside the paid car park. Follow the yellow stenciled signs outside the terminal. Car park charges apply if you stay longer that 10 minutes. Fines apply for waiting at the arrivals areas or for picking up at the departures areas. Leaving your car is out of the question. The parking officers can photograph your car and licence plate and fine you without warning you to move along.
Wolli Creek and Cooks River viewed from near T1:
Walk and Train from T1 T1 (the international terminal) is less than 2km from Wolli Creek Station, from where a train to the city costs $3.20 and a MyMulti can be used with no surcharge. The walk isn’t signposted and may be very quiet after dark. It is all surfaced, has only one set of three steps (in the airport, near the customs building), and takes in some nice scenery by the Cooks River. Exit straight from the international terminal (T1), follow the pedestrian path under the multistory car park, and continue just to the left of the customs building to the pedestrian crossing.
Go under the road, as indicated by a green Marsh Street sign until, you run into a green fence with the canal directly in front of you. Follow the path up to your right around and back over the path you just walked on up to the Marsh Street bridge. Cross the Cooks River on the footpath on the right of Marsh St and then proceed along the cycleway next to the Cooks River (signposted to Tempe), keeping the river on your right. When you reach the Princes Hwy (6 lane road), cross at the pedestrian crossing lights, and continue straight on, past the apartment blocks, shops, to the end of the road, then turn right up to Wolli Creek Station. The walk will take about 20 minutes and will save you $11.80 on the train fare. Trains from Wolli Creek are even more frequent than from the airport
Walk and Train from T2 & T3 The Domestic terminals (T2 and T3) are about 1.7km from Mascot train station. The walk takes about 20 minutes and is along suburban pavements that can be uneven at times. Follow the road out of the domestic terminal and on to O’Riordan Street. Follow O’Riordan Street and then veer left onto Bourke street. Cross Coward Street and then John Street, Mascot train station is on your right. An adult fare to the city (Central) from Mascot is $5.80 or $2.60 for a gate pass if you have a MyMulti or MyTrain ticket.
Walk and Bus from T2 & T3. Mascot shops has a few bus options to the City and surrounds. Sydney Buses 309/X09/310/X10 run from Mascot Shops to the City. The 303 bus from Mascot shops to the University of New South Wales. Metrobus 20 (prepay only – buy ticket from newsagent) also runs frequently from Mascot Shops to Redfern, the City and on to North Sydney and St Leonards, with next stop indicators, etc. It is just over 1km and 15-20 minutes easy walk to Mascot shops from the domestic terminals. To get to Mascot shops, follow the road out of the domestic terminal through the big intersection and on to O’Riordan St. Take the right at the next lights on Robey Street opposite Airport Central. Follow Robey St to the end and the bus stop is just on your left. Bus services run every 10 minutes and cost $3.30 to Central, $4.30 to the CBD. You can also get the 400 bus towards Bondi Junction to Mascot Shops from T2 & T3 ($2.00), or from T1 ($3.30). All these bus trips are included if you buy a MyMulti but don’t forget you must buy one from the newsagent at T1 arrivals, T2 arrivals or Mascot before boarding the bus.
Transport once in Sydney and getting around Sydney:
For bus, ferry and train information, timetables and fare deals, call the Sydney Transit Authority’s Transport Infoline (STA; 13 15 00) or check www.131500.com.au.
Hotels in Sydney - Sydney Train and Ferry route map
Boat
Water taxi
Water taxis ply dedicated shuttle routes; rides to/from other harbour venues can be booked.
Yellow Water Taxis (9555 9778; www.yellowwatertaxis.com.au; 7am-midnight) Circular Quay to Darling Harbour adult/child $13/8; 40-minute Harbour Tours adult/child $25/15.
Watertours (9211 7730; www.watertours.com.au; 9.30am-11pm) Opera House to Darling Harbour adult/child $15/10; one hour Harbour and Nightlights Tours adult/child $30/20.
Car & motorcycle
Rental
Expect to pay around $70 per day for a zippy small car. Rates sometimes include insurance and unlimited kilometres; some companies require you to be over 25 years old. At the time of writing petrol cost around $1.45 per litre, and was steadily rising.
If you’re looking to hire a campervan, Wicked Campers (1800 246 869; www.wickedcampers.com.au; 5 Tenterden Rd, Botany; 9am-4pm Mon-Fri, 9am-noon Sat) rents out spectacularly painted vehicles with room in the back where you can sleep. The following stalwarts also have vans (and regular cars) at their airport and city branches.
Avis (13 63 33; www.avis.com.au)
Budget (13 27 27; www.budget.com.au)
Europcar (1300 131 390; www.europcar.com.au)
Hertz (13 30 39; www.hertz.com.au)
Thrifty (1300 367 227; www.thrifty.com.au)
The Yellow Pages lists many other car-hire companies, some specialising in renting clapped-out wrecks at rock-bottom prices – read the fine print!
Bikescape (1300 736 869; www.bikescape.com.au; 183 Parramatta Rd, Annandale; per day from $80; 9am-5.30pm Mon-Fri, 9-10am & 4-5pm Sat) rents out well- serviced, low mileage motorcycles and scooters. The savvy staff can also organise tours.
