Sydney bus tour

Source of pictures and text: New Zealand Chinese pioneer reader Wang Gaorui

Sydney, Australia is across the sea from New Zealand. Whenever I see a map of Australia, I always wonder when I can go to the Sydney Opera House to see it. One day, he received a notice from the New Zealand bus hiking group “Bongo”, saying that the group owner had settled down to Australia by moving to Australia “towards the Sun” (referred to as the “Sun”). He invited us to visit Sydney, and he still led the team as a guide, and took the bus and hiking. I am very happy to hear this news! Actually, I’ve been waiting for him to speak!

The two families of four old naughty children immediately asked their children to apply for an Australian tourist visa online. The visa fee is 222.50 NZD per person, and the fingerprint collection is 56.90 NZD. But what annoyed me was that because I was 75 years old, I had to go to the designated hospital for a physical examination, so I paid an extra $500 for this, and it was also said that it was the starting price! Helpless, since you want to go play, then admit it! I would like to remind old friends: If you want to travel to Australia, please do it as soon as possible!

We have already become familiar with the bus to Auckland Airport. At 7 a.m. on August 11, 2025, we gathered at Auckland Britomart Railway Station, took the South Line train to Puhinui Station to change the airport bus, successfully arrived at Auckland International Airport, and then flew directly to Sydney.

When we arrived at Sydney International Airport, we just left the pick-up gate and saw the group owner “Sun” waiting. Old friends who have not seen each other for many days are naturally hugging and greeting each other. After the greetings, “Sun” asked us to buy bus and mobile phone cards at the counter, which is an indispensable basic configuration for modern people. Since we only stayed in Australia for 7 days, he strongly recommended that we purchase the $50 capped “Opal” weekly card, which allows us to take unlimited transportation within a week (except Airport Express). Mobile phone cards have 25G and 200G traffic, with 25 and 35 Australian dollars respectively, with a validity period of 28 days.

(Gateway to Sydney Airport)

After everything was settled, the Sun led us to take the 420 bus at the airport gate. After 40 minutes, we got off at the “Chinatown” station in Burwood Station. We transferred to the T1 train and successfully arrived at the hotel near Chatswood Station, completing our first trip to the Sydney bus free trip. Of course, you can also take the Airport Express T8 train directly to the city center. The fare is around 20 Australian dollars, but this period of fee cannot be calculated within the cap fee of the Opal card and has not been selected by us.

(Sydney Airport Railway Station Guideline)

(Bus 420 sign at the entrance of Sydney Airport)

Sydney has very developed transportation. It has a wide variety, a wide coverage and a three-dimensional layout, including trains, subways, light rail, ships, buses, etc.Moreover, various traffic signs distinguished by colors can be seen everywhere. The disadvantage is that strikes often occur, affecting the journey.

In Sydney, in addition to choosing the right bus card, you must also understand the local traffic rules, choose the right tools, and know the direction you are going, so that you can effectively complete the travel tasks. The main types of transportation we have practiced are:

The orange round sign “T” is the railway station sign. The train is the main means of transportation in Sydney, from Berowra to Bondi Junction to the east, to Waterfall to the south, to Macarthur and Leppington to the west, to Emu Plains and Richmond. There are 9 lines from T1—T9, respectivelyLetters + colordistinguish. All train lines connect to the Central Station and form a City Circle in the city center, which can facilitate passengers’ commute and transfer. Train dynamic information is displayed on the large screen at each station. In addition, there are intercity trains leading to Blue Mountains (West), Kaima (South), Newcastle (North), etc., with a long distance of 200 kilometers.

Sydney Central Station is Australia’s largest and busiest station, and undertakes the transportation tasks of trains and subways. It has a total of 27 platforms, and train stops will sometimes be adjusted. Please pay attention to the station announcement. There are roughly the following categories for the platform:

1–14Number:Mainly used for intercity trains and long-distance routes. (such as going to Blue Mountains, Wollongong, Newcastle, Canberra, Melbourne, etc.).

