Grizzlies Tour Hub
Enter the squad passcode to view Australia tour logistics, contacts and travel documents.
For squad & staff only. If you don't have the passcode, contact your Team Manager.
Enter the squad passcode to view Australia tour logistics, contacts and travel documents.
For squad & staff only. If you don't have the passcode, contact your Team Manager.
Everything the squad and staff need for the Australia tour. Pick a section above, or jump straight in below. Keep this passcode within the squad.
Day-by-day schedule, plus the live TripIt itinerary.
Management, staff and emergency contacts.
General advice for travelling to and around Australia.
Day-by-day forecast for Sydney and the Gold Coast.
Recommended apps for navigation, transport, money and more — download before you leave home.
Individual and group flight details.
Accommodation, food, transfers and things to do.
Surfers Paradise — accommodation, food, transfers and things to do.
Accommodation, food, transfers and things to do.
Recommended apps for navigation, transport and money in Australia — download before you leave home.
Recommended apps for navigation, transport and money in Australia will be added here.
Day-by-day forecast for Sydney and the Gold Coast, updated as the tour approaches.
Management, staff and emergency contacts for the Grizzlies tour.
Management, staff and emergency contacts for the Grizzlies tour will be added here.
Flights, accommodation and the day-by-day schedule for the Australia tour.
The live, up-to-date team itinerary — flights, accommodation and schedule — is maintained on TripIt.
View the TripIt Itinerary →Individual and group flight details for the Australia tour.
Individual and group flight details for the Australia tour will be added here.
Roaming, power, currency and the other practical things worth sorting before you leave.
Quick Reference · Weather & Clothing · Currency & ATMs
City-specific safety notes and scam warnings now live on each city's own Overview tab — see Sydney, Gold Coast and Brisbane Guides.
| City / Region | Dates | Accommodation | Key Fixtures / Events |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney, NSW | Fri Oct 30 – Wed Nov 4 | Meriton Suites, Sussex St | Match vs Pacifika & Indigenous – Mon Nov 2, Wentworthville Leagues Club. RLWC double header (Lebanon v France, Tonga v Samoa) – Sun Nov 1, CommBank Stadium, Parramatta |
| Gold Coast, QLD | Wed Nov 4 – Mon Nov 16 | Artique Resort, Surfers Paradise | Match vs NSW & Queensland – Sat Nov 7. Match vs Australia & England Rebels – Fri Nov 13 |
| Brisbane, QLD | Day trip – Sun Nov 15 (departure flight Mon Nov 16) | Day trip from Gold Coast (Artique Resort) – no overnight accommodation | RLWC Final – Sun Nov 15, Suncorp Stadium |
Emergency (police / fire / ambulance): Triple Zero – 000
Non-urgent police assistance: 131 444
Australia's country/dialling code: +61
Tap water is safe to drink everywhere on this itinerary.
Late October to mid-November sits at the tail end of spring moving into early summer across NSW and Queensland. Expect warm, increasingly humid days with the storm season beginning in Queensland toward the end of the tour.
| City | Avg High | Avg Low | Rain / Storms | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | ~24°C | ~16°C | Occasional showers; spring, generally dry | Moderate |
| Gold Coast | ~27°C | ~19°C | ~106mm over 11–12 days; afternoon storms increase late Nov | High (65–68%) |
| Brisbane | ~26–28°C | ~17–19°C | ~86mm over 11 days; storm season begins, late-afternoon storms | High, rising through month |
Australia uses the Australian Dollar (AUD). Cards are accepted almost everywhere, including small cafes, so cash is mainly needed for markets, tips (not customary but appreciated for great service) and small vendors.
| Option | Fee Structure | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Big-4 bank ATMs (CBA, Westpac, ANZ, NAB) | Typically AUD 2–5 foreign card fee, charged by the bank, plus your home bank's fee | Look for these on main streets/CBD branches – far better than independent machines |
| Independent/branded ATMs (pubs, convenience stores, tourist strips) | AUD 3–7.50+ per withdrawal | Avoid where possible – common on Cavill Ave/Orchid Ave (Surfers) and Kings Cross (Sydney) |
| Airport currency exchange counters | 5–10% above market rate | Only use for small emergency amounts on arrival |
Prepared for the Canada Grizzlies touring squad – Sydney, Gold Coast & Brisbane, October–November 2026.