Bus & tram
Bus
Bookings are essential for the following services.
Kingsford Smith Transport (9666 9988; single/return $10/18; 5am-11pm) Connecting the airport and central Sydney hotels.
Manly Airport Bus (0500 505 800; single/return $30/63; 5am-11pm) A door-to-door service to/from Manly.
Bus
Sydney buses run almost everywhere. Bondi, Coogee and parts of the North Shore are serviced only by bus. Nightrider buses operate skeletally after regular services cease around midnight.
The main city bus stops are Circular Quay, Wynyard Park (York St) and Railway Sq. Buy tickets from newsagencies, Bus TransitShops and on buses. Pay the driver as you enter, or dunk prepaid tickets in ticket machines by the door. Fares start at $1.70; most trips are under $3.50. There are Bus TransitShops at Circular Quay (www.sydneybuses.info; cnr Alfred & Loftus Sts; 7am-7pm Mon-Fri, 8.30am-5pm Sat & Sun), Wynyard Station (Carrington St), Railway Sq (George St), and the Queen Victoria Building (York St).
Bus routes starting with an X indicate limited-stop express routes; those with an L have limited stops. Most buses depart the city on George or Castlereagh Sts, ploughing down George or Elizabeth Sts on the way back in.
Train
Sydney’s vast suburban rail network is the deft way to get around. Lines radiate from the underground City Circle (seven city-centre stations), but don’t service the Northern and Southern Beaches, Balmain or Glebe. All suburban trains stop at Central Station, and usually one or more of the other City Circle stations too.
Trains run from around 5am to midnight. On weekends and after 9am on weekdays you can buy an off-peak return ticket, valid until 4am the next day, for little more than a standard one-way fare.
Twenty-four-hour ticket machines occupy most stations but humans are usually available too if you’d rather talk to something that’ll listen. If you have to change trains, buy a ticket to your ultimate destination, but don’t exit the transfer station en route or your ticket will be invalid.
For train information, visit the CityRail Information Booth (13 15 00; www.131500.com.au; Wharf 5, Circular Quay; 9.05am-4.50pm).
Train
Airport Link (13 15 00; www.airportlink.com.au; single/return from Central Station to domestic terminal $12/18, to international terminal $13/19; every 10-15min, 5am-midnight daily) runs from city train stations; return fares are cheaper after 9am and on weekends. A one-way trip takes about 15 minutes.
Water
Ferry
Sydney transport’s most civilised option – harbour ferries, JetCats (to Manly) and RiverCats (to Parramatta) – depart Circular Quay. Most ferries operate from 6am to midnight; those servicing tourist attractions operate shorter hours. The Circular Quay Ferry Information Office (9207 3170; www.sydneyferries.info; 7am-5.45pm Mon-Sat, 8am-5.45pm Sun) has details. Many ferries have connecting bus services.
A one-way inner-harbour ride on a regular ferry costs adult/concession $5/3. A one-way ride to Manly on the JetCat costs $8 (no concession, 15 minutes, half-hourly). A one-way RiverCat ride to Parramatta costs adult/concession $8/4 (50 minutes, hourly).
Local transport
Taxi
A ride to/from Circular Quay should cost from $25 to $35; to/from Central Station from $20 to $30.
Taxi
Taxis and cab ranks proliferate in Sydney. Flag fall is $2.80, then it’s $1.62 per kilometre (plus 20% from 10pm to 6am). The waiting charge is 68c per minute. Passengers must pay bridge, tunnel and road tolls (even if you don’t incur them ‘outbound’, the returning driver will incur them ‘inbound’).
Major taxi companies that offer phone bookings ($1.40 fee) include these ones.
Arrow Taxis (13 22 11)
Legion (13 14 51)
Premier Cabs (13 10 17)
Taxis Combined (8332 8888)
Below is an indepth explanation of transport in Sydney:
By car:
It is possible to drive to Sydney from Brisbane or Melbourne in a full day, around 9 hours non-stop to Melbourne or 11 hours to Brisbane. A comfortable drive would allow two days from Melbourne or Brisbane, and three to Adelaide. The Melbourne drive is mostly dual carriageway high quality road. The same can’t be said for the Brisbane drive, which while it has high quality sections, it also has some very narrow winding sections, carries high traffic volumes, and has many stoppages from roadworks.
Melbourne – Sydney = 862 km via Albury-Wodonga (Hume Highway).
Adelaide – Sydney = 1422 km via Mildura or 1659km via Broken Hill (National Highway 32).
Brisbane – Sydney = 938 km via the coast (Pacific Highway) or 961 km via Armidale (New England Highway). The Pacific Highway passes through more towns, attractions, and has more facilities compared with the New England Highway, but it can get congested moving through the towns around holiday times. Although the Pacific Highway route follows the coast, you won’t see the ocean except for some brief glimpses. There are rivers all the way up the coast, and the river mouths are wide, causing the road bridges and the towns to be a little inland. If you have time, look for the tourist route diversions to see more of the Mid-North Coast and Northern Rivers on the way down (the beaches will be less crowded than Sydney!).
