Overseas Passenger Terminal Transfers, Circular Quay

Sydney Airport to the OPT in about 30 minutes, at a fixed price with no surge on ship days

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Photo: Anton Leddin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0. Resized.

Private transfers to the Overseas Passenger Terminal

Cars on Demand runs private chauffeur transfers to and from the Overseas Passenger Terminal (OPT) at Circular Quay West, The Rocks. From Sydney Airport the trip is about 13 km and usually takes 25 to 35 minutes. We track your flight, meet you at T1 International, T2 or T3 Qantas Domestic, load your cruise luggage into a car sized for it, and drop you at the OPT passenger drop-off at a fixed price agreed when you book. Coming home, we meet you outside the front of the terminal near the palm trees. No surge pricing on ship days and no taxi queue.

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Why cruise passengers book Cars on Demand

Your holiday starts at the airport, not the gangway.

Fixed price, no surge on ship days

Your fare is locked in when you book. It does not jump when thousands of passengers leave the ship at the same time.

Flight tracked, met in the terminal

We track your flight, so an early or late landing never costs you. Your chauffeur meets you at T1, T2 or T3 and handles the bags.

A car sized for your luggage

Every vehicle class has a set suitcase count, so you know your cruise luggage fits before the boot opens.

Chauffeurs who know Circular Quay

We use the official drop-off on the lower roadway off George Street and collect you at the palm trees, not the Level 3 taxi rank where private cars cannot stop.

The whole group in one vehicle

Families and groups travel together in a People Mover or Minibus, instead of splitting across rideshares that arrive at different times.

Trusted since 1990

99.99% on time, 24/7 support on 1300 638 258, and free cancellation up to 4 hours before pickup.

Cars and boot space

Choose the right car for your cruise luggage.

Cruise suitcases are bigger than business luggage, and most cruise transfers go wrong on bags, not seats. Count your large suitcases first, then the people.

Black executive sedan for chauffeur cruise transfers to Circular Quay

Executive Sedan

Mercedes E-Class, Genesis or equivalent

Best for one or two cruise passengers with a large suitcase each.

Passengers
1 to 3
Suitcases
2
Carry-ons
2
Book Executive Sedan
Black Mercedes-Benz premium chauffeur sedan

Premium Sedan

BMW 7 Series, Audi A8, Mercedes S-Class

Best for couples who want to start a special trip in real comfort.

Passengers
1 to 3
Suitcases
2
Carry-ons
2
Book Premium Sedan
Black luxury SUV with room for three large cruise suitcases

Premium SUV

BMW X7, Mercedes GLS, Audi Q8

Best for a couple with three big suitcases, or a family of three or four.

Passengers
3 to 4
Large suitcases
3
Child seats
On request
Book Premium SUV
Black Mercedes-Benz V-Class people mover for cruise families with up to six large suitcases

People Mover

Mercedes V-Class, Toyota HiAce Luxury

Best for families, two couples sharing, or anyone with 4 to 6 large suitcases.

Passengers
Up to 7
Large suitcases
6
Best for
Cruise families
Book People Mover
Black Mercedes-Benz Sprinter minibus for cruise group transfers

Minibus

Mercedes Sprinter

Best for groups, extended families and wedding parties sailing together.

Passengers
Up to 11
Suitcases
Tell us your count
Best for
Groups
Book a Minibus

Too many bags for a sedan? Book a People Mover.

A sedan fits two large suitcases. If you have three or more, or you are bringing golf clubs, a pram or a mobility aid, book a Premium SUV or People Mover so everyone and everything travels in one car. Not sure? Add your bag count in the booking notes, or call 1300 638 258 and we will match the vehicle for you.

Book a People Mover
Cruise luggage guide
Who is travellingLarge suitcasesBook
Solo traveller or couple packing lightUp to 2Executive or Premium Sedan
Couple with full cruise luggage3Premium SUV
Family of 3 or 44 to 6People Mover
Two couples travelling together4 to 6People Mover
Group of up to 11Tell us your countMinibus
Larger groupsTell us your countMultiple vehicles, one booking

Testimonials

Hear what our customers have to say
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Overseas Passenger Terminal at a glance

AddressCircular Quay West, corner of Argyle and George Streets, The Rocks NSW 2000
Drop-offLower roadway at Circular Quay West, entered from George Street at Argyle Street. Two minute stop, passengers and bags only.
Private car pickupOutside the front of the terminal near the palm trees
Taxi rankLevel 3, accessed from Hickson Road on disembarkation mornings. Private cars cannot collect from Level 3.
Parking on cruise daysNone at the terminal. Paid parking stations in The Rocks are not cost effective for a full cruise.
Bag dropGenerally from around 9am until about 90 minutes before departure
Arrive byAt least one hour before your ship departs

Terminal details are based on Port Authority of NSW guidance and can change. Always check your cruise line documents for your check-in time.

Drive times to the Overseas Passenger Terminal

Approximate times in normal traffic. Allow extra on weekday peak mornings and when large events are on in the city.

