Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2023

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, 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.

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. Change at Epping to connect with train services towards Circular Quay.

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

The closest train station to the start of the race in Sydney Harbour is Edgecliff. From the station, connect with buses to Rose Bay or Watsons Bay for access to vantage points of the yachts leaving the Harbour.

Trackwork

Trackwork is taking place on Tuesday 26 December on the following lines and may affect how you travel to and from the event. Plan ahead using the Trip Planner:

• T2 Inner West & Leppington Line: Some trains run to a changed timetable and stopping pattern due to trackwork on the T3 Bankstown Line.
• T3 Bankstown Line: Buses replace trains between Lidcombe, Cabramatta and Bankstown. Trains run between Bankstown and the City Circle, some to a changed timetable.
• T5 Cumberland Line: Some trains run to a changed timetable and stopping pattern due to trackwork on the T3 Bankstown Line.
• T8 Airport & South Line: Some trains run to a changed timetable and stopping pattern due to trackwork on the T3 Bankstown Line.
• Blue Mountains Line: Most trains run between Blue Mountains Line stations and Blacktown only. Change trains at Blacktown to continue your journey. Trains from Blacktown to Blue Mountains Line stations run up to 30 minutes later than the normal timetable. Bathurst trains continue to run between Bathurst and Central.
• Central Coast & Newcastle Line: Most trains run between Central Coast & Newcastle Line stations and Strathfield only. Change trains at Strathfield to continue your journey. You may need to catch an earlier Night Service bus from Central to Strathfield for early morning connections.
• South Coast Line: Trains that normally start and end at Central, platforms 1-12 will instead start and end at Bondi Junction.

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

Regular route buses

Catch buses to Mosman, Manly or Vaucluse/Watsons Bay for the best vantage points of the yachts leaving the harbour.

Extra bus services will run on Boxing Day between Circular Quay and Watsons Bay from 9am until 12:30pm, and from Watsons Bay to Phillip Street in the Sydney CBD from 1:25pm until 4:31pm.

Keep in mind that some bus services will be impacted in local areas. Services may use alternative stops or terminate early if NSW Police implement closures on roads as vantage points become crowded. Plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

Bus Diversions

Vaucluse/Watsons Bay: Due to changed one-way traffic conditions in place on Vaucluse Road, route 325 services leaving Watson Bay from 8:22am and 6pm will travel via Wentworth Road instead of Vaucluse Road. Stops on Vaucluse Road will be missed. Services from the City to Watsons Bay will run as normal but may experience delays.

Manly: Buses in Manly may terminate early due to local road closures implemented by NSW Police around North Head. 

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

Ferry services will be impacted on Boxing Day while events on the Harbour take place. Some services will not operate while others will be affected for temporary periods of time.

Keep in mind ferries will be very popular and are likely to reach capacity early. Be prepared for queues, allow plenty of extra travel time and consider the alternate public transport options available.

A Harbour Exclusion Zone will be in effect from 12pm to 2:20pm to facilitate the yacht race.

Buses will replace ferries on the F1 Manly Line and ferries on the F7 Double Bay and F9 Watsons Bay lines will not run during this period.

Service Changes

F1 Manly ferries will not run between Circular Quay and Manly between 11:45am and 2:50pm/3pm.

• The last ferries leave both Circular Quay and Manly at 11:45am. Services will resume from Circular Quay at 2:50pm and from Manly at 3pm.
• Buses replace F1 Manly ferries while they are not running. Alternatively, catch buses from Manly Wharf to Manly Vale, Warringah Mall or Spit Junction to connect with frequent B-Line buses to and from the City during this time

F7 Double Bay ferries will not run between Circular Quay and Double Bay between 11am and 2pm/2:20pm.

• The last ferry to Double Bay leaves Circular Quay at 10:57am; services resume at 1:57pm. The last ferry to Circular Quay leaves Double Bay at 11:20am; services resume at 2:20pm.
• Catch route 324/325 buses to and from the City while ferries aren't running. 

F9 Watsons Bay ferries will not run between Circular Quay and Watsons Bay between 11:15am and 1:15pm/1:45pm.

• The last ferry to Watsons Bay leaves Circular Quay at 11:15am; services resume at 1:15pm. The last ferry to Circular Quay leaves Watsons Bay at 11:45am; services resume at 1:45pm.
• Catch route 324/325 buses to and from the City while ferries aren't running. 

Manly Fast Ferry services between Manly Wharf and Circular Quay will not run while the exclusion zone is in place.

• The last ferries leave both Circular Quay and Manly at 10:40am. Services will resume from 1:40pm.

All other Sydney Ferries will run as normal and to a public holiday timetable.

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

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.

Change at Central to connect with L2 and L3 light rail services leaving from Chalmers Street 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 L3 Kingsford line services run between Circular Quay and Juniors Kingsford via Central Station (Chalmers Street). Services run regularly from 5am to 1am daily, plan your trip using Trip Planner.

Catch L2 and L3 line services to Circular Quay and continue on foot to the Harbour foreshore.

For maps and service frequencies see light rail service information. For light rail service disruption information, check travel alerts or plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

Exclusion Zones

Exclusion zones will be in effect along the Harbour from 12pm to 2:20pm while the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race is underway.

Speed limits, minimum wash requirements and anchoring restrictions will apply on Sydney Harbour for the start of the race on Tuesday 26 December.

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

Safety n the water

With extra maritime traffic expected on the state’s waterways during the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, 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.

Traffic will be heavier than normal on roads around the Harbour foreshore as crowds gather to see the race. Some local roads will close near vantage points, including North Head in Manly and around Watsons Bay to manage the large crowds.

Road Closures

In Manly, sections of Marshal Street and Darley Road at North Head may close at the direction of NSW Police.

In Vaucluse, a one-way traffic arrangement will be in place on Vaucluse Road at the direction of NSW Police. All southbound traffic will be diverted via Wentworth Road.

For the latest traffic information visit Live Traffic NSW or download a real-time traffic app.

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

Parking

Parking is limited at vantage points around the Harbour and street parking restrictions will be in place. Arrive early, allow plenty of extra travel time and check street parking signage carefully. 

Special Event Clearways

Special event clearway parking restrictions will be in effect to accommodate large crowds around various harbour viewing areas, including on roads in Mosman, Edgecliff and Watsons Bay.

Mosman – 9am to 6pm:

• Military Road between Field Lane and Spit Road (southern side)

Edgecliff and Watsons Bay – 9am to 6pm:

• New South Head Road between Darling Point Road and Unit 286 garage driveway / start of parking bay (northern side)
• Old South Head Road between Robertson Place and Salisbury Street (eastern side)
• Military Road between Robertson Place and the bus turning circle north of Gap Road (both sides)

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.

Visit Live Traffic NSW to see the locations of special event clearways.

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).