TRANSPORT

The majority of Aussie have their own cars.  However, they have to drive to work and for their own use most of the time, so it’s impossible for them to carry you to school or other places else every day and you have to take public transports.

There are various kinds of public transports in Brisbane (surely not so many as in Hong Kong), your host family should tell you the most convenient way to go to school by taking which kind(s) of transport.

Bus

The buses in Brisbane are single-storey and the bus drivers are so nice that they are very patient to answer the queries of passengers.

The Brisbane Transport divides the city into 5 zones, for which the city area is called zone 1.  The farther you go, the more expensive the fee is.

To travel by bus in Brisbane is expensive (several times more than in Hong Kong, but we have no alternatives …), but we can save a considerable amount of money by buying bus tickets.  We can travel ten trips by only paying eight trips’ fees.  And we can enjoy a free trip if we take another cross-zone trip within two hours after the last cross-zone travel (e.g. If you travel from zone 2 to zone 1 and than back to zone 2, you need not pay for the latter trip by using bus tickets).  Make sure what zone your homestay is in, as one living in different zones may have one’s respective kind of tickets.  And it’s advisable to buy via QUT because GST (tax) can be excluded – some more money can be saved!

Any tips to save money up?

Make full use of the free transfers to other routes for all tickets within 2 hours to save money. Always refer to the bus schedule in order not to miss any buses within the 2 hours!

Buying off-peak ticket is cheaper than the single one on weekends but sometimes it is not. Have a well-functioned calculator!

Concession tickets cannot be purchased even if you have an International Student Identity Card. Breaking the rule leads you to give much more!

Most buses don't operate as late as 7p.m. on weekends. Think of the way getting back home at weekend nights before leaving.

Ten-trip tickets purchased through QUT are cheaper than those sold in news agencies.

Train

If your homestay is near railway station, you may find more convenient to travel by train to school (but you still have to change to travel bus route 371 at Roma Street Station).  But you may travel by train more often if you go to those scenic spots like Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Movie World.

You have to buy train ticket every time when you travel by train, and you have to check with the appropriate platform you get on the train by watching the screen shown in the station.

Taxi

You may need to travel by taxi if you go to teach at the school you are having your teaching practicum.  It’s impossible to hail a taxi on the street in Brisbane, the drivers have the right to refuse to carry you!  Instead you should phone (phone number: 13 22 32) to call a cab in advance and AUD 1 is charged.  And you are advised to phone to call a cab if you have to go to the practicum school the next morning.  And remember to make sure that you get a taxi voucher from QUT (preferably from Ms. Semmi Sin) before your day(s) of practicum, otherwise you must pay for yourself!