Sydney Airport Shuttle and Bus Lines
Several bus lines link Sydney International Airport to various city’s suburbs and surrounding regions. Thus, they connect SYD Airport to Bondi Junction, Mascot, Burwood, Maroubra, Eastgardens, Rockdale, Coogee, Bexley North, and Campsie. However, you won’t find a bus line running from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport to the city center. Overall, Sydney airport buses are regarded as a tedious and time-consuming way of transit. Nevertheless, they are the most affordable option. Although they don’t have designated luggage storage space, the bus vehicles are well-maintained and accessible for wheelchair passengers.
On the other hand, various shuttle companies operate at the airport. Thus, passengers can opt for a much more comfortable but also expensive Sydney airport shuttle ride to their destinations.
Sydney Airport Bus Lines
Three bus lines serve Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport. Bus 350 stops only at the domestic terminals, while the Night Bus N20 departs from the international terminal T1. On the other hand, the Sydney Airport Bus 420 calls at all terminals.
- Sydney Airport Bus 350
The bus line 350 links the domestic terminals of SYD Airport to Bondi Junction, passing by Mascot, Maroubra, and Coogee. It has available routes from 05:05 am to 00:45 am and runs at a 10-minute frequency during peak hours and every 20 minutes at other times.
- Sydney Airport Bus 420
Bus 420 handles rides from Mascot Station to Burwood, calling at Campsie and Rockdale on its way. It stops at all terminals (international terminal 1 and domestic terminal 3) and operates every 5-15 minutes, depending on the time of the day. Buses heading to Mascot as well as those traveling towards Burwood operate almost around the clock.
- The Night Sydney Airport Bus N20
Besides Bus 420, the bus line N20 also operates during the night hours. The night Sydney airport bus stops only at international terminal T1 while traveling from Riverwood to City Town Hall. It has five available routes from 00:25 am to 04:25 am. Explicitly, it runs once every hour.
Sydney Airport Bus Stops
There are two bus stops at Sydney International Airport. International terminal T1 features a bus stop outside the Arrivals area, while another stop for Sydney airport buses is to be found outside the Arrivals hall of the domestic terminal T3. Thus, passengers arriving at the domestic terminal T2 have to walk their way to T3. Nevertheless, it’s just a 3-minute walk from T2 to the bus stop located outside terminal 3. In any case, SYD Airport has adequate signage for the bus stops. Thus, once you collect your baggage, you should look for the signs indicating “Public Bus Stand”.
Sydney Airport Bus Fares
The bus fares of buses departing from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport are based on the traversed distance and the time of the day. Thus, bus rides covering distances of 0-3km (0-1.9 miles) cost AU$3,20/$2,10/€1,96 during peak hours and AU$2,24/$1,47/€1,37 during off-peak hours. Peak-hour rides are journeys that take place from 06:30 am to 10:00 am and from 03:00 pm to 07:00 pm from Monday to Thursday. Thus, bus journeys from 10:00 am to 03:00 pm and from 07:00 pm to 06:30 am from Monday to Thursday, as well as rides on Fridays, weekends, and public holidays are charged according to the off-peak-hour rates and are cheaper. Moreover, the bus fares for journeys from 3km to 8km (1,90-5 miles) are priced at AU$4,15/$2,70/€2,50 during rush hours and AU$2.90/$1.90/€1.77 at other times. Finally, longer than 8km (5-mile) rides come with an AU$5,33/$3.50/€3,26 peak-hour fare and an AU$3,73/$2,44/2,27 fee at other times.
The Gate Access Fee applies only to train rides from Sydney Airport. Thus, no surcharge is imposed on bus journeys from SYD Airport.
You can pay for your bus fare via an Opal Card or opt for a contactless payment. However, Opal single tickets aren’t accepted on Sydney airport buses. If you intend to mainly use the modes of mass transit during your stay in Sydney, you should buy a reloadable Opal Card. Opal Cards are valid for bus, train, light train, and ferry rides around Sydney. Although they don’t come with a fee, Opal Cards purchased at the airport must be topped up with a minimum of AU$35/$22,80/€21,30. You can buy your Opal Card from the ticket vendors and the ticket kiosks of the Sydney airport train stations. Alternatively, they are sold by various retail stores inside the SYD terminals, such as WHSmith. Should you want to top up your Opal Card, you can do so online, through the relevant app, use the machines lying in various stations and stops around the city, or head to one of the selected retail stores. Alternatively, contactless payments (Amex, Visa, Mastercard cards, or linked devices) are perhaps the easiest and most popular payment option. That being said, international travelers who use their bank cards have to pay a transaction fee. Please note that both payment options come with many discounts and benefits, such as free onward rides, and daily and weekly travel caps.
Passengers must tap on their Opal or bank cards or devices once boarding the bus and tap them off before alighting the vehicle.
Our Tip: The Airport Link Train from Sydney Airport comes with a Station Access Fee. Hence, if you want to avoid paying the extra fee, you can catch one of the Sydney airport buses to Mascot Station and take the train from that point. The bus stop in Mascot lies close to the railway station, while Opal Cards and contactless payments allow free transfers from one mode of transit to another within 60 minutes from the last tap off. Thus, you’ll be charged for one ticket for your bus and train ride to your destination (as well as avoid paying the Airport Gate Access Fee).
FAQs
How much is a Sydney Airport Shuttle?
Several shuttle companies provide efficient services from Kingsford Smith Airport. However, the price of a Sydney airport shuttle varies depending on the chosen provider, the final destination, and several other factors. Overall, Sydney airport shuttles aren’t considered expensive. Expectantly, they are pricier than public bus lines.
Where to catch a bus at Sydney Airport?
Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport has two bus stops located outside the Arrivals area of the international terminal T1 and the domestic terminal T3, respectively. Bus 350 calls at the domestic terminal, while Night Bus N20 stops only at T1. Nevertheless, Bus 420 serves both terminals, heading from Mascot Station to Burwood.