Australia Day in Sydney 2024

Opal

You can use an Opal card for all modes of public transport in Sydney and surrounding regions, including metro, trains, buses, ferries and light rail.

Remember to top up your Opal card before you travel to avoid waiting in line at top-up machines. You can top up your card online or at an Opal retailer.

More ways to pay

If you have a contactless-enabled American Express, Mastercard or Visa debit or credit card, or a linked device, you can use it to pay for your travel by tapping on and tapping off at Opal card readers. Available on all public transport services including metro, trains, buses ferries and light rail, contactless payments are another way to pay on the Opal network. Adult Opal fare pricing applies and you will receive Opal benefits, including daily and weekly fare caps.

Australia Day Volunteers 

Official Australia Day 2024 volunteers are entitled to free travel on public transport on Friday 26 January by showing their official Australia Day volunteer t-shirt to transport staff when boarding services: 

• Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink Intercity services (non-booked services bounded by Bomaderry, Goulburn, Bathurst, Scone and Dungog stations).
• Sydney Metro services
• Sydney bus services
• Sydney Ferries
• Sydney Light Rail

Remember to keep your Volunteer Travel Pass safe for your return journey or you'll need to use your Opal card as you must have a valid ticket when travelling on public transport. Note: an additional station access fee applies for travel to or from Domestic and International Airport stations. Your volunteer pass does not include the access fee, so if you're travelling from these stations you'll need to pay the train station access fee.

Sydney Metro services are high-frequency, driverless trains running between Tallawong Station and Chatswood Station.

Metro services start from the early morning running every 10 minutes until late on Australia Day. Change at Epping for a train to Circular Quay to get within walking distance of Sydney Harbour.

For Metro service disruption information, check trackwork and travel alerts or plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

Trains to and from the city will run approximately every 5 minutes on the City Circle, every 5 minutes on the T1 North Shore Line and every 10 to 15 minutes on most other lines.

Australia Day event precincts are all within short walking distance of train stations including:

• Circular Quay, Wynyard or Martin Place for events at Circular Quay and The Rocks.
• Town Hall or Central for events at Darling Harbour.

Visitors are reminded that trains will be busy at Circular Quay as large crowds leave the harbour after the evening events and fireworks. Allow extra travel time and consider catching a train home from nearby Wynyard, Martin Place or St James stations instead to avoid the crowds at Circular Quay.

Additional trains will run on the T2 Inner West and Leppington Line between Circular Quay and Ashfield via Wynyard from 5pm to 9pm stopping all stations to Redfern, Newtown and Ashfield. Additional return services will leave Circular Quay from 9pm until midnight.

Additional trains will run to Leppington from Circular Quay via Granville between 10pm and midnight stopping at Wynyard, Town Hall, Central, Redfern, Ashfield, Strathfield, Flemington, Lidcombe, Auburn, Granville, then all stations to Leppington between 10pm and midnight.

Additional Cronulla to Sutherland services will run from 10pm to 1am every 15 minutes

Trackwork

Trackwork information will be available closer to the event.

Trackwork is carried out on an ongoing basis to maintain the safety, reliability, and efficiency of the Sydney Trains network. Trackwork may affect how you travel so allow plenty of extra travel time and plan ahead. Check travel alerts and trackwork or use the Trip Planner to find the latest information before you travel.

Regular route buses

Plenty of regular route buses run to Circular Quay and another nearby transport hubs in the city includign Wynyard which are a short walk from the events around the harbour.

In the north, buses usually run to Milsons Point however will be affected by roads closures, so catch trains instead, or catch buses to North Sydney and continue on foot. 

Bus diversions

Some buses will be diverting and using different stops while roads are closed for Australia Day events in the morning and evening.

As well, due to a planned protest march buses around Broadway will be diverting between 11am and 1pm approximately, allow plenty of extra travel time. 

While the F1 Manly ferries are affected during exclusion zones on the harbour, additional route 170X buses will be running between Manly Wharf and Wynyard.

• From 6:30am to 10am - Millers Point/Walsh Bay:
  • Routes 311, 324 and 325 will not run to or from Millers Point and Walsh Bay due to road closures for the GIO Oz Day 10k wheelchair race. Services will end trips at Town Hall and start from QVB, York St.
• From 10:30am to 1pm - Milsons Point:
  • Route 230 services will not run to or from Milsons Point due to road closures. Buses will start and end trips in North Sydney instead. Services will end trips at Miller St, Victoria Cross at North Sydney and will pick up from Stand D Blue Street at North Sydney Station. Catch trains to continue your trip between North Sydney and Milsons Point.
• From 7:30pm to 10:30pm - Circular Quay: 
  • Buses that usually run to and from Circular Quay will start and end at Martin Place instead due to event road closures.
    • Routes 304, 333, 343 and 396 services will end trips at Martin Place, Elizabeth St, Stand C (Stop ID 2000421) and pick up from Stand E (Stop ID 2000283). Catch trains to continue your trip between Martin Place and Circular Quay.
  • Buses that normally travel via the Cahill Expressway will be diverting from their regular routes while the road is closed:
    • Routes 202, 207 and 208 services towards the city will be diverting around the Cahill Expressway via the Sydney Harbour Bridge but no stops will be missed.
    • Route 115 services leaving the city will be diverting around the Cahill Expressway but no stops will be missed.

