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Carols in The Domain

The Domain Sydney – Art Gallery Rd

Gates open 13:00
Pre-show entertainment 16:00
Show starts 19:45
Finish 23:00

Important Event Information

With up to 30,000 attendees expected at the 43rd Carols in The Domain Sydney, ticketholders are encouraged to plan ahead and consider the public transport options.  

  • The best way to get to the event is by public transport. Plenty of public transport services run to the city including trains, metro, buses, ferries and light rail services making stops within close walking distance of The Domain Sydney.  
  • Festivities commence from 1pm so arrive early to secure a spot and enjoy the pre-show entertainment. There are free, non-ticketed, general admission areas available called The Festive Lawn, alternatively you can reserve a space for a fee in the Reserved Lawn premier area.   
  • Remember, you'll need to use an Opal card or contactless payment card/device when travelling on public transport to and from the event. Register your details online at Opal or via the Opal Travel app ahead of time. 
  • Please note if you’re travelling from the west that planned trackwork is taking place on the T1 Western Line with buses replacing trains between Penrith, Richmond and Granville. Catch replacement buses to Granville to continue your trip by train to the city. 
  • If you are planning on driving or catching rideshare and taxis, allow extra travel time as traffic will be heavier than usual in the area.  
  • Roads around The Domain Sydney will close for crowd safety before, during and after the event. Motorists should avoid driving through the area at the end of the event and consider alternative routes. For real-time updates on traffic conditions visit livetraffic.com.  

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 between Tallawong, Chatswood and Sydenham from early morning until late.

Alight at Gadigal or Martin Place to get within close walking distance of The Domain.

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

The closest stations to The Domain Sydney are Martin Place, St James and Town Hall. For travel around the city, use the metro, light rail, local buses or walk where able. 

Please note if you’re travelling from the west that planned trackwork is taking place on the T1 Western Line with buses replacing trains between Penrith, Richmond and Granville. Catch replacement buses to Granville to continue your trip by train to the city. 

Trackwork

Planned weekend trackwork is taking place on Saturday 20 December 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: From 8.10pm to 5.20am Sunday, buses replace trains between Berowra and Hornsby. Trains run to a changed timetable between Hornsby and Central.
  • T1 Western Line: Buses replace trains between Penrith, Richmond and Granville. Trains run to a changed timetable between Granville and the City. Buses also run between some T1 Western Line stations and Tallawong. Frequent metro services run between Tallawong and the City. 
  • T2 Leppington & Inner West Line: Extra trains run between Liverpool and T1 North Shore Line stations via Granville. 
  • T5 Cumberland Line: Buses replace trains between Richmond and Granville. T2 trains run to the normal timetable between Leppington and the City.
  • Blue Mountains Line: Buses replace trains between Penrith and Granville. T1 trains run between Granville and the City. Trains from Penrith to Blue Mountains stations run up to 45 minutes later than the normal timetable. Bathurst trains run between Bathurst and Lithgow or Penrith only, some to a changed timetable. The 19:25 and 22:17 Bathurst to Lithgow services run up to 35 minutes later than the normal timetable. 
  • Central Coast & Newcastle Line: From 7.50pm to 5am Sunday, buses replace trains between Wyong and Hornsby. Trains run to a changed timetable between Newcastle Interchange and Wyong. T1 and T9 trains run between Central and Hornsby. 

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

Plenty of regular route buses run to the City making stops within short walking distance of The Domain Sydney.  

The closest bus interchanges are at Town Hall QVB and Park Street, Martin Place, St James and Hyde Park. Plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

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

Services run regularly to Circular Quay and the wharves are within walking distance of The Domain Sydney. Ferries services are very popular and may reach capacity, so have alternative transport options in mind.   

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. Use the Trip Planner to plan your trip.

From Central, connect with metro services to Gadigal or Martin Place to get within walking distance of The Domain Sydney. Alternatively, change for a light rail service on the L2 or L3 Line to QVB or Town Hall to get within walking distance of The Domain Sydney.   

L2 Randwick and L3 Kingsford Lines

L2 Randwick light rail services run between Circular Quay and Randwick via Central Station (Chalmers Street) and the L3 Kingsford line services run between Circular Quay and Kingsford via Central Station (Chalmers Street). Services run regularly from 5am to 1am daily, plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

The closest stops within walking distance of The Domain Sydney are QVB and Town Hall on the L2 and L3 Lines.  

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 replacement buses to Granville then trains to the city. Trackwork is taking place on the T1 Western Line. 

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.

Travel by car is not recommended as traffic will be heavy and there are limited car spaces available (note that parking fees typically apply). If you are driving, arrive early to secure a parking spot.  

If you are catching rideshare or taxis, use the dedicated drop-off location on Hospital Road at Art Gallery Road. For pick-ups after the event head towards Elizabeth Street or Sir John Young Crescent.   

Roads around The Domain Sydney will close for crowd safety before, during and after the event. Motorists should avoid driving through the area at the end of the event and consider alternative routes.  

Road Closures

The following roads will be closed from 8pm to 11:30pm

  • Art Gallery Road will be closed at Hospital Road from 8pm to 11.30pm. 

The following roads will be closed from 9.30pm to 11:30pm

After the show, the following roads will close from 9.30pm at the direction of NSW Police:  

  • St Mary’s Rd from Prince Albert Rd to Sir John Young Cr 
  • Prince Albert Rd from Macquarie St to Art Gallery Rd 
  • Hospital Rd from Art Gallery Rd to Shakespeare Pl 
  • Macquarie St from Hunter St to Prince Albert Rd 
  • St James Rd from Elizabeth St to Macquarie St 
  • College St from Park St to Prince Albert Rd 
  • Cathedral St at St Marys Rd 

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

Parking in the area is limited and is expected to reach capacity early. Consider using public transport to get to the event.   

A number of nearby car parks are available at a fee – it is recommended to book in early:   

Travel by car is not recommended as traffic will be heavy and there are limited car spaces available (note that parking fees typically apply). If you are driving, arrive early to secure a parking spot.  

If you are catching rideshare or taxis, use the dedicated drop off location on Hospital Road at Art Gallery Road. For pick-ups after the event head towards Elizabeth St or Sir John Young Crescent.   

Some roads around The Domain Sydney will close for crowd safety before, during and after the event. Motorists should avoid driving through the area at the end of the event and consider alternative routes. 

For details of taxi networks servicing the Sydney area, visit transport operators.

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).