Sydney Public Transport

Sydney public transport includes cityrail, buses and Sydney ferries. If you are a tourist or just want to get quickly to some of Sydney attractions or inner suburbs hop on the monorail or tram. Or get a taxi.

With its huge urban footprint Sydney needs a strong infrastructure and public transport.

While the infrastructure is good, you need to plan ahead and gather information if you want to use the public transport.

The infrastructure is continuously developing with more roads being built from scratch or modernised.

Like the construction of the M7 motorway at the left, finished in 2005.

Other recent road projects include the cross city tunnel and Lane Cove tunnel.

They shorten travel time but don’t come cheap.

For example if you catch a taxi you will pay the fare plus all the tolls that apply to some roads, bridge, tunnels or airport. The driver will probably ask you whether you want to take a route with tolls or an alternative longer route.

Sydney Public Transport - Cityrail

There is no train to get you to the Hills area which has a growing population.

There is no rail to get you to the beaches. Cronulla beach is the only exception. Then there is the Bondi Junction station but you have to catch a bus to get to the famous Bondi Beach.

If you travel just around the city centre use the city circle lines. Some stations are underground, others above ground.

There are 7 stations that loop around the centre from Central to Circular Quay and up to Museum.

If you go to the suburbs use the other cityrail lines. All of them have connections to the city circle.

Sydney Public Transport – Buses

Different bus services run in the other areas of Greater Sydney.

How to recognise a bus stop?

• Some bus stops have a shelter with timetables and maps on its walls.
• Other stops have a pole with a bus sign and the timetable. But in the suburbs the bus stops signs can hang on a power pole. And there's no timetable.

Buses run rather often during peak hours but have limited services off peak.

In the outer suburbs of Sydney the off peak buses are quite scarce.

To get you started pick a bus timetable and route map at a ticket shop. You will then know how much you have to wait and where the bus will take you.

The route number is on the front of the bus. Wave your hand so that the driver knows that you want to get on the bus, otherwise they will not stop. To get off the bus look for a red stop button on the walls or on handrails and press it.

Enter through the front door and insert your ticket into the ticket machine or pay to the driver in cash. Exit from the rear door. Some buses are prepaid - you need to purchase your ticket in advance.

If you want to travel around the City for business or shopping then there is a free CBD (Central Business District) shuttle bus that you can use. Check the time as it runs in the morning and early afternoon on week days and a bit longer on weekends.

Sydney Public Transport -
Sydney Ferries

You can also discover some of Sydney attractions such as Taronga Zoo, Darling Harbour, Manly Beach, Luna Park or see Sydney Olympic Park.

Sydney ferries are a great way to commute to work if you live and work in suburbs around the harbour.

Sydney Public Transport –
Monorail and Tram

You'll ride some 5 metres above the ground and get a better view of the street.

The tram (light rail) will take you to the Fish market and then to the inner western suburbs up to Lilyfield.

Sydney Public Transport -
What Tickets and Where to Buy Them?

As of April 2010 there are new fares in Sydney. If you use more than one public transport service buy a MyMulti ticket for a day, week, month, quarter or year. It will allow you to travel as much as you want on all buses and Sydney ferries during the respective period.

There are three MyMulti tickets. With any of them you can travel on Cityrail, in addition to buses and ferries. Tell your ticket vendor what rail station you want to go to and they will tell you what ticket to get. For example to get around the City and north to Chatswood you need a MyMulti 1. To go to Parramatta or Hornsby get a My Multi 2.

For Sydney buses only, pay cash to the driver or purchase in advance a MyBus TravelTen - 10 tickets which come with a discount. Some buses will only accept a prepaid ticket.

If you are a visitor or want to make the most of one day buy a MyMulti Day Pass to use on any train, bus and Sydney ferries.

To buy tickets go to cityrail train stations, Sydney buses transit shops or ferries wharves. You can also find them at some newsagents and convenience stores.

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