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Public transport

public-transport

Depending on where you live in Australia, public transport might include buses, trains, trams, light-rail systems, or ferries.

Tickets

On most forms of public transport, commuters can purchase a one-way or return ticket for a single journey, a day pass that allows you to travel all day, or a weekly, monthly or yearly pass (cheapest option if you plan on travelling a lot).

 

Tickets that enable you to travel on all forms of public transport are also available. Some buses are ‘pre-paid only’, meaning that the driver does not sell tickets so you must board with a ticket you purchased in advance. This rule usually applies Monday to Friday from 7am to 7pm.

Larger cities are divided into different public transport zones and ticket prices may increase if you travel across multiple zones. If you have a one-zone ticket and wish to travel to another zone, you must pay the price difference. All zones are clearly marked on maps located in terminals.

Buses

Bus stops display information about which buses stop there, their destination, and timetables.

Buses do not stop at every stop unless a passenger has to get off or there is a new passenger waiting at the stop. Trains, trams and ferries let passengers on and off at every stop unless they are marked as ‘express’ services.

If you want to know the schedule of a certain bus or how to get from one place to another, access the website of your local transit authority. You can create a ‘trip plan’ that will show you the time your journey will take and the cost of the fare.

Transportation system information

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship has links to each state and territory’s public transport system.