It’s a trip we’ve taken many times, Brisbane to Toowoomba by bus, through the beautiful vege garden that is the Lockyer Valley and up the steep side of the Great Dividing Range into Toowoomba. There used to be a train that ran all the way, although you could save a few hours of the winding journey up the range by catching a bus up the range portion, from Helidon Station at the foothills.
That last 4km or so is really steep and offers some impressive views on the way up in particular, towards Picnic Point if you’re seated on the left and out over the Lockyer Valley if you’re on the right. Train services no longer operate on this route at convenient times. The only services available are trains continuing further west.
The bus journey that takes about an hour an a half. Some services divert to some of the smaller towns on the way, adding a few minutes to the trip, but generally you’ll stop only at Gatton and then the new Bus Terminal in Neil St, Toowoomba.
Toowoomba by bus
You need to be at your Coach Company’s waiting area about 15 minutes before departure as they load you before the time on your ticket so you get away on time. Seats are not assigned, so if you are travelling with a companion or group, queue early. You need to store large pieces of luggage in the luggage holds under the bus. Small items may be placed under your seat or in the open overhead compartment. Food or drinks are not allowed on board.
On the Bus
We elected to purchase our tickets from Greyhound Australia over the counter, as the timetable suited our needs. Online booking is also available. Check the Bay number as your destination may not be the final destination for this particular service. Some services do not terminate in Toowoomba, but continue to towns further west.
Murray’s Coaches now offer a service on the Brisbane / Toowoomba route.
The Seats
The cloth covered seats, two each side of the centre aisle, are fitted with seatbelts. The driver will remind you to wear these in his welcome announcement as you leave the terminal. The seats recline to a comfortable position and there is a footrest with sufficient leg room for all but very long legged passengers. A seat back pocket has a plastic bag inside for emergencies.
The coach is air-conditioned and there is an overhead air blower and light for each seat. You can find a USB charger point either on the window side of the seat, or in front of you, between the seats.
The coach is equipped with a toilet at the rear. There is toilet paper and a small sink with soap. You will appreciate the handle on the door in front of you as the rocking of the bus is noticeable in the toilet.
The journey is a good introduction to country Queensland. You pass through the rich agricultural crops of the Lockyer Valley with a wide range of vegetable crops on display. Just before you reach Gatton, you will pass the University of Queensland Gatton Campus, which offers courses focused on Veterinary Science and Animals, Agriculture, Food and the Environment.
You will pass many farms on the journey, many of which will have ‘Queenslander’ style high set houses characterised by wide verandas, metal roofs and long front staircase. The terrain is varied as is the greenery. Enjoy your journey!
The Brisbane Transit Centre
The old Brisbane Transit Centre and Coach Terminal has been demolished to be replaced by the CrossRiver Rail and the new Coach Terminal is located in the nearby Parklands Crescent, adjacent to Roma St Station Platform 10.
Your bus arrives and leaves from the Brisbane Coach Terminal in Parkland Crescent, off Albert Street. This connects to bus and taxi operations as well as the Roma Street Railway Station. All train services north, south, east and west pass through Roma Street. Long Distance buses and trains also depart from this station.
There are currently no Luggage Storage facilities at The Brisbane Coach Terminal. The transit centre will be undergoing major changes along with redevelopment in conjunction with public transport changes. You can find more information on the development and temporary Coach Terminal on this page.
images ©LL
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