For bus service disruption information, check travel alerts or plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

Special Event Vintage Buses

12 of Sydney’s iconic Vintage Buses from the Sydney Bus museum will operate a shuttle service running from Macquarie St at Circular Quay to North Sydney via the Sydney Harbour Bridge and return.

Buses will leave from Macquarie St near the Sydney Opera House roundabout from 10:30am to 5:30pm. A gold coin donation is requested from passengers.

For more details visit Australia Day - Vintage Buses.

Australia Day is one of the busiest days of the year for ferries and services will reach capacity early.

There are also various impacts to services throughout the day and night due to events on the Harbour so customers are strongly encouraged to plan ahead and consider the alternative transport options. Plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

See the NSW Government - Waterways website for more information on exclusion zones and safe boating during major events. 

Service changes

Ferries will be affected during the morning and evening exclusion zones, plan ahead and consider the alternative transport options.

• Ferries will be affected by exclusion zones. More details will be available closer to the event. 
• Ferries will run to a public holiday timetable with some additional late night services. 
• While the F1 Manly ferries are affected during exclusion zones on the harbour, additional route 170X buses will be running between Manly Wharf and Wynyard.

For ferry service disruption information, check travel alerts or plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

Exclusion zones

Exclusion zones will be in effect on the harbour in the daytime and evening while Australia Day events take place on the water.

More details will be available closer to the event. 

A special event area will be in effect with speed and wash restrictions. 

See the NSW Government - Waterways website for more information on exclusion zones and safe boating during major events. 

Spit Bridge opening times

The Spit Bridge will operate to a changed timetable for Australia Day with additional openings on Friday 26 January and Saturday 27 January 2024

• Friday 26 January timetable: 8:30am, 10:00am, 11:30am, 2:30pm, 4:30pm, 6:30pm, 8:30pm, 9:30pm, 11:00pm*
• Saturday 27 January timetable: 1:00am*, 8:30am, 10:00am, 11:30am, 2:30pm, 4:30pm, 6:30pm, 8:30pm, 9:30pm

*additional opening times marked by asterisk.

Safety on the water

With extra maritime traffic expected on the state’s waterways during Australia Day celebrations, NSW Police and maritime authorities will be out in force to ensure operators of recreational and commercial vessels are compliant with maritime laws.

Before heading out, check the vessel is in good working order, and ensure all the required safety equipment – including lifejackets – is on board.

Skippers are reminded of their responsibility to ensure there is safety equipment on board their vessels and are responsible for the manner in which their vessel is driven. 

Download the MarineRescue app from the App Store or Google Play and stay safe on the water.

L1 Dulwich Hill Line

L1 Dulwich Hill light rail services run between Central Grand Concourse and Dulwich Hill from 6am to 11pm daily, and until midnight on Fridays. Use the Trip Planner to plan your trip.

From Central connect with trains or change for a L2 or L3 light rail services to Circular Quay.

L2 Randwick and L3 Kingsford Lines

L2 Randwick light rail services run between Circular Quay and Randwick via Central Station (Chalmers Street) and the L3 Kingsford line services run between Circular Quay and Kingsford via Central Station (Chalmers Street). Services run regularly from 5am to 1am, plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

Catch a light rail service to Circular Quay on the L2 and L3 Line to get within walking distance of Sydney Harbour.

Service changes:

• From approximately 7:30pm to 10:30pm, L2/L3 services will not run between Circular Quay and Town Hall for the safety of crowds leaving the precinct after the show.

For more details on stop locations and maps, see Light rail service information. For light rail service disruption information, check travel alerts or plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

If you're planning to drive to Australia Day events in the city, travel with your group, allow extra travel time and be aware of the road closure locations and times. Special event clearway parking restrictions will also be in effect on various roads so check signs carefully.

Attendees and local residents are reminded that vehicles parked inside road closures, in private and commercial carparks or driveways, are not permitted to exit or drive onto closed roads until they are safely reopened by NSW Police. Familiarise yourself with the road closure locations and times and plan your movements ahead of time.

Road closures

Roads will be closed around Circular Quay, The Rocks and Milsons Point while Australia Day events are underway throughout the day and evening. See maps below:

• Sydney CBD road closure map (pdf 769KB)
• North Sydney road closure map (pdf 523KB)

Sydney CBD:

• 4am to midnight: George St from Essex St to Lower Fort St, Hickson Rd from George St to Pottinger St and sections of Essex St and Circular Quay West.
• 7am to 10am: Hickson Rd from Napoleon St to Pottinger St, Towns Pl from Dalgety Rd to Hickson Rd, and Barton St (for Oz Day 10K wheelchair race).
• 7.30pm to 10.30pm: Cahill Expressway lanes 7 & 8 and Overpass at Circular Quay including the High St, Mount St and Domain Tunnel on-ramps and lane 4 on the Harbour Bridge. Roads in Circular Quay north of Bridge St including sections of Albert St, Alfred St, Circular Quay East, Dalley St, Essex St, George St, Loftus St, Pitt St, Philip St, Macquarie St, Reiby Place, Underwood St and Young St. 