If you are renting a car, check the daily distance allowances and any one-way charge that may apply. Cars may be rented at the airport and elsewhere from major rental companies, or at smaller, less conveniently located, cheaper companies such as Airport Car Rental at Sydney Airport or Bayswater Car Rental in Kings Cross.
There are tolls applicable to all motorways coming into Sydney, and not all routes accept cash. See “Tolls” section below.
By bus:
Coach companies operate to Sydney from all capital cities, and many New South Wales regional centres. The Sydney coach terminal is located adjacent to Sydney Central train station in the City South. Follow the signs.
Coach travel to Sydney is usually quicker, cheaper and more frequent than train travel. Online and advance booking specials are usually available.
Greyhound Coaches has the most extensive bus network in Australia, but there are a few others.
Priors Scenic Express operates a coach service from Parramatta, Liverpool and Campbelltown stations to the Southern Highlands, Kangaroo Valley and the South Coast
By train :
The New South Wales long distance train service CountryLink, (13 22 32 within Australia) runs at least daily services to Sydney from Brisbane, Melbourne, Canberra and many regions of New South Wales including the Mid-North Coast, New England, the Central West and the Southern Highlands. It also services Broken Hill weekly. Travelling time from Melbourne and Brisbane is around 12 hours. Fares range between $30 and $100 for standard class seats, and reservations tickets can be purchased online, by phone, or at the station. The long distance trains between Melbourne and Sydney, and Brisbane and Sydney can be a less stressful alternative to driving, but they do not average particularly high speeds and take longer than flying. It is often possible to get a discount airfare around the same price or cheaper than the adult train fare.
Sydney Central Station:
The Indian Pacific (13 21 47 within Australia or +61 8 8213 4592 internationally) train service runs from Perth to Sydney via Adelaide and Broken Hill. Adult fares from Perth are $1250 for a sleeper cabin and $513 for a seat. Children’s fares are $805 for a sleeper cabin and $139 for a seat. The train departs from Perth on Wednesdays and arrives at Sydney on Saturdays. Note that these fares are much higher than return plane fares to Perth, this journey is really for train journey enthusiasts who want to see the interior of Australia. It also gives you the ability to take your car on the train for an additional fee.
All long distance (Countrylink and Great Southern Railway) trains to Sydney terminate at platforms 1-3 of Sydney’s Central Station in the south of the CBD area. Travellers can transfer to Cityrail trains, the light rail service to Darling Harbour, city buses, as well as taxis. It is also easy to transfer to other long distance trains and coaches. There is free short term parking up the ramp in front of the station, and you can meet the trains on the platform. There are ATM’s, a choice of food outlets, cafes open until late, and a railway heritage society display and bookshop in the terminal.
The Cityrail network runs services several times a day from close regional cities: Newcastle via the Central Coast (New South Wales), Goulburn via the Southern Highlands, Nowra via the South Coast and Lithgow via the Blue Mountains.
By ship :
Cruise ships generally dock at the International Passenger Terminal at Circular Quay or at Darling Harbour.
Circular Quay is a spectacular place to dock, right by the Harbour Bridge, and you can walk off the ship into the centre of the The Rocks.
Darling Harbour passenger terminal at Barangaroo seems a little more remote when you disembark, but it is still easy walking distance to the main attractions, Wynyard Station, and Darling Harbour itself. The terminal is immediately adjacent (north) of the King St Wharf precinct, at Darling Harbour, but immigration makes sure you exit away from the water where you can’t see it. Just turn right and follow the road, it is only a short walk. It is less than 15 minutes walk to the city centre and The Rocks. It is a 5 minute walk to Wynyard station.
White Bay in the Inner West is being developed as a new wharf for passenger arrivals, to replace Darling Harbour as Barangaroo is re-developed. Currently it is only used if their are already two passenger ships in the harbour. White Bay is not easy walking distance to anywhere. You could potentially walk up to Victoria Road and get a bus to the city, or you could walk over the Anzac Bridge into Darling Harbour. Expect the walk to take about an hour. Probably best to rely on the shuttle buses supplied arranged by the cruise company unless you are keen to save a few dollars.
Once in Sydney some more detail about getting around:
By car :
Travel times and routes:
You can drive around Sydney reasonably freely, and, outside of peak times, travelling by car is usually at least as quick as any method of public transport. Congestion can be expected on roads to the city 6:30AM-9:30AM, and roads away from the city 4PM-6:30PM. Congestion is considerably worse heading away from the city during Friday afternoon peak.
Roads are generally well signposted to the next major suburb or suburbs along the route. Only a handful of cross-city met-roads are signposted by number.
Congestion can be expected around Bondi Beach, and the other eastern suburbs beaches on summer weekends.
Travel times from the city centre to the Sydney outskirts can take around 45 min in good traffic.
Tolls :
Some motorways, tunnels and bridges charge tolls.
The M5 (towards the South West and Canberra and the Eastern Distributor Motorway from the airport to the city have tolls of $3.80 and $5 respectively. You can pay in cash, and change is given at the tollbooths. There is no toll payable on the Eastern Distributor heading away from the city towards the airport.
