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Scenic drive across Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney

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Getting around Sydney

An efficient network of transport options connects the attractions and suburbs of Sydney and regional NSW, including buses, trains, ferries and light rail.  

Sydney public transport 

Transport for NSW provides a variety of ways to get around the city, as well as information for motorists. Use the trip planner at  transportnsw.info  to plan your travel. 

Opal card info  

The Opal card is an easy, convenient way of paying for your travel on public transport in Sydney. It can be used on all public transport, including trains, ferries, buses and light rail. There are daily and weekly caps on the Opal network, meaning you can travel as much as you like within the Opal network and you never pay more than the capped fare. The Sydney Airport station access fee isn’t included in the travel caps.  

Opal cards can be obtained from train stations and the domestic and international airport, as well as many  retailers across the city. For more information, visit  opal.com.au.  

You can also pay with contactless-enabled American Express, Mastercard or Visa credit or debit cards or a linked device, by tapping on and tapping off at Opal readers. Contactless payments are available on all public transport in the Opal network and you will receive the same travel benefits of an Adult Opal card. 

Ferries on Sydney Harbour

Ferries on Sydney Harbour

Sydney buses 

Buses form a key part of Sydney’s public transport system, connecting all areas of the city, including those without rail or water transport. There are also NightRide services replacing most train routes between midnight and 4:30am. 

Key bus routes include: 

  • 333 – Connecting Circular Quay to Bondi 
  • B1 – Wynyard to Mona Vale 
  • 373 – Connecting Museum to Coogee 
  • 380 - Watsons Bay to Bondi Junction 

Family enjoying a guided tour of Sydney with Big Red Bus Tours, Sydney

Family enjoying a guided tour of Sydney with Big Red Bus Tours, Sydney

Sydney rail  

Sydney's main terminus for local and regional trains and buses is Central Station at Railway Square, close to Chinatown. Trains operate North to the CBD and across the harbour to North Sydney and beyond, as well as east to Bondi Junction and South past and including Sydney Airport. Sydney train maps and train timetables can be found at  Transport NSW .    

Sydney light rail 

The L1 Inner West Light Rail network operates in both directions between Central Station and Dulwich Hill in Sydney’s West. The CBD and South East Light Rail includes the L2 Randwick Line connecting Circular Quay to Randwick and the L3 Kingsford Line between Circular Quay and Junior Kingsford.  Visit Transport NSW for more information and for a Sydney Light Rail map.      

Tramlines running down George Street, Sydney CBD

Tramlines running down George Street, Sydney CBD 

Sydney ferries 

Ferries provide a fast and convenient way to cross the harbour, as well as offering a fantastic vantage point of the city. From Circular Quay you can take the Manly Fast Ferry or F1 to Manly, the F2 to Taronga Zoo and the F4 to Watsons Bay and Rose Bay. 

Captain Cook also operates ferries between various locations including between Watsons Bay and Manly, Circular Quay and Clifton Gardens and from Circular Quay to Shark Island.  

Scenic sunrise views over Sydney Harbour from Goat Island, Sydney Harbour

View at sunrise of Goat Island , Sydney Harbour

River ferries

The river ferry travels up the Parramatta River from Circular Quay to Parramatta, with stops along the way including Cockatoo Island, Cabarita and Sydney Olympic Park. The full journey takes about 90 minutes depending on stops. 

Friendship Ferry cruising under Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Harbour

Friendship Ferry cruising under Sydney Harbour Bridge , Sydney Harbour

A bicycle is a great way to get around Sydney. Cyclists use kerbside bike lanes and are permitted on most of Sydney's multi-lane roads.  Find Sydney cycle maps, routes and more information . 

Family enjoying a ride on their hired bicycles from Bonza Bike Tours, Royal Botanic Garden

Bonza Bike Tours , Royal Botanic Garden

Driving in Sydney 

Australians drive on the left-hand side of the road. If you’re travelling from overseas, you are able to drive in Australia with your foreign driver's licence for three months, as long as that licence is in English. If your licence is not in English, you will need to attain an International Drivers Permit (IDP) to use in Australia. 

Seat belts are compulsory in Australia, with the driver responsible for ensuring all passengers are wearing them. Using hand-held mobile phones is prohibited. The blood alcohol limit is 0.05% throughout Australia and is enforced with random breath tests. Pay attention to speed limits – speed cameras are used across Sydney and NSW. 

Shops and cafes lined up along Oxford Street, Paddington

Shops and cafes lined up along Oxford Street, Paddington

Parking in Sydney 

Parking can be limited and expensive in the CBD and close to popular beaches. Many of Sydney’s streets are restricted to permit holders, with time limits applied to non-permit holders or with metered parking. Fees range from $2.50 to $8 per hour depending on the location and time of day. 

The cheapest way to park in the city centre is to pre-book online.  Secure  and  Wilson  parking offer cheaper advance rates and  parkopedia.com  is also a useful resource when looking for parking. If parking on the street, ensure you park in line with traffic. 

Jacaranda trees in full bloom along McDougall Street, Kirribilli

Jacaranda trees in full bloom along McDougall Street, Kirribilli

Toll roads 

Sydney has a number of toll roads and tunnels, including the Harbour Bridge, Harbour Tunnel, Cross City Tunnel and Eastern Distributor. This is charged via an electronic system. If you have a rental car, it will most likely have an e-tag installed and you will be billed at a later date. If you don’t have an e-tag, you can obtain one from the following websites: 

roam.com.au  

linkt.com.au  

myetoll.com.au  

If you pass through a toll road without a tag, ensure you call the number advertised to pay the toll, otherwise, you may incur a fine. 

The Cahill Expressway leading into Sydney's CBD, Sydney CBD

The Cahill Expressway, Sydney CBD

Car rentals in Sydney 

You’ll find a range of car rental options in Sydney, including car, 4WD, campervan and classic car  hire .     

Electric vehicle charging points 

Electric vehicle charging points can be found across Sydney and NSW. Make sure you check their locations before setting out on your journey. You can find a full list on the  Electric Vehicle Council website . 

Electric car charger at Mountain Ridge Wines, Coolangatta

Electric car charger at Mountain Ridge Wines, Coolangatta 

Taxis & private transport 

Taxis and water taxis are a convenient way to get around Sydney. Rideshare services also operate in Sydney and include Uber, Ola and Didi. 

  • Legion Cabs : 13 14 51 
  • Premier Cabs : 13 10 17 
  • Silver Service Cabs : 13 31 00 
  • St George Cabs : 13 21 66 
  • 13CABS : 13 22 27 
  • Wheelchair Accessible Taxis (WATS)  
  • Fantasea Yellow Water Taxis : 1800 326 822 
  • Water Taxis Combined : 02 9555 8888 
  • V.I.P Water Taxis : 0418 847 777   
  • Majestic Water Taxi : 0439 625 377 

Family enjoying the views aboard a Majestic Water Taxi, Sydney Harbour

Family enjoying the views aboard a Majestic Water Taxi, Sydney Harbour

Travelling beyond Sydney  

Sydney airport .

Sydney Airport  is located about 9 kilometres south of Sydney's city centre in the suburb of Mascot. 

The three passenger terminals at Sydney Airport are: 

  • T1: International Terminal is used for international flights. 
  • T2: Domestic Terminal is used by domestic and regional airlines including  Jetstar ,  Rex ,  Virgin Australia  and  FlyPelican . 
  • T3: Domestic Terminal is used for  Qantas  and QantasLink domestic flights. 

Transport services such as buses, taxis, car hire, rail and shuttle bus services are conveniently located at Sydney Airport. 

Qantas plane taking off from the airport, Sydney Airport

Qantas plane taking off from the airport, Sydney Airport 

Sydney cruise terminals 

There are two  cruise ship terminals  in Sydney Harbour. The main  Overseas Passenger Terminal  is on Circular Quay’s western side in the historic Rocks and opposite the Sydney Opera House. The  White Bay Cruise Terminal  is near Anzac Bridge and is best accessed from James Craig Road in Rozelle. 

The Sea Princess cruise liner leaving Sydney Harbour, as viewed from atop the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

The Sea Princess cruise, Sydney Harbour

Intercity & Country NSW trains 

Trains depart Central Station for many NSW destinations, including the South Coast, Blue Mountains, Southern Highlands, Central Coast, North Coast, Country NSW and Outback NSW. Travelling long distances is easy and affordable on  regional train and coach services .   

