East Coast Discovery Pass

Each pass offers six months of rail travel in one direction between two cities with unlimited stopovers along the way. Start your journey in Cairns and head down to Melbourne, or flip it around and start in Melbourne and end in Cairns. Either way, this pass provides an enjoyable ride on the Queensland Rail and Countrylink rail and coach networks. The best part of the East Coast Discovery Pass is that you get unlimited stopovers and can travel for 6 months. If you choose to reverse you direction you are eligble for a 50% discount fare if you are a East Coast Discovery Pass holder.

The East Coast Discovery Pass Includes travel on the trains:

Sunlander  Tilt Train  Xplorer  XPT

Sydney-Melbourne* ------> direct or via Canberra

Sydney-Surfers Paradise* ------> via Murwillumbah

Sydney-Brisbane* ------> via Kyogle or Murwillumbah

Sydney-Cairns ------> via Kyogle or Murwillumbah

Melbourne-Brisbane* ------> direct or via Canberra/Sydney/Murwillumbah

Melbourne-Surfers Paradise* ------> direct or via Canberra/Sydney/Murwillumbah

Melbourne-Cairns ------> direct or via Canberra/Sydney/Kyogle or Murwillumbah

We often carry more tickets than we can list online-- call us with any questions.

Pass Details:

• East Coast Discovery Passes are not yet available for online orders.
• The East Coast Discovery Pass must be validated on the commencing day of travel at any CountryLink ticket sales outlet. If you are joining a service at an unattended location, the Pass will be checked and validated by on-train staff or coach captains.
• All pass rates are valid for the purchase date shown.
• Payment for all passes can be made and a voucher will be issued for passes not held – this should be exchanged at a major rail station in the relevant state within Australia.
• Upgrading is permitted (additional surcharges apply).
• A travel day is a period of 24 hours or less, from the scheduled departure time of a service. An overnight trip 2100/0900 is recorded as one day.
• All rates listed are subject to change without notice.
• Pre booking as early as possible is recommended to ensure that maximum value is obtained from the Pass – many trains are heavily patronized year round or seasonally. Great Southern Railway requires pre-booking for all trains at least 24 hours prior to travel.
• East Coast Discovery Passes are valid for six months from the first day of travel.
• Full travel conditions are detailed on each pass.
• An overnight journey may be permitted on the last day endorsed in the validation section of the Pass, provided the last sector can be completed the next day.
• East Coast Discovery Passes are available for unlimited travel on CountryLink and Queensland TravelTrain East Coast services in one direction, either north or south, between the locations endorsed on the ticket. Not available for travel on Queensland CityTrain or Melbourne Met services.
• The first day of travel for the CountryLink passes must commence 6 months from the date of purchase.
• Passes must be made available on request to authorized persons when traveling.
• There is no refund or replacement of passes that have been validated, lost, stolen or passes that are invalid or expired. For refunds on tickets that have not been validated, please see below under “Refunds and Ticket Changes”.
• Any reservation not cancelled before departure of a booked sector/service will render that sector/service invalid for future travel. /Any unused portion of a pass will expire six months from the date of purchase.
• Passes are not available for travel until validated.

• All passes are for travel in Economy Seats/Red Kangaroo Daynighter seats and are valid for 6 months.
• National passes are only available to international visitors and should be purchased before arrival into Australia.
• Passes are only available to overseas travelers and visitors in possession of a current international passport with a valid visa, with the following exception: Australian residents can purchase East Coast Discovery Passes for travel between Sydney and Cairns, Melbourne and Cairns and Brisbane and Cairns in either direction. A passport is not required.
• Passes are not transferable and may only be used by the person whose name is on the pass.
• Coordinated travel on CountryLink and CityRail services is only allowed when traveling in conjunction with a connecting CountryLink service.
• Reservations are compulsory. One passenger only can travel per pass.
• Adults fare only apply to the purchase of CountryLink Passes. No concessions or discounts permitted.
• Normal luggage allowances and reservation restrictions apply.
• There is no refund on partially used, lost or stolen passes. Please check your travel insurance and inquire if it offers protection against loss of theft of your rail pass.
• If the pass is returned for cancellation of alteration before the first date of travel listed on the pass, we have a standard 15% cancellation/alteration fee in addition to an administrative charge per ticket, in all cases. Cancellations and alterations can only be made when we receive the pass/ticket PRIOR to the first date of travel. Duplicate or replacement passes/tickets cannot be issued under any condition.