If you’re a senior who enjoys early starts, you can travel from Sydney to Nambucca Heads for just $5. That’s a good discount compared to the regular fare.
Catch the early bird: This deal is only available Monday to Friday. Start your journey with the 5:15am Opal service from Central to Newcastle Interchange, arriving at 7:50am. Click here to view the timetable.
Connect at Newcastle: You’ll get 39 minutes to enjoy a cuppa, in the cafe near Newcastle Interchange. At Newcastle Interchange, hop on the 8:29am Opal service to Dungog, arriving at 9:50am. Click here to view the timetable.
Board the XPT: In Dungog, catch your pre-booked XPT train departing at 10:43am to Nambucca Heads.
Enjoy your trip! This option offers significant savings and a scenic journey for seniors who are flexible with their travel times. Remember, this deal is available only Mondays to Fridays.
Save on your Port Macquarie trip with Seniors fares!
If you’re a senior who enjoys early starts, you can travel from Sydney to Port Macquarie for just $5. That’s a whopping 87% discount compared to the regular $42.08 fare.
Catch the early bird: This deal is only available Monday to Friday. Start your journey with the 5:15am Opal service from Central to Newcastle Interchange, arriving at 7:50am. Click here to view the timetable.
Connect at Newcastle: You’ll get 39 minutes to enjoy a cuppa, in the cafe near Newcastle Interchange. At Newcastle Interchange, hop on the 8:29am Opal service to Dungog, arriving at 9:50am. Click here to view the timetable.
Board the XPT: In Dungog, catch your pre-booked XPT train departing at 10:43am to Port Macquarie.
Finish with a bus ride: Arrive in Wauchope at 1:47pm and transfer to a 20-minute coach ride to Port Macquarie.
Enjoy your trip! This option offers significant savings and a scenic journey for seniors who are flexible with their travel times. Remember, this deal is available only Mondays to Fridays.
The coach service will drop you off in the middle of downtown Port Macquarie. There are numerous motels and hotels you can stay at within a short walking distance from where the coach drops you off.
Thanks to the new regional fare cap in Victoria, in addition to the NSW TrainLink Country Pensioner Excursion (CPE) and the NSW Seniors Opal card, seniors can now travel by train from Tweed Heads to Geelong for as little as $14.40.
In order to benefit from the discounted price, it is necessary to switch trains on seven occasions. If a senior were to pay the standard fare from Tweed Heads to Geelong, the cost would exceed $100; however, only three train changes would be required.
The trip costs $11.60 and spans two nights and one day. However, you have the option to break your journey at any point along the line for an additional cost of approximately $2.50. If you choose the regular fare of $100, you can expect the journey to take one night and one day. The $14.40 trip is for a Monday to Thursday departure.
To ensure the smooth booking of your XPT trip, it is advisable to steer clear of peak holiday periods.
Tweed Heads to Dungog
To begin your journey to Dungog, catch the NSWTrainLink coach departing Tweed Heads at 05:15 or from Byron Bay at 05:53. A change from the coach to the XPT at Casino is required. You can find the timetable at https://transportnsw.info/regional-north-coast-line.
You’ll need to book this Tweed Heads or Byron for the Dungog section of the journey either online at https://transportnsw.info/regional-bookings/ or by calling 13 22 32. The ticket you need is a Country Pensioner Excursion (CPE) ticket. The cost will be $2.50. This ticket will take you all the way from Tweed Heads (or Byron) and anywhere in between to Dungog. When you call, have your Seniors card or Pensioner card and a credit or debit card ready to pay. You must make your booking seven or fewer days before departure as Country Pensioner Excursion (CPE) tickets are only available seven days or less before departure. It is essential to book your CPE tickets online or over the phone as CPE tickets cannot be purchased at railway stations or NSWTrainLink booking offices in and around the Sydney area, not even at Central Station, can they be purchased.
You arrive at Dungog at 16;38
Dungog to Hamilton
Once you arrive at Dungog you are inside the Opal card boundary. The Opal card reader is near the exit of Dungog station, tap on here. The train to Hamilton departs Dungog for Hamilton at 17:05. The timetable for the service can be found at: https://transportnsw.info/routes/details/intercity-trains/hun/76HUN
Hamilton to Sydney (Central)
Your scheduled arrival time in Hamilton is 18:26. Upon arrival, make sure to cross over to the other side of the line where Sydney trains depart. You can catch the next train to Sydney (Central) at 18:38. However, in case your train from Dungog is delayed, there are alternative services departing at 19:27 and 19:45. If you take the 18:34 train from Hamilton, you will reach Central at 21:29.
