Buses, Ferries, Coaches, Taxis
Buses provide local transport between residential areas and main centres in the Lower Hunter Region.
Most buses operate on fixed routes and stop at designated bus stops.
In Maitland there is an ‘on call’ bus service at night times and weekends.
Information and timetables
Information and timetables for bus and ferry services are available from the individual bus depots, the bus company websites, Visitor Information Centres and some shopping centres. Some bus stops have timetable information displays.
You can phone bus companies and ask for a timetable to be posted to you. Newcastle Buses also has a Regional Guide brochure.
Keep your bus ticket at the end of your trip. The information printed on it can assist in locating any lost property.
Bus company services
- Newcastle Buses - in Newcastle and the eastern part of Lake Macquarie, extending from Newcastle City Centre to Warabrook, Wallsend, Glendale, Speers Point, Valentine and Caves Beach.
- Toronto Bus Services - In the western part of Lake Macquarie, extending from the Mayfield industrial area, University of Newcastle and Glendale to Fassifern, Toronto, Coal Point, Awaba, Rathmines and Wangi Wangi.
- Sugar Valley Coachlines - Linking University of Newcastle, Charlestown and Glendale with Edgeworth and West Wallsend.
- Morisset Bus Service - Linking Morisset with Morisset Peninsular and Cooranbong.
- Busways - In the south of Lake Macquarie, linking Wyee, Charlestown and Swansea with Wyong; and in the north linking Tea Gardens, Hawks Nest, and Bulahdelah with Newcastle.
- Rover Coaches - Local Cessnock services, and linking Cessnock with Kurri Kurri, Maitland and Newcastle.
- Hunter Valley Buses (previously Blue Ribbon) - Local services in Maitland, linking Singleton, Branxton, Maitland, Thornton and Woodberry; linking Raymond Terrace and Newcastle via Hexham and via Medowie; linking Lemon Tree Passage with Raymond Terrace and Newcastle; local Stockton services.
- Port Stephens Coaches - Local services between Soldiers Point, Nelson Bay and Fingal Bay, and between Fingal Bay and Newcastle via Newcastle Airport.
Accessible buses
Accessible buses make it easier for everyone to travel by bus. They are especially useful for passengers using wheelchairs or mobility aids, those with prams and children, and those with mobility impairments. The front door of the bus can be lowered to kerb height, and a ramp can be extended to the ground if necessary. There are no steps inside the front part of the bus, and there is space available for wheelchairs, strollers and prams.
Routes with accessible bus trips include 100, 101, 140, 160 – 171, 226, 270-276, 322, 349, 350, 363. To clarify the accessibility of a service, contact the operator.
Many bus stops have timetable displays for all the services at that stop including those that are operated with accessible buses.
Individual route timetable brochures also show which trips are operated with accessible buses.
Accessible ramps are provided at the Stockton Ferry wharves.
Coaches
Coaches provide links for travel to other regions. Coach stop locations vary for each service. Make sure you know the exact location when you make a booking.
Prior bookings are essential. Bookings can best be made by contacting the operator by phone or on their website: for contact details see page 62. Some travel agents also handle some coach bookings.
Coach Services and Operators
Port Macquarie – Forster – Newcastle
Holiday Coast Connections
Weekdays and Saturdays morning trip from Wauchope, Port Macquarie, Taree, Forster, Bulahdelah and Tea Gardens to Newcastle Airport, Newcastle Station, John Hunter Hospital, Mater Hospital and University. Return trip in the afternoon.
Port Stephens – Sydney
Port Stephens Coaches
Daily morning trip from Fingal Bay, Nelson Bay, Salamander Centre, Soldiers Point, Anna Bay, Salt Ash and Raymond Terrace to Ourimbah, Hornsby, Pymble, Chatswood and Sydney Central. Returns each afternoon. Additional afternoon services operate at peak times.
Forster – Newcastle – Sydney
Busways North Coast
Daily morning trip from Tuncurry, Forster, Smith Lakes, Bulahdelah, Karuah, Raymond Terrace and Newcastle to Doyalson, Hornsby, Chatswood and Sydney Central. Returns each afternoon.
Taree – Newcastle – Sydney
Busways North Coast, CountryLink
Daily morning trip, and weekday afternoon trip, from Taree, Forster, Smith Lakes, Bulahdelah, Tea Gardens, Karuah, Raymond Terrace to Newcastle. Connects at Broadmeadow with CountryLink trains to and from Sydney. Return trips each afternoon and on weekday mornings.