The Harbour Bridge and Tunnel, Cross City Tunnel, Lane Cove Tunnel, M7 and the Falcon Street northbound motorway entrance only use electronic tolling and if you use these you need to decide how you will pay the toll. You can easily avoid the Lane Cove Tunnel, M7 or Falcon Street on-ramp, however, it is hard to avoid the harbour crossings if you are going to Manly, the Northern Beaches or the zoo by car.
Your choice is to have a pass or a tag.
A pass (also called an e-pass) is the simplest way to pay tolls. Just register your licence plate and credit card up to 48 hours after travelling on a toll road and tolls will be deducted automatically from your card. The Sydney Motorways website provides links to pass providers. The cost is $1.50 to register online, and 75c on top of each toll as a processing charge. You cannot use an e-pass on motorways that accept cash: you must use the cash lane. Make sure you enter the dates you will be in charge of the car, so you don’t end up paying for someone else’s toll.
A tag (also called an E-tag) is a transponder stuck to the inside of your windscreen. You can purchase a visitor’s tag from any motor registry [16] before travelling on a toll road for $5 and set up an account linked to your credit card. Allow about 30 minutes at the registry to sort it all out. It is worthwhile considering only if you are staying in Sydney for a while or travelling on toll roads in Melbourne and Brisbane as well. You will end up ahead only if you need to pay six or more toll charges.
A capital ‘E’ marked on the lane indicates it accepts a tag and a lower case ‘e’ indicates it accepts a pass.
Not paying a toll incurs a $10-$15 administration fee in additional to the toll. If you are in a rental car, the rental car company will charge an additional fee for this to your credit card.
Some rental car companies, for example Avis, supply an etag with each car, and a service fee for each day it is used. You have no option to buy your pass or tag. Others, for example Bayswater, give you an option to rent one from them for a fixed fee, and you have a choice to obtain your own pass as an alternative. Check with your rental company.
Parking:
Parking your car in the City Centre is always possible but very expensive. Expect to pay up to $70 per day or $25 per hour at some central parking lots and around $25 even with specials. Reduced parking charges are made for early bird parking, where you must enter and leave within prescribed times. For example you can park all day at the Opera House [17] for $16 provides you enter before 10AM and leave 3PM-7PM. There is no grace period, so you cannot get out even one minute before 3PM, and you will be charged the day parking rate of $42 if you are 10 s late. Most city parking lots offer reduced flat fees (around $15-$25) for evening and weekend parking.
Street parking in the CBD is generally only possible before 8AM and after 6:30PM. on weekdays and, even then, is almost invariably metered until 10PM at $2.20-3.30 per hour. On weekends, most parking spaces have a 4 hour limit, again metered at $1.10-2.20 per hour. All day street spots are sometimes available in the Domain/Mrs Macquarie’s Chair and Hickson Road, but these spots are often taken up by commuters, and, since they are metered, an early bird deal may work out cheaper than the metered rate. Parking meters increasingly accept credit card payment, but have cash just in case. Similar prices are charged in North Sydney.
City hotels invariably charge for parking for the guests.
Parking in many major suburban centres and beaches can be a matter of spending time cruising and searching for parking spots. Usually parking within easy walking distance of these centres has a time limit restriction – often 2-3 hours. Shopping mall car parks usually have a similar restriction.
Some train stations have all day free commuter parking. At major stations, this can be full before 8AM. Smaller stations with less frequent train service tend to have better parking availability. On weekends it is easy to find a spot in the commuter parking lots. The stations with commuter parking are marked on the Cityrail maps.
Parking at some beaches, on summer weekends, can often be almost impossible. Some beaches are in suburban neighbourhoods, without large car parking facilities. Check the appropriate destination guides for more information.
Parking fines in Sydney are $80 if you exceed the allowed parking time. Reloading the meter or moving your car within the same parking zone will not get you out of a fine. If you park illegally and wait with your car, you may find you have the licence place photographed and fined before you have the chance to move on, don’t expect a warning. If you park illegally in a disabled spot, the fine is $375. If you do get fined for exceeding time, you will not be fined again the same day so you might as well enjoy your parking spot.
Clearways are no-stopping zones on main roads during peak periods, marked with clearway signs and a broken yellow line on the kerb. Fines will be around $400 to reclaim your car after it is towed away. Clearways also offer parking opportunites if you want to park just after 10AM.
Sydney driving speeds
Speed limits can change frequently, even on the same main road. Speed limits drop for areas of pedestrian activity, schools, as well as driving conditions. Every road in Sydney has a signposted speed limit, and in every case you will need to read the signs, as you cannot tell the speed limit just by looking at the road. The speed limit is usually 50km/h on residential streets, 60km/h or 70km/h on main roads, and 80km/h and above on freeways or freeway sections.
Some speed limits vary throughout the day. School speed zones (40 km/h) are enforced 8AM-9:30AM and 2:30PM-4PM on school days. Some have flashing lights, some just a sign. It is up to you to check the time and know if it is a school day or not. Some other roads have variable speed limits that drop during busy traffic times. Variable speed limits also drop for road maintenance. These areas are signposted, and you need to read and obey the signposted speed. Speed cameras monitor school zones, and enforce variable speed limits. For example, if there are roadworks in the Lane Cove Tunnel, the variable speed will drop, and the speed camera in the tunnel will enforce the lower speed. There are plenty of warning and reminder signs along the way.
