Tasmania’s Buses Are Free Until 30 June 2027: What Is Covered, What Is Not and What Still Needs Booking (Hobart, TAS)

Bus travel across Tasmania is free until 30 June 2027, with no fare to pay and no GreenCard to tap on Metro Tasmania services. The Tasmanian Government has extended a scheme that began on Monday 30 March 2026 and was first set to end on 1 July 2026, as of 19 October 2026.

This guide sets out what the free travel covers, what it does not, how it works with prepaid tickets and bookings, and what the official pages say, and do not say, about visitors. It draws on the Tasmanian Government’s fares page, Metro Tasmania’s notice of 21 May 2026 and the Premier’s announcement of 29 March 2026.

How long will Tasmanian buses be free?

The free period runs from Monday 30 March 2026 to 30 June 2027. The Premier’s media release of 29 March 2026 announced the scheme and said free bus travel would run from 30 March until 1 July 2026. The Tasmanian Government’s fares page now says the promotion “was initially scheduled to end on 30 June 2026 but has been extended by 12 months to 30 June 2027”.

Metro Tasmania’s notice describes the extension as part of a cost-of-living initiative. The government’s own wording is that it is “a temporary measure in response to rising fuel costs”, and it says the Tasmanian Government is funding it.

Neither of those pages gives a fare for the days after the free period ends. The Derwent Ferries fares page does: from 1 July 2027 an adult fare is $1.70 ($1.36 with a Metro GreenCard or contactless smart ticketing), a concession fare is $1.20 ($0.96 with a GreenCard) and a child or student fare for ages 5 to 16 is $1.00 ($0.80 with a GreenCard or contactless smart ticketing). Bus fares from 1 July 2027 are not listed on the pages read for this guide.

Which services are free?

The government’s fares page says free travel applies to adult, concession, urban, non-urban and child or student fares. It covers:

• general access services operated by Metro Tasmania, Tassielink Transit, Kinetic, Manions Coaches, Calows Coaches, Area Connect and Derwent Ferries;
• all government-contracted school bus services that charge a fare.

The page answers the question “Does free travel only apply on Metro Tasmania services?” with “No”, so the long-distance coaches in the list above are included. It also says the River Derwent Ferry service is covered.

What is not free?

The fares page asks “Does free travel apply on SkyBus or the Bruny Island Ferry?” and answers “No, these services are not included.” If you are heading to or from the airport, see our Hobart Airport to the city by SkyBus guide for the fares that still apply.

Do I tap my GreenCard?

No, not on Metro buses while free travel is in place. Metro’s notice says no fare is required and “Customers should not tap their GreenCard when boarding”. Its advice is to hop on and take a seat.

If you already hold credit, the fares page covers two cases:

• If you topped up a GreenCard or a Transportme account, or bought 10-trip tickets, you can use them for travel after 30 June 2027.
• If you pre-booked a ticket for a trip during the free period, talk to the operator you booked with about a refund of your fare.

Do I still need to book?

On some routes, yes. The fares page says normal booking requirements apply. The ones it lists are:

Route	Booking	How to book
Devonport, Launceston and Hobart (Kinetic)	Essential to get on or off at Bridgewater, Brighton, Kempton, Melton Mowbray, Oatlands, Tunbridge, Ross, Conara Junction, Epping Forest, Perth or Latrobe; recommended for all other stops to guarantee a seat	Kinetic website, or 1300 360 000
East coast (Coles Bay, Bicheno, St Marys, St Helens) and Launceston (Calows Coaches)	Essential	Calows Coaches website
East coast (Coles Bay, Bicheno, Swansea) and Hobart (Tassielink)	Not essential	Tassielink website, or 1300 300 520
Burnie and the west coast (Tassielink)	Essential if you want to get on or off at Waratah	Tassielink website, or 1300 300 520
Area Connect	Essential	Email info@areaconnect.org.au, or 1300 651 948

Local Metro routes in Greater Hobart are not on that list.

Are visitors covered?

The official pages do not say. The Premier’s media release speaks of Tasmanians travelling free, and Metro’s notice says “Tasmanians can travel on Metro buses for free”. The Tasmanian Government’s fares page, though, says “Public transport is free” and lists the covered fares without mentioning residency, and Derwent Ferries’ page uses the same wording. None of the pages read for this guide describes a residency check or a visitor fare, and none says visitors are excluded.

Because the wording is not explicit, a visitor who wants a definite answer can ask the operator, using the contact details on the Metro Tasmania fares page.

What should I expect on the bus?

The government has not added services. Its FAQ answers “Are you putting on more services?” with “No”, and says it will monitor capacity and encourage walking and cycling for short journeys. If a bus or ferry looks full, it says adults may want to consider waiting for the next service, and it encourages travel outside peak periods where people can. Metro’s notice also asks customers to allow extra travel time, particularly during peak periods.

For anyone who has not used public transport before, the fares page gives these steps:

• Choose your destination and plan the trip using the timetables, a map app, or by contacting your operator.
• Track public buses and ferries in real time on Google Maps and other apps.
• Arrive at the stop or wharf five to 10 minutes early.
• For buses, wave to the driver so they know to stop, and enter through the front door.
• Find a seat or, if there is none, hold the nearest strap or pole.
• For buses, press the button to get off, and exit once the bus or ferry has come to a complete stop.

Greater Hobart bus timetables changed on 3 May 2026, according to the same page, and new Sunday services to and from Brighton were introduced. The page says the Greater Hobart bus network is under review and a draft design of a new network is being prepared. Check Metro Tasmania’s network updates for changes on the day you travel.

How much does free travel save?

When the scheme was announced in March, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Kerry Vincent gave three examples of what a full-fare traveller would save. A student paying the full fare on the bus saves $20 each week. An adult catching the bus from Dodges Ferry into Hobart each day for work spends $88 less a week. An adult doing a round trip from Bicheno to Hobart at the full fare is $48 better off. Those were the minister’s figures in March 2026, under the original end date.

In the release, the Premier said Tasmanians were increasingly choosing public transport, with a “20% increase across the state in the last week”.

Quick answers

• Local bus in Hobart: no fare, no GreenCard tap, until 30 June 2027.
• River Derwent Ferry: covered, free to 30 June 2027.
• Airport SkyBus: not covered. Normal SkyBus fares apply.
• Bruny Island Ferry: not covered.
• Long-distance coach: free, but book where the operator requires it.
• Topped-up GreenCard or 10-trip ticket: still valid after 30 June 2027.
• Visitor: the official pages do not state a rule.

Sources

• Tasmanian Government, Transport Services — Fares (page last updated 24 August 2026; checked 19 October 2026)
• Metro Tasmania — Free bus travel across Tasmania until June 2027 (21 May 2026)
• Metro Tasmania — Tickets and fares (checked 19 October 2026)
• Premier of Tasmania — Travel Free Tasmania (29 March 2026)
• Derwent Ferries — Fares (checked 19 October 2026)

Featured image: a Metro bus on route 503 to Hobart City at Moonah, photographed in July 2026 (photo: Philip Mallis / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added)

OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Metro Tasmania, Derwent Ferries or the Tasmanian Government. Fares and rules can change; check the official pages above before you travel.