I can say that I'd not take public transport to the Zoo, for instance. Too bloody painful and too long and too expensive – those ferry prices keep rising.

Sydney's problem is not ENOUGH density – see getting around London or Paris by train. Brilliant.

Mind you, I don't want to live in a flat.

To my place it's $20 for train+tram/bus or ~$35 for taxi, but even when I'm alone I usually opt for a taxi – the convenience is worth the extra cost

Also, $30 for Amanda and I to take ages to get the kids home where as if we all fit in a Tarago (with luggage – which we do), it was about $34 from the airport to our front door.

Doesn't compare.

When going to places like the museum it's far cheaper for me to take the train to the city and back (driving to the station) than to drive and park in the city, but there are too many occasions where taxis are either cheaper, or the extra $4-8 means you go door to door so much quicker and more easily.

The fastest (if I did it tonight) would be 35 mins. Which is good…except I then have to get a cab from the station to my house…if there's one there and if it's a multiseater and can take all my bags.

If there's just one person, all this stuff isn't so bad. If there's two of you (especially adults) again, not too bad. Once you start factoring in kids and luggage, it's not so simple.

All of this said, I take public transport most of the time when I can. It just needs massive improvement.

$15.40 to Central – but only 80c more to get you to Strathfield, and another 60c if you're going all the way to parramatta. http://www.taxifare.com.au/ estimates $38 to Strathfield (at 11am on a Monday), $66 to Parramatta

I was just flying in the other day. Though I came in over the water I didn't think of it that way. I can now see what you mean.

If you didn't know how the runaways were situated it really would seem like that.