By taxi :
Taxis are a convenient way to get around Sydney. They can also be the only transport option available to some locations late at night when the trains and regular buses stop.
It is usually easy enough to flag a taxi down at the kerb in the CBD, or catch one at taxi ranks located in most suburban centres. The availability of a taxi is indicated by a small yellow/orange light on the top of the “taxi” sign positioned on top of the vehicle. If the light is on, it is available for hire; if the light is off, the cab is occupied.
Beware the 3PM change over and the Friday evening rush. It can be almost impossible to get a taxi 2:30PM-3:15PM. It is just as difficult 2:30AM-3:30AM, as almost all of the drivers change over their shifts at the same time. They are similarly scarce on a Friday and Saturday evenings. Booking in advance is no guarantee, as these jobs are simply offered electronically to drivers, who may or may not accept the job. It is easily possible to wait an hour or more for a taxi booked 24 hours in advance on a Friday and Saturday evening. Ringing the taxi company back and complaining will often help (if the operators can relate to your problem, they have the ability to offer a taxi driver an incentive to take your fare). Cancelling your job and ringing another taxi company in frustration never helps as the taxi companies have handover systems that have seen your job handed over if another company had more capacity. You will just end up at the back of the queue again. Evenings other than Friday and Saturday are usually fine.
During busy times, it is also common for a taxi driver to leave the door locked and ask where you are going through the window and drive off if the destination is too close or not on their way home, even though this is illegal.
There are two meter rates: a day rate (rate 1) with a flag fall of $3, a distance rate of $1.79/km, a “waiting” rate of $0.77/min, and a booking fee of $1.50; and a night rate (rate 2 – applicable to journeys commenced between 10PM-6AM), which adds a 20% surcharge to the distance rate. All fares also attract a 10% tax. You can check the rate your taxi is using by looking for a 1 or a 2 next to the current charge: if it is set to 2, it is using the night rate. The so called “waiting” rate is charged whenever the speed drops below 25km/h. For trips in congested traffic, it is possible for large amounts of the trip to be charged at the “waiting” rate. All Sydney taxis are metered and taxi drivers will charge the metered rate, adding the charges for tolls manually. Silver Service taxis are more luxurious vehicles, but they are charged at the same rate as standard taxis.
Taxis accept all major credit cards. They charge an extra 10% on top of the fare for this.
Passengers are required to pay all tolls for their trip. In addition, passengers who are taken north over the Harbour Bridge, for which there is no toll, are required to pay the driver’s southbound toll for the return into the city (currently $3). Drivers will usually take the toll roads unless you ask them not to. If you are unsure why they are asking for an amount above that shown on the meter, just ask.
Passengers have the right to control the air conditioning and the radio so ask the driver! Whilst most taxi drivers behave acceptably, there have been reported incidences of taxi drivers behaving inappropriately towards women: it is always safer to sit in the back of the car.
Tipping is not required or generally expected. However, rounding up a taxi fare the next dollar (or five or ten dollars, depending on the base fare) is fairly common. On the other hand, if the driver rounds the fare down to the nearest dollar, accept with grace.
By public transport:
Sydney public transport consists of an extensive rail network, multiple buses and ferries, a single light-rail line and a tourist-oriented monorail. It can get you to nearly all of the city’s main attractions, especially in areas closer to the city. The farther away from the city centre you travel, the less frequent and comprehensive public transport services will tend to be.
Tickets :
The ticketing system for Sydney’s public transport is complex. There is no comprehensive system, and there is no stored value card. It can be worth spending a little time understanding where you will be travelling, as some of the tickets can save considerable amounts over multiple trips, especially if you are going to be taking ferries.
Bus drivers will check you buy or validate a ticket on entry. Ferry hands will check tickets. Trains have ticket barriers at city and major suburban stations. Minor suburban stations have no barriers but you are still expected to purchase a ticket. Transit Police (in mid-blue uniforms) are renowned for their intimidating behaviour and will generally not accept any excuses. They issue a on-the-spot fines notices for $200 and post you a reminder to pay.
Children aged 15 years and under are entitled to a discount. Also, on ferries (except private ferries), buses, and trains, you pay for only the first child when accompanied by a parent or grandparent, the other children in the same family allowed for free. Usually, no family identification is ever required for those who are obviously children, so anything that resembles a family unit will have to pay for only the first child. Children 3 years and under travel free. Student and other concessions are only available to those issued with a NSW transport student identification card. This card is only issued to students enrolled and resident in NSW or the ACT. Seniors fares are available to anyone with an Australian Seniors Card. Accordingly, overseas visitors are not entitled to student or senior concessions.
CityRail train tickets allow you to make as many transfers as required but you may not break your journey (leave a station) or your ticket will become invalid and you will have to pay again. Other forms of transport do not permit any forms of transfer, and you will need a ticket for each trip or some form of pass ticket (described below).
