FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
If you are unable to find the answer to your question in our F.A.Q. please do not hesitate to contact us
- Q. What is expected of me on OzBus?
- Q. Whilst travelling, what facilities will be available for me to communicate with home?
- Q. Who are my fellow passengers?
- Q. How long beforehand should I book?
- Q. Can I leave the trip and rejoin later?
- Q. Are the destinations that we visit safe?
- Q. What facilities do your vehicles have?
- Q. Can you help arrange my travel visas?
- Q. Couldn’t I get to Sydney overland on my own?
- Q. Will I be able to charge my phone/iPod etc?
- Q. Is there a minimum / maximum age?
- Q. Will I be sent anymore information?
- Q. Do OzBus run any other trips?
- Q. Where can I find your departure dates?
Q. What is expected of me on OzBus?
A. In order to make the most of your trip we ask all passengers to participate as much as possible. Duties can include: cooking, bus/camp cleaning, shopping and security watch; the tour leader may organise a roster at the beginning of the tour so that everyone does their fair share. The advantages of this are meeting local people when shopping in markets, helping the environment by keeping campsites and nature spots tidy, as well as meeting and getting to know all your fellow travellers. Flexibility is key, an open mind will introduce you to the local delights of the area you are travelling through as well as allow you to enjoy the tour to its fullest.
Q. Whilst travelling, what facilities will be available for me to communicate with home?
A. Email/Internet cafes can be found on most routes fairly regularly and are the cheapest way to communicate with family and friends. If you do not already have an email address set one up before you go, Yahoo! and Hotmail are the most popular. Some café connections can be slow and in remote areas it is still fairly expensive so ask friends to refrain from sending any emails that have pictures or music to download. This way you can make the most of your time telling everyone about your travels and still have time to fit in sightseeing. Phoning from abroad is expensive wherever you travel and often lines are bad, email bypasses a lot of these problems and lets everyone know where you are.
Q. Who are my fellow passengers?
A. . Your fellow passengers come from a variety of backgrounds – usually a mixture of British, Irish, Australian, New Zealanders, European and North American. Some are setting off to backpack Australia, while others are simply heading home. There’s normally a fairly even mix of sexes and ages. Most passengers come as individuals, while others book with friends. Either way, you will find yourself amongst new found friends from all over the world.
Q. How long beforehand should I book?
A. It's difficult to say. Trips often book up quite early. It's advisable to book at least 5-6 months before departure.
Q. Can I leave the trip and rejoin later?
A.Yes you can, we try not to run trips where we hold your hand, and you are free to come and go as you please. Just remember that any excursions away from the group are at your own expense.
Q. Are the destinations that we visit safe?
A. As with all trips, whether it’s to Tunbridge Wells or Turkey, we can never guarantee that an area is one hundred per cent safe. However, we take the safety of our travellers, and our tour leaders, extremely seriously, and would not operate in an area where we consider there to be a significant risk. When deciding matters like this, we take advice from both the British Foreign Office and our local operators, to make sure that we base our decisions on the most up to date and accurate information.
Q. What facilities do your vehicles have?
A.OzBus vehicles are as comfortable as possible. On board you will find forward facing seats, an onboard toilet and air-conditioning.
They are all fitted with long-range fuel and water tanks to avoid any shortages. All buses provide tables, campstools, cooking equipment such as grills or gas burners, all kitchen utensils, pots, pans, knives, chopping boards and washing bowls. Also provided is crockery and eating utensils.
Q. Can you help arrange my travel visas?
A. Requirements for travel visas vary depending on your nationality. Although we are unable to arrange visas on your behalf we recommend using the services of a visa processing company.
Q. Couldn’t I get to Sydney overland on my own?
A. Whilst there’s nothing to stop you, the answer is probably no! London to Sydney overland is a journey of epic proportion having been undertaken by only a few people.
Each OzBus journey offers something different from the next. Be it adverse weather conditions, over zealous border officials or washed away bridges, make no mistake this journey really is one of the world’s last real adventures!
Q. Will I be able to charge my phone/iPod etc?
A. Yes, each vehicle has a built-in power board for recharging phones/laptops/electrical equipment etc whist on the road.
Q. Is there a minimum / maximum age?
A. There is no maximum age, however, we cannot take anyone under 17 years old.
Q. Will I be sent anymore information?
A. . Yes, once you pay your deposit you will be sent an information pack, which outlines your trip in more detail. This includes information on visas, vaccinations and what to bring with you.
Q. Do OzBus run any other trips?
A. . Yes we operate trips to a number of interesting destinations, please see the homepage for details.
Q. Where can I find your departure dates?
A. . You can find departure dates by clicking here.
OzBus believes in sustainable eco-tourism and support, using wherever possible, other organisations who feel the same way. They'll get you up close and personal with the local people and wildlife as safely as they can, as well as help you understand the culture without damaging the delicate eco-systems