7 great Bus routes in Australia for the first-time traveller

Why travel by bus around Australia

Australia is a country of vast distances, vastness and diverse landscapes, so it’s challenging to figure out the most suitable ways to get around Australia. While going on road trips in Australia is the most adventurous – but also challenging – way to explore the country, it does not often appeal to first-time solo travellers who are likely unfamiliar with driving in Australia: left-hand driving and four-wheel-driving in the Outback.

That’s where train and bus travel comes in. In fact, for many travellers, it’s a convenient way of getting around that allows exploring the country at a slow pace and in a more relaxed way.

Most bus services operate daily and overnight to cover long distances. Furthermore, by reducing the carbon footprint emissions per person, it’s also a sustainable and environmentally friendly way of touring Australia. Nonetheless, bus travel in Australia has a few downsides, too. Firstly you need extensive time to travel and get organised. Unless you buy a bus pass, it’s not the cheapest way to move around. With the dense interstate and intrastate train & bus network, proper research ahead is key to choosing cost-effective schedules and time-saving routes.

Bus travel in Oz is different than in other parts of the world. While metropolitan areas are well serviced daily, long-distance trains and buses to remote regions are available only a few times a week, when not once a week. Moreover, cancellations or changes to bus schedules and routes in Australia may occur without notice. So, it may take time to find the right source of information and find out how and when you can get around Australia.

Why Bus Travel Australia? – 7 bus routes for the first-time traveller

As an advocate of independent and solo travel in Australia, I have written many articles about getting around the country and giving advice to first-time travellers in Australia.

It’s wise for short-term trips to build an itinerary with a good combination of different transportation methods, including flying, car rental, train and bus, and day tours. Focusing on one or two transportation types, like self-driving or train and bus trips, is a good idea if you plan long-term travel in Australia. There are many reasons for choosing bus travel in Australia.

It’s possible to see much of the country by bus and train. Here are seven great bus routes travelling by bus around Australia that I can recommend:

1. Starting from Sydney
   There are many bus trips that you can add to your itinerary. The most convenient way to travel to the Blue Mountains from Sydney is a 2-hour train connection, but there is also an excellent bus service from the city. Moreover, you can travel by bus to the Northern Beaches, and it’s a 1.5-hour bus trip along the coast with stops to all the main places up to Palm Beach. You can go to the Royal National Park, in a 30-minute train ride and ferry connection. And in 2 hours by bus or train you can get to Wollongong too.
2.  Port Macquarie from Sydney
   This beautiful coastal town lies halfway between Sydney and Brisbane, and the best way to get there is the bus route. There is a train service too, with a bus connection to Port Macquarie. It’s a pleasant journey and a great opportunity to see much of the countryside.
3. From Brisbane to Byron Bay
   This destination is on the itinerary of many travellers backpacking around Australia. There is a bus service that takes you there in 2 hours. Or you can catch the train to the Gold Coast for a first stop and then travel further to Lismore to catch the bus connection to Byron Bay. From Brisbane, you can also travel by bus to Hervey Bay, Fraser Island, or stop there and visit the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast of Australia.
4. The South East Coast of Australia by bus
   On my first solo trip, I travelled nearly 5000 km by bus and did all of the South East Coast. Not all destinations are covered by bus, though it did not serve Jervis Bay then. However, the coastal towns of Batesman Bay, Narooma, Merimbula, Lakes Entrance and more are on this bus route.
5. From Cairns to Sydney
   This is probably one of the most popular bus routes in Australia. For this bus journey, you need 2-3 weeks, and there are many interesting places to see along the Eastern coast. I covered this distance by Greyhound buses from Cairns to Sydney in 2004 and loved it. You can travel the other way, from Sydney to Cairns and then fly out to your next destination.
6. Darwin to Kununurra
   This is a long trip of over 800 km across the border between the Northern Territory and Western Australia. I travelled this route a couple of times in both directions. The bus service is cheaper than flying and a great way to see the Outback landscape south of Darwin. If you have time, you can keep travelling by bus from Kununurra across the Kimberley region on the night bus service that takes you to Broome by covering nearly 2200 km.
7. Brisbane to Cunnamulla
   If you want some of the real Outback in Australiathen Cunnamulla is one of those places you must see. From the East Coast, you can enjoy the beauty of the landscape. There are three bus and train services to this fantastic Outback destination. I went by train on the Westlander Train. It’s a long journey, but it’s worth it.

Bus travel websites in Australia

Next to the bus company Greyhound – the largest regional bus network in Oz – there are many smaller regional bus companies. These operate their services intrastate to almost any place in the immediate surroundings of towns or major cities.

If you have time and can consider travelling by bus for a long time, then getting an Australian bus pass from Greyhound is the way to save money on transportation in Australia. While you can check single train and bus companies, you can get an overview of train and bus networks nationwide.

Bus Travel & Tours In Australia

What if you want to join organised bus travel in Australia? There are plenty of short to long bus routes to book organised trips and tours throughout the big country. They range from day tours to one week or longer. Check out the complete offer of 👉 bus and van tours in Australia.

Related Posts & Guides:

Travelling Australia
Trip Itinerary Ideas For Australia
Your Australia Itinerary Guide eBook

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First published in 2018, last updated in Jan 2024

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Plan your Bus Adventure in Australia

If you want to plan your bus route adventures in Australia, please use these websites below to organise your travels, or check out the complete guide to travel planning resources.

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