No. 15: Discontinued

16–25Number:It is used in urban railway ring and suburban routes, including T1 (North Shore & West Line), T2 (Neighbors & Liverpool), T3 (Bankstown), T4 (East Suburb & Ilawara) and other commuter trains.

No. 26-27: Used for subway train stops.

(Sydney Centre Station Hall Platform Sign)

Outside the Sydney Central Station, there are also light rail and 20 bus routes to stop.

(Train and subway route map in Sydney city and surrounding areas)

(Sydney Intercity Train Roadmap)

Dark green round card “M”It is a subway station sign.It is Australia’s first fully automatic unmanned and barrier-free system with a total length of 66 kilometers, connecting Sydney’s northwest, city and southwest, and is a flight every 4 minutes during peak hours. The train heading northwest from Sydney Central Station (Central), passes Chatswood, Epping, and ends at Tallawong Station. The train heading southwest from Sydney Central Station (Central), passes Waterloo Station to Sydenham Station, and will then extend to Bankstown to form a U-shaped shape.

Red round card“L”It is the light rail station logo.There are 4 routes in total, each of which is about 12 kilometers long. The running time is 05:00-01:00 every day. Taking the tram is quiet and environmentally friendly, and it is more suitable for short-distance travel in the city, with unlimited attractions and scenery along the way.

(Light rail route map)

L1 mainly moves east-west. It sets from Central Grand Concourse, passes Glebe and Leichhardt North stations to Dulwich Hill;

L2/L3 is north-south. They all start from the Circular Quay, and run south through the central business district CBD and Moore Park stations, and reach the Kingsford terminal L3 (Kingsford Line). The L2 (Lanwu Line) starts to separate from Moore Park station and extends southeast to the Randwick terminal.

L4 is an independent network in Western Sydney. It sets from Westmead, passes through the centre of Parramatta, Western Sydney, and finally arrives at Carlingford. Connecting to Western Sydney Medical District, Parramatta commercial and residential districts.

In addition, the L Newcastle line is also an independent system,Newcastle TransportTo operate, you can swipe the Opal card. It’s fromNewcastle Transportation HubarriveNewcastle Beach，The total length is 2.7 kilometers and there are 6 stations.

Green round card“F”Identify the ferry terminal. Sydney Ferry has 9 routes and 36 marinas. All routes start or end with the Circular Quay, covering the harbor and the Parramatta River, connecting multiple inner harbors and riverbank communities to form the core of the network.

(Sydney Ferry Network)

Piers 2-6 of Circular Quay are the departure/arrival points for multiple routes. The equipment here is complete and the information display is complete. It is equipped with ticket office, barrier-free access, etc.

Among them: F1 route, go directly to Manly Ferry to Manly Beach. The dock is a state-level protection status.

F4 route, go to Pyrmont Bay, you can reach Darling Harbour

F8 route to Cockatoo Lsland (Parrot Island, Historic Island)

Blue square card“B”It is a bus stop sign.There are more than 600 bus lines in Sydney, encoded by region by 3 digits. Some lines also have specific letter prefixes, such as “B” fast, “N” night, “M” high-frequency main bus, etc. Sydney bus lines are numbered from 1xx—9xx by district, like city capillaries, covering every corner of Sydney.

Tourists use it to supplement after getting off the train and subway. Since this part has a lot of content, it is better to look at the first digit of the bus and understand that it is not in the wrong direction in a certain area. When using it, check “Google Map”. Its number segment distribution is simply:1xx—4xxServing in the city, east, south and suburbs.5xx—9xxServing the western area, southwest, northwest and remote suburbs.

We should emphasize safety here. Sydney has a large city and light rail, so crossing the road is particularly important. At the same time, many vehicles in Sydney have prompts that require a certain carriage to be a silent carriage and a certain carriage to be an old and weak carriage. There are also pictures that indicate prohibited content. If you smoke, drink, make noise in the car, or place your legs in another seat, you may be called to the police and be fined 400 Australian dollars!

