Strummingbird Music Festival 2026

Opal

You can use an Opal card for all modes of public transport in Newcastle 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.

The closest station to the event is Newcastle Interchange on the Central Coast & Newcastle Line, and Hunter Line.

 To help you get to and from the event, additional services will run on the below lines:

·       Hunter line departing Maitland at 11:33, 12:33, 13:33, 14:33 and 15:33 hours.

·       Hunter line departing Newcastle Interchange at 22:19, 22:49, 23:09, 23:59 and 00:39.

·       Central Coast line to stop all stations to Gosford departing Newcastle Interchange at 22:40 and 23:10 and 00:10.

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

Bus routes 11, 13, 14, 21 and 23 will take you in and out of the Newcastle CBD on a regular Saturday timetable.

Please note that from 12pm until end of service, Route 23 services will start and finish at Customs House.

Visit Newcastle Transport for bus information.

Ferry services run between Stockton and Queens Wharf and will run to their regular timetable.

Visit Newcastle Transport for ferry information.

Light rail services will run every 7.5 minutes from 7am until midnight and every 30 minutes until 1am.

Newcastle Light Rail runs between Newcastle Interchange and Newcastle Beach making stops at Honeysuckle, Civic, Crown St and Queens Wharf along the way. Queens Wharf platform is the closest stop to the main event area.

Visit Newcastle Transport for light rail information.

Pedestrians and traffic will be heavier than usual on roads approaching the Newcastle Foreshore as attendees travel to and from the festival.
 

• Hunter Street will be closed eastbound between Darby Street and Watt Street from 10am to midnight with a detour via Darby Street and King Street.
• Scott Street will be closed westbound between Zaara Street and Pacific Street from 21:30pm to midnight with a detour via Zaara Street, Shortland Esplanade and King Street.
• Some local roads will also be closed including Watt Street, Nobbys Road, Pasha Way and Horseshoe Beach Road.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    For the latest traffic information check Live Traffic NSW or download a real-time traffic app.
  

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).