This trip offers the best value I can find in Seniors travel hacks. The distance to Broken Hill from Sydney is approximately 1150 kilometres. Now where can you find a deal like that for $5?

There are cons involved, firstly, this trip mostly by train can only be made on a Monday. Yes, there is another way of doing it but that is mostly by bus and can be done Monday to Sunday. I’ll get to that in another article. The other con is that the departure time from Central station is 04:22 on a Monday morning.

The trip is in three sections – train, bus, train. You’ll depart Central Station at 04:22 and arrive in Broken Hill at 19:10.

Since you’ll be departing on a Monday, call NSWTrainLink on the Friday before and make a booking on the Bathurst to Broken Hill service, leaving Bathurst at 09:47. The fare will be $2.50 with your Seniors card I.D. number. You’ll also need to call Lithgow Buslines on (02) 6352 3888 and advise them that you be arriving from Sydney on the train that arrives at Lithgow at 07:10 and wish to catch the Bathurst bus leaving Lithgow at 07.12 to Bathurst. This is so they can inform the driver that you’re coming and he’ll wait for you if you’re slow getting up the station stairs. The bus mainly caters for school kids. Don’t worry, they’re kind country folk at Lithgow Buslines and will be at your beck and call to help when you call them. Here’s the timetable https://www.buslinesgroup.com.au/images/pdf/lithgow/timetables/636_Lithgow_web_tt.pdf

Sydney to Lithgow

As mentioned above you’ll depart Central station on the 04.22 Opal card service to Lithgow . You’ll arrive at Lithgow 07.10, alight the train and walk up the stairs and tap out with your Opal card. Turn to your left and head out to the bus stop opposite the Post Office on Main street.  Here’s the Central to Lithgow Opal Service timetable

The Lithgow Buslines bus

Lithgow to Bathurst

At the bus stop, board the Lithgow to Bathurst coach, route #636, run by Lithgow Buslines.

Don’t forget to tell the coach driver that you’re going to the Bathurst Railway Station as the bus only stops by the station on request.

Just in case you miss the Lithgow Buslines bus, there’s a NSW Trainlink coach that leaves on the north side of Lithgow station at 07:25 for Bathurst. Here’s the timetable.

Bathurst to Broken Hill

The Hub on Kettle Street Bathurst

You’ll arrive at Bathurst station at approximately 08:40. Since the train departs to Broken Hill at 09:47, you have a little over an hour to enjoy a nice breakfast. If you check out the map of the area around Bathurst Railway Station you’ll see a cafe called The Hub just a few minutes’ walk towards town. You’ll have enough time for breakfast and be back for the 09:47 departure to Broken Hill.

Here’s the full Bathurst to Broken Hill timetable.

Once aboard the train you’ll have access to the buffet where you can buy the usual Aussie fare, including beer and wine. A hot lunch is also available. But the coffee isn’t as good as at The Hub as they don’t have an espresso coffee machine on the train. 🙁

To come back to Sydney, the train leaves Broken Hill the next day (Tuesday). May I suggest you spend a few days in this beautiful and historic town and come back on the bus/train/bus/train service from “the Hill” to Sydney. The service runs to Sydney via Wilcannia, Nyngan, Dubbo and Bathurst.

Total time for the trip Central to Broken Hill is 14 hrs. and 47 mins.

This seniors trip starts from Central to Bomaderry Rail, using the regular Opal service ($2.50) to Kiama with a change at Kiama for a diesel train to take you down to Bomaderry Rail. At Bomaderry Rail there will be a Premier Motor Service coach waiting at the station to take to you as far as Eden on the South Coast. The connections work 7 days a week.

Sydney to Bomaderry Rail

The Opal rail service to Bomaderry Rail starts at Bondi Junction, departing there to Kiama at 09.13, Monday to Sunday. The service stops all stations to Redfern before it starts on its express run through the suburbs and on to the South Coast (Illawarra). Departure from Central is at 09.27.

After a scenic run down the Illawarra, the train will then arrive at Kiama at 11.39. Here you’ll change for a two-car diesel train, for Bomaderry. Yes, there’s a cafe near the station, but be quick as the Bomaderry train departs on time at 12.00. You’ll only have 20 minutes between arrival and departure.

Another scenic run will bring the train into Bomaderry Rail at 12.27. Here’s the full timetable for the South Coast line

Bomaderry Rail to Eden

Don’t forget to tap off with your Opal card when you get to Bomaderry. Here you’ll meet the Premier Motor Service Coach to take you to Eden. The coach departs Bomaderry Rail at 12.50. The timetable for the full Sydney to Eden service.

You’ll need to call Premier Motor Services to make a booking. Call 13 34 10. Their website is at Premier Motor Services.

To get the Seniors card $2.50 special, you’ll need to call Premier Motor Services. Have your Seniors card and a credit card ready or pay cash with the driver. But you’ll need to call them as you can’t get the $2.50 fare using their bookings page on their website. May I also suggest you pay when you make your booking over the phone. The poor driver on this service can often be pushed to his limits when the bus is busy, especially with baggage. So you’ll really be doing him a favour if you’ve paid for your ticket beforehand.

There’s a cafe and cake shop across the road from the station at Bomaderry Rail.

Arrival at Eden is at 19.00. There is a major rest stop for food and drink near the waterfront at Batemans Bay. And yes, there’s a toilet on the bus.

Enjoy the trip.