Getting to Canberra: By bus

Full Canberra Travel Guide »    Canberra Interactive Map »    Print This Article »

All coaches to Canberra terminate at the Jolimont Centre, which is in the city centre and immediately across the road from the Canberra local bus (ACTION) interchange.

Murrays www.murrays.com.au, tel 132251, Murrays operate up to 10 daily express services between Sydney (Central Station) and Canberra with extra services on peak days. They are the main operator on this route. Service takes just over 3hrs. They always have $15 one way fares available on the web, for the early or late services, and $18 for the others. The service is non-stop (with some services via Sydney International Airport). Murrays also run a daily service from Canberra to Wollongong and Canberra to Narooma. The coaches are more cramped than the trains. Seats are unassigned, so it helps to be there early and not to have luggage to go under the bus, as that lets you get on first and secure your window seat. Buses often fill to capacity, and can experience delays due to peak traffic into and out of Sydney, although the non-stop nature means that they have been known to run 10-15 minutes early on a good run.

Greyhound Pioneer www.greyhound.com.au, tel 131499, operate a bus service competing with Murray's. Fares seem to be either $15 or $36, so you might get lucky and get a cheap ride. Note that it may not be possible to get the $15 fares when booking a return journey; if so, you probably need to book each leg separately. They also offer a direct service to Melbourne. Greyhound's coach services usually include video entertainment. The Greyhound services are not non-stop, which not only makes the service slower, but means you can't take advantage of good traffic conditions to make up 15 minutes or so on a good traffic day.

NSW Countrylink also run daily buses to and from Eden on the South Coast, via Bega and Cooma.

V/Line www.vline.com.au, tel 136196. V/Line have two services which connect Canberra to Melbourne. The fastest option is a bus from Canberra to Albury with a connecting train from Albury to Melbourne. This takes around 8 hours. The more scenic option is to travel to Melbourne via Cooma, Sale & Bairnesdale. Likewise, this service connects with a train at Bairnesdale allowing you to continue your journey west towards Melbourne.

Be aware that V/Line rail services between Albury and Melbourne are suspended until 2010 and all services are being replaced by road coaches. V/Line rail services will resume after the single Broad Gauge track from Seymour to Albury has been converted to Standard Gauge.

• www.murrays.com.au
• www.greyhound.com.au
• www.vline.com.au