Rail: Sydney is connected by rail to Adelaide and Perth via the Indian Pacific (connects in Adelaide to The Overland to Melbourne, and The Ghan to Darwin via Alice Springs). The train operates between Sydney's Central Station and Keswick Rail Terminal in Adelaide, the journey is completed in 24 hours 40 minutes. Perth is connected to Adelaide by the Nullarbor Plain leg of the Indian Pacific's east to west coast journey.
Daily XPT services in both directions connect Sydney to the interstate capitals of Melbourne and Brisbane. The regional NSW cities of Dubbo (via Bathurst and Orange), Broken Hill (via Bathurst, Orange and Parkes), Moree (via Newcastle and Narrabri), Armidale (via Tamworth), Griffith and Albury (via Goulburn, Junee and Cootamundra) are also serviced by daily XPT trains to and from Sydney. All trains depart Sydney from Central Station.
Road (coach): Numerous operators provide coach services between Sydney and Brisbane (coastal and New England routes); Canberra; Melbourne; Adelaide (via Mildura and Canberra). Services to other cities and towns across Australia are by connections to one of those destinations. The main routes followed are -
- Sydney to Brisbane via Newcastle, Armidale, Toowoomba (17 hrs. 45 minutes)
- Sydney to Brisbane via Newcastle, Forster, Byron Bay, Coffs Harbour (15 hrs. 25 minutes)
- Sydney to Melbourne via Albury (12 hours)
- Sydney to Adelaide via Mildura and Canberra (22 hours)
- Sydney to Canberra (4 hours)
Air: Sydney International Airport is the only airport in NSW through which international passengers pass. It has full immigration and customs facilities. The airport also services the majority of interstate and Intra-state flights and and out of NSW. All the major regional cities and towns have airports and are serviced by flights to and from Sydney.
Road (private motor vehicle): Sydney is a full day's drive from both Melbourne and Brisbane, Adelaide is a day and a half's drive away. NSW's towns and cities are linked to each other, and to towns and cities in other states by a network of well signposted, well maintained sealed highways and major roads which allow for easy travel between localities. The capital cities are linked by highways that, in the main, bypass the smaller towns on the way, making the journey relatively uninterrupted. There are few parts of the state of interest to visitors that can't be reached in motoring comfort, although lesser roads, whilst sealed, do tend to be narrow.
In NSW, the speed limit on the open road is generally 110 kilometres per hour. In NSW, a driver’s licence from your home country or another Australian state will usually suffice for up to three months, as long as it has photo identification and it’s for the same class of vehicle you intend to drive. If you’re staying more than three months, you’ll need to get a NSW drivers licence.
To and from the Airport: Sydney's airport, at Mascot, handles both international and interstate flights. The airport is close to the city, the drive from the airport to the city centre takes around 15 minutes by either car, bus or train. Shuttle buses and trains service both airport terminals.
By Rail
- Central Coast (Gosford): 1 hour 25 minutes
- Blue Mountains (Katoomba): 2 hours 6 minutes
- Dubbo: 6 hours 40 minutes (via XPT)
- Broken Hill: 15 hours 45 minutes (via Indian Pacific)
- Albury: 7 hours 40 minutes (via XPT)
Interstate rail:
- Sydney - Canberra: 4 hours 20 minutes (via XPT)
- Sydney - Brisbane: 16 hours 5 minutes
- Sydney - Melbourne: 11 hours 10 minutes (via XPT)
- Sydney - Adelaide: 22 hours 15 minutes (via Indian Pacific)
- Sydney - Perth: 2 days 20 hours 10 minutes (via Indian Pacific)
By Air
Times quoted are minimum travel times for direct flights according to carriers' timetables. Times vary from carrier to carrier. For indirect flights involving connections through other airports to complete a journey, extra time must be added. Times quoted are airport to airport flight times, and do not include land travel to and from airports.
National
- Sydney - Brisbane: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Sydney - Sunshine Coast: 1 hour 35 minutes
- Sydney - Gold Coast: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Sydney - Whitsunday Islands (Proserpine): 4 hours 40 minutes via Brisbane
- Sydney - Whitsunday Islands (Hamilton Island): 2 hours 30 minutes
- Sydney - Norfolk Island: 4 hours 5 minutes
- Sydney - Cairns: 3 hours 10 minutes
- Sydney - Darwin: 6 hours (8 hours via Brisbane)
- Sydney - Perth: 5 hours 5 minutes
- Sydney - Adelaide: 2 hours 10 minutes
- Sydney - Melbourne: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Sydney - Hobart: 1 hour 55 minutes
- Sydney - Broome: 9 hours 40 minutes via Perth
- Sydney - Dubbo: 1 hour 5 minutes
International:
- Sydney - Auckland: 3 hours
- Sydney - London: 22 hours
- Sydney - Frankfurt: 22 hours
- Sydney - New York: 21 hours
- Sydney - Los Angeles: 13 hours 30 minutes
- Sydney - Toronto: 21 hours
- Sydney - Vancouver: 12 hours 30 minutes
- Sydney - Honolulu: 7 hours 5 minutes
- Sydney - Nadi: 3 hours 45 minutes
- Sydney - Singapore: 7 hours 30 minutes
- Sydney - Hong Kong: 5 hours 50 minutes
- Sydney - Bangkok: 7 hours 40 minutes
- Sydney - Dempasar (Bali): 7 hours 35 minutes
- Sydney - Kula Lumpur: 7 hours 30 minutes
- Sydney - Johannesburg: 14 hours 10 minutes
- Sydney - Santiago: 17 hours 10 minutes
By Road
- Port Macquarie: 6 hours
- Byron Bay: 11 hours
- Broken Hill: 16 hours
- Brisbane (via New England Hwy): 15 hours
- Brisbane (via Pacific Hwy): 13 hours
- Melbourne: 11 hours
- Adelaide: 18 hours
- Canberra: 4 hours
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Public Transport
Sydney's public transport system is a combination of rail, bus and ferry services operated by the state government.
