Australia Day in Sydney

Travel on public transport is not free on Australia Day. 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. 

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 services including metro, trains, buses ferries and light rail, 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. Services will run every 10-minutes until 12.30am on Australia Day. 

The following Metro stations are within short walking distance of event precincts: 

• Martin Place station for events at Circular Quay and The Rocks 
• Gadigal or Central stations for events at Darling Harbour 
• Barangaroo station for events at Barangaroo 

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

Trains will run regularly on Australia Day with some additional services running to and from Circular Quay. 

The following stations are within short walking distance of event precincts: 

• Circular Quay, Wynyard or Martin Place stations for events at Circular Quay and The Rocks. 
• Town Hall or Central stations for events at Darling Harbour 

Visitors are reminded that trains will be busy at Circular Quay while large crowds leave the Harbour after evening events and fireworks. Consider catching a train home from nearby Wynyard, Martin Place or St James stations instead to avoid the crowds and wait times at Circular Quay. 

Additional services  

• T2 Line to Ashfield: Additional trains will leave Circular Quay every 15-minutes between 5pm and 11pm, then every 30-minutes between 11pm and midnight – stopping at all stations to Central then Redfern, Newtown and Ashfield.   
• T2 Line to Leppington via Granville: Additional trains will leave Circular Quay every 30-minutes between 10pm and midnight – stopping at all stations to Central then Redfern, Ashfield, Strathfield, Flemington, Lidcombe, Auburn, Granville and then all stations to Leppington.  
• T4 Line to Hurstville: An additional T4 Line service will leave Martin Place at 11.07pm and stop at all stations to Central, then Redfern, Sydenham, Wolli Creek, Rockdale, Kogarah and Hurstville.   
• T8 Line to Sydenham: Additional trains will leave Circular Quay at 9.51pm and 10.06pm – stopping at St james, Museum, Central, Redfern and then all stations to Sydenham.  
• Central Coast & Newcastle Line: Additional services will leave Central at 6.48pm and 7.48pm – stopping at Strathfield, Epping, Hornsby, Berowra, Woy Woy, Gosford and then all stations to Wyong.  
• Southern Highlands Line from Goulburn: An additional service will leave Goulburn at 8.30am.
• Southern Highlands Line to Goulburn: An additional service will leave Central at 4.07pm.

Trackwork

Planned trackwork may take place on Australia Day, Monday 26 January. Check back closer to the event for details and plan ahead using the Trip Planner.

Trackwork is carried out on an ongoing basis to maintain the safety, reliability, and efficiency of the Sydney Trains network. Check travel alerts and trackwork or use the Trip Planner to find the latest information before you travel.

Regular route buses

Plenty of buses run to Circular Quay or nearby Wynyard and Martin Place transport hubs to get within walking distance of events on the Harbour.  

The following additional services will run to help you get to and from Australia Day events: 

• Route 170X services will run every 30-minutes (approx.) from 10.30am to 4pm between Manly and Wynyard. Ferry customers can catch this service while F1 Manly Ferries are affected by Harbour exclusion zones.    
• Route 100 services will run every 10-minutes from 9.30pm to 10.50pm between QVB and Taronga Zoo. 
• Route 173X services will run every 10-minutes between 9.40pm to 10.10pm between Wynyard and Warringah Mall.   
• B1 Line services will run every 5-minutes (approx.) from 9.40pm to 10.15pm between Wynyard and Mona Vale. 

Bus diversions

Services will be affected by road closures throughout the day and start/end trips early or divert and miss stops. Plan ahead using the Trip Planner.

• Route 311, 324 and 325 services will be affected. Check back closer to the event for details. 
• Route 202, 207, 208 services will start and end trips at Wynyard Station between 5pm and 10.30pm. Services to the city will divert via Sydney Harbour Bridge York Street exit and end trips at Wynyard Station, York St, Stand P (200048). Services travelling from the city will start trips from Wynyard Station, York St, Stand K (200033) and divert via Barrack Street and Clarence Street to return to route on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.   
• Route 230 services will start and end trips in North Sydney instead of Milsons Point between 10.30am and 1pm. Services towards Millers Point will divert via the Pacific Highway and Blue Street to end trips at North Sydney Station, Blue St, Stand D (206014). Services to Mosman Wharf will start trips at North Sydney Station, Blue St, Stand D (206014). 
• Route 304, 333, 343 and 396 services will be affected. Check back closer to the event for details. 