Your upcoming departure from Central Station is scheduled for 06:11 am the following morning. Luckily, the area has plenty of accommodation options, including several hotels and a Youth Hostel located just across the street from the station.
The Campbelltown to Goulburn coach is a regular Opal service, so just tap on when you board the coach and tap off when you alight at Goulburn.
Goulburn to Albury
Upon your arrival at Goulburn railway station, you will have an hour and thirteen minutes to enjoy a quick cup of coffee before boarding the Melbourne-bound XPT train at 10:13. The train will arrive at Albury station at 15:10. The timetable for this service is available for your reference at: https://transportnsw.info/regional-southern-line
You’ll need to book the Goulburn to Albury leg of the journey either online at https://transportnsw.info/regional-bookings/ or call NSW trainLink on 13 22 32. The ticket you need is a Country Pensioner Excursion (CPE) ticket. The cost will be $2.50. Have your Seniors card or Pensioner card and a credit or debit card ready to pay. To ensure a smooth trip, it’s advisable to book your train tickets seven days prior to your intended departure, particularly during public and school holidays when the train is in high demand.
Albury to Melbourne (Southern Cross)
The last leg of the journey to Melbourne is aboard a Victorian V/Line service which departs Albury at 17:20. You’re going to have a couple of hours to enjoy the sights of Albury. The main drag is just a block and a half from the station – a 5-minute walk.
To get this reduced fare you’ll need to change trains seven times. A regular Seniors fare from Geelong to Tweed Heads would cost over $100, but you’d only need to change trains three times.
The $11.60 trip takes two nights and a day. You can break the journey anywhere along the line, costing you around $2.50 extra. The regular $100 fare takes one night and one day.
The $11.60 trip is for a Monday to Thursday departure.
For ease in getting your bookings on the XPT section of the trip, try to avoid the peak holiday periods.
Geelong to Albury
The first thing to do is purchase a seniors ticket from Geelong to Albury. If you’re starting your journey from Melbourne or any other location in regional Victoria, your destination is Albury. No matter where you’re travelling from in Victoria your ticket should cost you just $4.60.
When purchasing your ticket, make sure you ask for Geelong to Albury and not Geelong to Melbourne and Melbourne to Albury. If you ask for two separate tickets you’ll be charged $9.20 instead of $4.60
The train/s you’ll need to buy a ticket for and book a seat on are the 16:10 from Geelong to Melbourne (Southern Cross) and the 18:02 from Melbourne (Southern Cross) to Albury.
You’ll arrive in Albury at 21:58 and change trains to the Sydney bound XPT which departs Albury at 23:05. You’ll then arrive in Goulburn at 04:13. If you’re arriving in Goulburn in the middle of winter, never fear, the waiting room at the station at Goulburn is heated.
You’ll need to book the Albury to Goulburn leg of the journey either online at https://transportnsw.info/regional-bookings/ or call on 13 22 32. The ticket you need is a Country Pensioner Excursion (CPE) ticket. The cost will be $2.50. This ticket will take you all the way from Albury to Goulburn. When you call, have your Seniors card or Pensioner card and a credit or debit card ready to pay. You must make your booking seven or fewer days before departure as Country Pensioner Excursion (CPE) tickets are only available seven days or less before departure. It is essential to book your CPE tickets online or over the phone as CPE tickets cannot be purchased at railway stations or NSWTrainLink booking offices in and around the Sydney area, not even at Central Station, can they be purchased.
Goulburn to Sydney
Once you step off the train at Goulburn you’ll be in Opal card country. No reservations are required, just remember to tap on before boarding and tap off when you alight. Once you tap on at Goulburn, your Seniors Opal card will take you all the way to Dungog for just $2.50.
Your next train departs Goulburn for Sydney (Central) at 05:30 and you’ll arrive at Central at 08:47.
The next leg of the journey is aboard the XPT through to Casino. At Casino, you’ll change to a coach to Tweed Heads. The full timetable for this leg of the trip is at: https://transportnsw.info/regional-north-coast-line
The XPT leaves Dungog at 18:11 and along with a change to a coach at Casion, you’ll arrive at Tweed Heads at 05:48.
Tweed Heads to Geelong
Click Here to travel from Tweed Heads to Geelong for $11.40.
