GETTING AROUND | Sydney, Australia
Renting a car won’t be necessary in Sydney. The city is highly connected with a system of buses, trains, taxis, ferries and ubers that will take you wherever you need to go. The only time you will need a car is if you plan to drive up or down the coast, or day trips such as Hunter Valley for wine tasting, Blue Mountains for a scenic trip. The best tool for route planning is Google Maps. Transport NSW info is also a great hub of info for checking timetables for all modes of public transport (www.transportnsw.info). Also consider getting an Opal Card that you can refill and is used on all modes of public transport in Sydney (http://www.opal.com.au) – you can get them at the airport or at select newsagencies, convenience stores,etc. (http://www.retailers.opal.com.au/)
Getting to/from the airport: Depending on where you stay, you can take a quick train from the International or Domestic Airport Terminal to Sydney, CBD. Otherwise, airport shuttle buses or cabs would be the next choice (about 25 mins drive to Sydney CBD) – no Uber X’s or Ubers are allowed at Sydney Airports
Transportation Options
Trains: Cityrail is the most convenient way to get around greater Sydney and within the Sydney city loop. The trains will take you as far north as Newcastle and the Hunter Valley, as far south as Woollongong and Kiama, and as far West as the Blue Mountains. The closest train station to the Ceremony will be Edgecliff Station (7min/400m walk). The closest train station to the Reception is Circular Quay (15min walk / 1km) (www.cityrail.info).
Light rail: Particularly popular for those who choose to stay near Central/Chinatown – the light rail can take you to specific attractions around the inner city e.g. Fish Markets, The Star (Casino), Powerhouse Museum etc. (http://www.transdevsydney.com.au/)
Buses: Sydney buses are another useful way to get around Sydney, serving areas which don’t get train lines. They are probably the best mode of transport in and around the Eastern Suburbs and the City (www.sydneybuses.info). We highly recommend our guests who have not explored Sydney before to take advantage of the free CBD bus service (Bus no. 555) – guests can choose to hop on and off, and explore many of Sydney’s major CBD attraction and areas such as Chinatown, Darling Harbour, Town Hall, The Rocks, etc.
Ferry: The Sydney Theatre Company is right next to Circular Quay, which is the main hub of the ferry system. If you have time, take one of these ferries and explore away from Sydney CBD - Taronga Zoo to see some Koalas, Manly for the Beach, Cockatoo Island for drinks and art or Milsons Point for iconic Luna Park and its roller coaster or swim in one of Sydney’s few salt water pools. (www.transportnsw.info)
Taxi: Cabs are plentiful around the City. The most popular cab companies are: Taxis Combined Services (133 300) Premier Cabs (13 10 17), Silver Service (133 100)
Note – flagfall for Sydney cabs are approx. $3 for all times other than Friday & Saturday night after 8pm where flagfall escalates to $6
Uber: Download the app and ride share in Sydney. Uber X generally works out to be much less than the price of a regular cab.
Cars: If you do decide to rent a car for your stay in Sydney or day trips outside of Sydney, apart from the major rental companies such as Hertz, Avis, etc., we also recommend No Birds situated in the Darlinghurst area, they are known for basic, Toyota cars at competitive rates. When driving in Sydney, we advise all guests to be extra diligent! Sydney parking and speeding fines are infamous for its exorbitant prices.