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How do I pay for public transport?

There isn’t one travel card for the whole country. Pick your first city, check how payment works there and save the journey to your accommodation.

I’ve sorted this

Where should I start?

You may not need to buy a card. Several networks accept contactless bank cards or phones. Use the same card or device throughout the journey, and check airport services separately.

Choose your city

Official prices and terms checked 16 October 2026.

New South Wales

Sydney & the Opal network

Choose an Opal card or supported contactless bank card or digital wallet. Contactless payment is available for adult fares across the Opal network.

Before you choose

Check airport station charges and regional journeys separately. The Opal network does not cover every service in NSW.

Check Sydney & the Opal network

Victoria

Melbourne

Use the official myki guidance to choose a ticket and find where to buy or top up.

Before you choose

Check the current ticketing options for your device and journey. Don’t assume airport transfers are included with ordinary city travel.

Check Melbourne

Queensland

Brisbane, Gold Coast & Sunshine Coast

Compare go card and supported contactless payment for your service. Translink publishes the current coverage and instructions.

Before you choose

Read the rules for airport services and any regional route rather than assuming all Queensland services work the same way.

Check Brisbane, Gold Coast & Sunshine Coast

Western Australia

Perth

Transperth lists SmartRider, contactless payments and cash tickets as its ticket types.

Before you choose

Compare the fare and discount conditions for each payment method before choosing one for regular commuting.

Check Perth

South Australia

Adelaide

Adelaide Metro lists metroCARD, Tap and Pay and the Buy & Go app as payment options for its network.

Before you choose

Check which fare product suits your travel pattern and whether your bank card or device is supported.

Check Adelaide

Australian Capital Territory

Canberra

Start with Transport Canberra’s MyWay+ ticketing guide for the current card, app and payment options.

Before you choose

Use the MyWay+ instructions rather than an older MyWay guide, and check how to set up your chosen method.

Check Canberra

Tasmania

Metro Tasmania services

Metro Tasmania’s GreenCard page explains its reusable card, balance management and top-ups.

Before you choose

Check who operates your route. Metro’s payment information is not a guide to every bus service in Tasmania.

Check Metro Tasmania services

Northern Territory

Darwin & Alice Springs

The Territory’s transport guide points visitors to bus ticket and Tap and Ride information.

Before you choose

Check the current ticketing and timetable for your bus, plus airport transfers separately.

Check Darwin & Alice Springs

Your questions, answered

Can I just tap my bank card?

In some cities and on supported services, yes. Check the city option below first. When using contactless, keep using the same physical card or the same phone or watch throughout the journey; swapping between them can prevent the trip being matched correctly.

Is the airport trip included in ordinary city fares?

Check it separately. Sydney’s Domestic and International Airport train stations add a station access fee to the train fare. In Melbourne, SkyBus uses its own ticket rather than myki. Budget for the actual airport journey, not just a typical local trip.

Official guidance

Should I buy a pass on my first day?

Work out how often you’ll travel first. A few days exploring, a daily commute and a one-off airport transfer are different needs. Compare single trips, caps and passes using your city’s official fare information before loading a large balance.

What if my shift starts early or finishes late?

Check the timetable for that day and time, including the last connection. Save a backup route and its cost. A place that looks close on a map may be awkward to reach before the first bus runs.

Before you commit

Check the actual airport-to-accommodation route, including your arrival time and luggage.
Check whether your particular bus, train or airport service uses the city payment system.
If you use an overseas bank card, check your bank’s foreign transaction charges.
Follow that network’s tap-on and tap-off rules. A physical card and a phone wallet can count as different payment methods.

Try the trip to your likely workplace before your first shift, especially if you’ll start early or finish late.

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