Bus travel in Australia

Buses, called "coaches" in Australia, are the most popular way to get around Australia. Buses go virtually everywhere and many companies sell bus passes that allow you to hop on and off en route to your destination... and is a great way to meet the Aussies... the services are regular and are good value, and the vehicles are about as comfortable as they can be, with reclining seats, air-conditioning, toilets and videos... buses are all non-smoking.

There is a fairly comprehensive network of bus routes with lots of competition on the more heavily travelled routes between Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney and up the east coast to Cairns making bus travel a cheap way to get around.

Once you start to head west from Adelaide, there is less competition between various bus companies and the distances between towns much greater, making it a less cost effective transport option and you would want to consider the Indian Pacific train between Adelaide and Perth

The McCafferty's/Greyhound network covers all of mainland Australia offering an extensive choice of route, but does not operate in Tasmania... check out the Greyhound bus lines network.

McCafferty's owns Greyhound Pioneer. The coach lines operate as separate brands with their own networks, but cheap bus travel passes are combined and can be used interchangeably on either bus network. The coaches and service standards of both companies are virtually identical. The only real difference is that McCafferty's does not travel in Western Australia, while Greyhound Pioneer does (the Holidays Allover reservations team can book your travel in Western Australia aboard Greyhound Pioneer buses).

Neither bus company operates within Tasmania; however, McCafferty's provides a booking and transfer service from Melbourne across the Bass Strait aboard the Spirit of Tasmania ferry to connect with one of Tasmania's Redline Coaches. In addition to point-to-point services, both coach companies offer a limited range of tours at popular locations on their networks.

Scheduled buses... these are usually your best cheap bus travel option and run more frequently although the specialist backpackers buses often go to those out of the way places that you would otherwise miss seeing... Substantial discounts are available on many fares if you have a YHA, ISIC or recognised backpacker card such as VIP, or if you are a pensioner or student.

• Premier Motor Service: Premier is the biggest of the small bus companies and has scheduled bus services along the east coast. They operate buses on the popular Sydney to Cairns route and also along the coastal route between Melbourne and Sydney
• Firefly Express: runs good value Adelaide - Melbourne and Adelaide - Sydney services
• V/Line: operates extensive regional services in Victoria which links most cities and towns
• Premier/Stateliner: operates in South Australia
• Westrail operates in West Australia

Backpacker buses... a multitude of specialised bus services operate specifically for backpackers, such as Easyrider, Oz Experience and the Wayward Bus. Some of these include very useful services stopping off at hostels and also making detours to attractions that the express coaches miss. However some advertised backpacker buses are simply bus tours, and this may not be the experience you want.

Oz Experience is the biggest backpacker bus operator and has routes covering most of the country. It represents a good cheap bus travel option.

Some smaller companies also offer excellent transport options within a particular region and they often have the benefit of local knowledge.

If you're thinking about buying a bus pass for one of the smaller backpacker bus companies contact us and we'll tell you if it really caters for independent travellers - allowing you to get on and off as you please - if it doesn't offer this sort of flexibility then it is a bus tour.

Cheap bus travel in Australia

One of the most economical ways you can travel around Australia is to pre purchase one of the special transportation passes... These passes allow you the freedom to travel throughout Australia at your own pace and offer exceptional value for money.

Use a bus pass on these scheduled bus services... you'll find bus travel a great way to see Australia, as well as one of the most comfortable, with air-conditioning, big adjustable seats and on-board bathrooms; some also have televisions and the latest videos... bus travel is everyday transport for many Australians and is often a good way to meet the local Aussie. You can buy a bus pass for cheap bus travel on a variety of routes for between seven days and one year... and there are several types of bus pass you can purchase... Day passes, Pre-set itinerary passes, and kilometre bus passes. Look into the one that suits you best. Note that even with a pass, you may still need to book the next leg of your trip 12 or 24 hours ahead as a condition of the pass... during school holiday periods, which are always busy, booking as much as 7 days ahead may be smart. The main bus travel express routes are: Sydney to Adelaide... Brisbane and Canberra... Canberra to Melbourne... Melbourne to Adelaide... Adelaide to Alice Springs... Perth to Brisbane... Darwin to Alice Springs... Alice Springs to Ayers Rock... Cairns to Brisbane... Brisbane to Sydney (inland and coastal) and Melbourne.

Aussie Explorer Pass...

Choose from a selection of 15 different bus passes and routes which allow you to travel along a pre-set route getting on and off at stops along the way. Some bus passes allow free bus tours and transfers to places like Kakadu and Uluru (Ayers Rock) National Parks.

It's entirely up to you where you stop, how often and for how long you stop. With no mileages restrictions, these bus travel passes are valid from 6 to 12 months on the extensive Greyhound and McCafferty's networks... These bus travel passes do not allow you to backtrack except on specified sectors.

Discount fares apply to holders of Euro 26, ISIC, Nomands, VIP and YHA cards

Aussie Kilometre Pass...