Regional bus services 

Private bus companies run daily services along the coast and to regional NSW, as well as to other states from Sydney CBD and Central Station.  

  • Firefly Express : 1300 730 740 within Australia 
  • Greyhound : +61 13 14 99 
  • Murrays : +61 13 22 51 
  • Priors Scenic Express : 1800 816 234 within Australia 

Accessible transport

All ferries, trains and new buses in NSW are wheelchair accessible, providing easy access for prams and other mobility devices. You can ask for assistance boarding or leaving transport. Visit Transport for NSW’s  accessible travel  web page for more information.

People in wheelchairs accessing Barangaroo Reserve, Barangarooo

Opal Card FAQs

How does the opal card work.

Opal cards are essentially smartcard tickets used to pay for travel on public transport in Sydney. To use the Opal card, you must first load value onto it. Then at the start of your journey, you tap on at a designated Opal card reader. When you arrive at your destination, you tap off, in the same way that you tapped on, and the designated Opal card reader will display your fare. The fare is calculated according to the distance you have travelled and it is automatically deducted from the value on your Opal card account (or charged to your contactless payment card). Opal cards are reusable and must be reloaded once your account reaches low figures to continue using public transport in the Opal system network.   

How much is an Opal card?

There is no charge for an Opal card. However, when obtaining an Adult Opal card, the minimum value of $20 must be loaded onto the card. This amount is then used to pay future fares on the Opal network. The minimum value for a Child/Youth Opal card is $10 and this amount can also be used in the same way as an Adult Opal Card, to pay for future fares on the Opal network.

Where can I buy an Opal card?

Opal cards can be purchased over the counter from Opal retailers, this includes convenience stores, grocery stores, newsagents and pharmacies. Look for the Opal symbol at shops in your area to locate an Opal card retailer. 

How do I top up my Opal card?

There are many ways to top up your Opal card. The most convenient way is by logging into your account or through the Opal Travel app, registering your Opal card to your account, adding a debit or credit card and setting up an automatic top up. When your Opal card balance reaches a certain minimum value, it will automatically add a set amount by charging your card. If you prefer to do manual top ups, this can also be done through the Opal Travel app or by logging onto your account. Additionally, you can top up your Opal card over the counter at Opal retailers or the Opal top up machines available at selected stations, stops and wharves. 

Can I use my credit card instead of my Opal card?

Yes, you can use your credit card to tap on and off the Opal network system as an alternative to travelling with an Adult Opal card. American Express, Mastercard and Visa debit cards with the contactless payment symbol are also other accepted forms of contactless payments. Using any of these payment methods, you will be charged the same Adult Opal fare as you would be charged using your Opal card.  

If you have more than one payment method on your mobile device, ensure you use the same card to tap on and off the Opal system to avoid being charged the maximum default fare. 

Can you use your phone as an Opal card?

Opal cards do not come in a digital form, but you can use your iPhone (or other smart device) to tap on and off the Opal system network and pay for the fare from your digital wallets using contactless payments. Select the card you want to charge the fare to in your digital wallet and tap onto the designated Opal card reader. The Opal reader will show a “tap success” message to signify that payment has been accepted. At the end of your journey, hold the same device you tapped on with over the Opal reader until you see the confirmation that payment has been accepted.   

Is there a discount for children using Opal cards?

Yes, there are Child/Youth Opal cards that are available for children aged 4-15 years of age. Child/Youth Opal cards can also be used by full time NSW and ACT students, aged 16 and older, with a current NSW secondary student concession card. Child/Youth Opal cards can be purchased from Opal retailers or can be applied for online. The Child/Youth Opal cards provides children with discounted fares on the Opal system network. Children under the age of three travel for free on the Opal network. Contactless fares are charged at the equivalent of an Adult Opal ticket, even if used by a child or youth.  

What happens if I forget to tap on or tap off with my Opal card?

If you forget to tap on at the beginning of your journey, but tap off at the end of your trip, you will be charged the default fare for an incomplete trip. Similarly, if you tap on, but do not tap off at the end of your journey, you will also be charged the default fare amount.  

The amount of a default fare varies depending on the transportation taken: 

The default bus fare is $4.71.

The default fare on the ferry is $7.51.

The default fare using the light rail is $3.66.

The default fare for trains is $8.69.

Can two people use the same Opal card?

Only one Opal card can be used on one trip at a time. You must not tap on twice with the same Opal card to pay for another person’s trip. Technically, you can share an Opal card as long as you are not riding on the same trip. Two individual cards are needed if you plan to travel at the same time. 

What happens if I lose my Opal card?

If your registered Opal card has been lost, stolen or damaged, you can transfer the balance to another Opal card that is also registered to you. However, if you do not obtain a new Opal card and register it to your account, you will only be able to block the original lost, stolen or damaged Opal card.  

Once you have your new Opal card, you can request the balance from the lost, stolen or damaged Opal card to be transferred to your new card. Call 13 67 25 to request the balance from the original card to be transferred to your new card.

Does Opal offer any discounts?

Yes, there are a number of benefits when you travel in the Opal network with an Opal card or credit or debit card.  

Daily travel caps - travel all day in the Opal network and never pay more than $16.80 a day for Adult, $8.40 a day for Child/Youth and Concession and $2.50 a day for Gold Senior/Pensioner. 

Weekly travel caps - travel all week in the Opal network and never pay more than $50 a week for Adult, $25 a week for Child/Youth and Concession and $17.50 a week for Gold Senior/Pensioner 

Weekend travel cap - travel all day on Saturday, Sunday and public holidays and never pay more than $8.40 a day for Adult, $4.20 a day for Child/Youth or Concession and $2.50 a day for Gold Senior/Pensioner 

Weekly Travel Rewards - if you have paid for eight journeys in one week (Monday to Sunday), your fares will be half price for the rest of the week. 

30% discount with off-peak metro/train/bus/light rail fares - when you travel outside of peak times with your Opal card. 

Opal Transfer Discount - when travelling with more than one mode of transport on the same journey (train, ferry, bus or light rail), a $2 discount (adults) is applied to each transfer, within 60 minutes from the last tap off. 

Travel apps & information 

Live traffic nsw app .

Receive up to the minute news of road incidents and conditions that may affect your journey in Sydney and the NSW regions. 

Download  the Live Traffic NSW App from the App Store 

Download  the Live Traffic NSW App from Google Play 

TripView displays Sydney train, bus, ferry and light rail timetables, showing your next services. By TripView Pty Ltd. 

Download  TripView from the App Store  

Download  TripView from Google Play  

Next Station 

Next Station provides trip planning and timetables, real-time vehicle position and service alerts in multiple languages covering Sydney’s public transport network, NSW TrainLink and NSW regional buses. 

Download Next Station from the App Store  

Download Next Station from Google Play  

Next Station web app  

Sea Cliff Bridge, Wollongong

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Train advice from the Man in Seat 61...

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A beginner's guide to

Train travel in australia.

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Train travel UK & Ireland...

Train travel in europe..., train travel in asia..., train travel in africa..., train travel in america..., train travel in australasia, travelling by train in australia.

Australia is a huge country.  And the best way to appreciate its vastness is to cross it at ground level by train, in comfort.  The famous Indian Pacific links Sydney, Adelaide & Perth in 3 days, crossing the great Nullarbor Plain in the process.  Don't miss out on a visit to the 'red centre' of Australia around Alice Springs, and there's no better way to reach Alice Springs or Darwin than by the equally famous Ghan from Adelaide.  In the East, comfortable XPT trains link Sydney with Melbourne & Brisbane at affordable prices, and Queensland Railways links Brisbane with Townsville & Cairns.  On this page you'll find train times, fares, how to buy tickets, and advice on what the train & the journey are like for all the main Australian train routes.

Train route map

Interactive map: Click a route for information

Useful country information

Sydney - adelaide - perth, across australia on the indian pacific.

Australia's biggest train journey, in every sense of the word.  This is a fabulous train ride right across Australia from Sydney or Adelaide to Perth, giving you a real sense of Australia's vastness which flying simply cannot deliver.  With a cosy bed at night in your own room, a restaurant for your meals and a lounge in which to relax during the day, it's a rolling hotel.  Now run by a private company called Journey Beyond Rail ( journeybeyondrail.com.au , known as Great Southern Rail until 2019), the Indian Pacific links Sydney, Adelaide & Perth once a week all year round.  The Indian Pacific has only existed since the 1970s, when a standard gauge line was finally completed across the continent from Sydney to Perth, some 4,343km or 2,698 miles.  Today, both the Indian Pacific and its sister train the Ghan use the original stainless-steel coaches built by the American Budd company for the first Indian Pacific trains when they started running in 1973.  Suitably modernised, of course.  This train is well worth including in your grand Australian tour! 

