There is so much commentary on Oz Ex across the web, but that it seems that not everyone's questions are being answered properly. Bruce from Oz Ex is here to answer any questions from people wanting to know about travelling on Oz Experience. Anyone can also give their feedback.
Hi Faith
I'll follow up on the post 1 August Timetable for you. It's set by our Operations who have been a bit tardy.
I know it's always surprising to hear, but Oz Experience and express buses carry all age groups. Oz Experience tends to be 18-30 year olds. People like you and me would choose Oz Experience to be social, we also know you cant drink on the bus by law. We also know that when we get off the bus with our new friends, we don't go and do everything our new friends tell us to do like going drinking. I'm sure you have the ability to say 'no' and 'yes' when you want to and make your own decisions just like you do in normal life. So there's nothing scary about Oz Experience. There's plenty of people not interested in spending their time in a bar who travel on our services and others. Certainly most people don't do that in any case.
Reply to this Thanks for getting back to me Bruce that's really helpful.
I'll Oz experience it up as you say - then express it back... 😊
Is there an alternative site than www.ozexperience.com ?? As this site isn't working at the moment - i did see you said in one of your comments that they were working on a new site, maybe this is why this site isnt working?
Anyway - thanks so much again really appreciate it. Libby
Reply to this The site seems to be working now Libby. I just checked it.
Mel
Reply to this Um, ok I was just curious about demographics; I'm pretty well versed in my ability to make up my own mind. Guess you have been dealing with a lot of complainers on this site though, huh? Thanks for the info though, and checking up on the timetable; sounds like a pretty sweet ride.
Reply to this Whoah looking back my last post seems super rude. Sorry about that. Any info is good info and it looks like all the timetables are up now, so that's good. All in all it seems like a great deal. Apologies again.
Reply to this Hi bruce,
thank you very much for your very interesting answers about Oz Experience. I hope you are still active here, so you can answer my question:
I am planning to do the east coast trip from Cairns to Brisbane and would like to stay for a few nights in Mackay to visit Eungella NP. The Problem is that there is no stop in Mackay in the timetable. So my questions:
1.) Is ist possible to get dropped and picked in Mackay? The OzEx-bus is travelling through Mackay, so it should'nt be a problem, but it is not in the timetable.
2.) In case it is NOT possible in Mackay, is it possible to get dropped / picked in Sarina instead? It is also not on the timetable, but there is a stop for the bowling.
3.) In case this is also not possible, what would be the best alternative? Get dropped / picked in Airlie Beach and buy a return ticket with Greyhound / Premier to Mackay? This would waste money and time, so it is not a really good idea - do you know anything better?
Thank you for your answer,
platypus01
Reply to this Hi Bruce,
I am travelling from Cairns to Sydney. What are the essentials for the trip? I am trying to get an idea of what i need to pack. I am going to be in Australia for 4 weeks on the Oz Experience and wondered what i should bring with me.
Thanks
Vixster
Reply to this Hey Bruce,
I'm hoping to do the Melbourne to Cairns pass with Oz Experience as I'm travelling on my own and think it'll be a good way to meet people. I only have 4-5 weeks planned for my stay in Australia though so do you think this will be a bit tight time-wise? Would I be better off doing a shorter trip?
Thanks,
John
Reply to this Hi John , it's Josh here from OZEX.
28 days to 35 is perfect amount for travel! It is a cool way to travel with like minded people.
Basically the Melbourne to Sydney section of the trip is a 3 day tour includes highlights - Wilson's Promontory nat. park, Lakes Entrance , Snowy Mountains and Canberra arriving Sydney 3rd day at 6pm.
Then you might like to stay 4 days in Sydney and see Bondi Beach (recommend the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk) , Blue Mountains , catch the ferry to Manly .....lot's of things to see!
From Sydney to Cairns highlights are Byron Bay, Fraser Island, Sailing on the Whitsunday Islands, Magnetic Island and Cairns where you can springboard to Cape Tribulation, Great Barrier Reef ..... so allocate 3 to 4 days in each of these places and you get a good timeframe.
Anymore specifics, pls ask mate
Cheers
Josh
Reply to this I am going to be travelling around Australia (the popular Sydeny to Cairns route) in December - which I believe is the high season. My only concern is that I've heard that it is hard to book spaces on the buses as I hear they do fill up quickly.