Rail: Sydney's city and suburban areas are serviced by a railway network operated by City Rail that is pushed to the limit at peak times, but operates efficiently at other times. Train services across the metropolitan area run from around 5am (7am Sunday) until around midnight seven days a week on 11 lines which operate along and out of six major rail corridors. Some NightRider bus services operate outside of those hours. Later services also operate out of the city on Friday and Saturday nights.
Sydney Central Station serves as the hub for the suburban rail network and the connection point with regional and interstate rail services, though the stations on the underground inner city loop (Town Hall, Wynyard, Circular Quay, Museum and St James) are the entry and exit points in the central business district. Central Station is also the terminus for interstate coach services.
Light rail: Sydney has only one light rail service which departs from Central Station and passes through Haymarket, Darling Harbour, Star City Casino, Sydney Fish Markets and the inner western suburbs of Glebe, Leichhardt and Lilyfield. A monorail service operates in a loop which incorporates Central Station, the city's main shopping area and Darling Harbour.
Ferry: Sydney Ferries operates ferry services on Sydney Harbour along nine route, all of which terminate at Circular Quay in the city. In addition to ferries, there are harbour cruises run by various operators, and water taxis.
Bus: Buses serve most suburbs, including some with rail and ferry services. Many operate on routes which terminate in the Sydney Central Business District (CBD), other services connect to terminals at major shopping centres, suburban railway stations, or ferry wharves, where connections can be made either by bus, rail or ferry to the CBD.
Taxi: Sydney taxis are numerous and easy to spot. Cabs often wait in designated ranks that are clearly signposted at central locations like major hotels in the CBD, or busy spots such as major shopping areas. You can also hail a taxi in the street - if the rooftop light is illuminated, it means the taxi is available for hire - or book a taxi by telephone.
Fares and surcharges: Taxi meters are clearly visible, so you can keep check of your fare. From 10pm to 6am higher tariffs apply. A $3.00 airport toll is payable by all passengers taking a taxi from any of Sydney Airport's taxi ranks.
Self Drive: these days Sydney's road system is often congested in daylight hours, particularly during peak hours, and visitors to Sydney are advised to travel outside of peak hours. Major roads between cities and country towns are well signposted and of a high standard. If you are an overseas visitor, a driver’s licence from your home country will usually suffice for up to three months in Australia, as long as it has photo identification and it’s for the same class of vehicle you intend to drive. If you’re staying more than three months, you’ll need to get a NSW drivers licence. Sydney and many of its suburbs have coin-operated parking metres and paid car parks, but parking the in city centre is deliberately expensive to deter people from driving into the city and parking when they could use public transport, which is cheaper and often more convenient.
Tollways: Sydney has a number of roads that afford fast travel by vehicle around Sydney but a toll must be paid. These tollways are mainly cashless, meaning that drivers must purchase an electronic tag, or pass before using these roads. Every time you enter a tollway, your are charged. Buying and using an electronic tag, or pass has proved to be quite a hassle for many visitors to the city (and lots of locals too!), and as one can get around without using tollways, you may find it easier to put up with the inconvenience of slower driving than the hassle of using tollways.
Sydney's Orbital network: made up of ten motorways linked with expressways, freeways and other main roads. All of the motorways are owned and operated by private operators (except for the Sydney Harbour Bridge) and a toll is charged for their use.
How you pay the toll depends on which motorway you use, and how often you use them. While some accept cash, the newer motorways are fully electronic. The Sydney Harbour Bridge is completely cash free. This means you need an electronic tag, or pass.
The toll roads in Sydney are the M2, M4, M5, and M7, the Lane Cove Tunnel, Falcon Street Gateway, Eastern Distributor, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Tunnel and the Cross City Tunnel. Find out more about Sydney toll roads and motorways on the RTA website.
Special travel passes and services for visitors
Sydney Pass: available for 3, 5 or 7 days with unlimited travel on Sydney Buses, Sydney Ferries and CityRail services in and around the city. Get your Sydney Pass from a bus, ferry or rail ticket office or on board the Explorer buses.
Sydney and Beyond Smartvisit Card: offers admission to over 40 attractions including museums, galleries, wildlife parks, historic houses, tours and cruises, all for the one price. Shopping and entertainment offers are also included, and discounted travel for an extra cost. Phone 1300 661 711.
Sydney Explorer: This is your passport to the city, offering unlimited travel in air-conditioned buses to Sydney's biggest and best tourist attractions. Hop on and off anywhere along the Sydney Explorer route. Phone 131 500
Bondi Bay Explorer: For great sights, great shops and great surf, you can't beat the Bondi Bay Explorer, which travels to the eastern suburbs beaches. You have unlimited flexibility – jump on and off as you please. Phone 131 500
Transport to and from the Airport: a fleet of shuttle buses operate between the International and Domestic Terminals of Sydney Airport and the major hotels in the City. Outlying centres like Wollongong and Campbelltown have their own shuttle bus services. The Airport Link rail line connects Sydney Airport with the city. All services depart from platform 23 at Central Station. The Domestic and International Terminals have their own stations which are easily accessible from within the terminals. Airport Link tickets can be purchased at any Airport Link or City Rail station.
Suggested Travel Itineraries: self drive, walks, guided tours and public transport
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