At a glance
- How to pay
- Opal card, contactless credit or debit card, digital wallet (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay), or an Opal single ticket as a back-up
- Tap on and off
- Every trip, every time, with the same card or device
- Adult caps
- $19.30 a day Monday to Thursday; $9.65 on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays; $50 a week
- Minimum balance (train)
- Adult $4.33 ($3.02 off-peak)
- Forgot to tap
- You are charged the default fare, the highest fare for that service
- Fare evasion fine
- $200 (up to a maximum of $550)
- Airport stations
- A separate station access fee applies and is not in the caps
In Sydney you pay public transport fares by tapping a contactless credit or debit card, a digital wallet or an Opal card on a reader at the start and end of every trip. As of October 2026, an adult never pays more than $19.30 a day from Monday to Thursday, $9.65 a day on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, or $50 a week, according to Transport for NSW.
The Opal network covers Sydney, the Blue Mountains, the Central Coast, the Hunter and the Illawarra. This guide covers the ways to pay, how tapping on and off works, the minimum balances to start a trip, what happens if you forget to tap, and what Transport for NSW says about fines.
How can I pay for a trip?
Transport for NSW lists three ways to pay: an Opal card, a credit or debit card with the contactless symbol (or a digital wallet such as Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay), and an Opal single ticket as a back-up option. Opal single tickets are only available for metro, train, ferry and light rail.
- Contactless card or device: adult fares need no set-up. Use the same card or device for all your travel in the week to receive Opal benefits.
- Opal card: a smartcard ticket. If you hold a Concession, Child/Youth or Gold Senior/Pensioner Opal card, you pay reduced fares.
- Opal single ticket: for people without an Opal card or a contactless payment option.
For Concession and Senior/Pensioner fares on a contactless card, Transport for NSW says you must create a Transport Connect account and link your concession entitlement to your payment card the day before you plan to travel.
What is the most I can pay in a day or a week?
Transport for NSW publishes caps for travel within the Opal network. The amounts below are as shown on its fares page.
| Fare type | Daily cap | Friday, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays | Weekly cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | $19.30 (Monday to Thursday) | $9.65 | $50 |
| Child/Youth and Concession | $9.65 (Monday to Thursday) | $4.80 | $25 |
| Gold Senior/Pensioner | $2.50 a day | $2.50 a day | $17.50 |
The Sydney Airport station access fee is not included in the daily, weekly or Friday and weekend caps, although a separate weekly cap applies to that fee. The airport fee and the stations it applies to are covered in our guide to getting from Sydney Airport to the city.
Two further Opal benefits are listed. A $2 transfer discount applies to adult fares for every transfer between modes as part of one journey ($1 for Child/Youth and Concession fares), and there is a 30% discount on fares for off-peak travel.
How do I tap on and tap off?
Transport for NSW says to hold your Opal card, contactless card or device to the Opal card reader until it turns green. Its page on tapping on and tapping off lists the reader signals:
- Green light and one ding: successful tap.
- Flashing amber lights and three dings: successful tap with a low balance on the Opal card.
- Red light and a two-tone ding: unsuccessful tap.
You must tap on and tap off for every trip, even when you have reached your daily or weekly cap. When you transfer between services, tap on and tap off for each trip and the system combines your trips into a single fare. When changing from a train to another train, you only need to tap off at the end of the journey. Trips that include transfers between Sydney Metro, Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink Intercity services are treated as one continuous journey with a single fare.
Card clash and the Manly ferry
Transport for NSW warns about card clash: separate your cards when you tap on and tap off so your preferred card is charged. On the F1 Manly Ferry you are not required to tap off, because the service has only one stop and you are charged automatically when you tap on.
How much balance do I need to start a trip?
To tap on, your Opal card needs enough balance to cover the shortest trip on that mode. If you have less than the minimum balance you are not travelling on a valid ticket and may be fined, according to Transport for NSW.
| Mode | Adult | Child/Youth and Concession | Gold Senior/Pensioner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro and train | $4.33 ($3.02 off-peak) | $2.16 ($1.51 off-peak) | $2.16 ($1.51 off-peak) |
| Bus | $3.30 ($2.31 off-peak) | $1.65 ($1.15 off-peak) | $1.65 ($1.15 off-peak) |
| Ferry | $7.35 | $3.67 | $2.50 |
| Light rail | $3.30 ($2.31 off-peak) | $1.65 ($1.15 off-peak) | $1.65 ($1.15 off-peak) |
How do I top up or manage my card?
On the manage your card page, Transport for NSW says you can top up your card online or set up auto top-up. If you register your Opal card in your Opal account or the Opal Travel app, you can also block a lost card to protect the balance, link multiple cards and transfer your balance. The Opal Travel app lets you top up and see your activity. Registering a contactless credit or debit card with Transport Connect gives a more detailed trip history and access to reimbursements.
If you hold an unregistered Adult or Child/Youth Opal card that has not been used for 5 years or more, Transport for NSW says you may need to take action to keep or claim your remaining balance.
What if I forget to tap on or off?
If you forget to tap on, or to tap off with the same card or device, you are charged the default fare for an incomplete trip. Transport for NSW defines this as the highest fare for that service based on your Opal card type. You are never charged over the daily travel cap, but you miss out on Opal benefits and you could be fined for travelling without a valid ticket.
- If an Opal reader was not working and you were charged incorrectly, you can apply for a fare adjustment.
- If you change your mind about travelling, tap the same card or device on a reader at the same wharf, station or stop to reverse your tap on. You can do this within 15 minutes for light rail and within 30 minutes for metro, train and ferry. It is not possible once a bus has departed from the bus stop.
What are the fines for travelling without a valid ticket?
Transport for NSW’s fare compliance page says it is an offence to travel without being able to produce a valid ticket, or without proof of entitlement when you use a concession ticket. Authorised Officers and Police can check your ticket at any time, and over 800 of them check tickets across the network. They can scan your Opal card or contactless card or device and see your ticket type, where and when you tapped on or off, and whether your contactless card or device is valid.
The fine is $200 (up to a maximum of $550), and depending on the situation you may receive an official caution instead. You must give your correct name and address if asked. A notice is generally mailed within 7 to 10 days, and paying after the due date adds an overdue fee of $65 for an adult or $25 for a minor under 18. You can pay online through Revenue NSW, by BPAY, at a Service NSW Centre or at any Australia Post Office.
Sources
- Transport for NSW — Fares, tickets and ways to pay (caps, benefits; checked 18 October 2026)
- Transport for NSW — Tapping on and tapping off (minimum balances, default fare, tap reversal)
- Transport for NSW — Manage your Opal card
- Transport for NSW — Travel offences, penalties and etiquette
Featured image: Opal card reader at Rozelle Bay light rail stop (photo: Nick-D / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Transport for NSW. Fares, caps and rules can change; check the official pages above and the Opal Travel app before you travel.