(Projects prohibited in the carriage)

(And the electronic display plate of the silent carriage)

Early the next morning we arrived in Sydney, the Sun took us to see the ancient buildings of the Sydney City Government “Town Hall”, and the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. Arrive by trainCircular Quay Station（Circular Quay Station）下，alongAlfred StreetWalk 8minute,Then go to the Sydney Opera House in Bennelong Point, Sydney Harbour. The Opera House was designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon and was built and opened in 1973 and was included in a World Cultural Heritage Site in 2007. With its unique shape, it has become the most representative landmark in Australia and one of the most famous modern buildings in the world.

Opera HouseThe roof consists of a series of similarShells, white sailsThe curved structure not only symbolizes the nautical culture of Sydney Harbour, but also shows the lightness and dynamic nature of nature. This shape breaks through the straight and square patterns of traditional buildings, becomes a model of modern architecture and a symbol of Australian culture, attracting millions of tourists every year. We strolled in the harbor, browsing and taking photos to our hearts, fulfilling our dreams for many years, let alone how happy we were!

The Sydney Harbour Bridge, known as the “Iron Clothes Giant”, was built in 1932. It is 1,149 meters long and 134 meters high. It was used during construction.52,800Tons of steelwas the largest steel arch bridge in the world at that time, symbolizing Australia’s courage and creativity, and is also one of the most charming landmarks in Sydney. It spans the blue Jackson Harbour and shines with the Sydney Opera House, forming a world-famous city skyline. Today, it is not only an important channel connecting the city and the north shore, but also a must-see destination for tourists.

The quaint and spectacular Sydney Central Station is a hub that brings together transportation tools from all sides. The average daily passenger flow exceeds 250,000, and we have to pass here every day. The sandstone-style building built in 1906 is solemn and grand. The towering bell tower is a symbol of well-known far and near. Looking up at the arched roof in the hall, you can not only feel the heaviness of a century-old history, but also feel the pulse of a modern city. This is not only a station, but also a city gate that can lead you into Sydney’s diverse and vibrant world.

In the following days, we visited the Queen’s Building, Martin’s Square, Sydney Art Gallery, Museum, St. Mary’s Church, Chinatown, Port Darling (F4 Ferry), and Bondi Beach (Road 333). Blue Mountain Park (intercity train), etc. I went to 16 of the 20 check-in points recommended by netizens, and also visited the famous Newcastle (intercity train) 170 kilometers south of Sydney city center, which was really rewarding.

(Interior of Queen Victoria Building built in 1898)

(Sydney Port Dalling)

I planned to shop the day before I came back, but was decisively overturned by the “sun” in the morning. It was recommended to go to Kaima 120 kilometers away (Kiama) Look at the “squirt hole”. Although everyone had ideas, they still followed his advice and took the intercity train on the South Coast to Kema. I only knew it when I came here.Kema Spray Cave is a natural “sea fountain”,yesNatural caves formed by volcanic rocks are driven to the top of the cave by strong water when the waves surge into the narrow cave entrance, and then ejected from the rock cracks, forming seawater columns up to more than 20 meters. Its momentum is huge, accompanied by loud noises and mist, which is very spectacular and unique. Everyone thanked the sun and let us see another beautiful view before leaving.

(Kema Spray Cave Network Photo)

“There are confidants in the sea, and the world is like neighbors.” The happy 7-day Sydney bus free trip ended soon and left us with permanent memories. Under the leadership of the “Sun”, we used the bus Opal card with a capped 50 yuan to play in Sydney and the surrounding areas, and the weather was good every day. It’s just that we have worked hard for the “sun”. Not only do we have to do our homework every day, but we have to do our homework at night, which makes us very grateful!

On the morning of August 17, 2025, when we restarted our route back to Auckland, we looked at the mobile weather forecast and found that Sydney will be rainy next week. It really corresponds to the saying: “Follow the sun, there will always be light!” Goodbye Sydney! “Sun”, our eternal friend!

Related readings:

---