As revellers prepare for the trek home after New Year’s Eve celebrations, most cities are offering free public transport, and more of it.
Here is what you need to know, depending on your state or territory.
Queensland
Free public transport will be available from 8pm New Year’s Eve to 5:30am New Year’s Day across south-east Queensland.
Additional trail and bus services will be available to and from the city, South Bank and South Brisbane stations from 8:30pm. Trains will run every 15 minutes on most lines after the 8.30pm fireworks and again after midnight.
Ferry services will also run every 15 minutes until about 1am – but not during the fireworks.
Free public transport will also be available for those attending the Brisbane International at the Queensland Tennis Centre, and Brisbane Heat Big Bash League matches at the Gabba.
Victoria
Metropolitan trains, trams, buses, and regional town buses will be free from 6pm on New Year’s Eve until 6am on New Year’s Day.
V/Line travel is also free for the same time period, with the first service on each line departing Melbourne on New Year’s Day free even if departing after 6am.
Myki cards are not required during free travel periods. Metropolitan trains and trams will run all night and most services will be running to a Saturday timetable on New Year’s Day.
New South Wales
Travel on public transport will not be free. Opal travel on New Year’s Eve will run on regular Sunday fares. For adults, this is capped at $8.90. For child and concession, that is $4.45 and $2.50 for seniors.
One thousand extra trains and more than 1,200 extra buses are running in Sydney, with the metro timetable doubled, according to operators. Public transport will be running through the night, excluding ferries which will stop at 5pm.
ACT
Travel on buses and light rail will be free from 5pm until the last service at 1am. Local and rapid bus services will operate according to the normal Sunday timetable until 10pm, when additional rapid services will operate every 30 minutes until 1am.
Northern Territory
Buses from Darwin, Casuarina and Palmerston will be free from 7pm on New Year’s Eve until 6:30am on New Year’s Day, according to Northern Territory News reports.
Western Australia
Transperth will operate on a Sunday/public holiday timetable, with additional services operating after midnight every 15 minutes until 2:45am.
Travel will be free until 6am on New Year’s Day.
South Australia
Adelaide metro muses, trams and trains will be free from 5pm New Year’s Eve until 6am New Year’s Day.
Additional bus, train and trams, as well as free travel, will be available all day on New Year’s Eve for cricket fans attending the New Year’s Eve Big Bash League blockbuster at Adelaide Oval.
Tasmania
All New Year’s Eve bus services in Hobart, Launceston, and Burnie will cost a flat $2 Nightrider fare. This is a cash fare and people using a GreenCard will be charged the normal fare.