McCafferty's/Greyhound's Aussie Kilometre Bus Pass offers more flexibility than the predetermined routes covered by their Aussie Explorer Passes...this kilometre pass gives you total flexibility, allowing you to go where you want... and this pass allows you to backtrack. Travel is purchased in kilometre blocks starting at 2000km and increasing in blocks of 1000 km to a maximum of 20,000 km.

This bus pass allows you to visit any destination on the McCafferty's/Greyhound network... limited only by the number of kilometres you purchase... Aussie kilometre bus passes are valid for 365 days from the first date of travel, but travel must commence within 6 months of purchase.

Discount savings with any YHA, VIP & ISIC cards. Please advise at time of booking.

Oz Experience...

Oz Experience is an alternative jump-on jump-off bus transport network, designed especially for backpackers and independent travellers as a cheap bus travel option to get you off the beaten track. They are the pioneers of the get-on, get-off service, meaning that you can get off and on where you like, en-route. Your bus tickets are valid for 12 months... so you can take your time to look around...

They provide a hostel booking service, hostel pick-ups, sightseeing and plenty of partying! These passes allow unlimited stops over designated routes so you can meet the locals...it seems that if you just trek around the tourist towns like Airlie Beach and Byron Bay you won't meet too many locals. Getting into the small towns and 'un-touristy' places represents the best way to meet locals and get a feel for the place.

Oz Experience include the things you want to see while still giving you the flexibility to do what you want. You get the convenience of a bus services while at the same time you can get off the bus as often as you like to experience the real Australia... Your highly trained driver guide will organise your accommodation, activities and answer the 101 questions you're bound to have.

Oz Experience take you to the major sites but differ to other companies by taking you to places that even some Australians never get to see. You'll be taken to crocodile farms, outback stations and more Australian national parks than you can shake a stick at.

It is the little places you'll visit off the beaten track that make the Oz Experience unique.

Premier...

Bus passes are valid for 1, 2, 3 or 6 months from date of purchase... Most of these cheap bus tickets allow for unlimited stopovers... but some are restricted to only 1 or 3 stops. This is a scheduled bus service that operates on the popular Sydney to Cairns route and also along the coastal route between Melbourne and Sydney

Wayward Bus Tours ...

Let the others rush! This service offers fun, informative small group tours for the independent traveller getting from one place to another by the most interesting way, at the right pace (plenty of time for stops and hikes), a bit of flexibility, and some fun!

Wayward Bus specialises in Australia's central corridor between Melbourne and Adelaide via the Great Ocean Road and Coorong... between Adelaide, Flinders Ranges, the Red Centre and Alice Springs... and between Alice Springs and Darwin.

Bus tours all run with mini-coaches or overland style trucks (with comfy bus bodies), taking up to 16-24 savvy travellers...

Who goes Wayward? While they are most popular with 20's and 30's, they really do get a great spread of people and ages... and they are very affordable.

The Easyrider Bus Pass ... and their Jump On Jump Off option

This is no fully organised tour that plans your day! You have all the options like 'where you want to go' and 'how long you want to stay'. This friendly and flexible style of transport is the best way of backpacking around Western Australia... It's loads of fun and you'll meet other travellers along the way to share your experiences.

The Easyrider bus takes you hostel to hostel throughout the towns on their circuits... You choose the towns you wish to visit and also which of the circuit hostels you want to stay in... This takes out the hassle of lugging your pack from the bus station to the hostel and back... The Easyrider driver and guide add the fun, laughter and music in between towns to help pass the time that can often become boring when you're just sitting on a bus. There are also scenic and photo stops along the way so you don't miss anything! Most travellers take a week to 2 weeks to travel the South West circuit but the pass is valid for as long as 3 months so you can take your time and find work as you go if that's your preference... The North West circuit pass is good for 6 months.

Nullarbor Traveller ...

Australian adventures to wild places - untouched and uncrowded!

The 3800km journey by bus between Adelaide and Perth make this Australia's ultimate road journey... Nullarbor Traveller offers 8 or 9 day bus tours to untouched places between Adelaide and Perth or from Adelaide to the Eyre Peninsula and Perth to Esperance.

There are many activities on offer from swimming with dolphins, caving and sand-sufing. You will travel in an air-conditioned mini-coach with a maximum of only 19 other passengers... Overnight accommodation in the form of a bush camp or campground is included.

The following items are included in the price:

• Bus travel in airconditioned mini coach
• Most meals
• Bush camping (no facilities), accommodation and other nights on camp grounds with showers and toilets
• All camping equipment (hire of sleeping bag is available for $15)
• All national park entry fees
• GST

Redline Tassie ...

Bus passes are for 7, 10, 14, or 21 days and allow you unlimited travel by bus in Tasmania over the main bus routes serviced.

"Tasmania's own" Redline coach fleet run a comprehensive transport network throughout the state and prides itself on being the major scheduled coach operator.