Everything you need to know about getting around Sydney with kids using public transport, including ferries, trams, trains and taxis.
Although Sydney is a large sprawling city, many of the major attractions are walking distance apart or easily reached on public transport.
We’ve lived in Sydney for eight years now, so we have the public transport thing down to a T.
One of the things we love about Sydney is that public transport doesn’t just get you from A to B – it’s part of the adventure! Riding the ferry under the Harbour Bridge or sitting upstairs on the train all becomes part of your holiday memories.
Although easy to get around, the city can be incredibly busy around peak commuter times in the mornings and evenings. Try to avoid these times, especially if travelling with small kids.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Sydney’s public transport system is efficient, with a huge variety of “things that go” to keep kids amused – from ferries and trains to buses and light rail.
- Pick yourself up an Opal Card to use public transport or simply use your credit or debit card to tap on and off. Note: Kids will need an Kids Opal Card to qualify for child fares.
- Harbour ferries are awesome for a cheap harbour cruise.
- Daily caps prevent overspending so you can rest assured you won’t overspend no matter how much you travel in a day or week. These daily caps are lower at weekends, making this the cheapest time to explore via public transport.
- Download the Opal Travel app to plan your trip, check live departure times and store your Opal card for tapping on/off on your phone.
- Avoid trains and buses between 7–9am and 4–6pm on weekdays if possible, when they can be very crowded with commuters.
- Car parking is expensive. We recommend using public transport while staying in the city. Only consider hiring a car if you are looking to travel further outside of Sydney.
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Walking around Sydney
The CBD is mostly flat and easily walkable. Central Station to Circular Quay will take you 30-40 minutes on foot. Walking distance from Circular Quay to Darling Harbour is approximately 30 minutes.
There are also loads of fantastic harbourside and coastal walks – our favourite is to check out the Bondi to Manly walk and choose different sections to do.
Sydney Public Transport
Sydney has a very comprehensive network of buses, trains and ferries which are complemented by light rail services, taxis, water taxis and private hire companies.
Is Sydney public transport stroller-friendly?
Yes, travelling by public transport in Sydney is generally stroller-friendly. Here are some of our top tips:
- All Sydney Train stations are accessible, but older stations may not require lifts (and lifts can occasionally be out of service).
- All Sydney Metro stations are accessible with lifts. There is level access between platforms and carriages for prams and strollers. This means no ‘step’ into a carriage.
- Sydney Light Rail is easy with prams, but we recommend always boarding and alighting through the double doors near the middle of the tram and be aware of the gap between the platform edge and the tram.
- Getting on and off ferries involves a ramp – but easily manageable. Hold tight to your little ones around ferry wharves.
- Accessible buses have specific accessible areas for prams and wheelchairs near the front of the bus, which will allow children to remain in the pram while on board. Bus drivers can also lower the bus to make it easier to get on and off with a stroller.
Opal Card
Visitors to Sydney should get themselves set up with an Opal Card – a Smart Card you top up for use on trains, buses, ferries and light rail around Sydney. The card is free to order online or you can buy one from a station or convenience store in Sydney when you arrive.
You will need to top it up in advance then tap in/out every time you use public transport.
Tickets are needed for children aged 4 and up, with kids up to the age of 15 eligible for child fares. Fares are calculated on the distance travelled for all modes of transport.
You can also use your debit or credit card to tap on and off public transport. Note however, that kids will need an Opal Card if you want to take advantage of child fares. (Child fares are roughly half the cost of adult fares, so it’s worth getting them a Child Opal Card).
Also remember that everyone needs their own card to tap on and off. You cannot tap multiple family members on one card.
Travel Caps
Daily and weekly travel caps mean that you can travel as much as you like in a day (or week) without worrying about the cost getting out of hand. These are:
- Monday to Thursday (excluding public holidays): Adult $19.30 / Child $9.65
- Friday – Sunday & public holidays: Adult: $9.65 / Child $4.80
- Weekly cap: Adult $50 / Child $25
Do Kids Travel Free in Sydney?
- Children under 4 travel free
- Children aged 4–15 travel at child rates (Child Opal Card required)
Sydney Ferries
A unique part of Sydney, and the most loved form of public transport, is the comprehensive ferry network. Riding a ferry is a favourite with tourists as it combines sightseeing with getting from A to B, for a fraction of the price of a harbour cruise.
Ferries leave from the terminal at Circular Quay and travel to many of the city’s popular tourist destinations, including Taronga Zoo, Watsons Bay, Milson’s Point and Rose Bay.
Longer services also run north to Manly and west along the Parramatta River (including to Olympic Park). Some services can also be picked up at Barangaroo.
Tip: Head upstairs or outside on the ferry for the best views of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. Kids love the wind-in-your-hair feeling.
Some of our favourite ferry journeys for families are:
- Ferry to Watsons Bay for fish n chips on the beach or lunch at Doyle’s.
- Ferry to Taronga Zoo for a morning/afternoon at the zoo.
- Ferry to Manly – Sydney’s most iconic ferry journey – to visit Manly beach and shops.
Private Ferry Services
There are also some private ferry servcies that are useful to know about:
- The Manly Fast Ferry whisks you from Circular Quay to Manly in just 18 minutes!
- Captain Cook Cruises offer a hop-on-hop-off service that include stops at Taronga Zoo, Watsons Bay and Manly.
