Sydney transport

Sydney Airport sits at Mascot, and most visitors stay in CBD accommodation. This page covers the airport transfers that link the two, then the harbour ferry and hop-on hop-off bus passes that get you around once the bags are dropped.

Sydney Airport transfers to and from CBD accommodation

The Sydney Airport arrival transfer picks you up from the international or domestic terminal and takes you to your Sydney accommodation. The Sydney Airport departure transfer runs the other way, from your Sydney CBD accommodation to the airport at Mascot.

Booking asks for your flight details: arrival date, flight number and time, plus departure date and flight number if you buy a return. Luggage is limited to one suitcase and one piece of hand luggage per person, and oversized items such as surfboards, golf clubs and bikes need checking with the operator first.

For departures, the operator asks you to confirm your pick-up time at least 48 hours ahead and to be waiting outside your accommodation at least 10 minutes before pick-up. On arrival, collect your bags from the carousel and head straight to the pick-up point on your voucher.

Sydney Harbour hop on hop off ferry pass

The Sydney Harbour 2 day hop on hop off ferry pass leaves from Circular Quay Wharf 6 and stops at Circular Quay, Taronga Zoo, Manly, Shark Island and Watsons Bay. A full round trip takes 60 to 90 minutes, with commentary on the harbour's history and layout and views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge from the water.

Swap your voucher for a boarding pass at the Captain Cook ticket office at No.6 Jetty at least 20 minutes before departure. Running days differ between weekends and school holidays, so check them on the product page before you plan around it. Hotel transfers aren't included.

Taronga Zoo by ferry

The Taronga Zoo entry and return ferry combo includes a return ferry from Circular Quay or Darling Harbour aboard a rocket catamaran, with live commentary and zoo entry. The Taronga Zoo entry with a 2 day harbour ferry pass adds hop on hop off travel between Circular Quay, Darling Harbour, Watsons Bay, Manly and Shark Island. For both, you make your own way to the wharf.

Hop-on hop-off buses to the city and Bondi

The Big Bus Sydney and Bondi hop-on hop-off tour runs two routes. The City Tour (Red Route) passes the Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge and Royal Botanic Gardens, and the Bondi and Bays Tour (Blue Route) takes in Bondi Beach, Double Bay and Rose Bay. Each loop takes about 90 minutes, with recorded commentary in 8 languages and 34 stops across the network. The pick-up sits at the corner of George Street and Alfred Street at Circular Quay.

Choosing between the ferry, the bus and a transfer

A transfer covers the airport leg and nothing else. The ferry pass suits the water, with Taronga Zoo, Manly and Watsons Bay all listed as stops. The bus is the one that lists Bondi Beach, along with the city sights on the Red Route. If you only want one pass, pick by where you'd rather end up: the harbour's edges or the beach.

Frequently asked questions

What details do I need to book a Sydney Airport transfer?

Booking a Sydney Airport transfer asks for your arrival date, flight number and arrival time. If you buy a return transfer, it also asks for your departure date and flight number.

How much luggage can I take on a Sydney Airport transfer?

One suitcase and one piece of hand luggage per person. Oversized items such as surfboards, golf clubs and bikes may have restrictions, so check with the transport operator before you travel.

Where does the Sydney Harbour hop on hop off ferry leave from?

The Sydney Harbour hop on hop off ferry leaves from Circular Quay Wharf 6. Exchange your voucher for a boarding pass at the Captain Cook ticket office at No.6 Jetty at least 20 minutes before departure.

Does the Sydney hop-on hop-off bus go to Bondi Beach?

Yes. The Big Bus Bondi and Bays Tour (Blue Route) visits Bondi Beach, Double Bay and Rose Bay, and the City Tour (Red Route) covers the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and Royal Botanic Gardens.

How do I get to Taronga Zoo from Circular Quay?

By ferry. The Taronga Zoo entry and return ferry combo includes a return ferry from Circular Quay or Darling Harbour, and you make your own way to the wharf.

Local tip: The harbour ferry pass, the Big Bus stop and the Taronga ferry combo all start around Circular Quay, so base your first morning there and decide where to hop off once you've seen the harbour.

Sort the airport leg first, then pick a ferry or bus pass for the days after. Getting around Sydney is easy once the bookings are done.