MS Gong Ride 2024

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, running frequently until late at night.

You can catch a Metro service to Sydenham Station and ride 7 mins to the start line at Tempe Recreational Park.

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

Participants are reminded to be considerate when sharing these services with the rest of the public as stations will be busier than normal. Make sure your bicycle is stowed safely with you when travelling on trains and that it isn't obstructing doorways or passageways.

Getting there

• Start line at Tempe: the closest stations to the 82km starting point are Tempe, Wolli Creek and Sydenham on the T4 Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line. Tempe Recreation Reserve is a less than 10 minute ride from these stations.  
• Start line at Engadine: the closest station to the 54km starting point is Engadine on the T4 Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line. Cooper Street Reserve is a short 5 min (1.3km) cycle ride away.

Additional early morning services will run to help you get to the starting line:

• South Coast Line:
  • Additional services will leave from Wollongong at 4:23am, 4:46am, 5:21am and 5:53am stopping all stations to Austinmer, then Stanwell Park, Helensburgh, Waterfall Engadine, Sutherland, Hurstville, Wolli Creek, Tempe, Sydenham, Redfern, Central and to Bondi Junction. 
  • Trains leaving Wollongong at 4:56am, 5:31am, and train leaving Kiama at 5:57am will make an additional stop at Wolli Creek and Tempe.
  • The 6:15am train from Bondi Junction will make an additional stop at Engadine.
• T4 Illawarra Line:
  • All services will make an additional stop at Wolli Creek and Tempe between 5.30am and 8.30am.
• T8 Airport & South Line:
  • All services will an additional stop at Wolli Creek between 5:30am and 8:30am.

Getting home

The closest station from the finish line a Lang Park is Wollongong on the South Coast Line.

Dedicated special event trains for participants will leave Wollongong running towards to Central every 30 minutes between 9:30am and 5:30pm.

Services will make stops at Thirroul, Stanwell Park, Otford, Waterfall, Engadine, Sutherland, Hurstville, Wolli Creek, Tempe, Sydenham, Redfern, Central and Bondi Junction.

Participants need to show their pre-purchased Special Event Train tickets when boarding services. Opal cards cannot be used on these special event trains. You can also purchase a special event train ticket at the finish line.

Trackwork

Check back closer to the event for trackwork information. Plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

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.

Participants are reminded that bicycles cannot be taken on buses because they are difficult to stow without inconveniencing or potentially endangering other passengers, for more details see our Travelling with bikes page.

Make the most of the extra trains running to get you and your bike to and from the event. 

Bus diversions 

Due to road closures, some buses will be diverting from their regular routes and using different stops.

• Route 947: from 4am until 9:30am services in both directions towards Kogarah will detour via Chuter Ave, Sandringham St and the Grand Pde. Stops will be missed on Malua St, Gannons Ave and Norman Ave due to road closures. Buses will make temporary stops along Chuter Ave and The Grande Pde.  Stops will be missed on Malua St (Stop ID: 221972), Gannon’s Avenue (Stop ID: 221912) and Norman Ave (Stop ID: 221911).
• Route 992 and 993: From 4am until 9:30am services to Station Street will divert via Cooper St to access Princes Hwy and Station St.
• Route 303: From 4am until 10am services towards Sans Souci will be unable to make stops along the Grand Pde from Kyeemagh to Brighton Le Sands due to lane closures in place for the event. Services from Sans Souci back to the city run as normal.
• Route 422: From 4am until 10am services towards Arncliffe will continue travelling via the Princes Hwy, missing a stop on West Botany St at Flora St (Stop ID 220563). Services to the city run as normal.
• Route 478: From 4am until 10am services towards Ramsgate will miss two stops along the Grand Pde between Brighton Le Sands to Monterey due to lane closures in place for the event.
• Illawarra Buses: Illawarra Bus services will be diverting from regular routes and using alternative bus stops from 6am to 4:30pm
• Route 55a and 55c (Gong Shuttle): All services through North Wollongong will run via Corrimal St and Kembla St missing stops on Cliff Rd, Bourke St and Harbour St. Route 55c services will make alternate stops on Kembla St and Corrimal St. Route 55a services will use alternate stops on Corrimal St.
• Route 887: From 5am to 4:30pm services to and from Wollongong will start and end at Auburn St between Dean St and Burelli St due to road closures. Services will also be diverting and missing stops on Cliff Rd, Marine Dr and Crown St.

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

Sydney Ferries are a great way to get around the city, but services are very popular and may reach capacity, especially on weekends.

We don’t recommend travel on ferries to participants with bikes. Crews can refuse to allow a bicycle on board if there is a safety concern or not enough room for it to be safely stowed on board so make sure to have an alternative transport option in mind. 

Participants are encouraged to catch trains instead. Learn more about travelling on public transport with bikes at transportnsw.info.

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 Grand Concourse and Dulwich Hill from 5am to 1am daily. Use the Trip Planner to plan your trip.

From Central change for a T4 Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra line train towards your start area. 

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, plan your trip using Trip Planner.

From Central change for a T4 Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra line train towards your start area.

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.

Motorists are advised to exercise caution as there will be large groups of cyclists sharing roads with vehicles along major roads between Tempe, Engadine, The Royal National Park and Wollongong throughout the day. Motorists are advised to expect delays and use alternative routes while closures are in place around the start and finish areas.

Tempe start area drop off zone: a dedicated drop off zone will be located at the Tempe IKEA car park. The start line at Tempe Recreation Reserve for the 82km ride is a short 600m ride via the cycleway.

