The CBD is small and easy to walk around, but to go to the suburbs – where a lot of the real Sydney action is – you’ll need to use a combination of trains, ferries and buses.

The Sydneypass is aimed at tourists and offers unlimited travel for any three or five days within a seven day period on state-run trains, buses (including the excellent Explorer buses) and ferries (including JetCats and cruises). A three-day pass costs $90 ($45 under-16s). Buy them from State Transit Authority offices or at Sydney Ferries ticket booths. Alternatively a one-day Daytripper for use on most ferries, trains and buses costs $15 ($7.50 under-16s).

If you want to travel on the Monorail (+61292855600) that circles the city at first floor level, tickets cost $4 for one loop whether you go one stop or all the way. The Metro Light Rail (+61292855600) travels out to the inner west and costs $8.40 ($6.30 under-16s) for a day’s worth of unlimited trips or $3.80 ($2.70 under-16s) for a ticket travelling within zones one and two.

The best way to get to Manly is by ferry ($5.80 one way, $2.90 under-16s) but buses are the only option if you want to go further up the northern beaches.

For short trips in a group it’s often just as cheap to hail a taxi.

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