What's it like on board the Indian Pacific?     What's the journey like?

Check times & departure dates at journeybeyondrail.com.au .   Passengers can take their cars between Adelaide & Perth on the Indian Pacific, see journeybeyondrail.com.au .  The station in Adelaide is Adelaide Parklands, formerly known as Adelaide Keswick.

Children under 4 go free, under 16s reduced rate.  Return fares are twice the one-way fare.

Gold & Platinum fares include all meals and soft drinks, beer & wine.

Note that the Pensioner fares shown on the GSR website are for Australian senior citizens only.

How to buy tickets

You can check fares & book a journey on the Indian Pacific online at journeybeyondrail.com.au .

Or you can use the contact & booking form of reliable Australian-based train ticketing specialist www.internationalrail.com.au who can arrange Indian Pacific tickets for you, wherever you live in the world. You'll normally get a quote within 24 hours.  International Rail can also sort tickets for other Australian train services, such as NSW TrainLink from Sydney to Melbourne or Brisbane. 

To buy Australian train tickets in the UK by phone, call International Rail on 0844 248 248 3 , lines open 09:00-17:00 Monday-Friday.

Railpass options

The Rail Explorer Pass was discontinued in August 2015.  You need to buy regular tickets to use the IP or Ghan.

Vacations & tours by rail

Railbookers are train travel specialists with offices in the UK, Australia & United States.  They offer customisable tour packages around Australia with travel on some or all of Australia's great trains, with train tickets, stopovers, hotels, transfers and (if necessary) flights sorted for you.

UK flag

What's a journey on the Indian Pacific like ?

The 'IP' leaves Sydney Central Station in downtown Sydney in late afternoon and threads its way through Sydney's suburban commuterland.  As night falls it climbs up through the scenic Blue Mountains passing through Katoomba, and next morning you'll wake up in arid outback country around Broken Hill.  Look out for kangaroo and emu over breakfast in the train's restaurant car!  The train arrives in Adelaide in the afternoon, with time for a city tour even if you're not stopping off, and leaves again for Perth in the early evening.  The day after leaving Adelaide the Indian Pacific crosses the hot, dusty emptiness of the famous Nullarbor Plain on the longest stretch of straight railway line in the world, 478 km or 297 miles, 'nullarbor' being Latin for 'no trees'.  The train stops long enough for you to visit the tiny community of Cook.  If you've ever wondered what the Middle of Nowhere looks like, this is it!  Once off the Nullarbor you can play 'spot the koala' over dinner as the beautiful evening sun plays over the leafy eucalyptus trees.  After dinner that evening the train used to stop at the gold rush town of Kalgoorlie for 3½ hours, long enough for a walkabout, but is passes through at 3am in its latest timetable.  Next day the train rolls into the pleasant and modern city of Perth, capital of Western Australia.  Congratulations, you've just crossed a continent!

What's it like on the Indian Pacific & Ghan ?

The Indian Pacific & the Ghan use similar equipment.  They both have two classes of accommodation, Gold Service sleepers & Platinum Service sleepers.  Both classes offer proper beds in private rooms with meals included in the restaurant car.  Platinum Service gets you a bigger room with (if you want one) a double bed, with an exclusive Platinum Service restaurant car with small lounge area.  Unfortunately, Red Service sleepers were discontinued in 2015 and Red Service reclining seats the year after, there is now no budget option.  What was originally a mode of transport with aspirations to cruise service at the top end is now an all-cruise train with prices to match.

Gold Service (formerly first class)

Gold Service passengers travel in private sleepers, either 2-berth twinettes for passengers travelling in twos or single-berth roomettes for passengers travelling alone, see the photos below.  The price per person is the same.  There's a restaurant car and a lounge car.

Queen Adelaide restaurant

The fare includes excellent 3-course meals served in the Queen Adelaide restaurant car.  Beer and standard wines are complimentary in Gold service.  Photos courtesy of DiscoverByRail.com .

Outback Explorer lounge car

During the day Gold Service passengers can use the Outback Explorer lounge (sometimes two of them) with bar & armchairs, complimentary tea & coffee always available.  The bar in the Outback Explorer lounge serves cocktails, beer & wine.  Since 2013, beer and standard wines are complimentary in Gold service.  Photos courtesy of Oliver Mann & DiscoverByRail.com

Twinette sleepers

If there's two of you, you'll get a relatively spacious 2-berth sleeper called a Twinette.  The twinette sleeping-cars have a conventional layout with a corridor along one side of the car, with compartments opening off it.  Each twinette compartment has an upper & lower bed which fold away to reveal a sofa for daytime use.  Twinettes have a tiny private bathroom with hot shower, toilet & washbasin.  Your twinette comes with comfortable freshly made-up beds, towels and a complimentary toiletries pack with soap, shampoo, razor, toothbrush, toothpaste.  The photos pretty accurately show the size of the room, with the compact shower & toilet opening off the wall to the left of shot.  Photos courtesy of James Chuang & Oliver Mann.

If you're travelling alone in Gold Service, you'll get a cosy private roomette.  Roomette sleeping-cars have a corridor snaking through the centre of the car in a series of gentle 's' curves with doors to the roomettes opening off both sides of it (the curves in the corridor maximise the space in each roomette, by making it wider at the head end).  Each roomette is only about 7 feet long by 4 feet wide, big enough for a comfy armchair, a table, and a drop-down sink in one corner, though the drop-down flush toilet originally fitted underneath each sink is now boarded up out of use.  At night, the bed folds down from behind the seat and takes up most of the room.  There's an excellent hot shower & toilets at the end of the corridor.  Roomettes come with a comfortable freshly made-up beds, towels and a complimentary toiletries pack with soap, shampoo, razor, toothbrush, toothpaste.

Platinum Service

The Ghan and Indian Pacific now feature an ultra-luxurious (and expensive!) Platinum Service, with a choice of double-bed or twin-bed sleeper compartments with private shower and toilet and extra space even compared to Gold Service.  As with Gold Service, meals are included in the fare, served in a Platinum Service restaurant car, which has a lounge area at one end.

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Adelaide - Alice Springs - Darwin

The ghan, to australia's red centre.

The lenendary Ghan is undoubtedly the best way to reach Australia's fabulous Red centre and the iconic Uluru (Ayer's Rock).  Australia's second most famous train, the Ghan links Adelaide, Alice Springs & (since 2004) Darwin, once a week all year round, twice a week from April to October.  By using the train you get a real feel for the scale of the Australian outback, which you simply don't on a plane.  Like the Indian Pacific, the Ghan is now run by Journeys Beyond Rail (formerly Great Southern Rail ), and has the same classes of accommodation & facilities:  Gold class sleepers, lounge & restaurant, see the section above .  Most departures of the Ghan now have an additional class of accommodation, the new super-deluxe Platinum Class complete with double (or twin lower) beds.

The Ghan gets its name from the (supposedly) Afghan camels and camel drivers who used to carry supplies up to Alice Springs before the railway came.  The first railway was narrow gauge, and the old Ghan was notoriously slow, taking 48 hours from Adelaide to Alice.  Only in the early 1980s was this new standard-gauge line opened taking a more direct route.  The journey time has been cut to an afternoon and a night, and the service doubled to twice weekly for much of the year.  Connections are available to/from Sydney and Melbourne using the Indian Pacific or Overland , see the Indian Pacific and Overland sections below.  The railway onwards to Darwin was completed in January 2004, and in February that year the Ghan was extended to Darwin once a week, doubled to twice-weekly in 2006.  Book early, as there has been huge interest in the service to Darwin and bookings have exceeded even the operator's own expectations.

The Ghan Timetable

IMPORTANT:  The Ghan does not run from mid-Dec to mid-Jan.

Off-train excursions happen at the longer stops.

Passengers can take their cars between Adelaide & Darwin on the Ghan, see journeybeyondrail.com.au .      What's it like on board The Ghan?

Children under 4 go free, under 16s reduced rate.  Return fares are twice the one-way fare. 

See journeybeyondrail.com.au for full details of fares.

Apex 6m+ = discounted advance purchase fare, bought at least 6 months in advance.

