NSW

How to get home from New Year's Eve fireworks without breaking the bank

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For those who want to avoid paying a 300 per cent price surge for Uber on New Year's Eve, there are plenty of other safe and far cheaper ways to get home.

Transport NSW is urging revellers heading to New Year's celebrations in the city and other places to leave the car at home and take advantage of thousands of extra trains and buses that are running until very early on New Year's day morning. 

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"There are more than 1000 extra trains, 3500 extra buses and extra ferries running to get revellers home after the fireworks," Alf Paranihi from Transport for NSW said. "Use the Trip Planner to plan your trip with up-to-date transport information or download one of the real-time apps to track your service."

But don't expect to use the same bus stop or lines as usual: many will be different. It pays to use Trip Planner before you leave to consider how to get home quickly and inexpensively. 

Buses will run on all major corridors into and out of the city but some will divert and use temporary terminals due to road closures.

Getting home by train in the early hours will also be easier than usual: extra trains will run on most lines, with frequent services between North Sydney, Milsons Point and the city from 2pm.

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Many trains will be running throughout the night and into New Year's Day. See Getting Home.

Ferries are running but are expected to fill up quickly so people are encouraged to have a back-up plan. Some ferries will stop running from about 5:35pm due to the exclusion zone on the harbour for the fireworks and then resume following the light show. 

There will be many road closures, so people are urged to follow directions and check signs. Wear comfortable shoes: Be prepared for a longer walk to buses and trains, and some train stations may have different entry and exit points.

Trip Planner recommends people travelling from the Opera House fireworks vantage spot to Bondi Junction to walk to Martin Place Station, which is about a 1.3 km walk and then catch a 10-minute train ride home for only $2.36.  

Train stations recommended if you're planning on catching a train home:

  • Eastern suburbs: Central, Martin Place.
  • North shore: Central and Wynyard.
  • South western suburbs: St James, Museum and Central.
  • Southern suburbs: Martin Place, Central.
  • Western suburbs: Central.
  • Inner west: St James, Museum, Central.

Buses recommended from these locations on New Year's Eve: 

  • Elizabeth Street: Anzac Parade, Bunnerong Road, Crown Street and Mascot.
  • Park Street: Randwick Junction, Coogee, Clovelly and Kingsford via Gardeners Road.
  • College Street: Bondi Junction, Bondi Beach, New South Head Road and Elizabeth Bay.
  • Castlereagh Street: Inner west and south west.
  • York Street QVB: Pyrmont, Balmain and Victoria Road.
  • York Street Wynyard: Chatswood, Eastern Valley Way, Pacific Highway and Epping Road.
  • Carrington Street: Lower north shore and northern beaches.
  • Clarence Street: Rouse Hill, Bella Vista, Kellyville, Castle Hill, Dural and West Pennant Hills.

Services departing from Circular Quay after the fireworks, they may be delayed if the exclusion zone time is extended: 

  • Neutral Bay: 12.55am, 1.35am and 2.15am.
  • Mosman: 1am and 2am.
  • Northern beaches: 12.30am, 1am, 1.30am, 2.10am, 2.50am, 3.30am and 5am.
  • Woolwich: 1.05am and 2.05am.

Taxi ranks are located on the corner of Liverpool and Elizabeth streets and Lime Street in King Street Wharf, but won't operate between 11pm and 1.30am.

Here are five ways to plan ahead:

1. Plan your trip home on public transport using Trip Planner,

2. Take a copy of the map showing which city streets will be closed to traffic.  Click here to download,

3. Prepare to walk as part of your trip. 

4. Have a back up plan in case services are running late, and

5. If you have to drive, park somewhere near the city - such as North Sydney, Annandale, Paddington or Rushcutters Bay - where you can walk home if public transport is too crowded or unavailable.

Mr Paranihi said the weekend public transport timetable with extra services will be in place on New Year's Day.