SXSW Sydney

Ticket entitlements for SXSW Volunteers  

SXSW volunteers are entitled to free travel to and from the event on Monday 14 October to Sunday 20 October 2024 (inclusive) on the following public transport services – just show your volunteer travel pass 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 metropolitan and outer metropolitan buses 
• Sydney Metro services 
• Sydney Ferries 
• Sydney Light Rail 

Note: an additional train station access fee applies for travel to or from Domestic and International Airport stations. The access fee is not covered by your event ticket travel entitlements. 

Remember to keep your volunteer travel pass safe for your return journey or you'll need to use your Opal card or contactless payment method, as you must have a valid ticket when travelling on public transport. Your event ticket is valid on the modes of public transport listed above until 4am the following day. 

Transport Park&Ride Car Parks 

Transport Park&Ride provides up to 18 hours of free parking each day. SXSW volunteer travel passes include free Park&Ride parking, use the intercom button at the exit gate to speak with the operator. If you use a Transport Connect account to access Park&Ride, the boom gate will automatically open as you leave the car park so you’ll need to request a refund in your account. For Park&Ride locations and more information on how it works, go to Transport Park&Ride. 

All other event attendees are required to use an Opal card or contactless payment method when travelling on public transport.  

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 Sydney’s north-west and south-west via the city. 

The M1 Line operates turn up-and-go Metro services in both directions between Tallawong, Chatswood and Sydenham. 

Metro services start running from early morning, every 5 to 10 minutes, until late at night. 

Change at Central to connect with L1 Inner West light rail services towards Darling Harbour stops at Convention or Exhibition Centre.   

Please note that on planned weekend trackwork on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 October will affect how you travel on the metro. Plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

• M1 Metro Line: Metro services will not run between Tallawong and Sydenham. Buses replace services between Tallawong and Chatswood only. Use train services between Chatswood, the City and Sydenham. 

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

The best station for connections to the International Convention Centre and nearby venues in Darling Harbour is Central.  

From Central, catch an L1 Inner West light rail service leaving from Grand Concourse to the Exhibition Centre or Convention stops to get within walking distance of Darling Harbour venues.  

Alternatively, you can walk from either Central or Town Hall stations in around 10 to 15 minutes.  

Trackwork

Trackwork is taking place throughout the event on the following lines and may affect how you travel . Plan ahead using the Trip Planner.

Monday 14, Tuesday 15, Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 October 

• City Circle: On Monday only from 9.40pm to 11.40pm, trains run in one direction only, from Central first stop Museum. From 11.40pm to 1.30am, trains run in one direction only, from Central first stop Town Hall. Some trains may start or end at Central, run to a changed timetable or leave from different platforms. You may need to change trains to continue your journey. The light rail runs in both directions between Circular Quay, Wynyard, Town Hall and Central. 
• T1 North Shore Line: Nightly from 10pm to 3am, buses replace trains between Berowra and Hornsby. Trains run between Hornsby and the City to the normal timetable. 
• T2 Leppington Line: Some trains run to a changed timetable and stopping pattern. From 9.40pm to 1.30am, buses replace trains between Leppington and Fairfield. Trains run to a changed timetable between Fairfield and the City. Buses also replace T3 Bankstown Line trains between Liverpool and Lidcombe. Trains continue to run between Macarthur, Glenfield and the City via the Airport. 
• T3 Liverpool & Inner West Line: From 9.40pm to 1.30am, buses replace trains between Liverpool and Lidcombe via Regents Park. Trains run between Lidcombe and the City, to a changed timetable. Buses also replace T2 Leppington Line trains between Leppington and Fairfield or Granville. 
• T4 Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line: From 9.40pm to 1.30am, buses replace trains between Central and Bondi Junction. Trackwork buses do not leave from Martin Place Station. Trains run to a changed timetable between Waterfall or Cronulla and the City Circle, making extra stops at St Peters and Erskineville. Change at Sydenham or Central for metro services to Martin Place, change at Central for buses to Kings Cross and Edgecliff and change at Town Hall for express buses to Bondi Junction. 
• T5 Cumberland Line: From 9.40pm to 1.30am, buses replace trains between Leppington and Fairfield. Trains run to a changed timetable between Richmond and Granville or Fairfield. Buses also replace T3 trains between Liverpool and Lidcombe. 
• T8 Airport & South Line: Some trains run to a changed timetable and stopping pattern. On Monday 14 from 9.30pm to 1.30am, trains via the Airport start and end at Central. Change trains at Central to continue your journey. On Thursday 17 from 9.30pm to 1.30am, trains between Sydenham and the City Circle will not run. T4 trains make extra stops at St Peters and Erskineville. 
• Central Coast & Newcastle Line: From 10pm to 3.50am, buses replace trains between Gosford and Hornsby. Trains run between Newcastle Interchange and Gosford, and between Hornsby and Central, some to a changed timetable. 
• Hunter Line: From 10pm to 3.50am, some trains run up to 20 minutes later than the normal timetable. On Thursday only Buses replace the following trains between Muswellbrook and Maitland: the 8:14am Newcastle Interchange to Muswellbrook and 12:09am Muswellbrook to Newcastle Interchange. Trains run to the normal timetable between Maitland and Newcastle Interchange. 
• South Coast Line: From 9.40am to 1.30am, buses replace trains between Central and Bondi Junction. Trackwork buses do not leave from Martin Place Station. Trains run to a changed timetable between South Coast Line stations and North Sydney or the City Circle. Change at Central for metro services to Martin Place or buses to Kings Cross and Edgecliff. Change at Town Hall for express buses to Bondi Junction. 

