Destination Guides > Australia > New South Wales > Sydney > Local Transport
Sydney
Local Transport
Sydney has an extensive transport network comprised of buses, trains, ferries, monorail and a tram. It is pretty easy to get around the city on public transport but it’s an expensive system if you don’t have a weekly TravelPass.
You can get general information at www.131500.com.au or by calling 13 15 00.
TRAIN
CityRail (tel 13 15 00; website www.cityrail.info) is Sydney’s comprehensive suburban Train network, which has a good coverage of the western suburbs and the city centre. Most travellers use the Airport, City Circle and Eastern Suburbs lines, which run mostly underground and connect the city centre to Bondi Junction and the airport.
Four stations on the Airport Line (website www.airportlink.com.au) are not run by CityRail and require either an individual ticket or payment of a GatePass (station access fee). A GatePass costs $10.80 for the Domestic and International airport terminals and $2.20 for Green Square and Mascot stations. It is possible to buy a weekly GatePass or a DayTripper or TravelPass with the GatePass included.
At around $2.60 for a ride in the city centre and increasing to $13.40 for the short hop between the domestic and international airport terminals it can be an expensive way to get around if you don’t buy a CityHopper, DayTripper or a weekly TravelPass. See below for more information on fares.
BUS
Sydney’s buses (Transport Infoline tel 13 15 00; website www.sydneybuses.info) are a handy way to get to all the spots not covered by the train network, which includes most of Sydney’s beaches and some neighbourhoods in the inner west such as Balmain and Glebe. Although traffic can hold buses up, they run frequently and are generally a reliable way to get around.
Bus fares are calculated by distance. The cheapest bus fare is $1.80 and the most expensive is $5.80. Most of the bus routes popular with travellers cost $3.
There are also the Bondi and Sydney Explorer buses that are operated specifically for tourists and run a circuit between the main sights. Forget about these, they’re way overpriced at $39 for a day pass – it’s cheaper to buy a weekly TravelPass.
FERRY
Sydney’s ferries (website www.sydneyferries.info) are the nicest way to get around and a cheaper alternative to the touristy harbour cruises. All ferries terminate at Circular Quay in the city centre with departures to destinations around the harbour. Most ferries depart at half-hourly intervals.
Ferry fares start at $5.20 for a short hop in the inner harbour and increase to $8.20 for the JetCat to Manly. The most popular ferry route with travellers is the Manly ferry, which costs $6.40 each way.
MONORAIL
The Monorail (website www.metromonorail.com.au) looks cool and runs right through the city centre, but it is almost completely useless as a way to get around. It runs a circular route in only one direction taking in Pitt Street, Chinatown and Darling Harbour. It is good fun to take a joy ride around the city, but the $4.80 fare is overpriced considering you can walk between Pitt Street and Darling Harbour in about 10 minutes.
The Monorail is not included in any TravelPass ticket but you can buy a day pass for $9.50.
TRAM (METRO LIGHT RAIL)
Sydney’s light rail is a tram route designed to complement the monorail. It is a bit like a premetro, running through rail tunnels in Glebe and Pyrmont and then on the streets like a tram when it gets into the city centre. It is a much more useful transport option than the monorail as it actually goes somewhere. The route starts right outside Central Station and trams run through Chinatown, Darling Harbour, Pyrmont, Glebe and Rozelle Bay to Lilyfield. The Glebe and Jubilee Park stops are handy for travellers staying at hostels in the Glebe area.
The tram is quite expensive compared to the bus with fares ranging from $3.20 to $4.20. Day passes cost $9 but the $20 weekly pass is better value. The Metro Light Rail (MLR) tram is not included in any TravelPass ticket.
MULTIPLE TRIP TICKETS
Multiple trip tickets are a good deal if you’re staying in Sydney for a while, but don’t travel regularly enough on public transport to get value from a weekly TravelPass.
TravelTen
The TravelTen pass is valid for ten bus trips. There is a colour coded range of TravelTen passes based on the number of sections travelled. Prices range from $14.40 for a Blue TravelTen that allows ten short trips of up to two sections to $46.40 for an Orange TravelTen for ten long trips of 16 sections or more. The Brown TravelTen pass is probably the most useful for most travellers and is good for ten rides of three to five sections, which is basically ten trips between Glebe and the city centre. The Brown TravelTen costs $24 whereas ten separate bus tickets would cost you $30.
