This trip is divided into three sections: Sydney to Dungog using your Gold Opal Card – cost of the journey is $2.50; then Dungog to Tweed Heads using your Seniors Card – journey cost is $2.50; then Tweed Heads to Brisbane using your Translink Seniors Go Card – cost $6.85. The whole trip, from Sydney through to Brisbane can be done in one day at the total cost of $11.85.
For this trip, you’ll need all of these three cards. Do yourself a favour and apply and receive your cards a few weeks before your departure.
- A Seniors Card
If you’ve not applied for your Seniors Card, here’s a list of all Australian states and territories and links to their Seniors Card application pages.
https://www.cardhacks.com.au/state-links-to-seniors-card-application-pages/ - A NSW Gold Seniors Opal Card
This card is just a phone call away, or it’s best to apply online.
https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-gold-seniors-opal-card - A Queensland Seniors Go Card
Apply online or call them on 13 74 68
https://translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/concessions/seniors
Sydney to Dungog
Due to extra train services between between Varsity Lakes and Brisbane on Friday and Saturday evenings, you’re advised to do this trip on either a Friday or Saturday.
The trip begins at Central aboard the 05:15 M-F Opal service from Central to Newcastle Interchange, arriving at Newcastle Interchange at 07:50. The timetable for Sydney to Newcastle Opal service can be found at: https://transportnsw.info/routes/details/intercity-trains/ccn/02CCN
Change at Newcastle Interchange for the 08:29 Opal service to Dungog. You’ll arrive at Dungog at 09:50. The timetable for the Newcastle to Dungog service can be found at:
https://transportnsw.info/routes/details/intercity-trains/hun/76HUN
Dungog to Tweed Heads
The next part of the trip is aboard the XPT. Bookings are required for travel aboard this train. To get the $2.50 (CPE) fare, you’ll need to book and pay for your journey a week or less before your departure date. Call NSWTrainlink on 13 22 32 and reserve yourself a seat aboard the XPT that departs Dungog at 10:43, destination Tweed Heads. You can also book online at: https://transportnsw.info/regional
It’s important that you book and pay for your seat seven (7) days or less before departure. This is so that you’ll get the discounted Country Pensioner Excursion fare (CPE) which will cost you $2.50 from Dungog right through to Tweed Heads. If you try to book more than seven days ahead the fare will be $53.61. So make sure you get your dates correct!
You’ll be required to change from the XPT to a coach at Casino for the final leg of the journey through to Tweed Heads. You’ll arrive Tweed Heads at 21:28. Here’s a link to the North Coast NSW timetable:
https://transportnsw.info/regional-north-coast-line
Tweed Heads to Broadbeach South
On alighting from the NSWTrainLink coach at Tweed Heads, just wait at the bus stop where you arrived for Surfside bus number 700. You won’t have long to wait as buses leave Tweed Heads for Broadbeach South every fifteen minutes. While you’re waiting, reach into your wallet or purse for your Queensland Go Card and use it to tap on when you board the bus.
Click on the link below for the timetables for Surfside bus 700 from Tweed Heads to Broadbeach South. https://jp.translink.com.au/plan-your-journey/timetables/bus/t/700/north/
Broadbeach South to Brisbane
The trip from Tweed Heads to Broadbeach South should take a little over half an hour. Alight from the bus at Broadbeach South. Don’t forget to tap off.
From Broadbeach South you have the option to take the Robina bus number 750 through to Robina Railway Station to connect with a train to Brisbane. Here’s the timetable for the Robina bus. https://jp.translink.com.au/plan-your-journey/timetables/bus/t/750/west/ This service departs every half hour at this time of the evening and takes a little less than half an hour to get to Robina Railway Station.
The other option is to take the light rail through to Helensvale to connect with a train through to Brisbane. The good thing about the light rail is that it departs every fifteen (15) minutes to Helensvale. The trip form Broadbeach South to Helensvale takes 45 minutes. Here’s more information about the light rail and the timetable. https://www.goldcoastlightrail.com.au/rail-mail/gold-coast-light-rail-timetable/
Broadbeach South light rail terminal
Helensvale or Robina to Brisbane
Once you arrive at either Robina Railway Station or Helensvale Railway Station, fast suburban trains run to Brisbane every half hour at this time of night.
Here’s the timetable for the Gold Coast to Brisbane line. https://jp.translink.com.au/plan-your-journey/timetables/train/t/gold-coast-line/
An easier to read and also printable, timetable can be found at: https://translink.com.au/sites/default/files/acquiadam-assets/timetables/200302-gold-coast-airport.pdf
Enjoy your trip.
Is there a train trip from Sydney to Brisbane straight through.
Hi Maureen.
Yes, there is a daily train service from Sydney to Brisbane – the Brisbane XPT. The train departs Central station at 14:41 and arrives in Roma Street, Brisbane the next morning at 04:53.
It’s a long trip! May I suggest you try to get a sleeper.
Full details and the timetable at https://transportnsw.info/routes/details/regional-coaches/31/76031
Happy travels.
Cheers
Kerry
Great research! Just found this site, very informative and interesting 👍
What is the pensioner fare from Sydney to Brisbane using XPT
With a Pensioner voucher you get the Sydney to the Queensland border part of the journey for free. Then you need to pay from the QLD border through to Brisbane, which is half fare.
The most reliable way of finding the price for a pensioner to travel from Sydney to Brisbane is to go to https://transportnsw.info/regional-bookings/
You’ll need your Pension Concession ID. Or call NSWTrainLink on 13 22 32.
This advice has many transfers, why can’t I travel the whole way Brisbane to Sydney by XPT ?
You can travel from Brisbane to Sydney by XPT without transfers. The XPT leaves Brisbane daily at 05.55 and reaches Sydney at 20.12 the same day. Check the timetable at https://transportnsw.info/regional-north-coast-line
How about from Brisbane to Sydney and then on to Melbourne using a pensioner card on public transport?
To get the correct fare and timetable you’d need to call NSWTrainlink on 13 22 31. A quick look at the NSWTrainlink website the approx Senior (half price) fares from Brisbane to Melbourne were $130 economy and $152 first class. These are one way only and there is extra if you want a bed in a sleeping car.
To do the trip by train the whole distance you’d leave Brisbane on the 04.55 XPT to Sydney. Once you arrive in Sydney at 20.12 that afternoon, you’d need to overnight it there and catch the 07.40 Melbourne bound XPT the next morning. You’ll arrive in Melbourne that afternoon at 18.30.
Remember fares and timetables change, so give NSWTrainLink a call and discuss it with them. Happy traveling.