The midi coach, for groups too big for a minibus

Bigger than a minibus and smaller than a full-size coach, a midi coach typically seats 29 to 35. It's a good answer when your group has outgrown a minibus but a big coach would feel empty.

The in-between size

Picture a rugby squad with coaches and a physio, a wedding with thirty guests staying at one hotel, or a company day for a mid-sized team. A midi coach keeps everyone together and is a little easier to place at a hotel entrance or a winery than a full-size coach.

Luggage goes underneath or at the rear, but there's less room than on a big coach, so mention suitcases if the trip starts at an airport.

Typical models

The photos show typical models in this size. Which vehicle runs depends on the partner operator that takes the booking.

Midi coach (29 to 35 seats)

Iveco Daily Wing
29+1 passengers · 29 bags
Setra S 511 HD
35+1 passengers · 35+1 bags

The driver and the operator

Two sets of paperwork sit behind a midi coach booking: the driver's licence, which is light or medium rigid depending on the vehicle's weight, and the operator's own bus accreditation from the state it's based in. We pass requests only to operators who hold what their state asks for, and you're welcome to ask for the details.

On board

Under HVNL standard hours, a work diary is needed once the driver works beyond a 100 km radius of their base
HVNL fatigue rules cover buses over 4.5 t GVM built to carry more than 12 adults, including the driver
Operators need bus accreditation: in NSW, Long Distance, Tourist or Charter (LDTC) accreditation; in Victoria, Safe Transport Victoria operator accreditation
Two-axle midi coach over 8 t GVM: MR licence; up to 8 t GVM: LR (light rigid) licence

Hours on longer trips

A midi coach is squarely the kind of heavier, larger-capacity bus that the Heavy Vehicle National Law fatigue rules are written for. Winery days and trips into the mountains often run more than 100 km from the driver's base, which on standard hours means a work diary and carefully planned breaks. In Western Australia and the Northern Territory, the local fatigue schemes apply instead.

Good fits

Midi coaches suit wedding guest shuttles, conference loops between a couple of hotels, and day tours for groups of around thirty. For very tight country lanes, a pair of minibuses may still be the better call.

Your questions

How many people fit in a midi coach?

Typically 29 to 35, but layouts vary. The quote states the seats in the vehicle offered.

Is a midi coach better than two minibuses?

For one timetable, usually yes: one driver, one arrival. Two minibuses are handier if the group needs to split up during the day.

Can it carry skis or sports gear?

Often, if seats are not all full. Describe the gear and the operator will say whether it fits.