Road and lane closures will be in place around the start lines at Tempe and Engadine in Sydney, along the course through the Royal National Park and around the finish line in Wollongong.

Road closures

Road and lane closures will be in place around the start lines at Tempe and Engadine in Sydney, along the course through the Royal National Park and around the finish line at Wollongong.

• 4am to 9:30am from Tempe to Sutherland: sections of West Botany St, Holbeach Ave and Bestic St. The speed limit will be reduced to 60/km along Rocky Point Rd/Taren Point Rd from Sans Souci to Taren Point.
• 5am to 10am from Sutherland to Waterfall: Lane closures on the Princes Hwy from Kirrawee to Loftus and the speed limit will be reduced to 60km/h from Kirrawee to Waterfall. Delays are expected travelling southbound on the Princes Hwy during this time. 
• 5am to 2:30pm in the Royal National Park: McKell Ave, Lady Wakehurst Dr, Sir Bertram Stevens Dr and Otford Rd. Access to the Royal National Park is via Farnell Ave only. The speed limit will be reduced to 40km/h along Lawrence Hargrave Dr from Stanwell Park to Thirroul from 6am to 3pm.
• 5am to 4.30pm in Wollongong: sections of Bourke St, Cliff Rd and George Hanley Dr will be closed. Sections of Hector St, Marine Dr and Hinton St around the finish area at Lang Park will remain closed until 7pm. The speed limit will be reduced to 40km/h along Squires Way and George Hanley Dr between Fairy Meadow and Wollongong from 7am to 2pm.

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

Parking

Tempe start area drop off zone: a dedicated drop off zone will be located at the Tempe IKEA car park. The start line at Tempe Recreation Reserve for the 82km ride is a short 600m ride via the cycleway.

Finish area Wollongong Pick up zone: areas surrounding Lang Park.

Special Event Clearways

Special event clearways will be in place at various times between 4am and 11am in Sydney and 5am to 4:30pm in Wollongong on sections of major roads along the event course route including the Princes Hwy, General Holmes Dr, The Grande Parade, Rocky Point Rd, Taren Point Rd, Kingsway, Sandringham St, Lawrence Hargrave Dr and Pioneer Rd.

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 it will be relocated to the nearest legal parking space, use the Find My Car website or call 132 701 to find its new location.

Tempe, Wolli Creek, Banksia, Kyeemagh, Brighton Le Sands, Sandringham, Sans Souci, Caringbah, Taren Point, Miranda, Gymea - From 4am to 10am

• General Holmes Dr between Henson Street and Bruce Street (Northern side)
• The Grand Pde between Bruce St and President Av (Eastern side)
• Princes Hwy between IKEA driveway and West Botany St (Eastern side)
• Princes Hwy between Brodie Spark Dr and Gannon St (Western side)
• Bay St between Princes Hwy and Young St
• Bestic St between West Botany Rd and Francis Ave (Northern side)
• Bestic St between Caroma Ave and General Holmes Dr (Northern side)
• Holbeach Ave between Princes Hwy and South St roundabout Northern side
• West Botany St between Marsh St and Bestic St (Eastern side)
• Rocky Point Rd between Sandringham St and Toorak St (Eastern side)
• Sandringham St between The Grand Pde and Rocky Point Rd Southern side
• Kingsway between Taren Point Rd and Princes Hwy (Southern side)
• Taren Point Rd between Toorak Av and Kingsway Eastern side

Engadine to Heathcote - From 4am to 11am

• Princes Hwy between Opposite Old Bush Rd (898 Princes Hwy) and Opposite Whitton St Eastern side
• Engadine Ave between Princes Highway and Preston Ave (5am to 9:30am)

Coalcliff, Scarborough, Coledale, Austinmer, Thirroul - From 5am to 3pm

• Lawrence Hargrave Dr between 400m north of Coalcliff Train Station and The Esplanade Eastern side

Bulli, Bellambi, Fairy Meadow  to Wollongong- From 5am to 3pm

• Carters Ln between Pioneer Rd and Elliotts Rd (Eastern side)
• Farrell Rd between Trinity Row and Carrington St (southern side)
• Pioneer Dr between No. 11 Pioneer Drive (Woonona) and Carters Lane (Eastern side)
• Trinity Row between 30m north of Godolphin St and  Farrell Rd Eastern side
• Squires Way between Elliot’s Rd and George Hanley Dr (eastern side)
• George Hanley Dr between Squires Way and Cliff Rd (eastern side)
• Cliff Road between 20m north of George Hanley Drive and Marine Drive (eastern side)

Wollongong Station – 5am to 4:30pm

• Auburn Street between Ellen St and Amalfi Coffee Shop (both sides)
• Auburn Street between Station Street and Amalfi Coffee Shop (Western side)
• Station Street between Auburn St and Lowden Sq (both sides)
• Gladstone Avenue between entry to Piccadilly shopping Centre Carpark and Railway Station Square (eastern side)
• Railway Station Square (both sides)

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 it will be relocated to the nearest legal parking space, use the Find My Car website or call 132 701 to find its new location.

Tempe start area drop off zone: a dedicated drop off zone will be located at the Tempe IKEA car park. The start line at Tempe Recreation Reserve for the 82km ride is a short 600m ride via the cycleway.

Finish area Wollongong pick up zone: areas surrounding Lang Park.

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

For taxi services in Wollongong, visit the Illawarra Taxi Network for details and to book services.

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).