Greyhound Buses in Australia: Everything You Need to Know

In a nutshell, it’s the best national coach network in Australia. It’s the easiest way to travel Oz if you’re looking for something cheap and comfy that will take you anywhere.

Since 1928 (yep, they’ve been at it for ages), Greyhound has been helping travellers explore this MASSIVE country without blowing their budget. They cover over 180 stops in all the big spots, like Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Byron Bay, Cairns, as well as outback stops like Alice Springs and Darwin.

Greyhound’s got your back when it comes to long trips, making it super easy to explore at your own pace. With the hop-on-hop-off passes, you can jump off when something catches your eye, then hop back on when you’re ready to keep moving.

Greyhound Australia covers a huge chunk of the country, with over 180 stops across every mainland state and territory. Whether you’re planning a classic roadie on the East Coast from Cairns to Sydney, or a central route through Alice Springs or Darwin, they’ll take you to all the major cities and backpacker hotspots.

Although, we’d say their coverage is a bit better on the East Coast and right down the centre. If you’re planning a roadie through Western Australia or you want to get lost (temporarily!) in the remote inlands, we’d still recommend booking a camper for ultimate freedom.

You can see a complete map of all Greyhound bus stops here:

For the latest, you can also check this complete list of all Greyhound bus stops, as well as this list of popular routes.

Greyhound Bus Timetables

If you know your route already and just want the bus timetables, the timetable explorer on the official site is the best place to go. Or, if you’re old school like us, you might prefer to see a list of printable timetables.

The printable timetables are actually easier to use because the timetable explorer will get confused if you put in a non-existent route!

Greyhound has a whole bunch of options when it comes to tickets: from quick one-way fares to the legendary Whimit Pass, which lets you bounce around the country like a true renegade.

Here are the basics:

Standard Fares

If you’re just booking a classic bus journey from A to B, Greyhound has three types of standard fares:

• Early Bird: Cheapest option, non-refundable, best if you’re 100% set on your plans.
• Advantage: Some flexibility, change dates for a small fee.
• Flexible: Most flexible, free changes or cancellations up to 15 mins before departure.

Travel Passes

But let’s get real, for a true adventure, the Whimit Pass is going to be the right choice for most RatPackers – this is the legendary hop-on-hop-off pass.

The Whimit Pass is as simple as it gets – one ticket lets you travel in any direction, on any Greyhound route, with the freedom to hop on and off as much as you want for a set number of days. It’s unlimited travel on your terms.

You can pick from a list of standard Whimit Passes (15, 30, 60, 90 and 120 days), or create your own pass and choose the exact number of days you need – anywhere between 7-60 consecutive travel days. You can even add top-up days to squeeze out the last drops of unexpected adventure.

There are two basic options:

• National Whimit (from $329): Unlimited travel across Australia’s entire Greyhound network. This is the best option if you’re hitting multiple states and destinations across the country.
• East Coast Whimit (from $289): Like the National pass but only covers the East Coast (Cairns to Melbourne). It’ll save some cash if you’re sticking to the East Coast only.

Both passes give you the freedom to hop on and off as much as you like. If you’re backpacking or road tripping, the Whimit is the ultimate pass!

We’ll also give a quick shoutout to the Commuter Passes (from $299), which are for regular travellers on shorter routes (e.g. Sydney <> Canberra), offering savings if you’re bouncing between two destinations. You can probably ignore these unless you’re commuting on a Working Holiday visa.

Discounts

You should also know that Greyhound offers some discounts, like:

• Student discounts: 10% with valid student ID.
• Concession fares for kids, seniors, pensioners, etc.
• Return discounts: 5% off total when booking standard return fare.

It’s dead simple to book tickets with Greyhound – just visit their website and you can do it all online. Or jump straight to the right place by following the links below.

Standard Fares

If you just want a regular bus journey, head over to the ticket booking page. Enter your starting point, destination, travel dates, passengers, and hit search. It’ll show you all the available trips and fares – simple.

