In short
- Our timetables list 64 bus routes in Newcastle, 72 on the Central Coast and 38 in Wollongong.
- Newcastle has a light rail line from Newcastle Interchange to Newcastle Beach and a ferry to Stockton.
- The same Opal fares and caps apply as in Sydney: A$19.30 a day Monday to Thursday, A$50 a week.
- Trains reach Sydney from Gosford in about 70 minutes and from Newcastle in about 2 hours 10 minutes.
Newcastle, the Central Coast and Wollongong are part of the Opal network, so you pay the same way and the same fares as in Sydney. Our timetables list 64 bus routes in Newcastle, 72 on the Central Coast and 38 in Wollongong, and live departures are shown in all three where Transport for NSW publishes them. Fares were checked on 24 October 2026.
Newcastle: light rail, ferry and buses
The Newcastle Light Rail runs from Newcastle Interchange, the main station at Wickham, through the city centre to Newcastle Beach in about 12 minutes. From Queens Wharf a ferry crosses the harbour to Stockton in about 5 minutes; an adult trip costs A$3.30 (A$2.31 off-peak). Busy bus hubs in our data include Charlestown Square and Wallsend. Hunter Line trains run from Newcastle Interchange to Maitland and the Hunter Valley. See the Newcastle timetables.
Central Coast: buses from Gosford
On the Central Coast, Gosford Station is the main bus hub, with more than 20 routes in our data, along with Mann Street in the town centre. Trains on the Central Coast and Newcastle Line link Gosford, Wyong and other stations with Sydney and Newcastle. The fastest trip from Gosford to Sydney in our data takes about 70 minutes. All bus routes are in the Central Coast timetables.
Wollongong: buses and the South Coast Line
Wollongong buses meet in the city centre on Burelli Street, near the council building and the performing arts centre, and on Crown Street at the WIN Entertainment Centre. South Coast Line trains link Wollongong with Sydney to the north and with Kiama and Bomaderry (Nowra) to the south. See the Wollongong timetables.
How much does it cost?
Tap on and off with an Opal card or a contactless American Express, Mastercard or Visa card or device. At the time of writing a peak adult bus or light rail trip of up to 3 km costs A$3.30 and a train trip of up to 10 km A$4.33. Off-peak fares are 30% lower; peak is Monday to Thursday 6 to 10 am at Intercity stations (6:30 to 10 am elsewhere) and 3 to 7 pm. Adults pay no more than A$19.30 a day Monday to Thursday, A$9.65 on Fridays, weekends and public holidays, and A$50 a week. A trip to Sydney therefore counts towards the same daily cap. More on the Newcastle tickets page.
