Public Transport to our airports - what's cheapest?

[Jacques Vert]

Perhaps take the free Skygate shuttle to International, check out the nearby Kingsford Smith memorial and then walk to Domestic?

Actually it was the walk from the DFO to International that was the worst bit: that's where the mozzies got me.

Post automatically merged: Aug 4, 2025

For BNE DFO to int/dom, I would get the free bus.

Sure; but I was keen on getting some exercise.. I'll just walk around the terminal lounge next time.

 

[clifford]

However, I made the mistake of trying this in BNE a couple of years ago: decided to walk from the DFO to domestic for an early morning flight. Started off well until I walked past the small lake/pond where I was attacked by ferocious mosquitos and later ran out of footpath, so I had to drag my bag over the unmade terrain. Then as the sun rose higher the temperature started to climb and I arrived at the terminal in a lather of sweat. Even the guy on security questioned why my shirt was sopping wet. Never again.

Yes, in a similar vein, one sunny afternoon I set out to walk from CNS to the highway to catch a bus, and it was quite a hot day. No major dramas, but it would have been nice if it was a bit cooler.

Anyway, halfway into my odyssey, a kind passing motorist perhaps felt that I might have been rather stressed (which I wasn't), and stopped to offer me a lift into town. As he seemed to be quite genuine, I accepted and got dropped off close to my hotel. The gods must have looking after me that day...

 

[AIRwin]

Anyway, halfway into my odyssey, a kind passing motorist perhaps felt that I might have been rather stressed (which I wasn't), and stopped to offer me a lift into town.

TKWYA

 

[clifford]

Very best of luck, ehe, I would still have taken (take) the shuttle bus, personally.

Thanks, but I was under the impression that the shuttle bus was no more. Otherwise it's the obvious choice.

In any case, I quite like to walk from airports to my off-airport accommodation (or bus stop) when it's reasonably doable, eg SYD, OOL, DRW, PSA, DMK, CNX, MNL, TRG, BLK (sadly deceased), to name but a few.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Re LST airport shuttle bus, ooo, didnt know that!
(((Edit: ah, yes, google does mention that the Launceston Airport shuttle is no more, ta))).
Thought the(ir) website was still up.
Granted, not cheap.
Had used it several times, also used the Skybus when it ran the LST shuttle, if I remember correctly, was a long time ago now.
Supposedly, the bus goes from Cressy to Breadalbane, or from Evandale, (but this one is at 8am, 11am, 3pm) to city.
So, would have to be the Creasy one.
Taking an indepth look at it, seems that you are right, the walkway does go a very long distance, just have to cross the roundabout near the car coming out point of the airport, and then go walk towards Breadalbane, on the left hand side.

 

[clifford]

Taking an indepth look at it, seems that you are right, the walkway does go a very long distance, just have to cross the roundabout near the car coming out point of the airport, and then go walk towards Breadalbane, on the left hand side.

Yes, I think you've got it, Poochie. Anyway, I'll give it a go. Nothing ventured, nothing gained...

 

[Hvr]

JQ30 landed at 0935 hrs. I made the 1007 hrs 479 bus to Sunbury station. Took some running but I was successful. Now waiting 20+ minutes at Sunbury station for the train.

And of course the bus bay at the airport was the furtherest away.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

They grudgingly moaningly put the PTV (now transport Vic) bus stop as far away as possible,
They can then claim, oh, we are putting an option of a cheaper way of getting from Melbourne Airport to the city.
Like, yes, train to the airport would be coming soon, or could be being built in the next few years.
Guess in the end, its better than LST airport, (hope Clifford can make that cheap bus that comes from the outer suburbs to Breadalbane, only a few times in the day).
And Breadalbane is not even a timed stop on the 79* series Metrotas timetable.

 

[clifford]

(hope Clifford can make that cheap bus that comes from the outer suburbs to Breadalbane, only a few times in the day).
And Breadalbane is not even a timed stop on the 79* series Metrotas timetable.

Poor old Cliifford will weigh it up carefully, before and on the day. He has already reserved a Hertz car (corporate rates) but will check the weather forecast and several other things before making a final decision. At the moment, the rental car option is looking good. Anything to thwart those incredibly greedy Uber and taxi drivers, who want $30+ to drive to the end of the street.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

For Clifford, and others who need to pass LST airport to city, and want a cheap way, its a pity that the Tas gov had decided to bypass the cheap bus from Western Junction, ie, the airport.
Cressy, Perth and Evandale buses, its a pain to walk that far.
ADL, OOL and PER airports, have it, ie, direct to their city capitals, where as its a bit of a pain for BNE, SYD, and MEL where need to do transfers.