Gold & Platinum fares include all meals and (from April 2013), soft drinks, beer & wine.  Meals are extra in Red Service.

You can check fares & book a journey on the Indian Pacific online at journeybeyondrail.com.au . 

Or you can use the contact & booking form of Australian-based train ticketing specialist www.internationalrail.com.au who can arrange tickets for the Ghan for you wherever you live in the world.  You'll normally get a quote within 24 hours.  International Rail can also sort tickets for other Australian train services, such as NSW TrainLink from Sydney to Melbourne or Brisbane. 

To buy Australian train tickets by phone in the UK, call International Rail on 0844 248 248 3 , lines open 09:00-17:00 Monday-Friday.

The Rail Explorer Pass was discontinued in August 2015.  You need to buy regular tickets to use the Indian Pacific or Ghan.

What's it like on board the Ghan?

The train has similar classes, sleepers, lounges and restaurants as the Indian Pacific , see the accommodation guide above .

A trip on the Ghan from Adelaide to Australia's Red Centre

Alice springs.

The Alice, as it's usually known, still has a frontier feel to it.  Originally called Stuart and only officially renamed Alice Springs in 1933, it grew up around a telegraph station on the overland telegraph linking southern Australia with London.  The site for the telegraph station was chosen because there was water, a spring  which was named after the wife of Charles Todd, superintendent of telegraphs in Adelaide.  You can still see the telegraph station, now a museum, at the North end of the town.  Next to it (pictured above, at the base of the white rock) is the very birthplace of the town - the original, dried up 'Alice spring'.  Telegraph station museum website .  Northern Territories official visitor website .

Ayer's Rock (Uluru)

You'll want to explore the outback whilst in Alice Springs, including Uluru, the world's largest sandstone monolith.  It's some 275 miles southwest of Alice - the outback is a big place!  It's a fabulous area with lots to see besides Uluru, including the Olgas (Kata Tjuta) & King's Canyon.  You can see Uluru & Kata Tjuta as a 17 hour day trip from Alice (which includes a 5 hour drive each way), but it's far better to book a 2, 3 or 4-day 4-wheel drive camping safari to see more in less of a hurry.  Try www.wayoutback.com.au .  You're no longer allowed to climb Uluru as from October 2019 - it used to be a steep scramble along the tourist track up the least perpendicular part of its sandstone sides.  The website for Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is www.environment.gov.au/parks/uluru .

Melbourne - Adelaide

The most civilised and pleasant way to travel between central Melbourne and central Adelaide is aboard the twice-a-week Overland , no need to use domestic flights.  It's the third of the 3 trains run by journeybeyondrail.com.au .

No service on 25 or 26 December.

The cheaper fare = advance purchase, limited availability.  The most expensive fare = full-flex rate.

Option 2, buy tickets at 12go.com .

12go is a reliable agency, the process is easy, overseas phone credit cards & phone numbers no problem.  Your ticket will be confirmed within 24h and sent by email.

What's it like on the Overland?

Sydney to melbourne, canberra & brisbane.

Comfortable air-conditioned trains link Sydney with Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra, city centre to city centre, with no need to fly!  These trains are run by NSW TrainLink, formerly CountryLink, formerly the State Rail Authority of New South Wales.  NSW TrainLink runs two comfortable XPT trains every day from Sydney to Melbourne, one by day and the other a time-effective overnight train with sleeping-car.  A similar daytime and overnight XPT service links Sydney to Brisbane, although as trains alternate between Brisbane and Casino, a bus connection is needed to Brisbane on one of the two.  Equally comfortable XPLORER trains link Sydney with Canberra several times a day.  More info & online booking at  transportnsw.info/regional .

Option 1, buy tickets at transportnsw.info/regional . 

Tickets bought online are sent by e-mail.

12go.com is a reliable booking agency, the process is easy, overseas phone numbers accepted.  Your ticket will be confirmed within 24h and sent by email.

Sleepers cannot be booked online , so for sleeper berths either call NSW TrainLink on +61 2 3814 0210 or use the contact & booking form of Melbourne-based agency www.internationalrail.com.au who can arrange sleeper tickets for you wherever you live in the world - you'll normally get a reply with a quote within 24 hours.

On board an XPT train

XPT trains might look familiar.  That's because they're based on the UK's InterCity 125, but re-geared to 100mph and with (you'll be pleased to learn) beefed-up air-conditioning.  XPTs have first and economy class reclining seats.  First and economy class seating is virtually identical - if you look really closely and get your tape measure out, you'll find there's 2" more legroom in first and the 1st class seats recline to 40 degrees rather than 28.  But that's the only difference, elbow room and the seats themselves are exactly the same.  So there is little point in paying for first class unless economy is full - or you want that extra recline on the overnight run.  XPTs have a buffet car selling food and drink, including wine.  XPLORERs have similar seating to XPTs and a buffet-bar.

XPT sleeping-cars

The overnight Sydney-Melbourne & Sydney-Brisbane XPT trains have one sleeping-car with 2-berth compartments.  A sofa converts to a lower berth and an upper berth folds out from the wall, with mattress and all necessary bedding.  There's a hot shower & toilet shared between each pair of adjacent compartments, just outside your compartment door.  Book early, as there's only one sleeping-car per train and it gets booked up fast. 

Unfortunately sleepers cannot be booked online, so you need to book at the station or by phone - from outside Australia call NSW TrainLink on +61 2 4907 7501.

2-berth sleeper on a CountryLink XPT train from Sydney to Melbourne or from Sydney to Brisbane

Brisbane - Townsville - Cairns

Queensland Railways (QR) operates excellent passenger trains linking Brisbane, Townsville and Cairns, branded Traveltrain.  The trains operate on narrow gauge 3' 6" tracks, which explains why you need to change at Brisbane onto NSW TrainLink's standard gauge (4' 8½") trains to and from Sydney .  For more info & online tickets see www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au .

The SPIRIT OF QUEENSLAND is a new 100mph tilt train with Railbed Class flat-bed seats, Premium Economy Class seats and a lounge car.  Introduced in October 2013, this is a brand-new 100mph tilting train, see the photos below .  For more info see www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au .

The old Sunlander was discontinued in December 2014, replaced by the Spirit of Queensland 100mph tilt train.

BRISBANE-ROCKHAMPTON:   There are additional trains between Brisbane and Rockhampton, including a 100mph tilting daytime train.

BRISBANE-LONGREACH:   A train called the SPIRIT OF THE OUTBACK runs twice a week Brisbane - Rockhampton - Longreach, with 1st & economy sleepers, economy seats, and restaurant car.  1st class fares now include meals.  See www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au for details.

CAIRNS-FORSAYTH:   A little 1963-tainless-steel railcar works the Savannahlander train from Cairns to Forsayth at 06:30 every Wednesday with an overnight hotel stop in Almaden, arriving in Forsayth on Thursday evening.  It returns from Forsayth at 08:30 on Fridays, also with an overnight hotel stop in Almaden, arriving Cairns 18:40 on Saturdays.  A 4-day outback rail experience!  It runs March until December, no service in late Dec, Jan or Feb or first few days of March.  See www.savannahlander.com.au for timetable, fares & booking.

Children 15 years and under pay half the adult fare, children 3 years and under go free.

A-Choice fare = fully flexible, refundable.  U-Save fare = advance-purchase limited availability, no refunds.  B-Quick = another advance-purchase fare.

Option 1, buy at www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au

You can check train times & fares and book online at www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au .  This can book economy and railbed class. 

12go.com is a reliable booking agency, the process is easy, overseas credit cards no problem.  12go can book economy seats but may not be able to book railbed class.  Your ticket will be confirmed within 24h and sent by email.

The Spirit of Queensland tilt train

The train has two classes, Railbed class &  Premium Economy class.  All seats have power sockets and airline-style seat-back TV entertainment systems.  All passengers can use the lounge-cafe car, in Railbed class meals are served at your seat.

The Spirit of the Outback

Kalgoorlie - perth, transwa's prospector.

Transwa (formerly known as Westrail) introduced new express diesel trains on the Perth to Kalgoorlie Prospector services in September 2003, running at up to 100mph.  Within a few years, track will be upgraded to 125mph (200km/h), making these trains the fastest in Australia.  For more info, visit www.transwa.wa.gov.au .

