Overview Sydney`s transport system is made up of trains, buses, and ferries. The system is efficiently run and not too expensive if you invest in an appropriate travel pass. It works best transporting commuters in and out of the city, but traveling within the city can sometimes be difficult. The Sydney Olympics has speeded up improvements in the public transport system, introducing new roads and expanded rail and ferry lines. For information on buses, ferries and trains, including timetables and route details, call: 13-1500 between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. daily. To track down belongings you`ve left behind in a public transport, call: 9245-5777 (for buses and ferries), and 9379-3000 (CityRail). Taxis Taxis are fairly easy to flag down (unless it rains) and are cheap. There are taxi ranks at major points throughout the city, including Central and Wynyard Stations; Market Street by the State Theatre; Circular Quay; Elizabeth Street at Chifley Square; and at Elizabeth Bay on Macleay Street. Booking fee is $1; flagfall is $3, then $1.07 per km. Generally, Australian cabbies are an honest lot and fairly helpful with your baggage. They are friendly and can sometimes recommend the best places to visit. The four major taxi companies, with their phone numbers, are: Taxis Combined Services: +61-2 13-1008 or +61-2 9332-8888 RSL Cabs: +61-2 13 1581 or +61-2 9699-0144 Legion Cabs: +61-2 13 1451 or +61-2 9289-9000 Premier Cabs: +61-2 13 1017 or +61-2 9897-4000 For taxis that can take in wheelchairs, call: 1-800-043-187 or +61-2 9332-0200 Water Taxis Water taxis are great fun and an alternative way to get around the city. The fare depends on the time of day and the number of passengers. The fare for two from Circular Quay to Watsons Bay comes to about $40. Following are the telephone numbers of some water taxi companies: Harbour Shuttles: +61-2 9810-5010 Harbour Taxi Boats: +61-2 9555-1155 Taxis Afloat: +61-2 9955-3222 Beachhopper: +61-2 9326-9546 Buses Buses are slow but fairly frequent. Sydney`s bus network extends to most suburbs, unlike CityRail, which operates underground only within the city. Bus route numbers beginning with `X` are express services from the major centers within the city to the suburbs. Bus fares depend on the number of zones you travel. As a rough guide, adult fares begin at A$1.20 and go up to A$2.50. Pay the driver as you board or slip your prepaid ticket into the validator. Regular buses travel from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., after which the privately run Nightride buses start operating hourly. Nightride buses run from Town Hall station, and service suburban train stations. Most trips cost $2.70. Most buses have radio links to taxi operators, so you can arrange for a taxi to meet you at your destination. There are main bus terminals at Circular Quay, Wynyard (York Street), Spring/Gresham Streets, Opera House (ForeCourt), Millers Point (Argyle Street), Railway Square, and Queen Victoria Building. Most buses heading out of the city pass through George or Elizabeth Streets. The State Transit Bus Information Kiosk, located at the corner of Loftus and Alfred Streets, Circular Quay, is open daily (Tel: +61-2 9219-1680). Car Driving in Sydney can be a harrowing experience. Especially during peak hours, the streets can be congested and polluted. Parking can be a pain as well. Parking charges range from A$8 per hour up to A$50 per day, depending on location and the time of the day. Parking within the city is a luxury. Driving a car to explore the coastal regions, on the other hand, may not be such a bad idea, and there are lots of cars for hire
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