Special Event Vintage Buses

Sydney Bus Museum will operate 12 of Sydney’s iconic Vintage Buses from Macquarie Street in Circular Quay to North Sydney via the Sydney Harbour Bridge.  

Buses will leave every 5-minutes (approx.) from Macquarie Street near the Sydney Opera House roundabout from 10am to 5:30pm. A gold coin donation is requested from passengers. 

Buses will drop-off on the western side of Macquarie Street after the Cahill Expressway overpass. 

Note, there is no pick-up or drop-off point in North Sydney or Milsons Point. 

Visit the Vintage Bus Ride web page for more details. 

Ferry services will be very busy on Australia Day and services will reach capacity early. There are also various impacts to services throughout the day and night due to events on the Harbour. Passengers are encouraged to plan ahead and consider alternative transport options available, or expect delays to services. 

Visit the NSW Government Waterways Australia Day webpage for more information on exclusion zones and safe boating during major events. 

Service changes

Ferries will be affected during the morning and evening exclusion zones, plan ahead and consider the alternative transport options.

• Ferries will not run to and from Circular Quay from 11:45am to 12:45pm and 7pm to 10pm while an Exclusion Zone is in effect.
• More information to come. Check back closer to the event for details.

Use the Trip Planner to plan your ferry trip ahead of time.

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

Boats are permitted on Sydney Harbour on Australia Day. 

All non-participating vessels must observe a speed limit of 6 knots and minimise wash within 200m of any exclusion zone for the duration of the event.  

Exclusion zones for the major events on Sydney Harbour are marked by yellow boundary buoys and/or patrolled by official control vessels.  

Exclusion zones 

Exclusion zones will be in effect on the Harbour while Australia Day events take place during the day and evening.  

Waterway restrictions will be in place from Sunday 25 January until Monday 26 on the following dates and times: 

Sunday 25 January  

• 5pm to 6pm: Full closure of Sydney Cove 
• 6pm to 10pm: Limited access to Sydney Cove 

Monday 26 January 

• 7.30am to 10.30am: Milk Beach to Woollahra Sailing Club, Rose Bay 
• 11.45am to 12.45pm: Sydney Harbour Bridge to East of Fort Denison 
• 7pm to 10pm: Sydney Cove 

See the NSW Government – Waterways website for more information on exclusion zones and safe boating during major events.  

Spit Bridge 

There will be no additional Spit Bridge opening times for Australia Day events. Opening times will run to a regular public holiday timetable. 

• Public Holiday timetable: 8:30am, 10:00am, 11:30am, 2:30pm, 4:30pm, 6:30pm, 8:30pm, 9:30pm 

Visit the Spit Bridge openings webpage for more details.  

Recommended vantage points 

• North-east of the Sydney Harbour Bridge: Kurraba Point, Cremorne Point, Neutral Bay, Mosman Bay, Athol Bay. 
• South-east of the Sydney Harbour Bridge: Farm Cove 

Safety on the water 

With increased numbers of vessel traffic expected on the state’s waterways during Australia Day celebrations, NSW Police and Maritime authorities will be out in force, to ensure operators of recreational and commercial vessels are compliant with Maritime regulations. 

Safely prepare your vessel, by checking you have all the correct equipment on board, an appropriate lifejacket for all crew, and each passenger on board. Know where to locate all your safety equipment in the event of an emergency. Check your navigation lights, that they are correct and in good working order. 

Remember: 

• Keep a safe and proper lookout. 
• When overtaking another vessel keep well clear. 
• Maintain a safe distance from other vessels. 
• Give way to other vessels as required. 
• In the event of an emergency on the water, communicate with authorities on radio VHF 16 or if you only have a mobile phone, call 000. 

Download the Marine Rescue NSW app from the App Store or Google Play and stay safe on the water.

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. 

