Ridin' Hearts Festival 2025

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

The M1 Line operates turn up-and-go Metro services between Tallawong, Chatswood and Sydenham from early morning until late.

Change at Epping or Central to connect with train services towards Lidcombe then Olympic Park. 

Note: Train trackwork on the T9 Northern Line may affect how you travel. Buses replace trains between Hornsby, Epping and Strathfield.  Change at Chatswood, not Epping, for trains to the City.

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

The closest station to Sydney Showground is Olympic Park.

Trains run regularly to Lidcombe where you can head to Platform Zero for a direct train to Olympic Park, running every 10 minutes until late.

Please note due to planned trackwork buses replace T9 trains trains between Hornsby and Strathfield. Trains run to a changed timetable between Strathfield and the City. Allow extra travel time.

Trackwork 

Planned trackwork is taking place on Saturday 25 October on the following lines and may affect how you travel to and from the event. Plan ahead using the Trip Planner. 

• T1 North Shore Line: Buses replace trains between Berowra and Gordon. Trains run between Gordon and the City, some to a changed timetable. Buses also replace T9 Northern and Central Coast & Newcastle Line trains. 
• T1 Western Line: Buses replace trains between Richmond and Riverstone. Richmond trains run between Riverstone and Liverpool, to a changed timetable. Change at Parramatta to continue your journey towards the City. Penrith trains make an extra stop at Burwood. 
• T2 Leppington & Inner West Line: Trains run to a changed timetable and stopping pattern between Leppington and the City via Granville or Regents Park. T1 Western Line trains make an extra stop at Burwood. 
• T3 Liverpool & Inner West Line: Trains run to a changed timetable and stopping pattern between Leppington and the City via Regents Park. You may need to change trains to continue your journey. T1 Western Line trains make an extra stop at Burwood. 
• T5 Cumberland Line: Buses replace trains between Richmond and Riverstone. Trains run between Riverstone and Liverpool, to a changed timetable. 
• T6 Lidcombe & Bankstown Line: Trains run to a changed timetable and reduced frequency, every 30 minutes.
• T9 Northern Line: Buses replace trains between Hornsby and Strathfield. Trains run to a changed timetable between Strathfield and the City. Metro services run between Tallawong and Sydenham.
• Blue Mountains Line: Trains run to a changed timetable between Blue Mountains Line stations and Blacktown only. T1 Western Line trains run between Penrith, Blacktown and the City. Trains from Blacktown to Blue Mountains Line stations run 30 minutes later than normal. 
• Central Coast & Newcastle Line: Buses replace trains between Newcastle Interchange and Gordon. T1 North Shore Line trains run between Gordon and the City, some to a changed timetable. Buses also replace trains on the Hunter and T9 Northern lines.   
• Hunter Line: Buses replace trains between Scone, Dungog and Newcastle Interchange. Buses also replace trains on the Central Coast & Newcastle Line. 
• South Coast Line: Early morning and late night trains will run between South Coast Line stations and Bondi Junction. From 7:30am to 11:30pm, at Stanwell Park, all trains leave from platform 1. From 12pm to 4pm, at Stanwell Park, all trains leave from platform 2. 
• Southern Highland Line: Trains that normally run between Southern Highlands Line stations and Central will instead run between Southern Highlands Line stations and Campbelltown only.

Trackwork is carried out on an ongoing basis to maintain the safety, reliability, and efficiency of the Sydney Trains network. For train service disruption information, check trackwork and travel alerts or plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

The following Sydney buses services run to Olympic Park:

• Route 525 runs between Parramatta and Sydney Olympic Park via Newington.  
• Route 526 runs between Strathfield and Rhodes Shopping Centre via Sydney Olympic Park precinct and wharf.  
• Route 533 runs from Sydney Olympic Park to Chatswood via Rhodes & North Ryde.

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

The closest wharf to Sydney Showground is Sydney Olympic Park Wharf. There is a connecting 526 bus to the venue or alternatively it is approximately a 40-minute walk (3.6km) from the wharf. 

F3 Parramatta River services run regularly to Olympic Park, but services are very popular and may reach capacity. Keep this in mind if you’re planning on catching an F3 Parramatta River service. Plan your trip and allow plenty of extra travel time or consider the alternative public transport options available.

F3 Parramatta River ferries may be affected by low tide between Parramatta and Rydalmere and replaced by buses. Check for updates here. 

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.

Change at Central for trains to Lidcombe then Olympic Park. 

L2 Randwick and L3 Kingsford Lines

L2 Randwick Line 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 for trains to Lidcombe then Olympic Park. 

L4 Westmead and Carlingford Line

L4 Westmead and Carlingford Line light rail services run between Carlingford and Westmead via Parramatta CBD. Services run regularly from 5am to 1am daily. Plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

Alight at Parramatta Square and connect with a train service towards Lidcombe then Olympic Park from Parramatta Station. 

Passengers are reminded that trams can’t stop quickly or easily – so please stop, listen and look around for trams and use designated pedestrian crossings. 

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 on roads approaching Sydney Olympic Park as attendees travel to and from the show. Travel with your group and allow extra travel time on the M4, Parramatta Road, Homebush Bay Drive and Concord Road. 

If you have to drive, carpool with your group pre-book your parking online ahead of time to secure a space – available until 11:59pm the night before the event unless sold out prior.  

To get to your carpark and avoid the heavy traffic congestion expected at the Homebush Bay Drive roundabout, use Silverwater Road, Holker Street and Hill Road. 

Road Closures

Sydney Olympic Park Authority may close some local roads to accommodate increased public transport services and ensure pedestrian safety during events. For road closure details, visit the Sydney Olympic Park Authority interactive map.

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

The nearest Taxi Rank is on Herb Elliott Avenue near the Pullman Hotel.

If you’re using taxis or rideshare, remember that roads will be closed within the precinct. Allow plenty of extra travel time due to the increased traffic expected in the precinct before and after the event.

When leaving, choose a pick-up location away from the immediate area around the Showgrounds to avoid delays.

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

Visit Sydney Olympic Park – Parking to secure your parking space ahead of the event, available until 11:59pm the night before the event unless sold out prior. A flat rate $35 parking fee will apply

If you have pre-booked a space, follow the directions of staff and have your parking ticket ready to show at the car park entry. Carpool with your group and allow plenty of additional travel time.

Use Silverwater Road, Holker Street and Hill Road to get to your car park and avoid the heavy traffic congestion expected at the Homebush Bay Drive roundabout. Traffic delays are expected after the event as attendees leave the precinct.  

If you haven’t pre-booked, follow the variable message signs within Sydney Olympic Park to the best available casual parking. 

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).