Things to see & do

Sydney is a fantastic city.  Take a tour of the opera house ( www.sydneyoperahouse.com ).  Wander through the botanic gardens .  Visit the observation deck of the Centrepoint Tower ( www.sydneytowereye.com.au ).  Take a ferry from Circular Quay to Watson's Bay for fish and chips at Doyle's famous refreshment rooms ( www.doyles.com.au , look for 'Doyles on the beach', for Sydney ferry information see transportnsw.info/travel-info/ways-to-get-around/ferry ).  For general city tourist information see www.sydney.com .

Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb

Why not do the incredible Sydney Harbour Bridge climb ? From A$344, you are briefed and equipped for a walk up the girders of Sydney Harbour Bridge, for some fantastic views across the city, from the Pacific Ocean in the East to the Blue Mountains in the West.  The bridge climb tour has been operating since October 1998.  Book your climb online here or visit www.bridgeclimb.com for more information.

The Blue Mountains

Don't forget to visit the museum in Melbourne's old gaol , www.oldmelbournegaol.com.au .  Ned Kelly, Australia's most infamous outlaw, was imprisoned and hanged in Melbourne gaol, and his unique armour was originally displayed there.

Great Ocean Road

Named after the wife of King William IV, Adelaide is a much smaller city than Sydney or Melbourne, and much more relaxed.  Admirably well laid-out by its founder, Colonel William Light, the city centre is surrounded by parkland.  On Montefiore Hill to the north of the centre, you can see 'Light's vision', where Colonel Light stood to map out his plan for the city.  For city visit information see www.cityofadelaide.com.au .

Barossa Valley wine region

Great ocean road by train+bus, every monday, wednesday, friday for just au$ 10.

The Great Ocean Road along the coast from Melbourne is one of the great scenic drives of Australia.  You can hire a car and drive it, or there are various 1-day bus tours from Melbourne.  But rather than endure a bus for the whole day, just AU$ 10 gets you a 1-day tour on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays run by V/Line, the regional train & bus operator, using comfortable trains from Melbourne's Southern Cross station, as follows:

You take the daily 09:10 V/Line train from Melbourne's main Southern Cross railway station to Geelong, arriving 10:07.  The train is comfortable and air-conditioned.  Economy seats only, no reservation required.

At Geelong, the train connects with a daily air-conditioned V/Line coach leaving from outside Geelong railway station at 10:20 and running via Anglesea and Lorne to Apollo Bay arriving 12:53.  No reservation required.

At Apollo Bay, you switch buses and join a V/Line Great Ocean Road air-conditioned sightseeing coach.  This runs on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays leaving Apollo Bay at 13:25 and running all along the Great Ocean Road via the Twelve Apostles (30 minute stop), Loch-Ard Gorge (15 minute stop), London Bridge (10 minute stop) and Bay of Islands (10 min stop) to Warrnambool railway station, arriving 16:55.  No reservation is required for this bus.

At Warrnambool, the bus connects with the 17:36 V/Line train back to Melbourne Southern Cross, arriving Melbourne at 21:15.  This comfortable air-conditioned train has first class as well as economy seats, refreshments are available on board.  However, on this train a seat reservation is required.

How much does it cost?

Since 2023, a return ticket from Melbourne to Warrnambool, out via the Great Ocean Road sightseeing bus and back on the direct train now costs an amazingly cheap Aus$ 10 (£5 or US$6), after an election pledge to cap transport fares across Victoria (it used to cost around Aus$87, about £50 or US$62). Children 0-3 (inclusive) go free, children aged 4 to 16 go at the concession rate, Aus$5.

You can easily book this trip online at www.vline.com.au .  Simply click Plan trip/buy tickets and use the journey planner to book a return ticket from Melbourne Southern Cross to Warrnambool Station, making sure it's on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday.  Make sure you select the 09:10 departure from Melbourne to Warrnambool by train+coach+coach via Geelong & Apollo Bay on the outward leg, and the 17:36 direct train from Warrnambool to Melbourne on the return leg.  You pay by Visa or MasterCard and collect your tickets at any V/Line sales outlet, including at Melbourne Southern Cross station.  If you have any issues booking this, call V/Line on +61 3 9662 2505.

For general tourist information about the Great Ocean Road, see www.visitgreatoceanroad.org.au .

Buy at Amazon.co.uk (UK) or Amazon.com (US)

Alternatively, you can download just the chapters you need in .PDF format from the Lonely Planet Website , from around £2.99 or US$4.95 a chapter.

Australia by Rail from Trailblazer Guides

Accommodation in australia, tripadvisor hotel reviews.

www.tripadvisor.com is a good place to find independent travellers' reviews of the main hotels.  It also has the low-down on all the sights & attractions too.

Backpacker hostels in Australia: www.hostelworld.com

www.hostelworld.com :  If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about backpacker hostels.  Hostelworld offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in many places in Australia, at rock-bottom prices.

Flights to Australia

1)  check flight prices at opodo, www.opodo.com, 2)  use skyscanner to compare flight prices & routes worldwide across 600 airlines....

skyscanner generic 728x90

3)  Lounge passes

Make the airport experience a little more bearable with a VIP lounge pass, it's not as expensive as you think!  See www.loungepass.com

Travel to Australia without flying

For information on how to travel from Europe to Australia without flying, either overland by Trans-Siberian Railway to the Far East then by freighter, or by sea all the way, see the Australia overland page .

H olidays by train in Australia

Great Rail Journeys

Alternatively, companies such as Travelbag can arrange independent travel, with flights and trains as required.

Travel insurance & other tips

Always take out travel insurance.

Never travel overseas without travel insurance from a reliable insurer, with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover.  It should also cover cancellation and loss of cash and belongings, up to a sensible limit.  An annual multi-trip policy is usually cheaper than several single-trip policies even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I have an annual policy with Staysure.co.uk myself.  Here are some suggested insurers.  Seat61 gets a small commission if you buy through these links.

US flag

Get an eSIM with mobile data package

Don't rely on WiFi, download an eSIM with a mobile data package for the country you're visiting and stay connected.  Most newer mobile phones can download a virtual SIM card so you don't need to buy a physical SIM, including iPhone 11 & later, see device compatibility list .  Maya.net is a reliable eSIM data retailer with a 4.5 out of 5 Trustpilot rating and a range of packages including unlimited data .

Get a Curve card for foreign travel

Most banks give you a poor exchange rate, then add a foreign transaction fee on top.  A Curve MasterCard means no foreign transaction fees and gives you the mid-market exchange rate, at least up to a certain limit, £500 per month at time of writing.  The money you spend on your Curve card goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards.

How it works:   1. Download the Curve app for iPhone or Android .  2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to the UK and most European addresses.  3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app, you can link up to two cards with the free version of Curve, I link my normal debit card and my normal credit card.  4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, exactly like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance in your own currency onto whichever debit or credit card is currently selected in the Curve app.  You can even change your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction.

I have a Curve Blue card myself, it means I can buy a coffee on a foreign station on a card without being stung by fees and lousy exchange rates, just by tapping the Curve card on their card reader.  The money goes through Curve to my normal debit card and is taken directly from my account (in fact I have the Curve card set up as payment card on Apple Pay on my iPhone, so can double-click my phone, let it do Face ID then tap the reader with the phone - even easier than digging a card out).  I get a little commission if you sign up to Curve, but I recommend it here because I think it's great.  See details, download the app and get a Curve card , they'll give you £5 cashback through that link.

Get a VPN for safe browsing.  W hy you need a VPN

When you're travelling you often use free WiFi in public places which may not be secure.  A VPN encrypts your connection so it's always secure, even on unsecured WiFi.  It also means you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geoblocking which a surprising number of websites apply.  See VPNs & why you need one explained .  ExpressVPN is a best buy with a 4.7 out of 5 Trustpilot ranking which I use myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using the links on this page, you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription.  I get a small commission to help support this site.

Carry an Anker powerbank

Tickets, reservations, vaccination records and Interrail or Eurail passes are often held digitally on your mobile phone, so it's vital to keep it charged.  I always carry an Anker powerbank which can recharge my phone several times over if I can't get to a power outlet.  Buy from Amazon.co.uk or from Buy from Amazon.com .

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TripWatch: Sydney Trip Planner

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About this app

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Australian Rail Map

rail trip planner sydney

Trip Planner - NSW Transport 4+

Sydney opal public train & bus, jerrycan co pty ltd, designed for iphone.

  • Offers In-App Purchases

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Description.

