Sydney - Australia 2004 - page 99

BY BONDI EXPLORER BUS The Bondi Explorer operates every day, trav-
eling a 30km (19-mile) circuit around the eastern harborside bays and coastal
beaches and back. Stops along the way include Kings Cross, Double Bay, Wat-
sons Bay, Bondi Beach, Bronte Beach, Coogee Beach, Paddington, Oxford
Street, and Martin Place. The bus departs from Circular Quay at 25-minute
intervals from 9:15am, with the last “round-trip” service departing Circular
Quay at 4:20pm. This service returns to Circular Quay at 5:55pm. Board any-
where along the route where you see the Bondi & Bay Explorer sign, and get off
at any attraction along the way. If you wish to stay on board from start to finish
without making any stops, the entire circuit takes 1 1 ⁄ 2 hours to complete. Your
ticket entitles you to free travel on regular “blue and white” Sydney Buses within
the same zone covered by your Bondi & Bay Explorer ticket until midnight. The
1-day fare is A$30 (US$20) for adults, A$15 (US$9.75) for children 4 to 16,
and A$75 (US$49) for families. Buy the ticket onboard.
BY FERRY & JETCAT The best way to get a taste of a city that revolves
around its harbor is to jump aboard a ferry. The main ferry terminal is at Cir-
cular Quay. Tickets can be bought at machines at each wharf. (There are also
change machines.) For ferry information call & 13 15 00, or visit the ferry
information office opposite Wharf 4. Timetables are available for all routes.
One-way journeys within the inner harbor (virtually everywhere except Manly
and Parramatta) cost A$4.20 (US$2.75) for adults and A$2.10 (US$1.40) for
children. The ferry to Manly takes 30 minutes and costs A$5.30 (US$3.50) for
adults and A$2.60 (US$1.70) for children. It leaves from Wharf 3. The rapid Jet-
Cat service to Manly takes 15 minutes and costs A$6.60 (US$4.30) for both
adults and children. After 7pm all trips to and from Manly are by JetCat at ferry
prices. Ferries run from 6am to midnight.
BY CITYRAIL Sydney's publicly owned train system is a cheap and efficient
way to see the city. The system is limited, though, with many tourist areas—
including Manly, Bondi Beach, and Darling Harbour—not connected to the
network. CityRail trains have a reputation of running late and out of timetable
order. All train stations have ticket machines, and most have ticket offices.
The single fare within the city center at any time of day is A$2.20 (US$1.40)
for adults and A$1.10 (US70¢) for kids. An off-peak (after 9am) return ticket
costs A$2.60 (US$1.70) for adults and A$2.20 (US$1.40) for kids, while a peak
return will cost A$4.40 (US$2.85) for adults and A$2.20 (US$1.45) for kids.
Information is available from Infoline ( & 13 15 00 in Australia).
Comfortable and efficient Countrylink trains out of Central Station link the
city with the far suburbs and beyond. For reservations call & 13 22 32 in Aus-
tralia between 6:30am and 10pm, or visit the Countrylink Travel Center
( & 02/9224 2742 ), Station Concourse, Wynyard CityRail station for brochures
and bookings.
BY METRO MONORAIL The metro monorail, with its single overhead
line, is seen by many as a blight and by others as a futuristic addition. The
monorail connects the central business district to Darling Harbour—though it's
only a 15-minute walk from Town Hall. The system operates Monday through
Wednesday from 7am to 10pm, Thursday and Friday from 7am to midnight,
Saturday from 7am to midnight, and Sunday from 8am to 10pm. Tickets are
A$4 (US$2.60), free for children under 5. An all-day monorail pass costs A$8
(US$5.20) for adults and A$24 (US$16) for a family. The trip from the city cen-
ter to Darling Harbour takes around 12 minutes. Look for the gray overhead