Free seniors and veterans bus travel extended to weekends

Gold Coast seniors and veterans can now access local Surfside buses for free every day of the week.

Mayor Tom Tate said the expansion of the Free Seniors Travel program to include weekends was timely given the upcoming holiday season.

“With more than 40,000 people already registered for the program, this is a great outcome for our seniors,” said Mayor Tate.

“The program currently enables seniors and veterans to travel for free weekdays between 8.30am and 3.30pm. The extended program will also allow free travel all day long on Saturday and Sunday.

“This initiative improves the quality of life for some of our more vulnerable citizens and empowers them to travel independently every day of the week. This is great news leading in to the holiday season.     

“Since the program began in 2013, more than six million trips have been made by Gold Coast seniors and veterans on Surfside buses.  “It is important that we ensure our seniors and veterans have a safe, accessible, comfortable and affordable way to travel across the city.”

Free bus travel for seniors and veterans forms part of the City’s Road Safety Plan and is a key initiative of the Gold Coast City Transport Strategy 2031.

Reducing demand on the city’s road network is a key focus for the Gold Coast City Transport Strategy 2031.

To be eligible for free bus travel, passengers must hold a TransLink Seniors red go card or a Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) gold or white card, be a Gold Coast resident and complete an application. 

Registered veterans and seniors are provided with a sticker to attach to their go card which they simply show to the bus driver when they board. You can download an application form at cityofgoldcoast.com.au/freebustravel, collect one from a City Customer Service Centre or phone 1300 GOLDCOAST (1300 465 326) and one will be mailed to you.

Note: Free Seniors and Veterans Bus Travel on the Gold Coast does not apply on Queensland Rail trains or on G:Link light rail services.