I will be visiting Sydney next week for three days and I am unsure on how I should travel around the city. I will be travelling from Darling Harbour to Bondi on a daily basis.
Is there a transport card I can use that will allow me 3 days of unlimited travel on bus and trains? What would be my best option? Thanks.
Yes as markfawkner says Opal card - there use to be a daily MyMulti Day Pass - however my understanding is this no longer sold and as at 1 Jan 2016 you basically need an Opal card - Opal card can be used on train, buses, ferries - http://www.transportnsw.info/en/tickets/tickets-opal-fares/opal-card.page?#cardsforall
The Opal card is free, and to obtain it you put funds onto it (can be bought from many convenience stores).
As the others said, capped at $15 per day ($2.50 day on Sunday).
By what means do you come to sydney, and depart sydney?
Thanks for all the info. I will be arriving in Sydney via domestic flights. How much will I need on an Opal card for return travel to Bondi from Darling Harbour? Bus or train.
Opal cards as all tickets in Sydney work on times, it is cheaper to travel on a Sunday than other days, plus on other days it is cheaper to travel outside peak hour times. Normal peak hour fare from Bondi to City (Darling Harbour) is $3.40 one way but if you travel outside peak hour its $2.40 one way. Peak hour is 7.00am-9.00am and 4.00pm-6.30pm, meaning if you travel outside these times you pay non-peak fare. Fare is same for bus and train.
Buy the Opal from a retailer at the airport, but DO NOT catch the train, as it will have a gate fee.
Go outside onto the public road, watch for a 400 bus, this will go the long way around to Bondi Junction Railway Station.
Cheapest.
Gate fee for the airport train is $13 each entry and exit!
WH Smith on the arrivals section of either will sell an Opal to you, pay with cash no credit card surcharge, pay with any visa/mastercard/amex/diners you get pinged $0.20.
I do believe there is a purchase price/deposit on getting the card, even before adding on any money to it.
Bus go by sections, ((sydneybuses.info)) has the details.
Or ((sydneytrains.info)).
Add www. to the above 2.
https://www.opal.com.au/en/asset/96de8243-621e-4aa1-8842-b50f36425bd8/opal_refund_and_transfer_policy_form.pdf
You can get a refund, except the probable "purchase price/non deposit", as unwanted is part of the conditions of refund, just say you are a tourist, which is true.
Can put $50 credit, plus $10 I think was the "purchase price/non deposit" and any leftover you get back.
On your departure from Sydney Airport, you can go to the counter in the basement of the walkway between T2/T3 at Sydney Airport and ask for a refund, without going through the gate.
If you want to get into Sydney city centre, you can put $100 on the card, and this will cover the $13 to get into the airport railway station concourse and $13 to get out after the 3 days.
Train fares are above this $13 x 2.
Do you really have to go into Sydney CBD that first day, if yes, then just be prepared to pay the $13 that first day, plus $3.38 for the train fare.
Always remember to tap/touch on and touch off trains and buses or you get pinged a default fare.
To clarify one doesn't buy an Opal card nor does a retailer sell an opal card as they are free. I've heard of AirBnB hosts saying the cards have a cost which guests need to cover - this is not true. The Opal card is free and widely available in the inner city.
You obtain an Opal card and then load it with value, for adults the minimum load is $10, the next value which can be loaded is $20.
Three great features of Opal:
1. $2.50 all day Sunday travel in the NSW greater metro area from Nowra to Dungog to Scone to Goulbun
2. Transfers on the same mode charge one fare for the total distance not multiple fares for multiple buses
3. The one hour transfer, allowing you to break your journey for up to an hour, or as I do make my journey, get what I need in around 45 minutes, and then return home which mean I only pay the minimum bus fare of $2.10
As for the journey from Darling Harbour to Bondi it depends on where in Bondi. If the junction walk to Town Hall railway and take the train. If Bondi Beach take the bus - 333 or the 380. The very long but oh so lovely 389 goes to North Bondi and the Junction but not Bondi Beach or Bondi Road. All three services travel along Elizabeth Street, catch them across the road and down a bit from David Jones'.
If you're staying on the western side of Darling Harbour you could also take the tram to Central railway and from there take the ESR to the junction but that total journey would be most expensive.
The suggestion on avoiding the gate fee and the route 400 seems odd and gee a massive time suck. Just take the train.
This topic has been automatically locked due to inactivity. Email community@lonelyplanet.com if you would like to add to this topic and we'll unlock it for you.