Get to grips with Sydney's public transport system

Get to grips with Sydney's public transport system

It's no secret that Sydney is a big city. Whether you're visiting for the first time or you're an inner-city local, it can still be daunting to try and navigate its busy central streets. The Australian Bureau of Statistics puts Greater Sydney's population at 4.76 million people, and regular visitors will notice this swell every year - so how can you get around?

Thankfully, the Sydney CBD has a sophisticated and reliable public transport system that makes it easy to get from A to B, allowing you to get swept up in the magic of exploring the stunning city without losing your bearings or worrying about how you'll get home. Various transport options operate virtually throughout the day and night, making this an accessible, reliable and incredibly affordable way of seeing the city.

If your list of things to do in Sydney is jam-packed with attractions in every corner of the city, the Opal card is a great option. Simply load it up with cash and use it to pay for all public transport in the city, including train, bus and ferry travel. You can buy this online or at Opal retailers around the city. With caps on daily fares and rewards for travelling frequently, this is a great option for your holiday travel.

Train

Use Sydney Trains to travel within inner suburban Sydney and the wider New South Wales area, giving you the chance to get to places such as the Blue Mountains, Southern Highlands and Hunter Valley quickly and efficiently. Colour-coded lines help you figure out which train you need, with ticket prices based on how far you travel and your number of stops. Rail lines lead into the City Circle, a loop around Sydney's CBD, and stop off at places such as Wynyard, the Town Hall, St James, Museum and Circular Quay.


"Don't panic about getting around Sydney when you're visiting the glittering city - just follow these steps to help make your public transport experience easy."


If you're not a fan of crowds, you may want to avoid catching trains into and out of the CBD during peaks hours - between 6am and 9am, and 5pm and 7pm on weekdays. These times see two thirds of all weekday train trips occur, which can cause a bit of a tight squeeze.

Bus

You can board a bus to get to pretty much anywhere you want to go in Sydney, with a MyBus ticket or Opal card ideal for those who plan on travelling this way frequently during their stay.

There are central bus terminals in Circular Quay, Town Hall, Central Station and Wynyard, with one-way passes, multi-trip tickets and hop-on, hop-off options available. Buses can help connect you to areas in Sydney that trains cannot access, and you can use trains and buses together to help get you to your dream destination. Catch a bus from the train station to get to Bondi beach, or catch a service direct to Homebush to pick up some DFO bargains.

There's a free shuttle bus which operates through the city centre, and you can get to tourist destinations such as The Rocks and Manly easily via bus.

Ferry

Sydney's ferry system is just as reliable as trains and buses, and provides a more scenic way to get around this beautiful area. Get from the CBD to beautiful suburbs such as Balmain, Manly, Parramatta, Darling Harbour and Cockatoo Island quickly and easily. The ferries access a whopping 38 wharves from Manly through to eastern suburbs and areas adjacent to Parramatta River. You can use your Opal card to get from the city to the zoo and other top tourist destinations aboard a ferry, presenting a unique, efficient and affordable way to experience Sydney.





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