Sixteen days on tour — Sydney, the Gold Coast and beyond, including anyone continuing on to Fiji — so it's worth sorting your phone plan before you leave rather than at Sydney Airport. Every major Canadian carrier (and their flanker brands) offers a 30-day pass that comfortably covers the tour.
Roaming without a pass runs $16–$18/day on Canadian carriers — $256–$288 across the 16-day tour. A 30-day pass runs a flat $30–$125 depending on carrier. Sorting the pass in advance is a straightforward saving.
Some carriers offer shorter regional or weekly passes, but none cover the 16-day length of this tour. Make sure you select each carrier's 30-day pass specifically — not a shorter one.
Check whether your carrier's pass activates automatically on first use in Australia or immediately once added. The 30-day countdown starts from that moment — if it activates on purchase, add it on the day your trip starts, not before.
| Option | Cost (CAD) | Voice | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bell / Virgin Plus International 30-Day Travel Pass | $120 | ✔ Yes | No Australia/Oceania-specific plan — this is Bell's only option covering the tour. Full voice, uses existing plan data. |
| Freedom Mobile Included in plan | $0 extra if plan includes Roam Beyond | ✔ Yes | Check My Account to confirm Roam Beyond is included — Australia is one of 120+ covered destinations. If not, see pass options below. |
| Freedom Mobile 30-Day Roam Beyond Pass — 5GB | $30 | ✔ Yes | Own data bucket — doesn't draw from your plan. |
| Freedom Mobile 30-Day Roam Beyond Pass — 10GB | $50 | ✔ Yes | Own data bucket — good for heavier users. |
| Rogers / Fido Oceania 30-Day Travel Pass | $90 | ✔ Yes | Covers Australia, NZ, Fiji, French Polynesia, PNG, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu. Same price on both Rogers and Fido. |
| Telus / Koodo Global 30-Day Pass | $125 | ✔ Yes | Both brands only offer a 7-day AU/NZ pass ($50) — not enough for the tour — so the Global 30-Day pass is the practical option. Uses existing plan data. |
| Airalo / Holafly Australia eSIM — Unlimited | ~$94–$104 | ✘ Data only | Unlimited data on the Optus network. No voice — use WhatsApp instead. An option if your carrier pass doesn't suit. |
Do this before you leave Canada — don't wait until you land.
If Roam Beyond is in your plan: My Account → Manage Features → turn on International Roaming and International Calling → Accept and Enable.
If purchasing a pass: same steps first, then Shop Add-Ons → 30-day Roam Beyond Pass ($30/5GB or $50/10GB).
MyRogers → Manage → Manage Add-ons → Oceania 30-Day Travel Pass. Can be set up to 60 days ahead — pass starts 12:00am ET on the activation date, so set it for departure day. Or text TRAVEL to 222 to confirm Roam Like Home is active.
Fido My Account → Manage Add-ons → Oceania 30-Day Travel Pass ($90, same as Rogers). Purchasable up to 60 days ahead with a set start date. Or text ROAM to 222 to confirm Fido Roam is active.
My Account (bell.ca or MyBell app) → add the International 30-Day Travel Pass. Activates immediately once added — add it on departure day, not before. Or text INTL30 to 4400. For Roam Better daily backup: text ROAM to 8000.
Add the pass in My Account. Activates immediately once added — add on departure day. Or text INTL30 to 4800. For Roam Sweet Roam: text ROAMHOME to 8800.
My TELUS app → check/enable Easy Roam → add the Global 30-Day Pass. Activates automatically on first use in Australia, 45-day window from purchase — the 30-day countdown starts on first use abroad. Or text ROAM to 7626.
Koodo Self Serve → enable Easy Roam. Important: also enable International Voice Roaming and International Data Roaming add-ons (both free) before the travel pass will work. Then add the Global 30-Day Pass. Or text ROAM to 7626.
If your carrier's pass isn't great value, or you just want unlimited data without worrying about a cap, a travel eSIM is the way to go. Both run their Australia eSIMs on the Optus network with unlimited data.
| Provider | 30-Day Plan | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Airalo | $66.50 USD ≈ $94 CAD | Optus network, unlimited data, 200+ locations globally |
| Holafly | $73.90 USD ≈ $104 CAD | Optus network, unlimited data, 1GB/mth Always On backup |
Australia runs on 230V / 50Hz using Type I plugs (three flat pins — two angled, one straight). Bonus: this is the same standard right across the wider Pacific, including Fiji and New Zealand — whatever gets you sorted for Australia covers those legs too.
