Travelling over the Australia Day weekend?
COTA Queensland has provided the following information about travel concessions in the different States and Territories around Australia. Before going interstate, make sure you visit the website links to determine currency of the information, determine eligibility, and take note of the “Things to Note” section which mentions turnaround between ordering cards etc and when they are likely to be delivered.
Article courtesy of COTA Queensland
Whether you are you travelling or planning an interstate trip, getting around on public transport is not only a stress-free way to explore your surrounds, it’s environmentally friendly and can save you a few dollars.
The costs of travelling can add up, but you may be eligible to save money by using your Seniors or Commonwealth Pensioners Concession Card to save on public transport Australia wide.
Below is information the States and Territories offer to interstate travellers and how to access these discounts.
*It is important to note that you must travel with your Seniors or Commonwealth Pensioners Concession Card at all times as proof of concession eligibility.
QUEENSLAND
What’s on offer?
Seniors Card holders receive:
- 8 journeys then half price– Travel for half price after your 8th journey in a 7-day period (Monday to Sunday).
- One, Two, Free– If you use your Seniors Go Card for 2 journeys in 1 day, you can travel free for the rest of the day.
- Council subsidised fares – Brisbane City Council and Gold Coast City Council provide free travel for seniors on selected off-peak services.
Pensioner Concession Card holders are eligible for concession fares and can purchase a green concession Go Card. Find our more at translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/concessions
How to purchase?
You can purchase a Seniors Go Card or green pensioner concession Go Card at one of 680 locations across South East Queensland, or you can purchase online or over the phone. A refundable deposit of $5 will apply.
Things to note:
For more information visit: translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/concessions
NEW SOUTH WALES
What’s on offer?
Seniors Card and Pensioners Concession Card holders are eligible to apply for a Senior/Pensioner Gold Opal Card. When using this card you can travel as much as you want on metro, train, bus, ferry, and light rail services within the Opal network and you never pay more than $2.50 a day.
The Sydney Airport station access fee isn’t included in the Daily, Weekly or Sunday Travel Caps; however, there is a separate weekly cap on the station access fee.
Concessional fares are also available on regional tickets and fares – transportnsw.info/tickets-opal/regional-tickets-fares
How to purchase?
You will need to purchase a Gold Opal card in advance.
Seniors Card holders other than NSW and ACT can apply here: transportnsw.info/document/1435/application-for-interstate-seniors-gold-opal-card-5341_1.pdf. Make sure to have a copy of your Seniors Card front and back saved on your computer to submit with the completed form and a Gold Opal card will be mailed to you.
If you have a Pensioner Concession Card you can apply online here www.opal.com.au
Things to note:
Allow 3-4 weeks to receive your card.
More information about the Gold Opal card can be found here: transportnsw.info/tickets-opal/ticket-eligibility-concessions/seniors
More information about getting to and from Sydney Airport can be accessed here: transportnsw.info/travel-info/using-public-transport/getting-to-airport#accordion-by-train-content
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
What’s on offer?
Seniors Card holders can apply for a MyWay Card, enabling them to receive concession fares and free off-peak travel. You can also show the bus driver your Seniors Card to receive a concession when purchasing cash fares.
How to apply?
Interstate Seniors MyWay Cards can be applied for in advance. Simply email seniorscard@cotaact.org.au or myway@act.gov.au with your name, date of birth and address, and include a scanned copy of your Seniors Card and Drivers Licence / Proof of Identity card. An Interstate Seniors MyWay Card will then be mailed to you.
For Seniors Card holders already in Canberra, Interstate Seniors MyWay Cards can be obtained from:
- Canberra and Region Visitors Centre, National Exhibition Centre, Regatta Point
- COTA ACT office(Hughes Community Centre, 2 Wisdom St, Hughes)
- Access Canberra Service Centre
Things to note:
Do allow up to 10 business days to receive your card in the mail.
NORTHERN TERRITORY
What’s on offer?
Seniors Card holders receive free bus travel. Simply show your card to the bus driver.
Pensioner Concession Card holders are eligible for a concession fare when they show their card to the bus driver.
Things to note:
For more information visit: nt.gov.au/driving/public-transport-cycling/public-buses/fares
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
What’s on offer?
Depending on your travel needs you can either purchase a metroCARD or passes.
Seniors Card holders can access free travel Monday to Friday between 9am and 3pm and from 7pm until last service, and all-day Saturday and Sunday. Concessional fares apply outside of these times.
Pensioner Concession Card holders are eligible for concession travel. For concessional rates visit www.adelaidemetro.com.au/Tickets-Fares/Fares
How to purchase?
You can buy a metroCARD at a number of locations across metropolitan Adelaide. A card fee of $3.50 and a minimum starting balance of $5 will be applied for a starting cost of $8.50. Credit can be purchased in $5 increments.
Things to note:
More information can be found at: www.adelaidemetro.com.au
TASMANIA
What’s on offer?
Both Seniors and Pensioner Concession Card holders are eligible to access concessional travel for Greencard and cash fares charged at a flat rate regardless of the number of zones you are travelling within.
The Greencard automatically caps urban fares at the maximum daily rate and you will not pay more than the maximum daily rate for multiple trips in the same day.
The weekday adult concession daily cap is $5.80 if the first boarding is prior to 9am, or $3.10 if the first boarding is after 9am. The Saturday, Sunday and Public Holiday adult concession daily cap is $3.10.
Travelling with a Greencard allows you to transfer between services for free within 90 minutes of the first boarding.
How to purchase?
Greencards can be purchased by visiting a Metro shop, depot, or agent.
Please be aware that some Metro agents can only provide full fare Adult Greencards – to demonstrate a concession you will need to visit a Metro depot or the Metro Shop.
Things to note:
For more information on fares visit: www.metrotas.com.au/fares/urban-fares/
VICTORIA
What’s on offer?
Seniors Card holders can travel with a Concession myki and can buy concession V/Line paper tickets and concession tickets for regional bus services.
Pensioner Concession Card holders are eligible for a 50 per cent discount on travel.
How to purchase?
Show your Pensioner or interstate Seniors Card to buy a Concession myki. Find a location here www.ptv.vic.gov.au/tickets/myki/buy-a-myki-and-top-up/where-to-buy-and-top-up/
When travelling on V/Line services or regional buses that don’t use myki, you’ll need to show your Pensioner Concession Card to pay the concession fare.
Things to note:
For more information on fares visit: www.ptv.vic.gov.au/tickets/myki/concessions-and-free-travel/
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
What’s on offer?
Seniors Card holders can access concession cash fares at a variable rate dependent on the number of zones travelled. All day tickets can be purchased, DayRider at most times, which costs $5.60 and allows unlimited travel up until the last service of each day.
Pensioner Concession Card holders can purchase a Concession SmartRider card when travelling on Transperth bus, train and ferry services, as well as government funded regional town services and travel at a concessional rate.
How to purchase?
Concession SmartRider cards can be purchased from a Transperth InfoCentre in the Perth CBD, or a SmartRider Retail Sales Outlet. Find an InfoCentre here: www.transperth.wa.gov.au/contact-us/infocentres, and Retail Sales Outlets here: www.transperth.wa.gov.au/smartrider/retail-outlets.
Things to note:
For more information on fares visit: www.transperth.wa.gov.au/tickets-fares/concession-guide
