Editing Sydney (section)

==By Bus==

[[image:Sydgrp_Mar07_2.jpg|frame|More partying at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras]]
In Sydney the transport system works on a few different ticketing systems, depending on what you are doing will depend on what is the cheapest option for you!

Bus drivers like you to have change, paying with a $20 or $50 note is annoying, it helps to have change or a $5 note.

You can visit the [http://www.131500.com.au/ticketandfares/fares/ Transport Infoline] website, there are other options than those listed here, but in my opinion those other deals are too expensive!

===Around Sydney city===

ATTENTION: Sydney CBD (downtown) turned PREPAY only (starting May/June 2009)! This means you can NOT buy your ticket on the bus inside the city, but rather buy it in advance at the many agents (like convenience stores, newspaper stands etc). 
Check for details [http://www.sydneybuses.info/prepay/prepay-city.htm here!]

If you are only going to be a day or so in Sydney, then you are best to pay as you go. You cannot buy a return ticket on a Sydney bus, you just buy a single ticket to your destination and another one on the way home.

The bus fare is determined by the number of sections you travel. The bus trip is cut up into sections; 1-2 sections will be cheaper than traveling 3-5 sections. You don't need to figure this out, you just tell the bus driver where you are going and they calculate the fare.

'''Travel Ten'''

[http://www.131500.com.au/ticketandfares/fares/bus_travelten.asp Travel Tens] are passes that give you 10 trips. There are machines on the buses that you dip the passes into and it will record on your pass how many trips you've had. 

There are different coloured Travel Tens, these colours do not correspond to the colours of the weekly travel passes! A blue Travel Ten does NOT let you travel to the same places a blue Travel Weekly. Confusing I know!

The two that are most likely of interest are the blue Travel Ten or the brown Travel Ten.
*Blue Travel Ten allows you to travel up to 2 sections, which is a very short trip. However you can dip the blue Travel Ten into the machine twice for longer trips.
*Brown Travel Ten allows you to travel up to 5 sections. It is good enough for getting around most places.
If you are unsure which pass to buy, buy a Blue Travel Ten, you can always dip it twice into the machine if you are going longer distances, simply ask the bus driver how many times you have to dip the ticket into the machine.

Travel Tens are useful if you are visiting Sydney for a few days and then coming back later, because the Travel Tens do not expire.

You can buy Travel Ten passes from newsagents and other authorised ticket sellers. You cannot buy them from bus drivers.

'''Travel Weekly'''

A Travel Weekly (or Travel Pass) is a good idea if you are staying for 6 or 7 days and planing to use public transport everyday. There are three coloured travel weeklies, a blue, a brown and a purple. For most people a travel weekly 'blue' is the best value, it covers the inner city. They also cover some ferry trips as well! The travel weekly, lasts for seven days, starting from the day you dip it into the machine. You must dip the travel weekly into the machine every time you get on the bus.

Here is a [http://www.131500.com.au/pdf/travelpass_sydneybus_map.pdf map] (PDF) of the areas covered by the different coloured travel passes.

Travel passes are not bought from the bus drivers, they are bought from authorised agents, usually newsagents.

===Getting out of the city===
You can take tour buses to places like the Hunter Valley or the Blue Mountains. There are many bus companies around Central Train station, go check them out as many tours depart from Central station. Talk to a local travel agent (always compare prices though!) or check out the [http://www.yellowpages.com.au Yellow Pages] - searching 'Bus and coach services' in the 'Sydney CBD' is a good start!