The voltage gap is a non-issue: phones (iPhone/Android), laptops, iPads and tablets are all dual-voltage (100–240V) and just need the right plug adapter. The only devices that genuinely need a voltage converter are single-voltage appliances with heating elements — hair dryers, straighteners, clippers, travel kettles — pack accordingly.
120V / 60Hz
230V / 50Hz ⚠ switched
230–240V / 50Hz ⚠ switched
| Origin | Adapter Needed | Voltage Converter? |
|---|---|---|
| 🇨🇦 Canada | Type I (Australia & wider Pacific) | Not needed for phones/laptops/tablets — check single-voltage devices (e.g. hair dryers) |
| 🇬🇧 UK | Type I (Australia & wider Pacific) | Not needed |
⚠️ Australian outlets have a switch next to the socket, same as the UK — flip it ON or your charger won't work.
💡 Check device labels: "100–240V, 50/60Hz" = works everywhere with just a plug adapter. Single-voltage labels (120V or 230V only) need a converter — common with hair dryers and straighteners.
🛒 Forgot yours? Because Type I is Australia's own standard, any Woolworths/Coles, chemist, JB Hi-Fi or Officeworks near the Meriton Suites (Sydney) or Artique Resort (Surfers Paradise) will sell a local multi-adapter cheaply if you land without one.
The interchangeable head set includes Type I, along with A, C/F and G — covers up to 5 devices at once in one compact unit. Not a voltage converter (dual-voltage devices only).
🔥 On sale now — $29.99 CAD $39.99
Buy on Amazon Canada →Interchangeable plugs (Type C, G, A, I) with 2× USB-C and 1× USB-A — covers 224+ countries including Australia. Cheap and widely available for UK-based players and partners.
Buy on Amazon UK →Nov 4–16 · Artique Resort, Surfers Paradise — home base for the tournament.
Quick reference details for Surfers Paradise / Gold Coast will be added here.
Warmer and more humid – highs around 27°C, lows near 19°C, humidity climbing to ~65–68%. Sea temperature is a pleasant ~23.5°C. Afternoon thunderstorms become more frequent as November progresses, though mornings are typically clear.
Accommodation details will be added here.
Local food recommendations will be added here.
Grocery and supermarket recommendations for the Gold Coast will be added here.
Bottle shop recommendations for the Gold Coast will be added here.
Souvenir shopping recommendations for the Gold Coast will be added here.
Sports store recommendations for the Gold Coast will be added here.
Shopping centre recommendations for the Gold Coast will be added here.
Things to see and do around the Gold Coast will be added here.
Local transport options — trains, buses, trams, taxis and rideshare around the city — will be added here.
Airport to hotel transfer details will be added here.
Hotel to airport transfer details will be added here.
Oct 30 – Nov 4 · Meriton Suites, Sussex Street.
Quick reference details for Sydney will be added here.
Spring is in full swing – expect sunny days around 22–24°C with cooler nights near 15–16°C. Some rain is possible; UV is already strong at midday.
| Property | Meriton Suites — Sussex Street · meritonsuites.com.au |
|---|---|
| Address | 234 Sussex Street, Sydney NSW 2000 · +61 2 9160 2400 |
| Stay | 5 nights |
| Check-in | Friday, October 30 — 3:00pm |
| Check-out | Wednesday, November 4 — 10:00am |
| Breakfast | Not included — no on-site restaurant, but dining, entertainment and shopping options surround the hotel (see Where to Eat) |
A refundable bond is required from everyone at check-in, covering any damage or theft of hotel property during the stay.
| Studio Suite | $100 |
| 1 Bedroom Suite | $100 |
| 2 Bedroom Suite | $200 |
Meriton Suites Sussex Street is located in Sydney's Central Business District (CBD), close to several well-known tourist destinations and landmarks. The property offers a 24-hour fitness centre, an indoor heated pool, a hot tub, a sauna, complimentary Wi-Fi, and a 24-hour reception desk. Suites are equipped with either a full kitchen or a kitchenette, a Nespresso coffee machine, an in-suite washer and dryer, dining and living areas, designer bathrooms, and a flat-screen television.