Travel Passes

If you’re all about that hop-on-hop-off life, you’ll want to take a different route. Here are some links to jump straight into booking:

• National Whimit Pass
  • Create your own (7-60 days)
  • 15 days
  • 30 days
  • 60 days
  • 90 days
  • 120 days

• East Coast Whimit Pass
  • Create your own (7-60 days)
  • 7 days
  • 15 days
  • 30 days

Again, for those regular short trips, you can also pick up a Commuter Pass here.

Manage Your Trip

Need to make changes or check your booking? No worries – head to “Manage Booking” on the website or app to get it sorted. You’ll need your email address and booking number.

You can tweak your dates, add more trips, or just check in on your upcoming adventures.

It’s as easy as that – jump online, find your ideal ticket or pass, and let the adventures roll!

Let’s quickly run through the whole process so you know exactly what to expect:

1. How do I book a ticket?

As covered above, booking with Greyhound is a breeze. You can do it all online – whether you’re after a one-way trip or an epic Whimit Pass. Take a look at ‘How Can I Book Tickets’ above for more info.

2. How do I get on the bus?

Once you’ve booked, you’ll get a confirmation email with your ticket and all the deets. No need to print anything – just show the driver your ticket on your phone, along with your photo ID (driving licence is good). We recommend getting there at least 20 mins early – it’s always better to have extra time, right?

3. Where can I board?

You’ll hop on at the Greyhound bus stop in your departure location. You can see a map of all stops in the ‘What Routes Does Greyhound Australia Cover?’ section above.

4. How does the hop-on-hop-off pass work?

With the Whimit Pass, you can hop on and off as much as you like. Just pick your bus and reserve a seat online before each leg of your trip. It’s all about flexibility – take your time, and whenever you’re ready to move on, just hop back on the next bus.

5. What’s onboard?

Greyhound buses are all about comfort. Expect reclining leather seats, free Wi-Fi (on the East Coast), USB chargers, aircon, and even a toilet onboard for those long hauls. Plus, regular stops at servos mean you can stretch your legs and grab a bite.

6. Can I change or cancel my booking?

It depends on the type of fare or pass you picked.

For Whimit passes, there are no refunds once you start your trip, though you can get a refund if you haven’t made any trips (minus a 10% cancellation fee). For the actual trips, you can make changes in the Manage Booking section of the site up to 1 hour before departure.

For standard fares, if you’ve got a Flexible fare, you can make changes or cancel up to 15 minutes before departure. For the Advantage fare, changes are allowed up to 24 hours before departure, but Early Bird is locked in once you book.

7. What happens if my bus is delayed?

Greyhound is pretty reliable, but if your bus runs late, you can get real-time updates via their Coach Tracker. That way, you’re always in the loop.

If your coach arrives or departs late, or there’s some mechanical issue that causes a delay of more than 2 hours, you can also get a free trip! Check out the deets on this here.

Greyhound buses aren’t just your average ride – they’re surprisingly luxe, which is welcome news when you’re covering the jaw-dropping distances across Oz.

Comfy Seats

We’re talking reclining leather seats that’ll have you kicking back in style. Perfect for catching some zzz’s on those longer stretches of road or just lounging while you take in the scenery.

Free WiFi

Yep, you can stay connected on the road with free Wi-Fi on East Coast services (or where there’s Telstra coverage). Post your adventures, scroll through your socials, or just stream some tunes as you cruise.

USB Chargers

No one wants a dead phone halfway through a roadie. Luckily, every seat has its own USB charger so you can keep your gadgets juiced up the whole way.

Aircon

No sweat – Greyhound’s got aircon to keep things frosty, whether you’re heading into the tropical north or crossing the desert.

Toilet

Let’s be real – for those long-haul trips, nature will come calling. But don’t stress, Greyhound’s got you covered with an onboard loo. No need to hold it or cross your fingers for the next servo stop.

Regular Stops

Stretch your legs and grab a snack at regular stops. You’ll pull into servos and road stops along the way, giving you a chance to refuel. Breaks will generally be 15-30 mins, but make sure to ask the driver so you don’t get left behind!

What Luggage Can I Take?

Greyhound Australia gives you a decent luggage allowance, so you should be able to bring all the essentials for your adventure. Here are the basics:

Carry-on

You’re allowed to bring one carry-on bag onboard, with a max weight of 8kg. Make sure it’s going to be comfortable to ride with!