I only have about 5 weeks to do this route and don't want to stay in a location for 8 days just because the buses are full. How far a head would you have to book around this time or can you pre-book all your pick-up/drop off locations with oz experience for those 5 weeks?
Thanks!
Reply to this Cheers Josh. Good to hear I'll be able to fit it all in, can't wait to get out there now!
Reply to this Hi Janice ,
You'll be sweet travelling north (Sydney to Cairns) in December , plenty of buses. Always good to map out an itinerary though a couple of weeks in advance just as Plan B.
All Buses can be booked online through the MyOZEX engine too , it's a good tool.
Regards
Josh
Reply to this hey i was hoping to get abit of advice. i am traveling on my own and planning on doing the knobs and bells pass in january 2010. However as i am planning on traveling on my own for about 5 months is it worth doing the trip to darwin aswell. also is it wise to take my laptop for getting wireless and uploading my pictures?
Reply to this Hi Bruce,
I plan on traveling alone north (Sydney to Cairns) in Feb 2010 using the oz exp. I read that you guys recommend 20 days minimum for the trip. However, I am currently slotting about 15 days for the pass. Will I miss out on a lot of things?
Also, Feb seems to be the high season for travelers...how far in advance do you recommend I book the buses to prevent it from being full?
How hard will it be to book hostels/activities along the way during my stay? If I decide to stay at a certain stop for longer, will I have to worry about the hostel running out of room?
PS - I am a bit confused about the timetable. As of this sec, I can't seem to find the timetable for Sydney to Cairns for Feb. It seems to only go til Dec 31st. However there is a timetable for Cairns to Sydney thats good until March 2010
Reply to this Hello Sebastian and Michael 😊
It may be an idea to send a Private Message to Oz Ex Crew to remind them of this thread. They may have become automatically unsubscribed from it, so dont know there are more replies.
Mel
Reply to this Hi Sebastian & Michael, Thanks for enquiry!
From January to March we will have 6 buses per week going northbound. Just use times we currently have for pickups. Good to pre book your whole trip before starting....like plan an itinerary of places you'd like to see such as Byron Bay, Fraser Island and Whitsundays and hop off for atleast 4 days in each .
Tour Guides are awesome for getting you beds at all the good hostels.
I don't really do blog work for ozex anymore as been planning thousands of east coast trips for years now 😊
Reply to this I'm heading down to Oz (from the states) by myself at the end of April, and will be there for the ENTIRE month on May. This will be my first trip ever to Australia, and a life time dream come true. I'll be flying into Sydney for a few days, then traveling out from there. After reading everyones posts I think I have definitely decided on taking Oz Experience. I feel like this will be the easiest way to meet people (since I'll be traveling alone) throughout my time in Australia. My only problem is, after my few days in Sydney I can't decide whether I should take OzEx north toward Brisbane and Cairns, or south toward Melbourne and Adelaide. I definitely can not leave Oz without seeing Uluru, which is why I thought heading south toward Adelaide, and then continuing north to Alice Springs would be a great way to get there. Plus seeing the outback on the way seems like a great experience. However after reading everyones experiences on their trips between Sydney and Cairns I thought that sounds great too. UGH!!! I just can't decide!!!! hahaha
Anyway, any advice y'all can give on these 2 different excursions would be greatly appreciated. I.E. weather at that time of year in these locations, bus availability, etc.
Thanks in advance.
Reply to this Hey, We're 3 lads from the U.K on our gap year and we're about to book a Bruce pass travelling from Melbourne to Cairns. I know it probably varies hugely but i'm looking for advice on how long people think this would take? At the moment the flights we have give us 35 days from melb to cairns which i'm starting to think might make our schedule a little tight, if anybody who has travelled this distance could tell us the time it took them and how satisfied with it the were that would be great.
Being honest we are probably just as much after the social side as well as experiencing the sites and culture. We want at least 4 days in Sydney and 5 days in Brisbane to meet up with people we already know. We also want a few days on Fraser Island.
Baisically we are a little worried we will be spending a majority of our 35days sitting on the coach (we realise australia is a massive place and takes time to get from a to b).
Also has anyone ever combined Oz Ex and Greyhound? for instance to save time, taken overnight greyhound bus instead of waiting around in a stop over when you'd rather reach the next city faster? this might be a little to expensive for our budget but its just an idea.
Many thanks, Joe
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