Friday 18 October  

• T2 Leppington Line: Some trains run to a changed timetable and stopping pattern. 
• T8 Airport & South Line: Some trains run to a changed timetable and stopping pattern. 

Saturday 19 October  

• M1 Metro Line: Metro services will not run between Tallawong and Sydenham. Buses replace services between Tallawong and Chatswood only. Use train services between Chatswood, the City and Sydenham. 
• T1 Western Line: From 6.20am to 10.30am, some trains make an extra stop at Burwood. 
• T2 Leppington Line: From 6.20am to 10.30am, buses replace Inner West trains between Ashfield and Central. Leppington trains make extra stops at Homebush and Croydon. Some T1 Western Line trains also make an extra stop at Burwood, and some T9 Northern Line trains make an extra stop at Ashfield. 
• T3 Liverpool & Inner West Line: From 6.20am to 10.30am, buses replace Inner West trains between Ashfield and Central. Trains run between Liverpool and Lidcombe via Regents Park only. You will need to change services to continue your journey. Leppington trains make extra stops at Homebush and Croydon. Some T1 Western Line trains make an extra stop at Burwood, and some T9 Northern Line trains make an extra stop at Ashfield. 
• T4 Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line: From 6.30am to 12.15pm, some trains run to a changed timetable and stopping pattern. Some trains start or end at Hurstville or Sutherland. You may need to change trains to continue your journey. Trains may leave from different platforms, please check indicator screens before boarding. 
• T9 Northern Line: From 6.20am to 10.30am, some trains make an extra stop at Ashfield. 
• Hunter Line: From 9pm to 4.20am, buses replace trains between Newcastle Interchange and Telarah. 
• South Coast Line: From 6.30am to 12.15pm, some trains make extra stops between Sutherland and Hurstville. 

Sunday 20 October  

• M1 Metro Line: Metro services will not run between Tallawong and Sydenham. Buses replace services between Tallawong and Chatswood only. Use train services between Chatswood, the City and Sydenham. 
• Hunter Line: From 10pm to 1.30am, buses replace trains between Newcastle Interchange and Telarah. 

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 to and from events. For the latest information, check travel alerts and trackwork or use the Trip Planner.

Bus routes 389 from Bondi Junction and 501 from West Ryde stop at Harris Street near Allen Street in Pyrmont. The ICC Sydney is about a 750m walk from the stop location.  

Buses also run regularly to QVB, Town Hall and Central to get you within walking distance of Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour.

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

Catch a ferry to Circular Quay where you can change for a train to Central to continue your journey to the ICC. 

Alternatively, catch a ferry to Pyrmont Bay – from there you can walk to Tumbalong Park or the ICC Sydney, or you can connect with light rail services to Exhibition Centre or Convention to get within closer walking distance. 

Early morning and late night ferries are limited so plan ahead and consider alternative transport options available, including trains, buses and light rail. 

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

L1 Dulwich Hill Line 

L1 Dulwich Hill Line light rail services run between Central Station (Grand Concourse) and Dulwich Hill via Darling Harbour and the Inner West. Services run regularly from 5am to 1am daily. Plan your trip using the Trip Planner. 

Catch light rail services to Convention or Exhibition Centre stops to get within walking distance of Darling Harbour venues.  

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 the Trip Planner. 

Change at Central Chalmers Street for L1 light rail services leaving from Central Grand Concourse to Convention or Exhibition Centre stops to get within walking distance of Darling Harbour venues. You can also consider walking to the venue from Central which will take approximately 20 minutes. 

Please note that from Monday 14 to Wednesday 16 October, nightly from 9.15pm to 1am, L2 Randwick Line and L3 Kingsford Line light rail services will be partially closed between Circular Quay and Town Hall, due to emergency trackwork and maintenance works. 

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.

Traffic may be heavier than usual through the Sydney CBD and Pyrmont before and after each event, particularly in peak travel times. If you're planning to drive, travel with your group and allow extra travel time.

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

The best taxi and rideshare drop-off and pick-up locations include the new Iron Wharf Place next to Harbourside Shopping Centre and Zollner Circuit on the southern end of Aware Super Theatre, both accessed via Darling Drive.

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

ICC Sydney has two 24-hour car parking stations with a total of 826 parking spaces, including 12 accessible parking bays, 25 motorcycle parking spaces, 50 bicycle racks and 25 electric car charge spaces. 

The two car parks are located within the Exhibition Centre (Car Park 1) and Aware Super Theatre (Car Park 2).  

Additionally, there are secure car parks located in and around Darling Harbour, including Wilson Harbourside Car Park and First Parking Darling Square Car Park.  

Visit Getting to ICC Sydney for more details.

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).