Checked Bags

For checked baggage, you can bring up to two pieces, each weighing a maximum of 20kg. These go under the bus, so pack what you don’t need during the ride.

Need More Room?

If you’re travelling heavy, you can bring extra bags for a small fee. One additional bag costs $10, or $15 for two extra pieces, as long as each is within the 20kg limit. Anything more, and you’ll be charged based on freight rates – pricey!

Special Items

Got a surfboard or bike? No worries – you can bring them along too! A surfboard costs $15 (as long as it’s under 2m), while a bike will set you back $49. Greyhound will also take you through some other options when you come to make your booking online. Just make sure everything is packed safely to avoid damage!

Prohibited Items

While you can bring a lot, some things are a big no-no – it’s generally obvious: flammable goods, fireworks, etc. are off-limits. If you’re unsure about something, make sure to double-check what’s allowed in the terms and conditions.

Greyhound Australia gets pretty solid marks on reliability. The buses are usually on time, with a real-time coach tracker so you can follow your bus’s progress and be in the loop if there are any delays.

They also offer a ‘Get You There Guarantee’. If the coach arrives or departs late, or it has a mechanical fault that causes a delay of 2 hours or more, you can claim your next trip free. We’ve never tried it though, so you might find the full terms and conditions get in the way of your claim.

But hey, this is budget travel! Not everyone is going to have a flawless experience. If you want more control of your experience, we’d recommend opting for a camper instead – it’s generally going to be a less stressful trip.

All in all, for long-distance, budget-friendly travel in Australia, Greyhound is a decent choice. Just keep in mind, it’s always a good idea to book ahead during peak seasons as buses can fill up fast.

Is It Safe for Solo Travellers?

In our experience, Greyhound Australia is safe for solo travellers, male or female. Just to clear up any confusion, Greyhound Australia is not connected to Greyhound in the US – it’s a totally separate setup with its own reputation.

The buses are clean, the drivers are friendly, and you’ll likely be surrounded by a few other backpackers. Plus, the stops are usually in well-lit, central spots.

That said, stay smart: keep an eye on your stuff, be cautious if you’re arriving late at night, and trust your instincts. Overall? Safe, reliable, and great for solo adventurers – just stay street-smart, like you would anywhere else!

So, if you’re still weighing up your options after all of that, here’s a quick review of some of the pros and cons. Let’s imagine you’re taking a 30-day trip from Brisbane to Cairns – here’s how it all stacks up:

Greyhound Whimit Pass

For unlimited hop-on-hop-off travel over 30 days, a Whimit pass will cost you $449 for the East Coast only. You can travel between Brisbane and Cairns as many times as you like during this period.

• Pros: Affordable and flexible without breaking the bank.
• Cons: Much less freedom than a car or campervan – limited to Greyhound’s network.

Flights

If you’re thinking about flying, a round-trip flight between Brisbane and Cairns costs around $200 – $600 depending on the time of booking and season.

• Pros: Super simple and quick (2-3 hours).
• Cons: You’ll miss out on all the sights along the way – it’s no longer a roadie!

Car Hire

Car hire for a 30-day trip would cost about $1,500 – $5,000 depending on the model and insurance options, with fuel costs adding roughly $300 – $500 (based on distance and fuel prices).

• Pros: More freedom and control – go wherever you want.
• Cons: Costly, especially with fuel, and you’ll need to pay for accommodation on top.

Campervan Hire

Campervan hire for a 30-day trip can range between $3,000 – $6,000. This price typically includes the rental fee, insurance, and some fuel costs, though extras like powered campsites can add up.

• Pros: It’s your own home on wheels, with accommodation costs baked in – the ultimate for freedom!
• Cons: High upfront cost.

Each option has its pros and cons depending on your budget and style of travel. Ignoring accommodation costs, the Whimit Pass is one of the most cost-effective ways to explore the East Coast without the hassle of managing your own vehicle.

However, if you’re planning the trip of a lifetime, we’d almost always recommend exploring the campervan option. Although it’s expensive upfront, you can often save money overall vs. car hire + hostels. We can also help you compare the market to find the best rated and most affordable option.