At Central, connect with L2 or L3 Line light rail services to Circular Quay. Alternatively, change for a train to Circular Quay on the City Circle.  

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 Kingsford via Central Station (Chalmers Street). Services run regularly from 5am to 1am, plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

Catch a L2 or L3 Line light rail service to Circular Quay to get within walking distance of Sydney Harbour.  

Service changes:

• From 7:30pm to 10:30pm, services will not run between Circular Quay and Town Hall for the safety of crowds leaving the precinct after the Australia Day Live! show.
• During this time, use alternative transport including trains, metro, buses or walking.

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 to Central from Parramatta Station. From Central, connect with trains or change for a L2 or L3 light rail services to Circular Quay.

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. Read the news story for more information.

For more details on stop locations and maps, see Light rail service information. For light rail service disruption information, check travel alerts or plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

Public transport is the best way to get to and from events with several transport hubs within short walking distance of event precincts.  

If you must drive, travel with your group, allow extra travel time and be aware of the road closure times and locations. Special event clearway parking restrictions will also be in effect on various roads so check signs carefully before parking to avoid being towed.  

Key closure times by precinct: 

• 4am to midnight: The Rocks, George Street 
• 7am to 10am: Barangaroo, Millers Point 
• 7am to midnight: Dawes Point 
• 10:30am to 1pm: Milsons Point (Olympic Drive) 
• 7.30pm to 10.30pm: Sydney CBD North 

Key road closures 

• 4am to 10am – Dawes Point: Car park opposite Pier One on Hickson Road 
• 4am to midnight – Circular Quay & The Rocks: Sections of Argyle Street, Circular Quay West, OPT Elevated Road, Essex Street, George Street, Harrington Street and Lower Fort Street 
• 7am to 10am – Barangaroo & Millers Point: Sections of Barton Street, Hickson Road and Towns Place 
• 7am to midnight – The Rocks: Hickson Road between Pottinger Street and George Street 
• 10.30am to 1pm – Milsons Point: Olympic Drive between Broughton Street and Alfred Street South 
• 7.30pm to 10.30pm – Sydney CBD North: Sections of Albert Street, Alfred Street, Circular Quay East, Conservatorium Road, Loftus Street, Macquarie Street, Phillip Street, Pitt Street, Reiby Place, Young Street and other surrounding streets 
• 7.30pm to 10.30pm – Cahill Expressway closed in both directions: including lanes 7 & 8 on the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Circular Quay Overpass, the High Street and Mount Street on-ramps, on and off ramps at Macquarie Steet and the on-ramp at Domain Tunnel. Lane 4 on the Sydney Harbour Bridge will also close and the speed limit on the bridge will be reduced to 40km/h during this time. There will be no direct access from the Sydney Harbour Bridge to the Domain Tunnel. 
• 9.15pm to 10.15pm – Sydney CBD North: Grosvenor/Bridge Street between Lang Street and Pitt Street  

Car park & driveway restrictions 

Motorists are reminded that it is an offence to drive on or through a road closure point or exit a driveway onto a closed road unless directed otherwise by NSW Police or authorised personnel on-site. If you require access to your vehicle during the event, you will need to relocate it to outside of the closure footprint prior to the road closures being put in place.  

Other changed traffic conditions 

• Sydney Harbour Bridge: A reduced speed limit of 40km/hr will apply to both directions from 7.30pm to 10.30pm.  
• Cahill Expressway Circular Quay Overpass: Walkway will be closed to pedestrians from 5pm until 9.30pm. 
• The Sydney Harbour Bridge walkway and cycleway will remain open. 

Maps 

• Australia Day 2026 road closures and clearways map – Sydney CBD (pdf 861KB) 
• Australia Day 2026 road closures and clearways map – North Sydney (pdf 904KB)

Demand for taxis and rideshare services will be higher than usual on Australia Day, particularly in the evening. Be patient while queuing at taxi ranks and rideshare pick-up locations or consider the public transport options. 

Some taxi ranks in The Rocks and the CBD will be inaccessible due to road closures, including the Sydney Opera House taxi rank. 