Water Taxis
Water taxis are a fun way to travel as an alternative to using the ferry, especially if you want to go to a specific restaurant or travel a route not easily covered by ferry.
Water Taxis are expensive, though. We occasionally use them when we are in a group doing a cross-harbour trip and can split the cost.
Sydney Trains
Sydney trains are a convenient option for tourists exploring the inner city, and for getting quickly from one end of the city to the other. Sydney trains are double-decker, which kids love!
The City Circle loop has stations around the CBD area. It travels in both directions, with stops at:
- Central – the main train station, close to Chinatown and Surry Hills.
- Town Hall – for shopping in the city and accessing Darling Harbour.
- Wynyard – for shopping in the city and accessing Barangaroo.
- Circular Quay – for the Opera House, the Rocks and accessing the ferries.
- St James – for shopping in the city.
- Museum – for the Australian Museum.
Sydney Light Rail
The Light Rail (tram) system offers three routes and is a fun and easy way to get around the city and out to some other popular destinations such as the Fish Market and Randwick Racecourse. It’s easy to connect to at Circular Quay when you come off the ferry.
- Route 1: Central Station – Dulwich Hill. Take this for the Sydney Fish Market and Star Casino.
- Route 2: Circular Quay – Randwick. Take this for shopping in the CBD (jump off at QVB shopping mall), Surry Hills and Randwick Racecourse.
- Route 3: Circular Quay to Kingsford – take this for shopping in the CBD (jump off at QVB shopping mall), Chinatown and Surry Hills.
When using the Light Rail, you need to tap on and off at the Light Rail station before getting on and after alighting from the tram.
Taking the tram is easy with prams, but we recommend always boarding and alighting through the double doors near the middle of the tram. Also, be aware of the gap between the platform edge and the tram at some stops.
Sydney Metro
The Sydney Metro is a great new addition to Sydney’s public transport network. It is clean, modern, air-conditioned, and offers a quick and easy way to get around.
All stations are accessible, with lifts, making it easy to use if you have a stroller too. There is level access between platforms and carriages for prams and strollers. This means no ‘step’ into a carriage.
The Metro links Sydney’s western, south-western and north-western suburbs to the city. This will eventually include the new Western Sydney Airport too.
The Metro is still a work in progress and will eventually comprise 4 metro lines with 46 stations.
Sydney Buses
Sydney also has a comprehensive bus network, and it is particularly useful for getting to the Eastern Suburbs (such as Bondi, Coogee and Bronte) and the Northern Beaches (to suburbs not on the ferry network).
You can use the Opal Travel app to plan your bus journey. Alternatively, click on a bus stop on Google Maps to see upcoming buses.
Note that buses do not automatically stop at every stop. If you are standing at the bus stop, put your hand out to signal to the driver to pick you up. Once on the bus, press the red ‘Stop’ button to signal that you want to alight at the next stop.
Sydney Taxis and Uber
Metered taxis can be hailed from the street, taken from pre-designated taxi stands throughout the city or pre-booked. Download the 13Cabs app to be able to easily book a taxi from your phone.
Uber operates in Sydney as it does in many other cities. Note that peak-hour surcharges and added fees can often push the price up to more than a normal taxi. I often check the price on both Uber and 13Cabs before booking.
- In NSW, children under 7 must use an appropriate child restraint in private vehicles.
- Taxis are exempt from child restraint laws (kids can travel without a car seat in a taxi, but not in the front seat).
- Uber drivers are generally not exempt and technically require appropriate restraints.
Hop On Hop Off Bus Sydney
Big Bus Sydney offers commentary tours of the CBD and to Bondi at 34 different stops, including all the major Sydney attractions.
The Sydney hop-on-hop-off bus is a great way to get from A to B, see the sights and learn some more about the city as you’re going.
You can pre-order your tickets here (cheaper than buying them on the day).
Hiring a Car in Sydney
Due to the extortionate cost and lack of available parking in the CBD, including at many Sydney hotels, we’d recommend only hiring a car if you are planning on doing day trips out of central Sydney or travelling beyond the city.
Cars are easy to hire from the airport or there are several depots scattered throughout the city.
Driving in Australia is on the left side of the road, right-hand drive vehicles. Sydney has a number of tollways to be aware of; your hire car company will explain how these are charged to you.
Getting from Sydney airport to the city centre
Most overseas visitors arrive into Sydney via Sydney International Airport (SYD) located 8km south of the city. To get from Sydney airport to central Sydney:
- Take the Sydney Airport Link Train which takes less than 15 minutes, running every 10 minutes. Adults are $20.95/$22.25 (peak/off-peak), Children are $17.54/18.90; Under 4 travel for free. You can pay for the Airport Link using your Opal Card. You can also buy a single ticket, but prices are slightly higher ($23.50 adult/$18.80 child).
- Take a Taxi or Uber – We think this is the best option for families. By the time you’ve paid for the whole family, it works out to be cheaper than the Airport Link train, and you have the added bonus of being dropped to your door. Metered taxis are available at the airport terminal. You can also pre-order an Uber to meet you at arrivals. Note that Sydney traffic can be pretty bad during rush hour.
If you are travelling with a smaller group (1-2 people) and not much luggage and going to be staying in the city centre, then the train is a great option. If you are a larger group or family, have lots of luggage and/or are not staying close to a train station, then a taxi or Uber is the better option.