Hop on hop off busses are popping up in big cities all around the world, and I have been on several myself. I can say from experience that these busses are the best way to see all the tourist attractions at any location! The bus in Sydney, Australia was amazing because it hit every key place we wanted to see and more! In this post, I am going to go over everything you need to know about the hop-on-hop-of bus in Australia!
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What is a Hop On Hop Off Bus?
A hop on hop off bus is exactly what it sounds like! You buy a ticket for one or two days depending on how long you think seeing the attractions will take you. The bus stops at every major attraction in the city. When you get to a location you want to explore, just hop off the bus. When you are done and want to keep moving forward, hop on the next bus that comes by. It’s that easy!
Why a Hop On Hop Off Bus?
The benefit of this type of bus versus typical public transportation is there is only one bus route if you want to explore Sydney (the red line) and a second route if you want to visit Bondi Beach (the blue line). That means no (or limited) bus transfers and you only have to pay once. They also stop at each major attraction which means you won’t be wandering the city lost. Both routes also go in a circle, so you will end up back where you started.
The best part: you are given a pair of earbuds when you first get on the bus which you plug in to the seat in front of you. This allows you to listen to an audio tour while the bus drives which enhances your experience of the city as a whole. These audio tours are available in English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. It’s the easiest and most educational way to see all the main sights!
Red Line – Main Attractions
The hop on hop off bus red line hits the main Sydney attractions visitors dream of seeing! From Darling Harbor to the Sydney Opera House, you will see every main attraction along this route! There are some lesser-known stops that are really cool if you have the time to see everything on the list. I would recommend getting a two-day pass if you want to explore each and every stop. With a one-day pass, my family had to pick which key places we really wanted to see. This worked out perfect for us because we only had a handful of places on our personal must-see list, but others may need more time. The Sydney Opera House is one particular icon many people want to visit. Find out what tours are available before you go!
Below is the list of all 23 stops on the red line (via Viator). To see a map of the red and blue lines, click here.
- Circular Quay, George St, cnr Alfred St. (opp DFS Galleria)
- Sydney Tower/ Westfield
- Australian Museum
- William St, Kings Cross
- Kings Cross Train Station on Darlinghurst Rd.
- El Alamein Fountain
- Cowper Wharf Rd, outside the Woollomooloo Hotel
- Sydney Opera House
- Botanical Garden, Scenic Walk to Mrs Macquarie Chair
- State Library
- Hyde Park
- Central Station, Pitt Street, Bus Bay 18
- Powerhouse Museum
- Harris St, cnr Pyrmont Bridge Rd
- The Star Casino
- Maritime Museum
- ICC Sydney and Darling Harbor
- Chinese Garden of Friendship
- SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium and Darling Harbor
- Kings Street Wharf
- Hickson Road
- Sydney Harbour Bridge
- The Rocks
Blue Line – Main Attractions
The blue line is your connection from the city to Bondi Beach! Most of the stops on this route are along the beach. Some people may choose not to go on this bus as the red line already hits most of the top attractions. Bondi Beach is a popular destination because of the amazing beach and cute downtown area. I personally loved my visit and really enjoyed having dinner with a view of the ocean!
Below is the list of all 8 stops on the blue line (via Viator). You will notice some of these stops are the same as the red line. These are places where the lines intersect so you can get off of one line and hop on the other. To see a map of the red and blue lines, click here.
- Central Station, Pitt Street, Bus Bay 18
- Australian Museum
- Paddington Town Hall, Oxford St
- Oxford St opp Moncur St
- Bondi Beach
- North Bondi Beach, Campbell Pde
- Rose Bay
- Double Bay
Summary
The hop on hop off bus in Sydney is a great, affordable travel option for families! Tickets currently start at $26.22 per person. See all pricing options and book your tickets here!
Anna’s Pick of the Week
If you are going to be away from your hotel all day, you are going to need some necessities with you. Having a nice, small backpack like this one is perfect because it can hold what you need and has padding so it is easy on your shoulders. Whenever I travel I use this exact backpack, so I can verify that it is roomy yet comfortable!