Single tickets are available for all forms of public transport, covering a single trip (one bus, one ferry, or until you leave the train station). Fares are based on distance bands. You can buy tickets for cash on all services except prepay-only buses. Single bus tickets (called “MyBus” and coloured blue) are also available at newsagents and convenience stores near bus stops. All bus stops within the Sydney CBD and major bus interchanges are pre-pay only on weekdays between 7AM and 7PM. If boarding a bus at any of these stops you will not be able to pay on the bus and will need a pre-pay ticket.
Ten trip tickets are available for buses and ferries at a 20% discount over normal fares. They will be useful if staying in an area where you need to catch a bus or ferry to travel to and from the city for a number of day. You should ask for a “MyBus Ten Trip” or a “MyFerry Ten Trip” ticket respectively. Tickets are distance based, so the trips taken must be for the same distances on the bus or ferry (there are two distance bands for ferries, and three for buses). You can buy Ten-Trip MyBus tickets at many newsagents or convenience stores near bus stops, or at train station ticket windows, or on ferries, but not on buses. There is no equivalent ticket for the trains.
Return tickets are available only on the trains. Prices after 9AM or on weekends are considerably cheaper than two singles. The return trip can be made at any time up to 4AM the following day or on a nightride bus the next morning. There are no return tickets on buses, and although ferry returns are available, they are the same as two single tickets). The off-peak discount is not available for single tickets. Children pay a maximum of $2.80 to for a return trip in Sydney on the trains off-peak (plus the airport gate fee for airport line stations).
For one day multi-modal unlimited use of buses, trains and Sydney Ferries (not private ferries, the light rail or the monorail) in the entire greater Sydney region (which extends to the Blue Mountains, Wollongong, Goulburn and the Hunter Valley) you can purchase a MyMulti Day Tripper ticket (adults $20, children $10).
A one week multi-modal unlimited ticket is worth considering if you are using public transport for three or more days. MyMulti weekly tickets, which are coloured yellow, are based on zones. A MyMulti 1 ($41) will cover all buses and ferries (not private ferries) throughout Sydney and trains within within 10 km of the city centre. A MyMulti-2 ($48) covers everything the MyMulti-1 does and includes trains nearly to the outskirts of Sydney. A MyMulti-3 ($57) covers the entire metro area and beyond: if you are planning on travelling further afield from Sydney (for example, to the South Coast beaches, Newcastle, or to the Blue Mountains by train), this ticket may be well worth it. If you purchase the ticket after 3PM, you get the remainder of that day and the next 7 days.
A SydneyPass tickets ($115/3 days), allows unlimited travel for up to 8 days including tourist services, and includes fares to and from the airport. [18]. Consider this only if you want to take the City Sightseeing Sydney Explorer services.
A Family Funday Sunday Ticket. These tickets are to encourage family travel on public transport on Sundays. They are $2.50 each and allow unlimited travel across a wide area of central and suburban Sydney including Newcastle and Wollongong on buses, trains and ferries. The group must consist of at least one adult and one child related by family. Children under 4 years of age travel free. Tickets are available from ticket sellers and bus drivers. Better value than most other tickets on Sundays. Although there are many opportunities for unlimited exploring with this ticket on a Sunday, take care if planning to use outer suburban or regional buses, many of which run extremely infrequently or not at all on a Sunday.
Transport Infoline, ☎ 13 15 00, . 24 hours. Information on fares and route planning for all public transport in Sydney. Available online and by telephone edit
TransitShops, Circular Quay (cnr of Loftus & Alfred Sts) or Wynyard under Wynyard Park. Information on fares and route planning for all public transport in Sydney, all travelpass and travelten sales, accepts credit cards edit
By train :
Sydney has an extensive suburban rail network operated by CityRail . Cityrail operates with at least every 30 min to all metropolitan stations (apart from the (dark blue) Carlingford Line and stations between Riverstone and Richmond on the (yellow) Western Line). It is usually every 15 min frequencies to major destinations and transit hubs such as Chatswood, Bondi Junction, Hurstville, Parramatta, Bankstown, Blacktown, and Liverpool. The Cityrail timetable has a weekday service and a weekend and holiday service.
Peak times (7AM-9AM and 5PM-6PM) have more speedy, frequent and crowded trains. Expect severe congestion around Town Hall. The complex rail network sometimes experiences delays, especially during rain or excessively hot days.
Few of Cityrail’s suburban trains are equipped with destination displays on the train, and you may not always hear announcements. The displays on the platform are usually clear, but you need to make sure you know where you are going and keep track of the station stops.
All stations are equipped with CCTV and trains at night have designated NightSafe carriages and station areas with emergency intercoms and security patrols, making catching trains at night a viable (and cheaper) alternative to taxis.
Outside of operating hours, between midnight (1AM on Fridays and Saturdays) and 5AM, NightRide buses are available on most routes within Sydney. Any CityRail train ticket is valid for the equivalent NightRide bus except a single. If you have no ticket, you must buy a NightRide single from the driver, which is more expensive than a single for the train. NightRide buses stop at most CityRail stations and a few additional stops, but they so not travel on the same routes. If you intend catching a NightRide bus home, check the NightRide route map on the back cover of each timetable or at the station while you are waiting for your train.
