Visiting Sydney from SA - questions

[SAman4Aus]

hello there,

I have secured PR and will be visiting a few Ausy cities in April to get a feel for where I would like to settle when we do move over for good later this year.

I'll be in Sydney mid April and would like to know the following please:

1. Whats the best way to get from the airport (domestic from Brisbane) to the City centre? bus, train, shuttle etc?

2. Can you recommend a decent hotel (<$150 a night) in the city centre within walking distance from restaurants and pubs

3. Does Sydney have a travel pass for 3 days

4. I am after some employment agencies specialising in I.T. recruitment. Any web sites?

[Springbok]

1. Whats the best way to get from the airport (domestic from Brisbane) to the City centre? bus, train, shuttle etc?

The easiest is with the train, takes about 12 minutes from Sydney airport to Wynyard station in the city. A one-way (single) ticket costs $15. A taxi to the city will cost about $40. www.cityrail.info

2. Can you recommend a decent hotel (<$150 a night) in the city centre within walking distance from restaurants and pubs

Travelodge Wynyard in York Street, prices vary depending on dates, but they do have <$150 a night and you will be VERY central.

3. Does Sydney have a travel pass for 3 days

Yes, SydneyPass for Unlimited travel for 3, 5 or 7 days, within an 8 day period. A 3-day ticket costs $110.

4. I am after some employment agencies specialising in I.T. recruitment. Any web sites?

No idea, I don't work in IT.

[craigsa]

I would buy a red zone 7 day ticket immediately as it seems (Not certain, but map seems to indicate it does) to cover airport to central as well, that way you save on the airport train as well and can use the same ticket during your stay here. It costs $41 for the 7 days and if it covers airport, it saves you $32 on the return airport trip. I've initially piad $16 one way from airport and it's a waste if you're going to buy the unlimited Red zone ticket because it's only marginally more than a return trip to airport and will get you everywhere in Sydney central area (Right up to Chatswood in fact).

Not sure about hotels as I'm staying in a serviced apartment - The idea of being in a hotel room for 3 weeks didn't work for me. My only advice - Make sure you stay right on top of a train station if you're going to use it for trainsport. You can waste lots of time and kick up a sweat running to and from stations.

Same agencies as per your Melbourne post - The websites cover most major cities

[rozellem]

I would buy a red zone 7 day ticket immediately as it seems (Not certain, but map seems to indicate it does) to cover airport to central as well, that way you save on the airport train as well and can use the same ticket during your stay here. It costs $41 for the 7 days and if it covers airport, it saves you $32 on the return airport trip. I've initially piad $16 one way from airport and it's a waste if you're going to buy the unlimited Red zone ticket because it's only marginally more than a return trip to airport and will get you everywhere in Sydney central area (Right up to Chatswood in fact).

As far as I know the airport train link (track, train etc) is privately owned, so it can not be included in a travel card. And it is hugely more expensive ($15 one way) than going anywhere in Sydney by regular train.

http://www.airportlink.com.au/

http://www.itacs.uow.edu.au/research/NSLab...neyAirPort.html

There is shuttle mini buses and they are $7 one way, $12 return to central Sydney. So you can decide what you want to do.

[craigsa]

Just to clarify, I've just double checked the City Rail Travel Pass 2010 brochure - (Don't leave home without it), the airport is covered in the red zone, but you're liable for an access fee charge. It doesn't say what it is, so it may not be the best option afterall. I must however say, that the weekly pass has been a lifesaver for me. I've gone almost everywhere around the City, North Sydney and up to St Leonards and Chatswood and it's all been included. So, I guess it depends on your requirements - If you stay in the city and will only be in the city for 3 days, it may be overkill.

[Malienda]

Sydney's got the new MyZone ticketing system applying from 8 April (or somewhere round that time - my leaflet somewhere in my bag). At the moment, the train on the airport line is not run by CityRail (who runs all the other trains in Sydney) and is a bit more expensive than the other trains. But I'm not sure what will happen with the new MyZone tickets and the airport line? Will try and find out for you. Just keep in mind that if you arrive in peak-time when people go to or come from work the trains in the city get REALLY full and it'll be difficult to navigate through the crowds with the heavy bags.

If you've got any other questions or need help when you get here, send me a message.

[woodag]

Sydney's got the new MyZone ticketing system applying from 8 April (or somewhere round that time - my leaflet somewhere in my bag). At the moment, the train on the airport line is not run by CityRail (who runs all the other trains in Sydney) and is a bit more expensive than the other trains. But I'm not sure what will happen with the new MyZone tickets and the airport line?

. . .

The trains on that line are also run by CityRail, but you get gouged for using the stations. They call it a "station access fee" or "gate pass" and you have to pay it if you enter or leave at the Domestic Airport or International Airport stations (and also at Green Square, and Mascot stations, but the extra charge for using those stations is not as high).

When the MyZone system is introduced next month, you will still have to pay extra to use one of those four stations.