Note: The Cahill Walkway on the Circular Quay Overpass will be closed from 5pm to 9.30pm.

Milsons Point/Kirribilli:

• 10:30am to 1pm: Olympic Drive between Broughton St and Alfred St south.
• 7.30pm to 10.30pm: Lane 4 on the Harbour Bridge, Cahill Expressway lanes 7 and 8 and the Circular Quay Overpass will close. High St and Mount St on-ramps from North Sydney and Kirribilli will also be closed.

For the latest traffic conditions and the full event closure details including clearway locations and maps visit Live Traffic NSW or the app.

Demand for taxis and rideshare services may be higher than usual on Australia Day, particularly in the evening so please be patient while in queues at taxi ranks and consider the public transport options.

Some taxi ranks in Circular Quay and The Rocks will be inaccessible due to road closures for Australia Day events, see below the nearest available taxi ranks to the harbour foreshore event precincts:

• The Rocks 4am - midnight:  Argyle Street and Harrington Street
• Circular Quay 9am - 5pm: Pitt Street and Bridge Street
• Sydney Opera House/East Circular Quay: Before 7:30pm and after 10:30pm Macquarie Street near Sydney Opera House (eastern side) (Macquarie St closed 7.30pm-10.30pm)

For details of taxi networks servicing the Sydney area, visit Transport operators.

Parking

Check respective car park operator websites for parking availability and operating hours on Australia Day. Some car parks will not be accessible due to road closures for Australia Day events so make sure to plan ahead. For a full list of closure locations and times, and maps, visit livetraffic.com.

Take advantage of the additional public transport services running to get you to and from Australia Day celebrations.

Special event clearways

Special event clearway street parking restrictions will be in effect on key roads in the Sydney CBD, Circular Quay and The Rocks between 3am and midnight. In Milsons Point, clearways will be in effect on Olympic Drive from 9:30am to 1pm.

Sydney CBD:

• From 3am to 10am: Hickson Rd from Pottinger St to Napoleon St, Towns Place and Barton St.
• From 3am to 11am: Clarence St between Druitt St and Market St (eastern side).
• From 3am to midnight: George St/Hickson Rd from Alfred St to Pottinger St, Circular Quay West and sections of Essex St, Harrington St, Pitt St and Argyle St.
• From 9am to 5pm: Sections of Macquarie St approaching the Sydney Opera House roundabout. 
• From 5pm to 10:30pm: Sections of Albert St, Alfred St, Bent St, Bligh St, Bridge St, Carrington St, Castlereagh St, Circular Quay East access road, Clarence St, Conservatorium Rd, Custom House Lane, Dalley St, Grosvenor St, Hunter St, Loftus St, Loftus Lane, O’Connell St, Phillip St, Pitt St, Reiby Pl, Underwood St, York St and Young St.

Kirribilli/Milsons Point:

• From 9:30am to 1pm: Olympic Dr between Broughton St and Alfred St S

Look for the bright yellow signs and read them carefully on the day and the night before when parking as some clearways come into effect very early in the morning. 

Clearways are strict no-parking zones for all vehicle types, and apply even to local residents and TfNSW Mobility Scheme Permit holders. Check signs carefully as vehicles left in clearways will be towed and a fee applies. If your vehicle is towed, you can search your vehicle registration at the Find My Car website to find its new location, or alternatively call 132 701 to speak to an operator.

For a full list of clearway locations and times, visit livetraffic.com.

Viewing areas

There are dedicated accessible viewing areas and accessible event precincts for Australia Day events in the city. Visit Australia Day - Disability and Mobility Support for more information and contact details. 

Pick up and drop off areas

Accessible drop off and pick up points will be available at the following locations (not available for parking):

• The Rocks: Harrington Street (in front of Clock Tower Square) between 3am and midnight 
• Circular Quay: Loftus Street western side between Loftus Lane and Reiby Place. Before 7:30pm and after 10:30pm 
• East Circular Quay: 1 Macquarie Street, just before the roundabout. Before 7:30pm and after 10:30pm 

A current Mobility Scheme Pass must be displayed in the window. Vehicles left unattended are subject to towing.

Accessible Parking*

Sydney CBD North: Young Street between Bridge STreet and Farrer Place (Opp Wilson Parking. From 5pm to 10:30pm

* Parking for nominated minibuses dropping off and picking up Australia Day Live patrons with accessible needs, as part of the Premier’s Department Access and Inclusion program. Not available for general accessible parking.

Transport services

Accessible trips are shown in the Trip Planner with the wheelchair icon. You can select "accessible services only" in the Options to ensure you only see accessible services. Only trip plans with accessible train platforms, ferry wharves and buses will be presented. See accessible travel or download a transport app (select the "Accessibility" filter).