Plan any trip via any mode to anywhere in Sydney for free. Store favourite trips and stops for quick reference on your commute. Get the latest trackwork or service alerts Whether you're old enough to remember MX newspapers on trains, or new to Sydney, this app is designed to make horrific commutes slightly less so! Simple trip planning for all modes of travel, up-to-date train network alerts, stored favourite trips - everything you need to get to and from work and play hassle-free...for free. The only thing this app can't do is cancel trackwork or prevent people playing music loudly enough that you can hear it in spite of their headphones! Trip Planner • Train, Metro, Bus, Ferry, Light Rail, Foot • Mixed-mode planner • Take the same route often? Save your favourite Trips • Simple, easy to use interface Trackwork and Service Alerts • If you use public transport in Sydney, chances are you know how useful these will be! • Service alerts by journey • Know in advance if you need to make a detour or avoid a particular line due to trackwork Subscribe to Trip Planner and get: • Exactly the same app, but with a feeling of mutual appreciation between us • No ads, ever! • All for the low, low price of bugger all, which is Australian for $1/month Please note that while we make our best effort to ensure timetable accuracy, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of those provided. If you purchase a subscription, payment will be charged to your iTunes account. Your subscription will automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current subscription period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current subscription period. Automatic renewals will cost the same price you were originally charged for the subscription. You can turn off auto-renewal at any time by going to your Account Settings on the App Store after purchase. Privacy Policy: https://jerrycan.co/metro/privacy.html Terms of Service: https://jerrycan.co/metro/terms.html

Version 2023.15

- Hotfix for a rare bug.

App Privacy

The developer, Jerrycan Co Pty Ltd , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

Data Used to Track You

The following data may be used to track you across apps and websites owned by other companies:

  • Identifiers

Data Not Linked to You

The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:

  • Diagnostics

Privacy practices may vary based on, for example, the features you use or your age. Learn More

Information

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Located on the coast of the Pacific ocean in Australia, Sydney is a major world financial and cultural centre. A large cosmopolitan city, Sydney is the capital of New South Wales. It boasts an abundance of natural beauty — meandering coastlines, a natural harbour, miles of spectacular sandy beaches and rocky shorelines. Combine this with a pleasant climate throughout the year and you have the perfect tourist destination. Sydney's appeal is not just limited to its beautiful natural surroundings. It also boasts many first class museums, an outstanding art gallery, an abundance of great shopping, restaurants and more.

Whether you choose guided, or self-guided tours, you will find everything you need to plan your visit right here in our Sydney Trip Planner. Public transit is a good alternative to guided tours for visiting many points of interest and attractions throughout the city. Most are located just a short walk from at least one Sydney train station or ferry wharf with only a few needing the addition of a short bus ride. You will find easy to follow, verified transit directions for each one making it easy to plan your route. Get a detailed overview of each attraction complete with reviews, photos, video, map and directions. On smart phones you'll find a quick link to real time transit and walking directions. You can also choose from a wide range of guided tours — another great option for sightseeing and exploring. Either way, when it comes to planning your trip to Sydney we've got you covered.

See our Sydney Travel Tips to save money and help your trip go smoothly.

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rail trip planner sydney

Online bookings require JavaScript to be enabled. To enable JavaScript, please refer to your browsers help function. Alternatively, you can call NSW TrainLink on 13 22 32 for fare enquiries or bookings.

How can we help you today?

Popular searches.

  • Contactless payments
  • Routes and timetables
  • Concessions
  • School student travel
  • Opal Travel app
  • Help with planning

How to use the Trip Planner

Steps to plan a trip.

Choose the travel plan that best suits your needs and preferences.

Set your favourites and customise options to choose your preferred travel style.

Alternative travel options

Compare public transport to drive or rideshare travel options, cycling or walking.

Some trips give you the option to book with NSW Regional TrainLink services or a third party operator.

Browser compatibility issues

Help in other languages

This guide is available in other languages

trip-planner Plan a trip

How to plan a trip

  • Enter ‘ From ' and ‘ To ’ locations.
  • If you are on the homepage click ‘ Go ’ to see results otherwise they will load automatically once your destination is set.

You can plan a trip using:

  • an address, street name or suburb
  • a station, bus stop name or ferry wharf
  • a point of interest (e.g. Sydney Opera House)
  • a stop number (e.g. 200064)
  • clicking a location on the map

Helpful tip:

  • When you click or tap on the ' From ' or ' To ' fields, any previously used locations will be suggested. As you type, the list will filter to suggested matches. Select the closest match.

Accessible trips

If you have accessibility requirements and some of your trip plan results are not accessible, you follow these steps to display accessible only trip plans:

  • Press the ' Refine ' button
  • Select the check box next to ' Accessible services only '
  • Press ' Apply ' to see results for accessible services only.

There are a range of tools and resources for planning an accessible trip .

Change date and time of trip plan

By default all trips are set as departing at the time you search.

To change the departure time:

  • Click on ' Leaving now '.
  • To see results that arrive by or before a particular time, select ' Arriving '.

Time is displayed in 24-hour format. You cannot select a date in the past.

Plan a trip using your current location

You may need to allow your computer or mobile phone to use your current location in the Trip Planner. Press ' Allow ' on the pop-up window of the browser or tap ' Allow ' on the pop-up on your mobile device and enable location services. The message may appear slightly differently on different devices or browsers.

Plan a trip using the map

  • On a mobile device, tap in the ' From '   or ' To '   field and then tap ' Choose on map ' to see the map, then you can tap anywhere on the map to plan a trip to or from that location.
  • Click (desktop) or tap (mobile) anywhere on the map and a dialog will appear showing the address selected with a prompt to plan a trip either from that location or to that location

See stops or Points of interest on map

  • When on the map, click on ' Map options ' in the top right, to turn on display of Public transport stops or Points of Interest.
  • You can then click (desktop) or tap (mobile) these icons to set as the ‘ From ’ or ‘ To ’ locations and plan your trip.

Ways in which you can enter a Location

Your current location.

Use your current location in the Trip Planning digital tools. These tools use global positioning technology (GPS) to determine where you are.

You may need to allow your computer or mobile phone to use your currently location. Simply click “Allow” on the pop-up window of the browser or tap “Allow” on the pop-up on your mobile device and enable location services. The message may appear slightly differently on different devices or browsers.

You can also enter a specific address into the location field, including the street name or suburb.

As you type, the list will filter to suggested matches and if the exact address does not show, select the closest match.

If you are entering street names, it is important to check you choose the right suburb.

Details of a Transport Stop

rail trip planner sydney

You can also specify the name of a bus stop, station of Ferry in the location fields. If you have the stop number, you can also enter that into the location fields.

Point of Interest

You can also enter the name of a point of interest or landmark (e.g. Sydney Opera House) in the location field.

Points on a Map

You can also select the location by clicking a location on the map.

Click anywhere on the map and a dialog will appear showing the address selected with a prompt to plan a trip either from that location or to that location.

On a mobile device, tap in the From or To field and then select the map icon in the top right hand corner of the My current location option, to see the map, then you can tap anywhere on the map to plan a trip to or from that location.

Alternatively, when on the map, click on 'Map options' in the top right, to turn on display of Stops or Points of Interest. You can then click (desktop) or tap (mobile) these icons to set as the ‘From’ or ‘To’ locations.

Map Options

'Map options' allows you to select 'Stops', 'Opal retailers' and 'Points of interest'. On selection, the map will zoom in to the centre of the map, to show the relevant icons for 'Stops', 'Opal retailers' or 'Points of Interest'. Icons are only visible when the map is zoomed in. Click any icon for more details or to plan your trip to or from any stop or point of interest.

  • centre the map on your current location

options Refine your trip

Refine for advanced options

Click ' Refine ' to edit your trip preferences and refine your:

Trip preference

Public transport options, connecting with public transport, service options, walking speed.

You can set your trip preference from:

  • Earliest arrival
  • Fewest changes
  • Least walking

See: Earliest arrival, fewest changes or least walking

Choose which types of transport you want to include or exclude from your results (by default metro, train, bus, ferry, light rail and coach are included and school buses are excluded).

See:  School travel

By default the Trip Planner assumes most people will walk up to 20 minutes between transfers. You can adjust this time and also choose to instead ride a bike or travel by car (Taxi/Drive) under the ' Connecting with public transport ' section when refining your trip options.

See: Connecting with public transport

Include OpalPay, On Demand and bookable services

By default, all available services will be returned and the checkbox for ' Include OpalPay, On Demand and bookable services ' will be selected. Selecting this option will show results for:

  • Private services (e.g. Manly Fast Ferry, rural and regional buses)
  • Services that need to be booked (On Demand services, Regional trains and coaches, private bus and ferry services)

For more information, see Plan a trip with Opal only services .

