At a glance
- When
- Saturday 7 November 2026: gates 4:45pm, women’s semi-final 5:45pm, men’s semi-final 8:05pm
- Where
- McDonald Jones Stadium, Broadmeadow
- Train
- Broadmeadow station on the Central Coast & Newcastle Line, a 15 to 20-minute walk (1.5 km)
- Free shuttles
- Five routes from Newcastle CBD, Charlestown/Belmont, Glendale, Wallsend and Mayfield, free for match ticketholders
- Parking
- Pre-paid tickets only, sold through Ticketmaster
- Drop-off
- 10-minute loading zone in the stadium car park, entry off Turton Road
- Taxi and rideshare
- Young Road, Broadmeadow
Two ways to reach the Rugby League World Cup semi-finals at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday 7 November are the train to Broadmeadow station, the closest station, and the free stadium shuttle buses from five areas of Newcastle. Pre-paid game-day parking at the stadium is only for vehicles with a pre-paid Ticketmaster ticket, according to Transport for NSW.
Transport for NSW lists the Rugby League World Cup at McDonald Jones Stadium from Sunday 18 October to Saturday 7 November, and the match details it gives for Saturday 7 November are a men’s and women’s semi-final double-header. This guide covers that day. For other match days, check the Transport for NSW event page and the news page of Newcastle Transport.
What time are the matches?
| Item | Time on Saturday 7 November |
|---|---|
| Gates open | 4:45pm |
| Women’s semi-final kick-off | 5:45pm |
| Men’s semi-final kick-off | 8:05pm |
Transport for NSW encourages fans to plan their trip ahead and consider all the travel options. Times are Australian Eastern Daylight Time.
Can I take the train to the stadium?
Yes. Transport for NSW says the closest station is Broadmeadow on the Central Coast & Newcastle Line. The stadium is a short walk from the station, which it describes as approximately a 15 to 20-minute walk, or 1.5 km.
You need an Opal card or a contactless payment card or device for public transport to and from the event, other than the free stadium shuttle buses. Transport for NSW suggests registering your details online with Opal or in the Opal Travel app ahead of time.
Is there a late train back to Sydney?
Transport for NSW says an additional train will run on Saturday 7 November from Newcastle Interchange to Central at 10:40pm. It stops all stations to Berowra, then Hornsby, Strathfield and Central. Transport for NSW also lists planned trackwork on Sydney train lines on game day, including the City Circle, where trains do not run around the loop but continue between Central, Town Hall and Wynyard. Check the Trip Planner before you travel, because several Sydney lines have changed timetables or buses replacing trains that day.
Transport for NSW says Opal card users should top up before travelling to avoid queues at top-up machines, and that you can top up online or at an Opal retailer. If you tap on and off with a contactless card or device instead, adult Opal fare pricing applies and you receive Opal benefits, including daily and weekly fare caps.
From Sydney Metro, the page says to change at Epping or Central for a Central Coast & Newcastle Line train to Broadmeadow.
How do the free shuttle buses work?
Transport for NSW says there are five stadium shuttle services, free for match ticketholders. Services run at regular intervals from selected bus stops from approximately two hours before kick-off, and return services run for around half an hour after full time. The stops listed are:
| Shuttle | Area | Stops |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newcastle CBD | Queens Wharf; King Street at Bolton Street; Civic Park; Marketown; Tudor Street at Beaumont Street |
| 2 | Charlestown/Belmont | Charlestown Square; Westfield Kotara; two services start from Belmont on the Pacific Highway at Macquarie Street and also stop on the Pacific Highway at Groves Road |
| 3 | Glendale | Stockland Glendale; Cardiff Station; Lookout Road at McCaffrey Drive |
| 4 | Wallsend | Wallsend Village; Newcastle Road at Blue Gum Road; Newcastle Road at Dent Street |
| 5 | Mayfield | Wests Mayfield; Mayfield shops; Waratah Station; Waratah Village |
For stops and routes, Transport for NSW points to the Stadium Shuttle information on the Newcastle Transport website. When we checked this week, that page described the Knights grand final shuttles rather than the semi-finals, so use the Transport for NSW stop list above and look for the semi-finals timetable on Newcastle Transport before you go.
How did the shuttles run for the first match on 18 October?
Newcastle Transport’s 13 October news item covered the first match day, Sunday 18 October, when the women’s match between New Zealand and Fiji kicked off at 1:50pm and the men’s match between Fiji and the Cook Islands at 4:05pm. For that day it said limited free stadium shuttles would start at 12:50pm and run at regular intervals before kick-off from selected stops, with return services for around 30 minutes after full time. It listed the same five routes: Newcastle CBD, Charlestown/Kotara, Glendale, Wallsend and Mayfield.
That is the 18 October arrangement, not a published plan for 7 November. For the semi-finals Transport for NSW gives the start as approximately two hours before kick-off, and the first semi-final kicks off at 5:45pm.
Which regular buses go there?
The closest bus stops to the stadium are on Turton Road and Lambton Road, according to Transport for NSW and Newcastle Transport. Regular routes 13, 23, 25, 26 and 27 run towards the stadium. Regular fares and Opal rules apply on these buses, unlike the free shuttles.
What if I am coming by ferry or light rail?
Ferries run between Stockton and Queens Wharf approximately every 20 minutes. At Queens Wharf, Transport for NSW says to change for a light rail service to Newcastle Interchange, then connect with a replacement bus to Broadmeadow. Alternatively, from King Street near Perkins Street you can catch a route 13 bus to Lambton Road, within a short walk of the stadium.
Newcastle light rail runs from 5am to 1am daily between Newcastle Interchange in Wickham and the city’s east end, with six stops. From the light rail, Transport for NSW says to go to Newcastle Interchange and change for a replacement bus to Broadmeadow, where the stadium is within short walking distance.
Can I park at the stadium?
On game days and major events, pre-paid parking is available only for vehicles with a pre-paid parking ticket. Tickets can be bought through Ticketmaster online, by phone or at the Ticketmaster box office at McDonald Jones Stadium. Transport for NSW also says you can use nearby local parking. It suggests travelling with your group, and says traffic may be heavier than usual as fans travel to and from the game, so allow extra time. Roads it names for carpooling and extra travel time are Turton Road and Griffiths Road.
Disabled parking areas are designated close to each of the stadium’s accessible entries. To buy mobility parking, phone Ticketmaster on 136 100 or visit the Ticketmaster box office at the stadium.
For real-time traffic, Transport for NSW points to Live Traffic NSW.
Where do taxis, rideshare and drop-offs go?
- Passenger drop-off: use the allocated 10-minute loading zone in the stadium car park. Entry is via the driveway off Turton Road.
- Taxi and rideshare pick-up and drop-off: Young Road, Broadmeadow. After the event, follow the signs to Young Road to reach taxis.
- Newcastle Taxis: 13 33 00.
What about accessible travel?
Transport for NSW says accessible trips are shown in the Trip Planner with the wheelchair icon. Choose “accessible services only” in the Options and the Trip Planner shows only plans with accessible train platforms, ferry wharves and buses.
Sources
- Transport for NSW — Rugby League World Cup, McDonald Jones Stadium (checked 20 October 2026)
- Newcastle Transport — Getting to the Rugby League World Cup by bus (13 October 2026)
- Newcastle Transport — Stadium shuttle
Featured image: Hunter Stadium in Newcastle during the 2015 AFC Asian Cup semi-final (photo: Holdenman05 / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with the Rugby League World Cup, McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle Transport, Transport for NSW or Ticketmaster. Event details can change; check the official pages above and the signs on the day.