Travel Passes in Australia

Greyhound Busspass
Travelling by bus is almost certainly the cheapest way to get around, although it’s not necesary a very satisfactory one. There’s a lot to be said against spending much of your trip staring at the passing landscape from a cramped seat with a Nintendo device jabbering in your ear. 

And even though the bus network is a great deal more comprehensive than the train network, it will still let you down if you hope to escape the tourist trail. Relying on the major operators (as you may have to do if you have a bus pass) will restrict you to the main highways between cities, and may mean arriving at smaller places in the middle of the night. 

On the other hand bus services are regular and good value, and vehicles are about as comfortable as they could be, with reclining seats, air-conditioning, toilets and videos: the real problem is having all these things work for the entire duration of your trip. 

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If possible, try and plan for a stopover after every twenty hours on a bus – if you try stoically to sit out a two-day trip, you’ll be in a foul mood when you reach your destination.

Greyhound-Pioneer -Aussie Kilometre Pass
The main interstate bus company on the mainland is Greyhound Pioneer Australia.By far their most popular option is to buy a bus pass. The Aussie Kilometre Pass is the most flexible as it allows you unlimited travel in any direction up to the number of kilometres purchased over a twelve-month period; the kilometres can also be used on Greyhound Pioneer tours. 

The passes range from 2000km ($185; which would get you from Brisbane to Cairns, for example) to 20,000km ($1400). The Aussie Day Pass allows unlimited travel for between 7 to 21 non-consecutive days (24-hr periods) within a specified period: 7-, 10- and 15-day are valid for 30 days, while 21-day passes are valid for 60 days; prices range from $499 for 7 days to $982 for 21 days. 

There are also Aussie Explorer pass options that allow either six or twelve months (depending on distance) to cover a specified route (Melbourne–Cairns for $300, for example, or even a circuit right round Australia, with limitless stopovers, for $1555), and they incorporate regional tours.

Simply choose the number of kilometres you want to travel and you can go wherever you like on the Greyhound Pioneer Australia Network, limited only to the number of kilometres you purchase.

PRICE INCLUDES: Unlimited travel in any direction on any route or service up to the number of kilometres purchased. Unlimited stopovers and travel plans can be changed.

Conditions: Valid 12 months from first date of travel; travel must commence within 6 months of purchase; non-transferrable; on used portions non-refundable; travel arrangements booked at least 24 hours in advance.

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

For current rates, go to: Rates of Travel Passes in Australian