On weekends, check for trackwork before leaving for the station; CityRail will transfer passengers to buses if lines are closed for trackwork, and the process will add about half an hour to a typical journey. Trackwork will be advertised at the station for about a week before it begins. You need a the same ticket for the trackwork buses as you would for the train.
You must always purchase a ticket for the entire journey before boarding a train from either the ticket office or from the ticket machines that are located on most station as you cannot buy a ticket onboard or at the destination. Ticket offices have limited opening hours at suburban stations, and, outside of these hours, you will need to use a machine. The ticket machines accept up to $50 notes but will give only $19.90 in change (in coins) and accept only 10 coins. Ticket offices accept Visa or Mastercard for a total ticket value over $20. A handful of ticket machines also accept Visa or Mastercard at major stations if you have a PIN.
Ticket inspectors will not hesitate to fine you and accept no excuses–if you say the ticket machine was broken at the station that you boarded the train, they will check that! If you accidentally buy the wrong ticket or forget to buy a ticket, honesty is not necessarily the best policy.
Within the city area, there is a light-rail system run by Metro Light Rail . It connects Central station to Sydney/Darling Harbour, Star City Casino and the inner western suburbs.
By bus
Sydney has an extensive bus network, including a free shuttle buses in the Sydney CBD and Parramatta.
Most of the buses in the inner city and inner suburbs are run by the government owned Sydney Buses The rest of the commuter network (primarily around the outer suburbs) is run by private bus companies. These services rarely compete so you will usually have only one way of getting somewhere by bus.
You must flag down buses with an outstretched hand if you want them to stop for you–they will not automatically stop unless they need to pick someone up or drop them off.
A Sydney bus fare depends on many sections you are travelling, measured in sections of about 1.6 km (1 mi). Tickets can only be bought in cash when boarding the bus outside of the city centre or Bondi Junction interchange, and even then only on routes that are not prepay-only. In this case, you can just state your destination to the driver and pay the fare. Only single trip tickets are sold by drivers. If in the city centre, at Bondi Junction Interchange or on a prepay-only route, tickets must be pre-purchased from a ticket agent (usually a newsagent or convenience store) or a transit shop. All types of tickets, including MyBus single-ride, MyBus 10 multi-ride and MyMulti multi-modal tickets, are available from these agents.
In order to buy the correct ticket from a newsagent you will need to know how many sections your journey will be. Section ranges correspond to a colour of ticket. You can find out how many sections your trip is by calling the transport infoline (131500), asking at a transit shop at Wynyard, Circular Quay, or the QVB, or by looking at the route map in the timetable (printed or online). A ticket reseller at a newsagent or convenience store will likely have no idea of the correct ticket to sell you for your destination. Every section you travel in counts as a section. For example, to travel from Wynyard to North Sydney Station is 2 sections because you travel in sections 2 and 3. If you boarded one stop before Wynyard and exited one stop after North Sydney Station, you would have travelled in sections 1, 2, 3 and 4, so you would need a 4 section ticket. Note that 1-2 section tickets will cover any journey within the CBD.
Drivers may be able to give change for a $20 note, but still be ssafe and use only lower-denomination coins and notes.
There are two main bus termination points in the CBD, at Wynyard and Circular Quay. These two points are about 10 min by foot from each other or a one-stop train trip. You will need to make this walk if connecting from buses arriving from north of the harbour bridge to buses heading east or west, or vice versa. Bus information centres are located at both Wynyard and Circular Quay.
The red Metrobuses (route 10 and route 20) runs between Leichhardt and Kingsford via the city and Oxford Street and Mascot and Artarmon respectively. They accept only prepaid tickets and run every ten minutes or so, with no timetable. This bus attempts to be visitor-friendly, with electronic next stop displays, but often do not work.
Bus stops are not numbered and on most buses there is nothing on the bus to tell you which stop you are approaching or which stop you are at. There are no poster maps on the bus either. If you are not sure where you are getting off, pick up or print out the timetable, which has a route map on it and watch for landmarks as you pass. Also, if you take a bus marked “Limited Stops” or “Express” (the route number will start with an L or an X), make sure that the bus stops where you want it to! Limited stops services stop only at major stops so they may give you a very long walk if you miss your stop. Express services can run very far from the city express before resuming a normal stopping pattern. All normally numbered buses stop at all stops, so missing your stop or getting off one stop early is a less serious mistake.
From midnight to 5AM, most buses cease running with the exception of a few trunk routes that run at a reduced frequency including the 373, which runs 24 h a day between the city and Coogee.
Outside of the city and inner suburbs, private bus companies are contracted to provide services, and operate with varying degrees of frequency and reliability. Expect significantly reduced services on weekends and off-peak, and many services stop running around 9PM.
Tourist buses
Sydney Explorer and Bondi and Bays Explorer ($35/$20) is a open-top double-decker tour bus visiting 25 destinations in a loop around the city running every 20 min. It has one a route around Sydney and one to Bondi Beach. The two routes connect at Central Station. Day tickets include both services.