Darling Harbour, Barangaroo, SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium and Cockle Bay Wharf are all within walking distance. The Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge and Circular Quay are about a 30-minute walk, or reachable by public transport including the nearby light rail. Town Hall train station is also close to the property. Kingsford Smith Airport is approximately 9 km from the hotel.
Local food recommendations will be added here.
For everyday groceries, Woolworths Town Hall is the closest and latest-open option (6–8 min walk, open to midnight). For fresh fruit, veg and a seafood top-up, Paddy's Markets at Haymarket is a similar walk — but it's only open Wednesday to Sunday. The Sydney Fish Market has moved to a brand-new site at Glebe — well worth a trip for a seafood lunch, but it's a light rail ride away, not a walk, so plan it as its own outing rather than a quick stop.
All three sit on or just off George Street, the same direction as Town Hall Station — there's no supermarket right on Darling Harbour/King Street Wharf itself, so this George Street cluster is the closest option from the hotel.
| Store | Address & Walk from Hotel | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Woolworths Town Hall | Cnr Park & George St — the same ~500m, 6–8 min walk as Town Hall Station | Mon–Fri 6am–midnight Sat–Sun 7am–midnight |
| Coles World Square | 644 George St, Lower Ground level (World Square shopping centre) — roughly 700–800m, 8–10 min walk | Open daily, 6am–midnight |
| Coles Local — Sydney CBD (York St) | York Street, between Market & King Streets — roughly 500–600m, 6–7 min walk. A smaller CBD-format store (fresh/grab-and-go focus, narrower range than the two above). | Not confirmed — check Google Maps closer to the date |
📌 As with the transport guide, these are estimated from street addresses — worth confirming exact routes on Google/Apple Maps once we're on the ground.
The old Pyrmont fish market has closed for good — the market relocated to a brand-new, purpose-built site across the water at Blackwattle Bay, Glebe, which officially opened in January 2026. If you're picturing the old wharf-side sheds, this is a different (much larger) building.
Address: 1 Bridge Road, Glebe NSW — on the Blackwattle Bay waterfront.
Hours: Open daily, 7am–10pm (individual seafood retailers, restaurants and the food hall have their own trading hours within that).
Getting there — light rail, no transfer needed: the Paddy's Markets light rail stop near the hotel (Hay Street, L1 Dulwich Hill Line) is on the same line that runs straight past the new market — no need to change trams. Board a Dulwich Hill-bound L1 service and get off at either:
Door-to-door from the hotel is roughly 15–20 minutes: a short walk to the Paddy's Markets stop, a few stops on the tram, then the short walk in.
It's a flat-ish ~2km, 25–30 minute walk from the Town Hall area via Pyrmont Bridge Road if anyone fancies it — but with a couple of us managing dodgy knees, the light rail is the easier call, especially on the way back after a big feed.
It's not just a place to buy fresh seafood to take home — the new market has a proper food hall and sit-down restaurants, so it doubles as a good group lunch destination rather than just a shopping errand. Worth building in a bit of time to wander and eat there rather than a quick in-and-out.
Address: Market City building, corner of Hay & Thomas Streets, Haymarket — right beside Chinatown, at the Hay Street end of Sussex Street.
Distance from hotel: roughly 900m–1km, about a 12–15 minute walk down Sussex/Hay Street — or hop on the L1 light rail one stop to the Paddy's Markets stop, which sits right at the door.
Paddy's Haymarket trades Wednesday to Sunday, 10am–6pm only. It's closed Mondays and Tuesdays, so it won't help with early-arrival grocery needs on Friday 30 Oct unless you time it for the weekend.
What's there: mostly imported clothing, souvenirs and general merchandise, but it also has a smaller dedicated section for fresh fruit, vegetables and seafood — good for a quick, cheap top-up rather than a full weekly shop. Think of it as a fun wander with a fresh-produce bonus, not a substitute for the supermarkets above.
📌 There's a much bigger wholesale fruit, veg and flower market at Sydney Markets in Flemington (near Sydney Olympic Park), but that's a specialty trip well outside our CBD footprint — not really practical for this stay.