Accessible services only

Select ' Accessible services only ' if you need wheelchair accessible services. For more information, see Accessible trips .

Choose your walk speed:

  • 'slow' (2 km/h)
  • 'average' (4 km/h)
  • 'fast' (6km/h)

Apply / Reset

  • Click ‘ Apply ’ to see the updated results
  • To restore all preferences back to the default state, select ' RESET ' in the Refine section or select ' clear ' from the results page.

rail trip planner sydney

Earliest arrival, fewest changes or least walking

Earliest arrival  is displayed by default – that is, the services that will arrive the soonest after the ' Leaving ' or closest to the ' Arriving ' time. Click ' Refine '   to change this to instead order results by ‘ Fewest changes ’ or ‘ Least walking ’.

Fewest changes  will present trip options with the fewest changes to reach your destination, however the overall journey time may take longer than a trip which involves more changes. 

Least walking  will present trip options with minimal walking between stops or transfers wherever possible.

By default the Trip Planner assumes most people will walk up to 20 minutes between transfers. You can adjust this time and also choose to instead ' Cycle ' or ' Travel by car (Taxi/Drive) ' under the Connecting with public transport section when refining your trip options.

Plan a trip with Opal services only

By default the Trip Planner includes results for services such as On Demand, private ferries and other bookable services.

To turn off these services in trip results:

  • select ' Refine ' to edit your trip preferences
  • under ' Service options ’ deselect the ' Include OpalPay, On Demand and bookable services '.

This will filter out travel options that:

  • do not accept Opal card or Contactless payments such as the Manly Fast Ferry
  • require booking, such as On Demand and NSW TrainLink services. This also includes OpalPay services that accept payments using Opal cards but which do not count towards any Opal rewards or other benefits.

The Trip Planner will also estimate your Opal fare.

rail trip planner sydney

Save favourite trips

Your previous trips are automatically saved for easy, one-click trip planning when you come back.

To pin a trip to the top of the list, select:

  • ' Favourite ' at the bottom right of the Trip Planner form
  • the star icon on any of your previous trips.

rail trip planner sydney

Select ' Clear ' to clear any trip results, reset preferences and display your previous and favourite trips.

Tip : Set up a trip from ‘ My current location ’ to your home address or stop. This is our ‘ take me home now ’ option. The Trip Planner will use your current location every time it's used.

You can choose how you connect with public transport with options available for walking, cycling or taxi/drive.

Just select your preference for walking, cycling or taking a taxi or driving and how long you want to allow for each option.

rail trip planner sydney

For example on a regular commute you may choose to allow for a 20 minute cycle at the beginning of your journey from your home to a local train station where you can leave your bike in a locker, followed by a 15 minute walk at the end of your journey to your workplace from the nearest station. You can then reverse these options for the return trip.

Map options

  • ' Map options ' allows you to select ' Stops ', ' Opal retailers ' and ' Points of interest '. On selection, the map will zoom in to the centre of the map, to show the relevant icons for ' Stops ', ' Opal retailers ' or ' Points of Interest '. Icons are only visible when the map is zoomed in. Click any icon for more details or to plan your trip to or from any stop or point of interest.

booking Bookings

Regional bookings.

If a service requires a booking, the ‘ booking required ’ badge will display.

Trip Planner will then direct you to book your ticket online through the NSW TrainLink booking website . You can search for available services, view current sale fares and manage your booking. 

Rideshare and taxi

Trip Planner enables you to see rideshare and taxi trip options. If you want to make a booking, you'll be sent to a third party operator website.

On Demand public transport

On Demand public transport is available in some areas on certain days and times. If one of these On Demand services is available for the trip you planned, you may see the service as an option in your trip results.

rail trip planner sydney

Depending on the service you may need to download the relevant app to book a trip and pay for these services. Expand the trip results and click on the link to ' book your seat ' to be linked through to the relevant information page for that On Demand service where you can find out details such as the cost, times of operation and how to book that service.

rail trip planner sydney

OpalPay is available on some On Demand services and if so this will be indicated when you expand your trip results.

travel-info Alternative travel options (Cycle, Walk, Drive)

Compare options.

Tell the Trip Planner where you are travelling to and from, and it will return results for all modes of transport. You can compare public transport with walking, cycling or rideshare to help you make more informed decisions on the fastest and most cost effective travel options.

You can further customise these results for these modes:

Public transport

  • trip preference (earliest arrival, fewest changes, least walking)
  • public transport modes (train, bus, ferry, light rail and others)
  • connecting to and from public transport (walk, cycle or taxi/drive)
  • average walking speed (slow 2km/h, average 4 km/h or fast 6km/h)

Find out more about refining your public transport trip

When choosing the Trip Planner option to ride a bike, you can choose your preferred route based on options for Easier, Moderate or More direct.

  • Easier  will avoid hills and busy roads where possible, but may take longer.
  • Moderate  is for riders who don't mind the occasional hill and are comfortable riding on roads.
  • More direct  is for experienced cyclists who want the fastest and most direct journey.

rail trip planner sydney

  • choose speed (slow 2km/h, average 4 km/h or fast 6km/h)
  • choose between a driving leg, your personal car or booking with a local taxi or rideshare service.

Find out more about booking .

map Trip Planner results

Trip summary.

Several trip options are displayed on individual summary cards which contain trip information, relevant trip alerts and fare information.

rail trip planner sydney

  • If the first leg is a transport leg (metro, train, bus, ferry, light rail, On Demand or coach), this is the time until the service departs, or for On Demand services an indicative time. 
  • If the first leg is walking / driving, this is the time until you have to leave to start walking / driving.
  • Icons indicate the transport modes that make up the trip (e.g. metro, train, bus, ferry, light rail, On Demand , coach, walk, drive).
  • Route numbers indicate the transport service, e.g., T1, 333, F4, etc
  • Walk legs show the walk time, for example: 10 is 10 minutes.
  • Taxi/drive shows the distance in kilometres.
  • The departure and arrival time and duration of the whole trip is indicated.
  • If a service requires a booking, ‘ booking required ’ will display.
  • Opal fares are calculated for trips that can be paid using your Opal card or Contactless payment card.
  • The adult fare is displayed by default. You can click on the fare to change the Opal card type and see other Opal card types and fares, as well as read more about how Opal fares are calculated and displayed.

See key to icons for more information.

Trip details

Select any summary card to see the detailed itinerary of each trip option. The expanded card gives detailed instructions for the entire trip, including:

  • Departure and arrival stops, station or wharf, colour-coded by mode. For On Demand services the departure and arrival stops are indicative only and the trip must be booked with the operator to confirm actual locations.
  • Where real-time is available for a leg of the trip, a real-time indicator is shown with the departure time. You can also see if the service is on time, running early or late. For buses and some trains, the capacity indicator tells you whether there are many or few seats available.
  • Route/line details and direction.
  • A wheelchair accessible icon if the service is accessible.
  • Any relevant alerts or disruptions
  • Opal fares at each tap off point.

View trip results on map

Mobile devices.

  • On small screens, such as a smartphone, each trip plan option displays a map option in the summary card, to let you view the trip on the map. The map will zoom to the start of the trip and you can zoom and pan to view your entire trip.
  • On large screens, such as a laptop or desktop computer, the first trip option is always displayed on the map. Click any other ‘ card ’ to view that trip on the map.
  • Clicking on the ' walk/drive ' directions or ' view stops ' will zoom to the relevant section of the map.

help Troubleshooting

Recommended browsers.

To access all the features of the Trip Planner , and the transportnsw.info website, we recommend using the latest versions of Chrome , Firefox , Safari or Microsoft Edge . If you are using an older browser, some features may not work.

You also need to keep JavaScript enabled, to interact with any site features.

This website is responsive which means no matter what device you are on – mobile, tablet or desktop – the Trip Planner is flexible to work on your screen.

Help is available in the following languages:

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20 replies to this topic

' class=

This does not come up much on the Australian Forum. But a lot on the South East Asia forums.

Travellers are advised to have multi Credit/ Debit cards . The reason is that is a card will not work or Lost /Stolen you are in trouble.

I know that in Australia you can get Multi Debt cards , that are linked to one account.

Not sure , of the banking system in your homeland.

An Australia teen would just use their smart phone.