DAY PASSES
Although these aren’t as good value as the weekly tickets, the limited range of day passes is worth considering if you’re only in Sydney for a day or two. However if you’re going to be in Sydney for more than two days, it is cheaper to buy a weekly Red or Green TravelPass.
The various day passes include:
CityHopper
This ticket is good for one day unlimited train travel between the 11 stations in the central Sydney area that is bounded by Kings Cross, North Sydney and Redfern. The CityHopper costs $7.40 ($5.20 off peak).
DayTripper
The DayTripper allows you to travel all day on buses, trains and ferries for $16. The area covered by this pass corresponds with that of the Purple TravelPass, but you need to pay a GatePass (station access fee) if you want to get off at stations on the Airport line.
A DayTripper is a good deal if you’re only in Sydney for a day or two.
SydneyPass
This is the most extensive of the day passes but it is also priced out of reach of most budget travellers. It includes unlimited travel almost everywhere on buses, trains and ferries and includes the Bondi and Sydney Explorer buses and train stations on the Airport line.
A three-day SydneyPass costs a whopping $110, a five-day pass is $145 and a seven-day pass costs $165. It is amazing that people actually buy this ticket when the TravelPass is a much cheaper alternative.
TRAVELPASS TICKETS
There are a number of passes for regular commuters to bring down the otherwise high cost of travelling around Sydney. The TravelPass tickets are available in various configurations including bus only; bus & ferry and train, bus and ferry. The monorail and MLR tram are not covered by the TravelPass.
Most travellers will find the Red and Green TravelPasses the most useful although the bus & ferry and bus only passes offer a slightly cheaper alternative. The various TravelPasses include:
Red TravelPass
This is probably the most handy pass. It allows travel on trains in the central area as far north as Chatswood, west to Croydon, Canterbury and Bardwell Park and south to Rockdale. It also allows travel on Sydney buses in zones 1, 3, 6, & 7 which covers most of the nearby beaches including Bondi and Coogee. Travel on inner harbour ferries is also included, but you cannot take ferries as far afield as Manly or Parramatta. There is an extra charge for stations on the Airport line. A weekly Red TravelPass is $35.
Green TravelPass
This pass covers a slightly larger area than the red pass and is handy if you’re staying in Manly. Train travel on this pass can go as far north as Chatswood or Epping, west to Lidcombe, Regents Park or Kingsgrove and south to Kogarah. You can travel on Sydney Buses in zones 1 to 8 and all ferries except the Manly JetCat. There is an extra charge for stations on the Airport line. A weekly Green TravelPass is $43.
Yellow TravelPass
This pass is similar to the Green TravelPass but you can take the train as far as Parramatta. A weekly Yellow TravelPass is $47.
Pink TravelPass
This pass is the same as the Yellow TravelPass but you can take the train as far as Liverpool, Seven Hills, Hornsby, Holsworthy, Engadine or Carringbah. A weekly Pink TravelPass is $50.
Purple TravelPass
This pass is good for unlimited train travel in the area bounded by Bondi Junction, Cowan, Carlingford, Richmond, Emu Plains, Macarthur, Otford, Cronulla and Olympic Park stations. It is also good for travel on all buses and ferries in zones 1 to 11 (except the Manly Jetcat before 7pm). A weekly Purple TravelPass is $57.
Blue TravelPass
This pass allows travel on buses in zones 1, 3, 6 and 7 and inner harbour ferries. A weekly Blue TravelPass is $32.
Orange TravelPass
This pass allows travel on buses in zones 1 to 8 and all ferries except the Manly JetCat. A weekly Orange TravelPass is $40.
Pittwater TravelPass
This pass allows travel on buses in all zones and all ferries except the Manly JetCat. A weekly Pittwater TravelPass is $55.
Two Zone TravelPass
This pass allows travel on buses in two adjacent zones but is not valid in Zone 1. A weekly Two Zone TravelPass is $32.
