- Metropolitan & Outer Metropolitan Regions
- Regional NSW – Far North Coast
- Regional NSW – Mid North Coast
- Broken Hill – NSW Regional Fares
Metropolitan and Outer Metropolitan Regions
Opal Cards
Opal is a reusable travel card – it’s your ticket for trains, trams and buses in Sydney and many parts of regional NSW. To travel on public transport, customers need to buy an Opal card, top it up with credit and touch on and touch off at Opal readers to pay their fare.
You can buy your Opal card and top up at:
- around 800 shops including all 7-Eleven stores
- Opal machines at selected stations and stops
- premium station ticket offices
- Transport for NSW Hubs – transportnsw.info or by calling 131 500 (allow seven days for delivery of an Opal card and around 90 minutes for online top ups)
Contactless & Linked Devices
Contactless payments are another way to pay for all public transport in the Opal network.
Use the same contactless card or device for all your travel all week to pay Adult Opal fares and to receive the same travel benefits of an Adult Opal card.
Tap on and off
On buses, you must tap on at the Opal card reader at the start of your journey and tap off at the Opal card reader at the end, just before you disembark from the bus. This ensures you have a valid ticket and pay the correct fare for your journey.
Register Online to Protect Your Card
You can choose to register online to protect your card. By registering your card online, you can:
- secure your card’s balance if it’s lost or stolen
- see the cost of your recent trips and balance
- set Auto Top Up
- request a replacement card when yours expires every four years – manage multiple cards.
Be sure to keep your payment card separate to other contactless cards or devices, to avoid overpaying for your trip through ‘card clash’.
Concession Fares
You may be able to travel on a concession fare if you are a child, student or Australian senior. Other types of concessions are also available. Check if you’re eligible.
Always carry proof of eligibility.
School Passes
School bus passes are provided free of charge to eligible students via the School Student Transport Scheme. These passes can be obtained through your child’s school or via the Opal website. School students are required to tap on and off.
Regional NSW – Far North Coast
Passes must be produced for concession discounts each time a ticket is purchased. Unreadable passes are invalid. Passengers 16 years and over are required to pay full fare unless travelling to and from school, or upon presenting a valid school pass or the other valid ID. Note health care cards do not entitle travellers to concession fares.
General Fares
| Sections | Adult | Concession/Child/Student | |||||
| Single | Return | Daily | Single | Return | Daily | ||
| 1 to 2 sections | $2.30 | $4.60 | $5.00 | $1.10 | $2.20 | $2.50 | |
| 3 to 6 sections | Ballina to Prospect Est / Angels Beach Ballina to Northlakes Estate Ballina to Headlands Ballina to Ballina Heights Byron Bay to Suffolk Park Byron Bay to Sunrise Beach Byron Bay to McGettigans Lane | $3.30 | $6.60 | $5.00 | $1.60 | $3.20 | $2.50 |
| 7 to 15 sections | Suffolk Park to Sunrise Beach Ballina to Lennox Head Byron Bay to Lennox Head Byron Bay to Mullumbimby Byron Bay to Bangalow | $4.20 | $8.40 | $10.00 | $2.10 | $4.20 | $5.00 |
| 16 to 25 sections | Ballina to Bangalow Ballina to Suffolk Park Ballina to Byron Bay Lennox Head to Mullumbimby Suffolk Park to Mullumbimby Ballina to Byron Bay | $4.50 | $9.00 | $10.00 | $2.20 | $4.40 | $5.00 |
| 26 plus sections | Ballina to Mullumbimby | $5.90 | $11.80 | $10.00 | $2.90 | $5.80 | $5.00 |
Payment Options
EFTPOS – Tap and Pay: We accept credit and debit cards, including smart phone and watch payments, on all CDC NSW Far North Coast services.
Cash: Please have the exact fare ready, as drivers are unable to provide change for large notes. This helps avoid delays and ensures you reach your destination quickly.
640x & 641x Express Service Fares
All fares within the Lismore boundaries will be based on a one-section, full adult fare of $2.30, with usual concessions.
All fares for travel externally from Lismore (i.e., Ballina, Lennox Head, Byron Bay, Bangalow to Lismore) will be based on a $5.90 full adult fare, with usual concessions applying.
Concessions
Concession cards are available for a range of people. Find out if you’re eligible below.
Special Passes
Red Tickets (All Pension Conc. Cards & Seniors Cards)
$2.50 unlimited same day
Terms & Conditions
- To qualify for a student fare, you must present a valid ID from an educational institution.
- Health Care Cards DO NOT entitle persons to concession fares.
- Bicycles and animals (except guide dogs) will not be permitted.
