One request moves your whole group
Tell us where, when and how many are travelling. It is free to send and you are under no obligation to book.
How it works
Tell us about the trip
Pickup and destination, the date, passengers and the occasion.
We pass it on
We aim to pass your request to a local charter operator within one business day. It goes to one operator that works in your city or region.
The operator gets in touch
To talk through the vehicle, the timings and a quote.
You decide
Ask your questions and book only if it suits you.
Charter transport for every occasion
Weddings, events, school and sport trips, airport runs, tours and clubs.
Weddings
Guests to the ceremony, the reception and home again.
Read moreCorporate and events
Shuttles for conferences, functions, staff and big events.
Read moreSchool and sport trips
Excursions, camps, carnivals and away games.
Read moreAirport transfers
Groups to and from the terminal, with luggage.
Read moreTours and day trips
Wine regions, country towns and sightseeing days.
Read moreGroup and club travel
Clubs, community groups, reunions and family events.
Read more
What a charter quote should include
Ask the operator to set these out in writing before you pay a deposit, so nothing turns up later as an extra charge.
Driver hours and breaks
On a long day or a trip away, how the driver's hours and rest breaks are planned, and whether a second driver or an overnight stay is part of the price.
Tolls and parking
Whether road tolls and parking are in the quote or added later, and where the vehicle waits between runs.
Waiting time and extra stops
Whether waiting time is included if the day runs late, and what an extra stop on the way adds.
Distance and extra kilometres
How the route and the distance are worked out, and what happens if the trip runs further than planned.
Deposits and cancelling
The deposit, the cancellation terms and what happens if timings change, in writing.
The vehicle you are paying for
The vehicle the quote is for, how many seats it has and whether everyone fits, with their luggage.
Group road travel in Australia
A charter is a vehicle and driver hired by one group for its own trip, on its own timetable: a wedding party between the ceremony and the reception, delegates between a hotel and a venue, a team to an away game or a class on an excursion. Larger charter buses are heavy vehicles, and driver fatigue rules apply to many of them. Where the Heavy Vehicle National Law applies, its fatigue laws cover buses with a gross vehicle mass over 4.5 tonnes that are fitted to carry more than 12 adults, including the driver (National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, fatigue management). That law does not cover every state: Western Australia sets its own rules. On a long day or a trip away, that shapes how the driver's hours are planned, so ask about it when the operator replies.
Requests are not only for the capitals. Our city pages cover every state and territory capital and the regional centres of about 40,000 people or more, from Geelong to Geraldton, each with the local rules for coach parking, events and airports. See the cities and regions we cover.
Planning the trip
The more the operator knows, the more useful its first reply. Give the pickup address and the destination, the date, the times each way, the number of passengers and how much luggage they carry. If anyone uses a wheelchair or another mobility aid, say so in the accessibility box so the operator can suggest a vehicle with a lift or a ramp. For a trip with children, ask about seatbelts and child seats before you book.
Before you pay a deposit, read the cancellation terms and ask what the quote includes: waiting time, extra stops, tolls and parking can all change the total. For the big day itself, see wedding buses and airport transfers.
Charter vehicles at a glance
Operators describe their vehicles in different ways and sizes vary, so the table below is a plain guide to what each kind of vehicle is often used for, not a promise about any operator. Tell us how many are travelling and the operator will suggest a vehicle and say how many seats it has.
| Vehicle | Often used for |
|---|---|
People mover or van | A small group with luggage, such as an airport transfer. |
Minibus | A bridal party, a sports team or a small group on a day trip. |
Midi coach | A mid-sized group, such as a class on a school excursion. |
Full-size coach | A large group, a long day or a trip between cities, often with luggage space underneath. |
Shuttle | Repeat runs between two points, such as a hotel and a conference venue. |
Also ask before you book
Four more questions a charter operator should be glad to answer.
Accreditation
How the operator is accredited in your state. Check it with the state's transport regulator.
Seatbelts
Whether every seat has a seatbelt, and what to do about seats for young children.
Access
A wheelchair lift or ramp and room for mobility aids, if anyone in the group needs them.
On the day
Who to call on the day and how the driver will find your group.
Checklist ready? Send the trip.
One request for the whole group, free and no obligation. We aim to pass your request to a local charter operator within one business day.
Areas we cover
Every state and territory, capitals and regional centres. Choose yours.
New South Wales
- Charter buses in Sydney
- Charter buses in Newcastle - Maitland
- Charter buses in Central Coast
- Charter buses in Wollongong
- Charter buses in Albury - Wodonga
- Charter buses in Coffs Harbour
- Charter buses in Wagga Wagga
- Charter buses in Port Macquarie
- Charter buses in Ballina
- Charter buses in Tamworth
- Charter buses in Orange
- Charter buses in Bowral - Mittagong
- Charter buses in Dubbo
Anywhere else in New South Wales? Send a request with your pickup suburb or town and we pass it to an operator near you.
Victoria
- Charter buses in Melbourne
- Charter buses in Geelong
- Charter buses in Ballarat
- Charter buses in Bendigo
- Charter buses in Shepparton - Mooroopna
- Charter buses in Mildura - Buronga
- Charter buses in Traralgon - Morwell
- Charter buses in Warragul - Drouin
Anywhere else in Victoria? Send a request with your pickup suburb or town and we pass it to an operator near you.
Queensland
- Charter buses in Brisbane
- Charter buses in Toowoomba
- Charter buses in Mackay
- Charter buses in Hervey Bay
- Charter buses in Gladstone
Anywhere else in Queensland? Send a request with your pickup suburb or town and we pass it to an operator near you.
Western Australia
Anywhere else in Western Australia? Send a request with your pickup suburb or town and we pass it to an operator near you.
South Australia
Anywhere else in South Australia? Send a request with your pickup suburb or town and we pass it to an operator near you.
Tasmania
Anywhere else in Tasmania? Send a request with your pickup suburb or town and we pass it to an operator near you.
Australian Capital Territory
Anywhere else in Australian Capital Territory? Send a request with your pickup suburb or town and we pass it to an operator near you.
Northern Territory
Anywhere else in Northern Territory? Send a request with your pickup suburb or town and we pass it to an operator near you.
Questions and answers
How quickly will an operator get in touch?
We aim to pass your request to a local charter operator within one business day. The operator then contacts you by phone or email about the vehicle, the timings and a quote.
Can I ask for a trip this week?
Yes. Choose This week or Today or tomorrow on the form and we pass it on first. We cannot promise a vehicle is free at short notice; the operator will tell you what it can do.
Which places do you cover?
Every state and territory capital and the regional centres of about 40,000 people or more. Tell us your pickup suburb or town and state, and we pass the request to an operator in your city or region.
Is Transit Charters Australia a bus company?
No. Transit Charters Australia is an independent referral service, not a bus company or a government transport agency. We have no vehicles or drivers; we pass your request to one local operator.
About this site
Transit Charters Australia is an independent referral service for charter buses, coaches and shuttles across Australia. We are not a bus company, a charter operator or a government transport agency, and we are not connected with any transport business, publication or public body with a similar name. We write plain guides to each city and region, cite our sources and pass each request to one local operator with your agreement. More about us.