NSW liquor licensing means bottle shops close earlier than supermarkets (usually by 10–11pm, some earlier on Sundays), so it's worth grabbing supplies before heading out for the evening rather than counting on picking something up late.
| Store | Address & Walk from Hotel | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| King Cellars (independent) | 9 Erskine St — right by King Street Wharf/Darling Harbour, probably the closest option, ~5 min walk | Not confirmed online — worth a quick check on arrival |
| Red Bottle — Sussex St | 374 Sussex St — same street as the hotel, ~6–7 min walk | Mon–Fri 9am–11:55pm Sat 10am–11:55pm Sun 10am–10:55pm |
| Red Bottle — Town Hall | 580 George St, Lower Ground, Town Hall Station Exit 3 (Pavilion Plaza) — same ~6–8 min walk as Woolworths/Town Hall Station | Mon–Sat 9am–10:55pm Sun 10am–9:55pm |
| BWS — Haymarket | Cnr Quay St & Ultimo Rd (61–79 Quay St) — near Paddy's Markets/UTS, ~12–15 min walk | Mon–Sat 10am–9:55pm Sun 10am–7:55pm |
| The Cellar by Dan Murphy's — Martin Place | 53 Martin Place — other side of the CBD, ~12–15 min walk | Mon–Fri 10am–7pm Sat 11am–7pm Sun 11am–6pm |
The closest Dan Murphy's-branded options are its boutique "The Cellar" concept stores (Martin Place, and another at Barangaroo) — smaller, more premium-focused, and pricier than a typical Dan Murphy's warehouse. If you're after warehouse-style range and pricing, that means a trip further out of the city — not really practical for a quick top-up during our stay.
📌 Easiest default: Red Bottle on Sussex Street is on the same street as the hotel and open latest (just before midnight most nights) — hard to beat for convenience. King Cellars may be even closer given it's right at King Street Wharf, but confirm its hours once we're there.
Souvenir shopping recommendations for Sydney will be added here.
Sports store recommendations for Sydney will be added here.
Shopping centre recommendations for Sydney will be added here.
Things to see and do around Sydney will be added here.
We'll be using public transport most days in Sydney — hotel to sightseeing, and the big one: getting out to CommBank Stadium in Parramatta for the RLWC doubleheader on Sunday, November 1. Here's how to pay, what it costs, and the best way to get around while we're at the Meriton Suites on Sussex Street (Fri 30 Oct – Wed 4 Nov).
Tap on with a contactless bank card or phone wallet (Apple Pay / Google Pay) instead of buying a physical Opal card. Same fares, same daily/weekly caps, zero setup or admin — since everyone's paying individually, there's nothing to buy, load or reconcile as a group — and no stranded balance when we fly out to the Gold Coast on Nov 4. A Wise Card is a great fit for this — it holds AUD directly and avoids the FX markup a standard Canadian card would apply.
These caps apply automatically across train, metro, bus, light rail and ferry — the system just stops charging once you hit them.
| Cap | Amount (Adult) |
|---|---|
| Daily — Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu | $19.30 |
| Daily — Fri, Sat, Sun, Public Holiday | $9.65 ("TGIF" cheap rate — Friday is grouped with the weekend) |
| Weekly (Mon–Sun) | $50.00 |
| Off-peak discount | ~30% off train fares before 6am, 10am–3pm & after 7pm weekdays, and all weekend/public holidays |
| Transfer discount | $2 off for 2+ transfers within 60 minutes |
✈️ Heads up on the Airport Link fee: if anyone takes the train through Sydney Airport's Domestic or International stations, a separate station access fee (~$18.61) is added on top of the normal fare — and importantly, this fee is not included in the daily or weekly cap. It's an extra cost even on a day you've already capped out.
Fares in Sydney are distance-based, so the system needs to see two taps to work out what you actually owe: tap your card/phone on the reader when you get on, and tap again when you get off — on trains, metro, light rail and ferries, and on buses (buses need both taps too, don't assume otherwise).
If you tap on but forget to tap off, the system has no way of knowing where you got off — so instead of charging you for the short trip you actually took, it charges a default/maximum fare, calculated as if you'd travelled to the furthest possible point on that service. In practice that can mean paying up to roughly $8.80–$11 for a short ferry hop that should have cost you $2–3, or a similarly inflated fare on a train or bus — instead of a normal quick CBD trip, you're paying close to (or more than) the whole day's cap.
