Minibus Hire Across Australia

Day trips out of the city, at your group's pace

A private day trip means you choose where to linger and where to skip. We'll book a minibus or people mover with a driver through a licensed operator, and help you shape a day that fits the distance.

Some favourite days out

From Sydney, Katoomba and Echo Point are about 1 hour 45 minutes away. From Melbourne, Lorne on the Great Ocean Road is about two hours, and the Twelve Apostles about three inland. Hobart groups head to Port Arthur, about 90 minutes away; Darwin groups to Litchfield, about 90 minutes south; Cairns groups up to Kuranda or across the Daintree River.

Jenolan Caves is closed while its access road is repaired, with reopening planned for early 2027, so leave it off the list for now.

Setra high-capacity coach, exterior
Setra high-capacity coach, exterior

Bookings and set-downs to know about

The new Twelve Apostles visitor centre brings compulsory bookings: from its opening, anyone visiting the main viewing area needs one. Tour vehicles that book get a bus bay and an arrival time, so lock it in early.

At Echo Point in Katoomba, buses may not drop anyone in the roundabout; cameras watch it. The driver will agree a set-down spot before you arrive.

Rules worth knowing

  • In Victoria's declared alpine hazardous areas, buses must carry VicRoads-approved wheel chains and wheel chocks
  • Western Australian tourism passenger transport providers must keep a Safety Management System
  • Western Australia and the Northern Territory apply their own heavy vehicle fatigue rules instead of the HVNL

Long drives and whose rules apply

A return run from Geelong to the Twelve Apostles is 400 km or more. Under HVNL standard hours, a bus driver who goes more than 100 km from base must fill in a work diary, and the whole outing has to fit the work and rest limits. WA and the NT set their own fatigue rules, so a Kakadu or Margaret River plan follows those.

If a destination is simply too far for a comfortable day, an overnight stop is usually the better trip.

Parks, snow and guiding

If your driver will also guide you through a national park, the operator may need a park licence or permit: NSW, Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania each run their own schemes. For a Victorian snow day to Mount Buller, Mount Hotham or Falls Creek, the bus driver needs a Hazardous Area Authority.

Your questions

Can we change the plan on the day?

Small changes usually work, like a longer lunch or an extra lookout. Big detours can push the driver's hours, so agree the outline before you set off.

Will the driver act as our guide?

Some do. Ask when you book, since guiding in national parks can need a licence the operator holds.

What time do day trips usually start?

Early is better for long drives, often around 7 to 8 am. Tell us your ideal return time and work back from there.

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