The total cost of, Melbourne, Southern Cross to Mildura for a Seniors Card (Concession) holder is just $4.90. You can purchase your ticket from the V/Line website at: https://www.vline.com.au/Plan-trip-buy-tickets
You’ll arrive at Mildura Railway station at 15:42. Here you’ll change for a NSW TrainLink coach that departs Mildura Railway station at 16:14 for Broken Hill. You’ll arrive at the Broken Hill Town Coach Stop at 19:30. The Broken Hill Town Bus stop is three streets back from the railway station at 110 Beryl Street Broken Hill.
https://transportnsw.info/regional-bookings/
You’ll need to book the Mildura to Broken Hill leg of the journey either online at https://transportnsw.info/regional-bookings/ or call on 13 22 32. The ticket you need is a Country Pensioner Excursion (CPE) ticket. The cost will be $2.50. When you call, have your Seniors card or Pensioner card and a credit or debit card ready to pay. It is important that you make your booking seven or fewer days before departure as Country Pensioner Excursion (CPE) tickets are only available seven days or less before departure. It is essential to book online or over the phone as CPE tickets cannot be purchased at Sydney railway stations or NSW TrainLink booking offices – even at Central Station, they cannot be purchased.
Alight the train at Bundanoon where you’ll change to a coach which departs Bundanoon at 15:29 to Moss Vale. You are now in Opal card country, so just tap on with your Opal card when you board the coach. The bus/coach stop is just near the railway station exit – out the front of the old goods shed. Look to the left as you exit the station onto the shopping centre side of town.. It’s a 22-minute ride on the coach from Bundanoon to Moss Vale. The coach will arrive at Moss Vale station at 15:51. Change here for a train to Sydney which departs at 16:05. You’ll arrive Central at 18.29.
You’ll need to book the Griffith to Bundanoon (or any stop in between) leg of the journey either online at https://transportnsw.info/regional-bookings/ or call on 13 22 32. The ticket you need is a Country Pensioner Excursion (CPE) ticket. The cost will be $2.50. When you call, have your Seniors or Pensioner card and a credit or debit card ready to pay. You must make your booking seven or fewer days before departure as Country Pensioner Excursion (CPE) tickets are only available seven days or less before departure. It is essential to book online or over the phone as CPE tickets cannot be purchased at railway stations or NSW TrainLink booking offices – even at Central Station, they cannot be purchased. Click Here for Sydney to Junee, Narrandera, Leeton for $7.50
This journey starts with a morning departure from Mildura aboard the 03.40 daily coach service to Cootamundra where you’ll arrive at 12:16 and change to the train that departs Cootamundra at 14:38 to Goulburn. This coach service from Mildura to Cootamundra also services all stops between Mildura and Cootamundra, including Hay, Griffith and Temora. See the full timetable at: https://transportnsw.info/regional-southern-line
All going well, you should arrive in Goulburn at 17:14. Here you’ll have a two hour and forty-minute wait as the Opal service train to Sydney departs at 19:54. It’s not that bad as there are plenty of eateries uptown to enjoy a leisurely dinner. Once you arrive back at Goulburn station after dinner for the 19:54 Opal service departure to Sydney, don’t forget to tap on using your Seniors Opal card. The trip to Sydney will cost you $2.50, no booking required, as you’re travelling on an Opal service. You’ll arrive at Sydney Central at 23:35.
You’ll need to book the Mildura to Goulburn (or any stop in between) leg of the journey either online at https://transportnsw.info/regional-bookings/ or call on 13 22 32. The ticket you need is a Country Pensioner Excursion (CPE) ticket. The cost will be $2.50. This ticket will take you from Mildura to Goulburn. When you call, have your Seniors or Pensioner card and a credit or debit card ready to pay. You must make your booking seven or fewer days before departure as Country Pensioner Excursion (CPE) tickets are only available seven days or less before departure. It is essential to book online or over the phone as CPE tickets cannot be purchased at railway stations or NSW TrainLink booking offices – even at Central station, they cannot be purchased.
This journey starts with a M-F morning departure from Echuca aboard the 07.40 coach service to Wagga Wagga where you’ll arrive at 12:20 and change to the train that departs Wagga at 13:07 to Goulburn.
All going well, you should arrive in Goulburn at 17:14. Here you’ll have a two hour and forty-minute wait as the Opal service train to Sydney departs at 19:54. It’s not that bad as there are plenty of eateries uptown to enjoy a leisurely dinner. Once you arrive back at Goulburn station after dinner for the 19:54 Opal service departure to Sydney, don’t forget to tap on using your Seniors Opal card. The trip to Sydney will cost you $2.50. You’ll arrive at Sydney Central at 23:35.
