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Australia

Sydney

Australia's harbourside gateway. Ferries are part of the commute here, so getting around is sightseeing in itself.

Sydney Airport access (T8 Airport Line)

A station access fee higher than the train fare itself lands on top at the two privately run airport stations - outside the daily cap, charged again on the way back. Gates take Opal or contactless; buses carry no fee.

Updated on August 2, 2026

How to ride

  1. 1
    Head down to the station under the terminal
    At T1 International the station is past Arrivals Hall A; at T2 and T3 Domestic it's off the arrivals level.
  2. 2
    Tap a card at the gate
    Tap an Opal card or a contactless bank card or phone at the gate, and tap off with the very same one.
  3. 3
    No card? Use the ticket machine
    Buy an Opal card or a single trip ticket from the station machines - single tickets allow no transfers or stopovers.
  4. 4
    Going cheap? Take the bus
    Buses carry no station access fee. Route 420 links both terminals to Mascot Station; route 350 runs Domestic to Bondi Junction.
  5. 5
    No trains between midnight and 5am
    Midnight to 4am, take the N20 from the International Terminal; from 4am, route 420 or a taxi rank.
  6. 6
    Taxis go from the rank at each terminal
    Taxis from the ranks charge a fixed fare to the CBD and must show it on the meter; app-booked rides are not covered.

Fares

Single fares5

Bus to or from the airport, one way (Adult)
Three distance bands; 30% off Fri to Sun, holidays and weekday off-peak. Buses carry no access fee.
2.31〜5.77 AUD ≈ $2–4
Train fare, airport to the city (0-10 km, Adult)
$3.03 off-peak - Fri to Sun, holidays, and weekdays outside 6.30-10am and 3-7pm. Access fee on top.
3.03〜4.33 AUD ≈ $2–3
Paper Opal single trip ticket to the city (Adult)
A $5.20 fare plus the $19.00 single-ticket access fee. No transfers, and no off-peak discount.
24.2 AUD ≈ $17
Train between the terminals (International to Domestic)
A flat $5.20 access fee plus the $3.03-$4.33 train fare. Route 420 costs you no access fee at all.
8.23〜9.53 AUD ≈ $6–7
Taxi from the rank to the CBD (fixed fare)
$60 standard, $80 for a maxi with five or more. Taxes and tolls included; card surcharge up to 5% extra.
60〜80 AUD ≈ $43–58

Add-ons & fees1

Airport station access fee (Adult, one way)
Added on top of the train fare - $21.64-$22.94 all up to the city. It sits outside the daily cap.
18.61 AUD ≈ $13

Estimates use exchange rates as of September 5, 2026

Payment

Tap to ride
VISAMastercardAmex
Tap straight at the gate; discounted fares need registering a day ahead
IC card
Opal card - a $35 minimum applies to buying or topping up at an airport station
App tickets
Paper tickets
Opal single trip tickets from the machines; no transfers or stopovers
Cash
Fine in taxis; Sydney buses are cashless and the gates take no cash

Tap for where to get the app

Quick facts

Hours
5am-midnight
Frequency
About every 10 min
Fares from
2.31 AUD+

Heads-up

  • No 60-minute transfer at the airport stations

    The Opal 60-minute transfer doesn't apply at the airport stations - tap off and back on within the hour and it counts as two journeys, with a second station access fee.

  • Mixing Opal and contactless cancels your fare caps

    Mixing an Opal card with contactless payments kills your daily and weekly fare caps - pick one card or device and stick to it for the whole trip.

  • Too little Opal balance and the airport gates won't open

    With an Opal card, too little balance means you can't get out through the airport station gates. Load extra before you travel - the access fee is charged on top.

Timetable

Operating hours 5am-midnight
Typical duration About 13 minutes into the city by train - the airport sits just 8 km from the CBD
Check the official site for the latest times and service status