- Fares listed above are intended as a guide only. Variations can occur, subject to pickup and set-down locations.
- Services operate as ‘Hail & Ride’ except in busy CBD areas.
Regional NSW – Mid North Coast
Ticketing and Inspections
Tickets are issued for all paid fares. Please keep your ticket until the end of your journey, as inspectors may board at any time to verify fares. When boarding, let the driver know your destination.
Payment Options
- Cash: Please have the exact fare ready, as drivers are unable to provide change for large notes. This helps avoid delays and ensures you reach your destination quickly.
- EFTPOS – Tap and Pay: We accept credit and debit cards on our Coffs Harbour and Sawtell services*.
*Note: EFTPOS payments are not available on Narrabri and Wee Waa services.
Child Fares
- Children under four years old travel free when accompanied by an adult.
- Children aged 4–15 are eligible for a half fare.
- Children aged 15 and over who attend high school or secondary college can travel at a concession fare outside school hours, provided they show the driver a valid photo ID issued by their school.
- If a valid ID isn’t available, children aged 15 and over will need to pay the adult fare, unless travelling to and from school during school hours.
- Where age may be in question, proof of age is required, or an adult fare will be charged.
Concession Fares
- Concession cards must be shown to the driver; otherwise, a full fare will be charged.
- We accept a range of transport concession cards issued by NSW state government agencies and the Commonwealth Government through Centrelink.
- Healthcare cards and cards issued for exclusive travel on state transit buses in Sydney are not accepted.
- Tertiary students must have a Transport for NSW-issued holographic sticker on their ID to travel at concession fares.
School Travel Passes
For more information on school travel passes, please visit our School Services page.
Fares (Effective from 1 January 2021)
Concession fares are half the adult fare, rounded down to the nearest ten cents.
Single Trip
Single Trip Full Fares and Concession Fares Applicable on Contract Bus Services
| Fare Band | Number of Sections | Adult | Concession |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 to 2 | $2.30 | $1.10 |
| 2 | 3 to 6 | $3.30 | $1.60 |
| 3 | 7 to 15 | $4.20 | $2.10 |
| 4 | 16 to 25 | $4.50 | $2.20 |
| 5 | 26 to 37 | $5.90 | $2.90 |
| 6 | 38 to 56 | $7.50 | $3.70 |
| 7 | 57 to 75 | $10.00 | $5.00 |
| 8 | 76 to 100 | $15.00 | $7.50 |
| 9 | 101 to 125 | $20.00 | $10.00 |
| 10 | 126+ | $25.00 | $12.50 |
Daily Fares
Daily Full Fares and Concession Fares Applicable on Contract Bus Services
| Fare Band | Number Sections for Longest Trip During Day | Adult | Concession |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 to 2 | $5.00 | $2.50 |
| 2 | 3 to 6 | $5.00 | $2.50 |
| 3 | 7 to 15 | $10.00 | $5.00 |
| 4 | 16 to 25 | $10.00 | $5.00 |
| 5 | 26 to 37 | $10.00 | $5.00 |
| 6 | 38 to 56 | $20.00 | $10.00 |
| 7 | 57 to 75 | $20.00 | $10.00 |
| 8 | 76 to 100 | $30.00 | $15.00 |
| 9 | 101 to 125 | $30.00 | $15.00 |
| 10 | 126+ | $30.00 | $15.00 |
All fares include GST and are subject to variation by Transport for NSW.
Broken Hill – NSW Regional Fares
There are 10 standard fare bands across regional NSW.
The maximum adult fare for a short trip (one to two sections) is $2.30. Any trip longer than 200 kilometres has a maximum fare of $25.00 for an adult.
The daily ticket allows unlimited travel on regional buses within certain sections within a day. Daily adult tickets start at a maximum of $5.00 for short trips and are a handy option if you need to make several trips within certain sections within a day.
General Fares
| Fare Band | Number of Sections | Maximum Adult Single Trip Fares | Adult Daily Ticket |
| 1 | 1-2 | $2.30 | $5.00 |
| 2 | 3-6 | $3.30 | $5.00 |
| 3 | 7 to 15 | $4.20 | $10.00 |
| 4 | 16 to 25 | $4.50 | $10.00 |
| 5 | 26 to 37 | $5.90 | $10.00 |
| 6 | 38 to 56 | $7.50 | $20.00 |
| 7 | 57 to 75 | $10.00 | $20.00 |
| 8 | 76 to 100 | $15.00 | $30.00 |
| 9 | 101 to 125 | $20.00 | $30.00 |
| 10 | 126+ | $25.00 | $30.00 |