You’ll need to book the Echuca to Goulburn (or any stop in between) leg of the journey either online at https://transportnsw.info/regional-bookings/ or call on 13 22 32. The ticket you need is a Country Pensioner Excursion (CPE) ticket. The cost will be $2.50. This ticket will take you all the way from Echuca to Goulburn. When you call, have your Seniors card or Pensioner card and a credit or debit card ready to pay. It is important that you make your booking seven or fewer days before departure as Country Pensioner Excursion (CPE) tickets are only available seven days or less before departure. It is essential to book online or over the phone as CPE tickets cannot be purchased at railway stations or NSW TrainLink booking offices – even at Central station, they cannot be purchased.
The regular, economy, half-priced concession, Seniors fare, single ticket, to Griffith is $51.30.
For Senior cardholders who don’t mind leaving Sydney a little earlier, the fare drops to just $7.50.
This trip works Wednesday only. The good point about this journey is that it’s by train almost all the way. The exception is a small section between Moss Vale and Bundanoon which is by bus.
The journey starts aboard the 10:00 Opal service from Town Hall or Central at 10:15 to Moss Vale. If you’d prefer to leave Sydney earlier, there is a train that departs Town Hall at 08:33 and Central at 08:48 that arrives in Moss Vale at 11:13. You can find the timetable for both these services at: https://transportnsw.info/routes/details/intercity-trains/shl/76SHL
Aboard the 10:15 from Central, you’ll arrive at Moss Vale at 12:40 where the train terminates. Tap off with your Opal card as you leave the station and cross the main street (Argyle Street) of Moss Vale to the law courts opposite the station. Here you’ll find a bus stop. Wait here for the 13.03 bus service to Bundanoon. Route # 813. This bus service is provided by Berrima Buslines
Please note that Berrima Buslines does not accept either Opal cards or credit cards – just cold hard cash! Show the bus driver your Seniors card; the fare will be $2.50.
You’ll arrive at Bundanoon railway station at 13:19 to catch the Griffith train. This train, which departed Central at 12:01, departs Bundanoon at 13:55. This train will take you right through to Griffith with stops along the way at Junee, Leeton, and Narrandera. The full timetable for the service is at: https://transportnsw.info/regional-southern-line
You’ll need to book the Bundanoon to Griffith section of the journey or any of the stops in between either online at https://transportnsw.info/regional-bookings/ or call NSW TrainLink on 13 22 32. The ticket you need is a Country Pensioner Excursion (CPE) ticket aboard the train that leaves Bundanoon at 13:55 on Wednesday bound for Griffith. The cost will be $2.50. Have your Seniors or Pensioner card and a credit or debit card ready to pay. You’ll need to book 7 days or less before departure to be eligible for the CPE fare. To purchase a CPE ticket you’ll have to do it over the phone or online as CPE tickets ain’t sold at railway stations or NSW TrainLink booking offices – not even at the booking office at Central Station.
The Campbelltown to Goulburn coach is a regular Opal service, so just tap on when you board the coach and tap off when you alight at Goulburn.
You’ll arrive at Goulburn railway station at 9:00 with an hour and thirteen minutes to grab a quick cuppa before boarding the Melbourne bound XPT which departs Goulburn at 10:13. Alight at Wagga Wagga where the train arrives at 13:53. Refreshments are available on the train.
At Wagga Wagga, change here for the NSWTrainLink coach to Echuca which departs from out front of the station at 14:15. Don’t worry, the coach waits for the train if it’s running late.
You’ll need to book the Goulburn to Echuca (or any stop in between) leg of the journey either online at https://transportnsw.info/regional-bookings/ or call on 13 22 32. The ticket you need is a Country Pensioner Excursion (CPE) ticket. The cost will be $2.50. This ticket will take you all the way from Goulburn to Echuca or any stop in between. When you call, have your Seniors card or Pensioner card and a credit or debit card ready to pay. It is important that you make your booking seven or fewer days before departure as Country Pensioner Excursion (CPE) tickets are only available seven days or less before departure. It is important to book online or over the phone as CPE tickets cannot be purchased at railway stations or NSW TrainLink booking offices – even at Central station, they cannot be purchased.
Your coach will arrive in Lockhart at 15:05, Deniliquin at 17:40, and Echuca at 18:50. The coach also stops at the following towns (see below). For more information, see the timetable at https://transportnsw.info/regional-southern-line