By ferry :
A Sydney ferry
Sydney Ferries central hub is at Circular Quay at the north of the CBD. Ferries run up the Parramatta River via Balmain and Olympic Park, across to Luna Park, around to Darling Harbour, and out to Manly, across to the Zoo and to Watsons Bay. Also, they also go to Garden island and Cockatoo Island. They run only within the harbour, so you can’t get a ferry to Bondi. Ferries run to most destinations at least every hour, with additional peak services, and half hourly services to Manly and Darling Harbour.
More than just a utilitarian means of transport, the ferries are a great way to see the harbourside. The best ferry excursion for visitors is from Circular Quay to Manly. Be prepared to take a stunning photograph of the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge as you leave Circular Quay.
Trips to Balmain and Darling Harbour offer other great excuses to take a ferry trip under the Harbour Bridge.
At peak periods the Parramatta River ferries can fill to capacity, and you should ensure that you have an alternative for completing your trip. Passenger counts are strictly enforced. Peak periods are weekends around 4PM-6PM at Parramatta and Circular Quay, and school holiday weekdays 4PM-6PM at Darling Harbour (heading to Parramatta) (you are okay if you board at Circular Quay, where the ferry starts). The Manly and inner-harbour ferries can get busy, but it is very rare that they reach capacity.
By light rail and monorail:
The Metro Light Rail and Monorail may be useful for travelling between Sydney City and Darling Harbour, the casino, and Pyrmont.
The Metro Light Rail operates one route from Central to Lilyfield (in the inner western suburbs) via Haymarket (Paddy’s Market, Entertainment Centre), Darling Harbour, and Star City Casino. Although extensions are planned, the Light Rail is still rather small, yet it is very reliable with services every 10-15 minutes. Combined tickets are available when travelling on Cityrail and the Metro Light Rail (ask for a “TramLink” ticket at a CityRail station; they are not available on board the tram).
The Sydney Monorail runs on a loop through connecting Town Hall, World Square and Darling Harbour. The monorail is really only for tourists and is more a ride than it an effective means of transport. It is expensive, and if travelling to Darling Harbour it can be just as quick to walk as it is to catch the monorail.
By bike :
If you are a fit and experienced urban cyclist, used to riding on multi-lane roads in heavy traffic, then just get on your bike. Cyclists are permitted just about everywhere on Sydney’s roads, except for of some freeway tunnels where bicycle signs will usually direct you to the alternative route. Kerbside lanes are often narrow, so ride assertively, be seen, and take the full lane when you know there is insufficient room to be passed.
The city centre is not particularly cyclist friendly traffic-wise. It is not flat either, and you can expect regular hills but no marathon uphill climbs. The weather is, however, usually good for cycling. Recent segregated bicycle routes have made the most famous tourist traps rather bicycle-accessible i.e. Darling Harbour, Circular Quay, Chinatown areas
Areas off the beaten track such as the open Barangaroo space, Sydney Observatory grounds, Pirrama Park, Darling Island Wharf, Botanic Gardens, Sydney Harbour Bridge Cycleway, Milson’s Point and Woolloomooloo from Finger Wharf to Surry Hills are now far more accessible, as are obscure places with excellent views of the Sydney skyline such as Embarkation Park and Sydney Park. A visitor should be able to work out a tourist-friendly route, otherwise, it is very much worth seeking out an experienced local rider as a guide. A view at the destinations offered by Bonza Bike Tours, a local bicycle sightseeing group, should provide an idea of which areas are reachable by a visitor on a bicycle, when guided.
If you are looking for a quieter ride, a number of quiet on-road and shared pedestrian/cycle paths are available, but can be hard to find. A good place to start is at Sydney Olympic Park where you can get your cycle legs on the extensive off-road trails; then, if you want to, you can follow off-road/quiet road trails out to Parramatta or following the Cooks River to Botany Bay in Southern Sydney. The Harbour Bridge has a dedicated cycle lane, suitable for all ages, but as soon as you get off the bridge you are back onto urban streets in Milsons Point.
It is illegal to ride bicycles on footpaths unless cycling with children under 12. In reality this is fairly weakly enforced out in the suburbs, but it is common for people to be fined for cycling through pedestrian malls in the city like Pitt St Mall or Martin Place. Bicycle helmets are required by law, as are lights and reflectors at night. Road rules applying to cyclists and maps of cycleways in the greater Sydney area are provided by the state government authority but are not comprehensive, and indicated cycle routes can sometimes be busy roads with car-door lanes.
Bicycles can be taken on all Cityrail trains, but a child fare should be paid if any part of the journey is made before 9AM or after 3:30PM on weekdays. Check trackwork schedules on weekends , when buses replace trains and make taking bicycles more challenging.
Bike hire is available in many locations in Sydney. Unfortunately, bike hire for two bikes for a day usually costs more than hiring a small car and petrol for the day; however, for shorter periods some places may be reasonably priced (for example Sydney Olympic Park). Also, you have to consider the cost if the bikes are stolen or damaged. However, they are much easier to park, are greener and can be more fun. See the district articles for bike hire listings.
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