' class=

You can purchase single tickets for the people without credit cards via the ticket machine at the station.

It's a pain as you will have to make time to buy a ticket for each leg of your journey.

https://transportnsw.info/tickets-opal/opal/fares-payments/opal-single-tickets

We fly in mid afternoon and out very early next morning, so thought staying at airport hotel was a good option as close to international terminal and saves us time, especially in the morning.

Use the planner to see timetables

https://transportnsw.info/trip#/trip

rail trip planner sydney

You can look up this information and all other information about routes, timetables, stops etc on the transportnsw website.

For instance, here is a map of the Manly ferry route:

https://transportnsw.info/routes/details/sydney-ferries/f1/090F1

They have a trip planner here:

which can assist you in working out how to get from Point A to Point Z and any others you may want to stop at in between.

#4: all good if it’s only one trip each way. As someone else said, consider Uber/taxi instead- might be a similar cost snd less hassle.

Note all public transport in Sydney (train, bus, light rail, ferries) use the Opal system and as noted above, everyone needs their own seperate payment method. If the teens have access to Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal etc then they can use their phones to pay the Opal fares. It’s the same fare regardless of the payment method. There is also a maximum daily cap for Public Transport of $17-80 no matter how many modes you use or trips you make. The exceptions are the airport access fee of $16-68 each way (hence people suggesting a taxi) and a special “Fast Ferry” to Manly.

If you don’t want to take the ferry to Manly, several others will go right by the opera house like the ferry to Watsons Bay (great pub opposite the Wharf for lunch or dinner). Check Google maps for ferry routes, they travel all over the harbour(s).

It is NOT Sydney Harbour.

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Sydney Hotels and Places to Stay

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rail trip planner sydney

IMAGES

  1. Sydney Rail Map

    rail trip planner sydney

  2. Sydney Rail Map

    rail trip planner sydney

  3. Transit Maps: Sydney

    rail trip planner sydney

  4. Train map sydney

    rail trip planner sydney

  5. Transit Maps: Official Map: Sydney CityRail Network Map, 2012

    rail trip planner sydney

  6. Trip Tap Go’s Guide to Sydney’s Light Rail Network

    rail trip planner sydney

COMMENTS

  1. Trip Planner

    Use the Trip Planner to plan a trip on public transport by metro, train, bus, ferry, light rail, coach or by walking, cycling, taxi or rideshare anywhere in Sydney and NSW, with real-time information where available.

  2. Plan

    Plan your travel in NSW using the Trip Planner, apps, timetables, travel alerts and find information on stations, stops, wharves and how to get to events ... bus, ferry, light rail and coach within Sydney and around NSW. Find out about Opal or book NSW TrainLink Regional train and coach services. Opal. About Opal; Fares and payments ...

  3. Getting around Sydney

    Opal card info. The Opal card is an easy, convenient way of paying for your travel on public transport in Sydney. It can be used on all public transport, including trains, ferries, buses and light rail. There are daily and weekly caps on the Opal network, meaning you can travel as much as you like within the Opal network and you never pay more ...

  4. NSW TrainLink

    Please check your details or select another travel date. Passengers. Number of passengers

  5. Plan your trip

    Plan your trip. Use Trip Planner to plan journeys within the Opal network or anywhere in NSW. Plan a trip now.

  6. Sydney Trains

    Sydney Trains is the operator of rail services across the metropolitan Sydney area, bounded by Berowra, Emu Plains, Macarthur and Waterfall. Sydney Trains also operate the Rail Operations Centre and are responsible for the maintenance of assets including tracks, trains, signals, overhead wiring, stations and facilities.

  7. NSW Trains

    NSW Trains manages the operation of NSW TrainLink, providing services between Sydney and the Hunter, Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Southern Highlands and Illawarra and South Coast regions. We bring together Intercity and Regional services into an independent business, focused on the specific needs of our intercity and regional customers, who ...

  8. Trip Planner at transportnsw.info

    Plan your trip with Trip Planner through a web browser on any device. ... Tickets and fares for metro, train, bus, ferry, light rail and coach within Sydney and around NSW. Find out about Opal or book NSW TrainLink Regional train and coach services. Opal. About Opal; Fares and payments; Concessions and eligibility;

  9. ‎Trip Planner

    Store favourite trips and stops for quick reference on your commute. Get the latest trackwork or service alerts. Whether you're old enough to remember MX newspapers on trains, or new to Sydney, this app is designed to make horrific commutes slightly less so! Simple trip planning for all modes of travel, up-to-date train network alerts, stored ...

  10. Train

    The Sydney Trains Network covers Sydney metropolitan area train services bounded by Berowra to the north, Bondi Junction to the east, Waterfall to the south, Macarthur and Leppington to the south west, Emu Plains and Richmond to the west. Timetables and routes maps. Find route maps and timetables. Sydney network map. See the Sydney rail network.

  11. Transport Now Sydney

    Transport Now Sydney is a public transport trip planner which displays train, bus, ferry and light rail scheduled timetables. Users can search for a trip from departure to arrival and view a summary of available services along with real-time service information. This app helps you to find the quickest trip with the least transfers. You can plan ...

  12. A guide to train travel in Australia

    You'll normally get a quote within 24 hours. International Rail can also sort tickets for other Australian train services, such as NSW TrainLink from Sydney to Melbourne or Brisbane. To buy Australian train tickets in the UK by phone, call International Rail on 0844 248 248 3, lines open 09:00-17:00 Monday-Friday.

  13. TripWatch: Sydney Trip Planner

    About this app. TripWatch allows you to plan your trips on Sydney public transport, including trains, buses, ferries, light rail, and metro, all right from your Wear OS watch. Start by configuring your trip, then view a list of available trip options, with the ability to combine different modes of transport to get to your destination.

  14. Sydney Transport: Bus & Rail 4+

    Live bus and train times, step-by-step navigation, stop announcements, service alerts and more - all in one app. Live directions - plan your trip with up to five ways to your destination. Share your journey details with friends and family - they don't even need the app! Get Off Alerts - we'll let you know when it's time to transfer.

  15. Australian Rail Maps

    Our maps cover the rail, light rail and ferry networks in each city, and also long distance train, bus and ferry services right across the nation. We also have an extensive set of easy-to-navigate online timetables that display schedules for ALL train, tram, bus and ferry operators in a consistent format. We link to official web-sites of train ...

  16. Home

    Bus passengers in the Hunter and Lower North Coast can now plan bus trips online and make better-informed travel decisions using digital timetable information and real-time updates. Transport and travel information to help you plan your public transport trip around NSW by metro, train, bus, ferry, light rail and coach.

  17. ‎Trip Planner

    Trip Planner • Train, Metro, Bus, Ferry, Light Rail, Foot • Mixed-mode planner • Take the same route often? Save your favourite Trips • Simple, easy to use interface Trackwork and Service Alerts • If you use public transport in Sydney, chances are you know how useful these will be! • Service alerts by journey

  18. Sydney Public Transport: Trip planner, timetable, route map, vehicle

    5 Trips Earlier. 20 Trips Later. -->. Public transport route map, trip planner, real-time timetable, and vehicle position. Endorsed transport and travel APP by NSW Government.

  19. TripView

    TripView. TripView creates trip plans for metro, train, bus, ferry, light rail and coach services. Plan your trip based on stations, stops and wharves. For bus travel, you can search by route, suburb or stop. It will list all timetabled services with real-time data. View summary of the next departures between stops.

  20. Sydney Trip Planner

    Whether you choose guided, or self-guided tours, you will find everything you need to plan your visit right here in our Sydney Trip Planner. Public transit is a good alternative to guided tours for visiting many points of interest and attractions throughout the city. Most are located just a short walk from at least one Sydney train station or ...

  21. NSW TrainLink

    All passengers are from the same Household/Family. Promotions. Promotion code

  22. How to use the Trip Planner

    Steps to plan a trip. Choose the travel plan that best suits your needs and preferences. Set your favourites and customise options to choose your preferred travel style. Compare public transport to drive or rideshare travel options, cycling or walking. Some trips give you the option to book with NSW Regional TrainLink services or a third party ...

  23. Using trains in Sydney

    We are a family group of 6 in Sydney for one day, staying at Rydges at the airport. Our plan is to take a train out to Darling Harbour and then go on a hop on hop off boat before heading back later jn the day to our hotel. It seems you can use credit cards to tap and pay on the trains, but the teens in our group don't have these or debit cards and it appears you all need your individual card.