Drop-off and pick-up locations 

Drop off and pick-up locations are not available between 7.30pm and 10.30pm, while road closures are in place. 

• Taxis: available at the P5 five-minute parking bay outside no. 1 Macquarie Street, on the western side of the road near the roundabout. It is not available for taxi parking or ranking. 
• Rideshare: available at the P5 five-minute parking bay outside no. 3 Macquarie Street, on the western side of the road. The location is opposite the southern end of the Sydney Opera House taxi rank. It is not available for parking or dwelling. 
• Above locations are not available for parking, ranking or dwelling.  

Accessible drop-off and pick-up locations  

Accessible drop-off and pick-up points will be available at the following locations: 

• The Rocks: Harrington Street, on the western side near Argyle Street in front of Clocktower Square from 3am to midnight. Excluding between 9:15pm and 10:15pm. 
• Circular Quay: Loftus Street, on the western side between Loftus Lane and Reiby Place, before 7.30pm and after 10.30pm. 
• Sydney Opera House/East Circular Quay: Macquarie Street, on the western side in the P5 parking bay near the Opera house, before 7.30pm and after 10.30pm. 

Road closures and clearways maps

• Australia Day 2026 road closures and clearways map – Sydney CBD (pdf 861KB) 
• Australia Day 2026 road closures and clearways map – North Sydney (pdf 904KB)

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

Parking 

Public transport is the best way to get to and from events with several transport hubs within short walking distance of event precincts.  

If you must drive, check car park operator websites for parking availability and operating hours on Australia Day. Some car parks will not be accessible due to road closures so make sure to plan ahead. For a full list of road closure details including maps, visit livetraffic.com. 

Special event clearways 

Special event clearway parking restrictions will be in effect on key roads in the Sydney CBD, Circular Quay and The Rocks between 3am and midnight. In Milsons Point, clearways will be in effect on Olympic Drive from 9:30am to 1pm. 

Sydney CBD 

• 3am to 10am: Sections of Hickson Road and Clarence Street 
• 3am to midnight: Sections of Argyle Street, Circular Quay West, Essex Street, George Street, Harrington Street, Hickson Road and Pitt Street.  
• 9am to 10.30pm: Macquarie Street Sydney Opera House taxi rank (between carpark entry / exit) (eastern side) 
• 5pm to 10.30pm: Sections of Albert Street, Alfred Street, Bent Street, Bligh Street, Bridge Street, Carrington Street, Circular Quay East, Clarence Street, Conservatorium Road, Grosvenor Street, Hunter Street, Loftus Street, Macquarie Street, O’Connell Street, Phillip Street, Pitt Street, Reiby Place, Spring Street, York Street, Young Street and other surrounding streets 

Milsons Point 

• 9.30am to 1pm: Olympic Drive between Broughton Street and Alfred Street South  

Clearways are strict no-parking zones for all vehicle types, and apply even to local residents and TfNSW Mobility Scheme Permit holders. Check signs carefully as vehicles left in clearways will be towed and a fee applies. If your vehicle is towed, you can search your vehicle registration at the Find My Car website to find its new location, or alternatively call 132 701 to speak to an operator. 

All available car park options can be found on the Wilson Parking, Secure Parking and City of Sydney – Transport & parking pages. Parking fees apply. 

Transport  

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). 

Drop-off and pick-up locations  

Accessible drop-off and pick-up points will be available at the following locations: 

• The Rocks:  Harrington Street, on the western side near Argyle Street in front of Clocktower Square from 3am to midnight. Excluding between 9:15pm and 10:15pm. 
• Circular Quay: Loftus Street, on the western side between Loftus Lane and Reiby Place, before 7.30pm and after 10.30pm. 
• Sydney Opera House/East Circular Quay: Macquarie Street, on the western side in the P5 parking bay near the Opera house, before 7.30pm and after 10.30pm. 

Accessible Parking* 

• Sydney CBD North: Macquarie Street, south of Bridge Street, from 5pm to 10.30pm. 

*Parking for nominated mini-buses dropping-off and picking-up Australia Day Live patrons with accessible needs, as part of the Premier’s Department Access and Inclusion program. Not available for general accessible parking.