Australia
Sydney
Australia's harbourside gateway. Ferries are part of the commute here, so getting around is sightseeing in itself.
Sydney buses (Opal network)
Completely cashless - the driver sells nothing and paper single tickets are not valid; you ride on Opal or a contactless card. Buses only stop if you raise your hand, and skipping the tap off costs the maximum fare.
Updated on August 2, 2026
How to ride
- 1Sort your payment before you reach the stopBuses sell no tickets on board - buy an Opal card at a shop, or bring a contactless bank card or phone.
- 2Raise your hand to flag the bus downCheck the route number and destination above the windscreen, then raise your hand as the bus gets close.
- 3Board at the front and tap onTap your card on the Opal reader at the front as you step on board; buses usually carry three readers.
- 4Press the stop button before your stopPress the stop button shortly before your stop, and stay seated until the bus has come to a stop.
- 5Always tap off before you step offTap the same card again before you step off - forget, and you are charged the highest default fare.
Fares
Single fares3
Bus fare, 0-3 km
Adult fare; the higher figure is peak, the lower is the 30% off-peak fare.
2.31〜3.3 AUD ≈ $2
Bus fare, 3-8 km
Distance is measured as the straight line between stops, not the road the bus takes.
3.14〜4.49 AUD ≈ $2–3
Bus fare, over 8 km
The top band - this is also the default fare charged if you forget to tap off.
4.03〜5.77 AUD ≈ $3–4
Fare caps3
Daily fare cap (Mon-Thu)
Across all modes, and only if you tap with the same card the whole time.
19.3 AUD ≈ $14
Daily fare cap (Fri, weekends, public holidays)
The cap halves, and every fare on those days is charged at the off-peak rate.
9.65 AUD ≈ $7
Weekly fare cap
The Opal week runs Monday to Sunday and counts your travel on every other mode too.
50 AUD ≈ $36
Card itself1
The Opal card itself
The card is free, but you must load value onto it before you travel.
0 AUD
Estimates use exchange rates as of September 5, 2026
Payment
Tap to ride VISAMastercardAmex
Charged as an Adult fare by default; child fares need a Child/Youth Opal card
IC card The Opal card is free at shops, but the minimum top-up there is $20
Paper tickets Opal single trip tickets are not valid on buses at all
Cash Buses take no cash - use it to top up an Opal card at a shop
Quick facts
Fares from
2.31 AUD+
Heads-up
-
Forgetting to tap off charges the highest fare band
Forget to tap off and you are charged a default fare - the highest fare band for that mode - though never above the daily cap.
-
Tapping your whole wallet splits your fare capping
Do not tap your whole wallet - if a different card gets read, your capping splits across two cards and you never reach the cap.
-
Topping up just before you board will not help
A top-up made in the app or online can take up to 60 minutes to reach buses, so topping up just before you board will not help.