Travel
Travel arrangements are an important part of boarding school life and support students in safely transitioning between school and home throughout the term. At Hurlstone Agricultural High School, clear processes and communication help ensure student travel is organised, safe, and well coordinated for families across New South Wales.
This page provides information about travel procedures, leave arrangements, transport expectations, and the processes students and families need to follow when travelling to and from the boarding school. This includes travel at the beginning and end of term, weekend leave arrangements, and approved transport options.
Our boarding staff work closely with students and families to support safe travel planning and ensure students are accounted for at every stage of their journey. The goal is to provide families with confidence that travel arrangements are managed in a structured, organised, and supportive way.
Travel Passes
Student travel is coordinated with assistance from the school administration office. Most students are entitled to free travel to and from their home via Transport NSW travel and are issued with a Boarder Pass. Application forms for these passes and further information are available online at: https://transportnsw.info/tickets-opal/ticket-eligibility-concessions/school-student-travel/apply-for-boarder-rail-pass.
Boarder Students entering Year 11 at school need to re-apply for their Boarder Pass, as do those who change address.
To be eligible for such a pass, students must be a resident of New South Wales. Students whose permanent home is in the ACT, or another state are not entitled to this pass. The pass is used for weekend and end of term travel home and return to school in New South Wales only. It cannot be used for activities such as school excursions, sport and work experience.
Travel must be by the shortest and most economical approved route between the student’s home and the school. It is only available from the rail station or Transport NSW coach stop closest to the student’s home and school. Journeys cannot be broken.
Boarders who live in the Sydney metropolitan area may apply for an OPAL Student concession card instead. This allows them to travel to and from school-on-school days only and cannot be used on weekends. Students with a concession card are not entitled to a free pass for weekend and vacation travel.
Travel to destinations other than home must be arranged and paid for by the student or parents/carers. This can sometimes be quite expensive. Students must always carry their rail passes with them whilst travelling between school and home.
Changes to bookings
Students' journeys to destinations other than home must also be organised and paid for by parents, as boarder passes only cover travel to and from home.
All tickets are sent to the boarding school by Transport NSW few days prior to departure and are then distributed to students (and a copy emailed to Parents) who need to check that their tickets are as requested. Any errors with the bookings must be notified to school administration staff immediately so Transport NSW can be advised and issue an amended ticket. Home destination arrival times as well as departure times are clearly marked on tickets, and it is up to students to ensure that parents are informed of these arrival/departure times. Be aware that travel times can vary particularly when using the bus.
Non-closed weekends
Students may travel to and from home on Friday to Monday depending on the distance. Students required to travel on any other day must collect an authority to travel form from the school to entitle them to free travel.
Opal cards
Boarder passes will be provided for all students upon application by parents to SSTS (Transport NSW). Families will need to purchase an additional Opal card for times your child wishes to take private trips or go on boarding school outings using public transport in Sydney. They will also need that Opal Card for some school excursions.
Cancellations/Changes
Parents and students are asked to avoid wherever possible cancelling coach travel at the last minute. Changes to travel in the week prior to departure are generally not accepted by Transport NSW. Parents must phone 132232 for any trip cancellations.
Correct Use of Travel Pass
Students may only travel using their own Weekend Boarder Pass or Cityrail Pass to their home destination as incorrect use may result in the cancellation of student passes resulting in all future travel being at full cost.
Baggage Allowance on Coaches and Trains
Countrylink ticketing rules indicate:
- Two pieces of luggage are permitted per ticketed passenger or heavy luggage 5-20 kg to be no larger than 60cm high x 70 cm long x 50 cm wide
- Candy striped bags are only accepted if they are of medium size, contain clothing and soft items and do not exceed 15kg.
- In addition to two pieces of checked in luggage, passengers can take one piece of hand luggage on board the coach. Such hand luggage must not exceed 30cm in height, 50cm in length, and 30cm in width. Hand luggage on board the coach must be stowed under the seat.
- Luggage restrictions are printed on every ticket.
Note that Countrylink makes no special arrangements for Y12 HSC students taking extra books home. There is limited space on all Countrylink services for checked in luggage. Countrylink reserves the right to limit the acceptance of checked luggage at any time.
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