Cessnock – Sydney
Rover Coaches
Wine Country Express each morning from Sydney Central, Circular Quay, Chatswood and Gordon to Cessnock and Pokolbin vineyards, returning each afternoon.
Scone – Singleton – Cessnock – Sydney
Keans Travel
Morning trip on weekdays and Saturdays, and afternoon trips on Fridays and Sundays, to Sydney Central via Muswellbrook, Branxton, Cessnock, Kurri Kurri, Hornsby, Chatswood and St Leonards. Afternoon trip from Sydney every day, with an extra trip on Fridays.
Newcastle – Dubbo
Sid Foggs Coachlines
Morning trip, three days a week, from Newcastle Station, Maitland Station and Branxton to Singleton, Muswellbrook, Denman, Merriwa, Dunedoo and Dubbo. Return trip in afternoon on same days. Connects at Dubbo with CountryLink train to Orange and CountryLink coaches on some days to Bourke, Broken Hill and Lightning Ridge.
Newcastle – Sydney
Premier Motor Service, Greyhound
Up to six coach trips a day operate between Newcastle Station and Sydney Central. Some trips also stop at Raymond Terrace, Maitland, Beresfield, Hexham and Belmont, and some trips extend to Sydney Airport.
Newcastle – Brisbane
Premier Motor Service, Greyhound
Six trips a day go via Pacific Hwy and the North Coast and one trip a day goes via New England Hwy through Tamworth and Tenterfield.
Coach stop locations
Newcastle: bus interchange beside Newcastle Station
- Charlestown: Smart St between Smith St and Pacific Hwy
- Belmont: Bus zone on Pacific Hwy at Macquarie St
- Beresfield: BP service station on John Renshaw Dr
- Heatherbrae: Bus stop near 7-Eleven store
- Raymond Terrace: Pacific Hwy north of Glenelg St
- Karuah: Mobil service station
- Tea Gardens: opposite Simba Cruises
- Maitland: Railway station
- Branxton: Branxton Hotel
- Pokolbin: Visitor Information Centre
- Cessnock: bus zone in Vincent St at Hall St
Taxis
Taxis provide a convenient and safe form of transport, especially when no regular transport services are suitable or available.
Taxi services in the Lower Hunter Region are provided by several companies, each of which has a designated area in which it operates. They operate 24 hours a day.
To catch a taxi, you can:
- signal to a vacant taxi in the street. The taxi will stop for you if it is safe to do so
- engage a taxi waiting at a taxi rank
- book a taxi by phone.
When you phone for a taxi, you will be asked to provide this information:
- your name or business name
- the address or location where you want the taxi to pick you up
- the destination that you wish to travel to
- the number of passengers travelling
- when you wish the taxi to arrive
- whether you will be paying by cash or credit card.
Tell the phone operator if you need particular equipment (such as a baby capsule), or a Wheelchair Accessible Taxi.
You will be advised when to expect the taxi to arrive. However, this is always dependent on whether there is a vacant taxi available in your area at that time.
Taxi fares are measured by a meter in the taxi. The fare is payable to the driver at the end of the trip. The metered fare rate may vary at night time (city areas) or by the distance travelled (country areas).
When the amber light on the roof of a taxi is illuminated, the taxi is available for hire. When the red lamp is illuminated (urban areas) the night fare rate is being charged.
Multiple hiring of a taxi is permissible with consent, i.e. passengers can travel to different destinations. The fare to each destination is determined by the driver based on the fare for direct travel to that destination.
You can contact your local taxi service by phoning 131 008, or by phoning the company’s own phone number.
- Cessnock Radio Cabs 4990 1111
- Kurri Radio Cabs 4937 1666
- Maitland Taxi Service 4933 7333
- Morisset Cab Company 4973 3100
- Morisset Taxi Service 4970 5111
- Nelson Bay Taxis 4984 6699
- Newcastle Taxis 133 300
- Rathmines Wangi Taxi Service 4975 3664
For those with speech or hearing difficulties, Newcastle Taxis has a fax booking service on 4904 5910.
Taxis can also be used for sightseeing tours and for parcel and document deliveries.
All taxis have fully functional air conditioning and are smoke free.
Ferries
Newcastle Buses & Ferries: between Newcastle (Queens Wharf) and Stockton
Port Stephens Ferry Service: between Nelson Bay and Tea Gardens.