 

[clifford]

For Clifford, and others who need to pass LST airport to city, and want a cheap way, its a pity that the Tas gov had decided to bypass the cheap bus from Western Junction, ie, the airport.
Cressy, Perth and Evandale buses, its a pain to walk that far.
ADL, OOL and PER airports, have it, ie, direct to their city capitals, where as its a bit of a pain for BNE, SYD, and MEL where need to do transfers.

Hey, Poochie, you've forgotten CBR. The lovely R3 bus will whisk you to the CBD in about 25 minutes for a princely sum of not very much (I don't know how much as it's free for elderly folk like me).

But, yes, let's not forget the Tassie Govt. They'd rather spend taxpayers money on an AFL stadium than decent public transport links.

(oh dear, I hope this is not thought to be a political comment by the Mods). It wasn't intended to be.

 

[AdMEL]

Haven’t seen it mentioned in this thread, or on AFF (or anywhere else for that matter), but I understand that CNS will shortly have a public bus to the CBD, which should only cost $0.50 (though based on my experience over the last few days, most of the time the fare doesn’t get charged). The bus stop will be outside the international terminal and has already been built, as per the photo I took today.

 

[jastel]

That will be news to most people up here...

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Well, better than the MetroTas system, whee either to or from LST and HBA, if you want a cheap way to get to city of Launceston/Hobart, you have to walk at least half an hour.
Was looking at HBA, its at least a half an hour/45 mins walk from the terminal to 7 mile beach, then to Rosny Pk, then to the city, and not at 50 c either, its the full price.
Or going the other way, at least its with a concrete path, but still no pedestrian light crossing to Bungara way, out at Cambridge.

 

[CaptJCool]

Early December opening

Victorians to get free weekend public transport over summer

Fares waived for weekend trams, trains and buses for two months after years of Metro Tunnel-related disruptions

www.theguardian.com

 

[dajop]

Early December opening

Victorians to get free weekend public transport over summer

Fares waived for weekend trams, trains and buses for two months after years of Metro Tunnel-related disruptions

www.theguardian.com

Now another 10 years and the airport line might be started. Or ready perhaps?

As an aside, not a big fan of the free transport piece for bookable V-line services. Leads to speculative bookings, and people who need to travel last minute potentially miss out. But I guess people probably do that anyway as they are only $7.60 on weekends anyway.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Took a look at the SYD airport website, and it says to go out into the "open" area.
But thought maybe they have brought it back, seeing that there are other partner airlines that also meet VAd flights at SYD.
Maybe for them, VA and bus ops, they prefer to do it the current Tbus way.
===
Oh, Clifford, I meant to ask, did you ever try that odyssey of walking from LST airport to Breadalbane, or in the end you decided to get a rental car from the airport.
I see the 3 buses that pass Breadalbane, are all from quite far off, and they do not make a stop at the "bus stop" regularly.
Had a look at google maps, they seemed to be doing works on that area when the photos were taken.
---
Kinetic is being sold, or the current owner wants to sell it off, so what we know of all the Express buses from the burbs, might change with new ownership.
***
Off T: A certain former VA CEO preferred to call it "mid range"... carrier.
Who knows, with the onsell of VA from Bain, it could indeed become like a US LCC.
(((Bring in an annual fee for the VFF program (???).)))On T.

 

[clifford]

Oh, Clifford, I meant to ask, did you ever try that odyssey of walking from LST airport to Breadalbane, or in the end you decided to get a rental car from the airport.

Well, actually Pooch, I'm not doing that run until next month.

I'm in two minds about it. If the weather's fine, I'll may well walk to Breadalbane and wait for the bus. If it doesn't come or if there's some other issue, I'd call an Uber. Or, alternatively, I could just rent a car at LST.

I'll be as interested as you to see what happens.

 

[clifford]

I'm off to PQQ later this week on a QF Dash-8. I'd like to take the public bus into town, but it only goes every 2 hours, so I'd have to wait an hour. Not going to do that, so I plan to use Didi. On my way back, I'll use the bus, as the schedule is more convenient to my departure ex PQQ.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

You could walk from the airport to Hasting River Dr, and get the 341, or is that the one that is hourly?
Looks like there is a 340 as well, ah, and very few and far in between for this one, as its a countrylink service from up north. on which (Opal not accepted!).
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Its only hours walk, from the airport to the city, with a good pair of shoes, I think it could be done.