A few habits that will save you money on this tour:
Tapping doesn't charge you on the spot. Your first tap triggers a small verification check (not a real charge), then every tap-on/tap-off that day gets logged against your card number, exactly like a physical Opal card. Transport NSW's system tallies your trips as you go and stops adding to the bill once you hit the daily or weekly cap — then bills your card one combined amount per travel day, not a separate charge per tap. That's why your statement shows one line per day, not one per trip.
Our 6 days in Sydney span two Opal weeks (the cap resets each Monday):
Per person, for the whole Sydney leg: ~$78.95 AUD — and that's only if you max out the cap every single day. Arrival and departure days will likely be lighter, so your real spend should land under that. A sensible amount to have set aside on your card for Sydney transport alone: $60–80 AUD.
Pros: zero setup, tap on from the moment you land, identical fares and caps to Opal, no stranded balance, charged as one combined daily transaction (not per tap — good for minimising FX exposure). Since everyone's paying individually anyway, this is the least hassle option — nothing to buy or top up before you can start using it.
Cons: you need a working contactless card/device and must tap on and off with the same card the whole trip (mixing cards mid-journey can trigger a higher default fare); a standard Canadian card may carry a foreign transaction fee unless it's a Wise Card or similar.
Pros: free to obtain (only pay for travel loaded on), widely available (7-Eleven, newsagents, station machines, Service NSW), no bank details exposed at the reader, good backup for anyone whose card won't tap reliably.
Cons: it's on you individually to find a retailer and load it — more upfront hassle than just tapping a card you already own; minimum top-ups apply in places ($35 minimum at Sydney Airport station machines); max balance $250/card; unused balance generally can't be refunded to an overseas account — registered cards only refund to an Australian bank account, and there's no cash refund at a machine. Since we leave for the Gold Coast (different network) after just 6 days, any leftover balance on your card is effectively stranded — so if you go this route, try to load only what you'll actually use.
Meriton Suites Sussex Street sits between Market Street and Druitt Street, directly opposite Darling Harbour/Cockle Bay, about four blocks west of George Street/QVB.
| Mode | Closest Stop / Station & Distance |
|---|---|
| 🚆 Train | Town Hall Station (George St & Park St entrances, Druitt St bus concourse) — roughly 500m, a 6–8 minute walk east via Market or Druitt Street. Serves T1, T2, T3, T4, T8, T9 and intercity lines — basically anywhere we need to go. |
| 🚊 Light Rail | Town Hall stop on George Street (L2/L3, same walk as the train station) for Circular Quay/CBD; Paddy's Markets stop on Hay Street (L1) is the closer option if we're at the Hay St end of Sussex St, for Darling Harbour/Chinatown/Central. |
| ⛴️ Ferry | King Street Wharf (Darling Harbour) — right across the road, roughly a 5-minute walk; good for short Darling Harbour/Pyrmont hops. For the Parramatta River (F3) service, Barangaroo wharf (~1.8km, ~20-minute walk) or Circular Quay (~20-minute walk) are the departure points. |
| 🚇 Metro | Barangaroo or Martin Place Sydney Metro stations are the nearest, but both are ~1.5–2km away — Town Hall heavy rail is the far more convenient option from this hotel. |
| 🚌 Bus | Numerous CBD routes run along George, Kent, York, Elizabeth and Castlereagh Streets — alight at the Market St, Druitt St or Bathurst St stops, all a short walk from the hotel. |
📌 These distances are estimated from the hotel's address and the CBD street grid — worth confirming exact walking routes on Google/Apple Maps once we're on the ground, especially with luggage or as a larger group.
Three options for this one — pick based on how much of a hurry you're in:
Nov 1 is actually a triple-header at CommBank Stadium — Jillaroos v Wales (3:45pm), Lebanon v France (5:40pm), then Tonga v Samoa (8:05pm), gates open 3pm. Our doubleheader means a long afternoon into night, finishing roughly 9:45–10pm.
Getting there — ferry (Circular Quay or Barangaroo → Parramatta): the F3 Parramatta River ferry runs from both wharves, taking roughly 50–70 minutes to Parramatta wharf — a genuinely scenic run past the Harbour Bridge, Cockatoo Island and Sydney Olympic Park. From Parramatta wharf it's about a 10–15 minute walk to the stadium, or one stop on the L4 light rail to Prince Alfred Square.
Timing for our group: catch a ferry by around 4pm at the latest to be settled in well before the 5:40pm Lebanon v France kickoff — earlier gives more buffer moving 32 people together.