FromApprox. drive time
Sydney Airport (T1, T2, T3)25 to 35 minutes
Sydney CBD and Darling Harbour hotels5 to 15 minutes
North Sydney and Chatswood15 to 25 minutes
Eastern Suburbs (Bondi, Randwick)20 to 30 minutes
Northern Beaches (Manly, Dee Why)35 to 50 minutes
Parramatta and the Hills District40 to 60 minutes
Western Sydney International (WSI)60 to 80 minutes
Central Coast (Gosford)1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes
Wollongong1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes
Newcastle2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 45 minutes

Trips over 90 km receive an automatic long distance discount. Your price is fixed when you book, so slow traffic never changes your fare.

Embarkation day at the OPT

Circular Quay on a cruise morning is one of the busiest few hundred metres in Sydney. Ferries, buses, light rail, tour groups and thousands of cruise passengers all arrive at once, and there are no waiting bays at the terminal. The drop-off is a two minute stop for passengers and bags only, so it rewards a driver who knows exactly where to turn in.

Our chauffeurs approach via George Street and turn into the lower roadway at Argyle Street, the official passenger drop-off. Have your passports, boarding documents and hand luggage ready as we pull in, and you will be at bag drop within a couple of minutes.

Arriving early? If your flight lands well before bag drop opens, book your transfer as an hourly hire so your luggage stays in the car until check-in opens. A luggage storage service also operates near the terminal.

Family seeing you off? Friends and family can wave you goodbye from the public area on Level 4 of the terminal. They cannot go past check-in, so a chauffeur who takes them home afterwards saves a second round of parking fees.

Book your embarkation transfer

Cars on Demand automatic flight tracking showing a Qantas flight's status, estimated landing time and arrival terminal

Flight tracking. We track your flight. Land early or late and your pickup moves with it, so you still make the ship.

Cars on Demand booking screen showing the Delay driver arrival by option, with free courtesy waiting time of 30 minutes for domestic flights and 60 minutes for international flights

Lots of cruise luggage? When you book, set ‘Delay driver arrival by’ so your chauffeur arrives once your bags are off the carousel. Your free waiting time starts then: 30 minutes for domestic flights, 60 for international.

See the terminal before you arrive

Video courtesy of Port Authority of NSW.

Disembarkation day: getting from the OPT to the airport

Ships usually berth at the OPT early in the morning, and passengers typically start leaving around 30 minutes after arrival. That is when the problems start for anyone without a booking. The Level 3 taxi rank fills with a long queue, rideshare prices rise as thousands of passengers open the same app at the same time, and private cars are not allowed to wait in the drop-off area.

A pre-booked transfer avoids all three. Book your pickup for the time your cruise line gives you for leaving the ship, and your chauffeur will be in touch by SMS on the morning. Once you have your bags, walk out the front of the terminal to the palm trees and your car will be there. The first 10 minutes of waiting are complimentary, and waiting time after that is charged per minute.

Flying out the same day? From the OPT, a domestic flight from T2 or T3 is usually an easy connection after an early disembarkation. For international flights from T1, allow extra time for check-in and security.

Book your OPT to airport transfer

Other ways to reach the Overseas Passenger Terminal

The OPT is the easier of Sydney's two cruise terminals to reach by public transport. Circular Quay station is about 450 metres away, roughly a five minute walk, and has direct trains to the airport. That works well for light packers. With full cruise suitcases, the airport station access fee, crowded platforms and the walk along the Quay make a private transfer the more comfortable choice, especially for families and groups.

Sailing from White Bay instead? See our White Bay Cruise Terminal transfers guide. For every port we serve across Australia, visit our main cruise ship transfers page.

Overseas Passenger Terminal transfer FAQs

Where is the Overseas Passenger Terminal in Sydney?

The OPT is on Circular Quay West, at the corner of Argyle and George Streets in The Rocks, directly across the water from the Sydney Opera House.

How far is the Overseas Passenger Terminal from Sydney Airport?

About 13 km. A private transfer usually takes 25 to 35 minutes in normal traffic.

Where do private cars drop off at the OPT?

On the lower roadway at Circular Quay West, entered from George Street at Argyle Street. Stops are limited to two minutes for passengers and bags only.

Where will my driver pick me up at the OPT after my cruise?

Outside the front of the terminal near the palm trees. Private cars cannot collect passengers from the Level 3 taxi rank.

Can I park at the Overseas Passenger Terminal?

No. There is no parking at the OPT on cruise days. Nearby parking stations in The Rocks are expensive for the length of a cruise, which is why most passengers use a transfer.

What time should I arrive at the OPT for my cruise?

At least one hour before departure, and within your cruise line's check-in window. Bag drop generally opens from around 9am.

Is the train a good option to the Overseas Passenger Terminal?

For light packers, yes. Circular Quay station is about a five minute walk away. With large cruise luggage, children or mobility needs, a private transfer is usually easier.

What size car do I need for my cruise luggage?

Executive and Premium Sedans fit 2 suitcases, a Premium SUV fits 3 large suitcases and a People Mover fits 6. If you have more than two large suitcases, book a Premium SUV or People Mover so everything travels in one car. Groups of up to 11 can book a Minibus.

Book your Overseas Passenger Terminal transfer

Book both legs now and your car will be waiting at the palm trees when you come home.

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