TOLL ROADS

[ruSTynutz]

On our recent 7-day trip to Sydney, I tried to avoid toll roads and found it nearly impossible without driving miles and miles out of our way.

As we were based in Manly, we did have the option of using the Ferry when we wanted to visit some of the local attractions around the CBD so we were able to limit the use of our rental car on a few of those days.
Not much help when we wanted to travel to destinations further afoot though.

We ended up with a total invoice of just under $50 for the couple of trips where we couldn't really avoid using the toll roads...It makes me wonder how anyone can afford to live around Sydney if they need to use the toll roads on their daily commute!

I know it's probably a similar story with Melbourne and Brisbane so I'm not just singling Sydney out although in saying that, If you have the time, you can bypass the toll roads fairly easily in Melbourne.
I'm just glad I live in a rural town so usually only have to use toll roads a few times a year...

Coincidentally the ABC's "Four Corners" has a story "Road Gold" on iView at the moment about the high costs of toll roads that is worth watching... https://iview.abc.net.au/video/NC2403H036S00

[Bodø]

What's a toll road? 

[LindsayGT]

What's a toll road? 

I was wondering the same thing!!!

No such thing in WA.

[Williamson]

What's a toll road? 

Short memory.  Adelaide would have been (one of) the first to have a toll toad, according to Google, in 1841.

... a total invoice of just under $50 for the couple of trips ...

Was listening the the ABC new radio a coupla months back, one story was about a guy that towed his caravan along a section of toll road in Sydney, he was $63 lighter for one trip.  That was one reason we avoided Sydney on our return trip home.

[STeveo]

Cost me $17.43 to tow my camper trailer through Brisbane last year.

[ruSTynutz]

Was listening the the ABC new radio a coupla months back, one story was about a guy that towed his caravan along a section of toll road in Sydney, he was $63 lighter for one trip.  That was one reason we avoided Sydney on our return trip home.

I would've avoided Sydney altogether myself if it was my choice...
Unfortunately we were there so Sue could catch up with a childhood friend from the UK who she hadn't seen in 50 years... 

[Williamson]

I would've avoided Sydney altogether myself if it was my choice...
Unfortunately we were there so Sue could catch up with a childhood friend from the UK who she hadn't seen in 50 years... 

Would've been a good reason to send Sue to Sydney without you and for you to have some serious time riding some alpine roads.

[Dragonstaff]

What's a toll road? 

I was going to ask the same thing!

[ruSTynutz]

I would've avoided Sydney altogether myself if it was my choice...
Unfortunately we were there so Sue could catch up with a childhood friend from the UK who she hadn't seen in 50 years... 

Would've been a good reason to send Sue to Sydney without you and for you to have some serious time riding some alpine roads.

She would've missed me too much! 

Besides, if we had to pay an arm & a leg for "so called" 5 star accommodation in Manly, I wanted to experience it... 

[ruSTynutz]

For those wanting to know what a toll road is, don't worry, you'll find out when you guys move into the 21st century...

[NTRebel]

toll roads are roads where private companies legally rip you off more to use roads than the state government can

[Shillas]

For those wanting to know what a toll road is, don't worry, you'll find out when you guys move into the 21st century...

So were you driving a 21st century car then - you know, those ones that run on electrickery?

 

[ruSTynutz]

Yep, one of the majority of cars sold, an ICE vehicle utilising a 12v battery... 

[ruSTynutz]

toll roads are roads where private companies legally rip you off more to use roads than the state government can

Yep, while also utilising State Governments to collect any unpaid tolls as fines with exorbitant fees added. 

[ruSTynutz]

Coincidentally the ABC's "Four Corners" has a story "Road Gold" on iView at the moment about the high costs of toll roads that is worth watching... https://iview.abc.net.au/video/NC2403H036S00

This story is also available to watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/ajpm23zLlOQ?si=zqU2mTYSmaiVyIoX

[West Aussie Glen]

Did you have your seniors Opal Cards?

[West Aussie Glen]

We had a great 4 day weekend in Sydney the other month. Stayed in Green Square. It is only one train stop from Central.
First day:-
Used our seniors' Opal cards to get to Green Square from Mascot Airport, caught the bus to Mascot Sation then train to Green Square.
Left bags at hotel, train to circular Quay, ferry to Manly and back to Circular Quay, train back to Hotel all for $2:50 ea.
Second day:-
Train to Milsons Point to go the markets, back to hotel, change then to a show at the Opera House
Third day:-
Train to Circular Quay, Ferry to Parramatta, train back to Green Square.
Fourth day:-
Left bags at Hotel, train into the city, back to the hotel, train to Mascot Station bus to the Airport.
All up travel cost in Sydney 4 x 2.50 = $10 each.
I crew up in Sydney but this was the frist time I had gone back and just played the tourist.

[ruSTynutz]

Did you have your seniors Opal Cards?

Unfortunately, no...I'd left pretty much the organisation of the entire trip to Sue and I guess she didn't think of getting one of those each. 
I just asked Sue how come we didn't get an opal card and she said she didn't bother as we could just tap our debit card...Apparently we have heaps of money to throw away!   

We had a great 4 day weekend in Sydney the other month. Stayed in Green Square. It is only one train stop from Central.
First day:-
Used our seniors' Opal cards to get to Green Square from Mascot Airport, caught the bus to Mascot Sation then train to Green Square.
Left bags at hotel, train to circular Quay, ferry to Manly and back to Circular Quay, train back to Hotel all for $2:50 ea.
Second day:-
Train to Milsons Point to go the markets, back to hotel, change then to a show at the Opera House
Third day:-
Train to Circular Quay, Ferry to Parramatta, train back to Green Square.
Fourth day:-
Left bags at Hotel, train into the city, back to the hotel, train to Mascot Station bus to the Airport.
All up travel cost in Sydney 4 x 2.50 = $10 each.
I crew up in Sydney but this was the frist time I had gone back and just played the tourist.

Sounds like you had a nice trip, Glen! 

We actually had a good trip too even if I am bitching about the tolls...speaking of, I just noticed another toll fee pop up on my account so around $53 in tolls now! 

Anyhow, we visited Circular Quay, the Opera House, the Sydney Tower Eye, the Chinese Garden of Friendship, the Aquarium at Darling Harbour & did the Big Bus Tour around the City.
We also visited the Blue Mountains, the Sea Cliff Bridge near Stanwell Tops, Wollongong and the Australian Reptile Park up at Somersby.
Pretty full on each day as we wanted to show Sue's friend, Juliet as much as we could in the short time we had in Sydney...