Getting back — train, not ferry: CommBank Stadium's own transport guidance flags that after events, F3 ferry services may reach capacity and can be disrupted by low tide (sometimes replaced by buses) — not ideal for a tired group of 32 after a 10pm finish. Parramatta Station (T1 Western Line) is about a 15-minute walk from the stadium and runs direct to Town Hall — frequent, high-capacity, built for exactly this kind of event crowd. Save the ferry for the scenic daytime leg there; take the train back.
Sunday's daily cap is the cheap weekend rate — $9.65 per person. The ferry fare alone (~$9.20, the "over 9km" ferry tier) very nearly maxes that out — so once we tap on for the ferry, the rest of that day's travel is essentially free, capped at $9.65. One of the best-value days of the whole Sydney leg.
📌 Worth a final check closer to the date: Transport NSW usually publishes an event-specific travel advisory (exact last-service times, any bus replacements) once the RLWC schedule firms up.
📍 234 Sussex Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Everyone in the touring party is landing at T1 International, so there's no terminal-matching to worry about when arranging transport. Costs below are in AUD, per person unless noted, current as of September 2026.
~9 km from the airport · 15–45 min journey time depending on option · $60–80 AUD typical cost range
From Town Hall Station, take the Town Hall House / Druitt Street exit — it puts you on the western side of the station complex, the most direct route to Sussex Street. From there it's about a 3–4 minute walk to Meriton Suites Sussex Street.
Cost: ~$19–22 · Time: 15–18 min
Cost: ~$6–8 · Time: 35–45 min
Cost: $60 standard / $80 maxi · Time: 20–35 min
Most of the touring party lands right in Sydney's weekday morning rush (7–9am), which overlaps with the airport's own 6–8am flight-arrival demand spike — a double peak. Expect fares toward the higher end even without a genuine "surge" multiplier, and a real chance of one given the driver-supply squeeze at that hour.
Base: $45–65 · Heavy surge: $90–150+ · Time: 25–40 min
With everyone landing on different flights in smaller groups, splitting a taxi or rideshare between whoever's on the same flight (or landing close together) is very doable — plan transport mode per arriving group rather than trying to coordinate one transfer for everyone. A group of 3–4 sharing a standard taxi or rideshare, or 5–6 sharing a maxi-taxi, usually works out cheaper per head than everyone buying a train ticket, and drops the group straight at the door with the kit bags. Solo or paired arrivals with light bags are the exception where the train's fixed price and no-traffic reliability make sense on their own. Worth sharing flight arrival times in the group chat so people naturally know who else is landing around the same time to split a ride with.
| Option | Cost (AUD, per person) | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus + Train (budget) | $6–8 | 35–45 min | Lightest luggage, most patience |
| Airport Link Train | $19–22 | 16–20 min | Solo travel, no gear, fixed price |
| Rideshare (base, peak hours) | $45–65 | 25–40 min | Pairs/small groups, door to door |
| Rideshare (heavy surge) | $90–150+ | 25–40 min | Check live quote before booking |
| Taxi (fixed fare, rank/hail) | $60 standard / $80 maxi (total, split by group) | 20–35 min | Groups of 3–6 with kit bags |
Fares sourced from Transport for NSW, the Point to Point Transport Commissioner's fixed-fare taxi trial (effective Nov 2025 – 2 May 2027), current rideshare pricing guides, and general Sydney surge-pricing patterns rather than a live quote for this exact date — verify train/rideshare fares against transportnsw.info and check a live app estimate closer to travel.
Hotel to airport transfer details will be added here.
Nov 16 · one week with the three sisters before the flight home.
Quick reference details for Brisbane will be added here.
Warm and increasingly humid – highs of 26–28°C, lows around 17–19°C. This is the start of Brisbane's storm season: expect roughly 11 rain days with the chance of a sharp late-afternoon/evening thunderstorm, particularly as the month wears on.
Accommodation details will be added here.
Local food recommendations will be added here.
Grocery and supermarket recommendations for Brisbane will be added here.
Bottle shop recommendations for Brisbane will be added here.
Souvenir shopping recommendations for Brisbane will be added here.
Sports store recommendations for Brisbane will be added here.
Shopping centre recommendations for Brisbane will be added here.
Things to see and do around Brisbane will be added here.