Domestic or international check in

[SYD]

Ta @SYD, I don’t think it’s ever even occurred to me to try the Opal app!
I missed a once-per-hour bus a few months ago when Google Maps innacurised me on the location of a bus so I’ve lost trust in that a little (dunno why/how - maybe they’re processing so much info they need to extrapolate a bit more than TripView do & probably the Opal app does?).

Early on, the Opal app wasn’t great for buses - just had the timetable but nothing about early/late or cancelled! And not all buses had trackers - i would guess.

Opal let’s you put in the bus stop number to avoid positional errors or just scan the QR code at the bus stop to see real-time next service info (bolded that bit for those from out of town wondering when the next airport bus departs).

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

If bus or train, you can tap with your Aust credit card, just remember to tap on with each person's card, and then tap off with that same card.
You don't need to buy an opal card.
Using the train, I think the gate fee is about $4 + plus $2.65 or so train fare, per person off peak.
There is a small surcharge for the gate fee from dom to int terminal, not for the bus, just the train.
Rydges is very good, have done it many times.
Just come up from the underground train station, come up to plaza level, and then flat walk to reception.
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Lucky its on a linked PNR, even with overnight layover in SYD.
You will have to go T1 MEL, not T2.
Get to the airport, earlier, as if you are lucky, they might put you onto an earlier flight in the day out of MEL.
22.45 is ok, but that SYD airport train is still a public train, while its safe, and Aust is safer than other countries, better to see about travelling earlier if possible, in the day.