At a glance
- Who it’s for
- Locals and visitors riding Translink buses on the Sunshine Coast
- What to do now
- Tap a go card, a contactless Visa or Mastercard, or a linked smart device; for Hinterland buses, carry cash
- Standard fare
- 50 cents a journey, as Translink’s 50 cent fares page and Sunshine Coast travel page say at the time of checking
- go explore
- $1.50 a day on Sunshine Coast buses and Gold Coast buses and trams; children aged four and under free
- Hinterland buses
- Glasshouse Country Coaches; paper tickets with cash onboard; go card not accepted
- Last checked
- 7 November 2026, on four Translink pages
- Not yet confirmed
- Translink’s 50 cent fares page gives no end date, and the Hinterland paper-ticket price is not stated on the pages checked
Sunshine Coast bus journeys cost 50 cents each under Translink’s 50 cent flat fare, and the go explore card, a $1.50 day pass for visitors, covers Sunshine Coast buses as well as Gold Coast buses and trams. The Sunshine Coast Hinterland buses are the exception: they take cash for paper tickets onboard and do not accept a go card.
This guide uses four Translink pages, all checked on 7 November 2026: 50 cent fares, go explore, go explore fast facts and Sunshine Coast travel.
How much does a bus cost on the Sunshine Coast?
Translink’s 50 cent fares page describes a flat rate of 50 cents across all zones and modes on the Translink network across Queensland, including all regional urban buses. The Sunshine Coast travel page says the same in its own words: travel for 50 cents for every journey, every day.
| Question | What Translink’s pages say |
|---|---|
| Which payments get the 50 cent fare? | All go card, credit or debit card and paper ticket payments |
| Does the off-peak discount apply? | No. The 20% off-peak discount does not apply during this time |
| Do concession fares apply? | No. The 50% concession fares do not apply; the fare is a flat 50 cents for everyone |
| Do frequent journey discounts apply? | No. Discounts such as ‘8 journeys and half price’ and ‘One, Two, Free’ do not apply during this time |
| Are there free fares for children? | Children aged five to 14 can still travel free on weekends with an orange child go card; children aged four and under travel free at all times |
| Which services are left out? | Airtrain, and dedicated school buses |
The page does not give an end date for the 50 cent fare. It says “during this time” without defining it; the pages checked give no end date.
How do you pay for a Sunshine Coast bus?
The Sunshine Coast travel page lists three ways to pay, and says that whether you are a local or a tourist, there is a ticket type for you.
| Payment | How Translink describes it |
|---|---|
| Contactless | Use a Visa or Mastercard card or a smart device linked to a digital wallet. Tap to the validator at the start of the trip and again at the end, and use one card or device for each person travelling. |
| go card | Add money, tap on at the start and tap off at the end. Cards work on buses, trains, trams and ferries. |
| go explore | A visitor card for unlimited travel on Sunshine Coast buses at $1.50 a day. |
The 50 cent fares page adds that the South East Queensland network is cashless, although you can use cash to top up a go card at fare machines at bus and train stations, or at go card retailers.
Where do you buy or top up a go card?
The Sunshine Coast travel page says you can buy and top up go cards at retailers, and at major bus interchanges and train stations. They can also be bought online or by calling 13 12 30. If you are only visiting the Sunshine Coast, you can return your go card to selected retailers or Queensland Rail ticket offices at the end of your stay to receive a full refund.
What is go explore and what does it cost?
The go explore page calls it an electronic ticket for the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast. The fast facts page says it is a travel card, similar to the go card, that is ideal for visitors and tourists.
| Detail | go explore |
|---|---|
| Price | $1.50 per day |
| Children | Children under 5 travel free |
| How long a day pass lasts | Unlimited travel until 3am the next day |
| How many days you can load | Up to eight daily travel passes, and they do not have to be on consecutive days |
| When the pass starts | The first time you tap onto a bus, or at a tram station, for the day |
| Card validity | Expires one year after the date of purchase; all reloads and travel must be completed before then |
| Refunds | Not available for the card; a damaged or faulty card can be reported on 13 12 30 |
The Sunshine Coast travel page also says: “If you’re planning on doing more than three journeys per day, grab a go explore card for as many rides as you want.”
Where can you use go explore?
Translink’s fast facts page says go explore works on Translink bus and tram services on the Gold Coast and Translink bus services on the Sunshine Coast. It says you cannot use it for travel on Sunshine Coast Hinterland services, Queensland Rail train services, or any Translink bus or ferry services operated in Brisbane.
On the Sunshine Coast travel page, Translink says that if you plan to go beyond the Sunshine Coast, a go card is the best option for continuing travel across South East Queensland.
Where do you buy go explore?
Translink lists selected retailers on the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, and Gold Coast Airport (The Hub Convenience Store). Extra day passes can be reloaded at selected retailers and fare machines. Tourism or retail businesses interested in becoming a go explore partner are asked to contact ticketing@translink.com.au.
How do the Hinterland buses work?
The Sunshine Coast travel page says Glasshouse Country Coaches run services to the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. Paper tickets can be bought onboard a Hinterland bus using cash, and the page asks passengers to help the driver by having the correct fare or small change ready. It says these services do not accept a go card.
The 50 cent fares page lists the Sunshine Coast Hinterland among the regional areas where the 50 cent flat fare applies to Translink network regional bus services. For regional urban buses, it says you can pay by cash onboard or through any of the existing ticketing options. The pages checked do not state the price of a Hinterland paper ticket, so this guide does not give one.
Which route runs from Sunshine Coast Airport?
The Sunshine Coast travel page says route 622 departs Sunshine Coast Airport every hour and travels to Noosa Junction and Maroochydore. At Maroochydore bus station you can connect to other urban routes, including route 600, which the page calls a high frequency service along the coast between Maroochydore and Caloundra. Our guide to the airport bus covers that route in more detail.
How do you get to Brisbane?
The Sunshine Coast travel page says there are regular departures from Nambour and Landsborough stations, and up to two trains a day from Gympie North. The 50 cent fares page says the flat fare covers Queensland Rail City Train services in South East Queensland, but excludes Airtrain, which has its own fares and can be reached on (07) 3216 3308 or 1800 119 091.
Who do you call for service updates?
Translink says to check its service updates regularly or call 24/7 on 13 12 30. It also recommends the Translink app, which shows when a bus will arrive in real time, lets you save favourite stops and routes, and allows you to plan a journey.
Quick checklist
- On Sunshine Coast urban buses, tap a go card, a contactless card or a linked device, and tap off at the end of the trip.
- Use one card or device for each person travelling.
- go explore is $1.50 a day, loads up to eight day passes, and is not valid on Hinterland services.
- For Hinterland buses, carry cash and have the correct fare or small change ready.
Sources
- Translink — 50 cent fares (checked 7 November 2026)
- Translink — go explore (checked 7 November 2026)
- Translink — go explore fast facts (checked 7 November 2026)
- Translink — Sunshine Coast travel (checked 7 November 2026)
Featured image: Bulcock Beach, Caloundra (photo: Damien Dempsey from Melbourne, Australia / CC BY 2.0) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Translink or Queensland Rail. Fares and services can change; check the Translink pages above.