Adelaide Central Bus Station

Coach transportion seems like a false economy to me. What with Virgin, Jetstar and Tiger offering fares from ADL to MLB for $ 1.50 and all. But strangely, I have an affinity for the bus. Perhaps not for interstate trips – done it once, never again. But for trips to the country, through sprawling picture-​postcard landscapes, it’s my preferred mode of transport. I like the process of stowing my luggage below, gathering my things – my water bottle, book and headphones – for the so-​many-​hour journey. I like sitting up high and looking at all that is below. I like the sparse commentary that isn’t about the weather in our destination or the expected disembarkment time. I like the terminuses where one boards: a realm of movement, beginnings and ends, joy and sorrow. Everyone seems to have a rich story at bus depots, more so than at airports – one could be forgiven for thinking of them as the sphere of the elite. There seems to be a lot of poverty – hence the false economy reference – and an abundance of eccentricity but that’s what makes the world rich, no? Imagine Kings Cross sterile and full of archetypical apartment blocks. Yuck.
The Adelaide Central Bus Station is rightfully modern. A place of hellos and goodbyes. A place of delight and regret. A place where movement begins and ends and begins again. It facilitates all this much more pleasingly than in the old days: the previous terminal depressing, I found. The Adelaide Central Bus Station is a place I like to begin my journeys to the countryside.

Coming from the country I have frequented the Adelaide Central Bus Station more than I would like to admit. That 6 hour Stateliner trip with 8 million stops to Mount Gambier is the bane of my existence and as soon as I could get my license I was saving for a car so I wouldn’t have to travel on the bus anymore.
Having said that, for those who don’t mind the bus the service has greatly improved as has the facilities. The new Central Bus Station has been there for a few years but looks so much nicer than the sad looking building next door that was its former residences. The building is light and airy and there is plenty of seating room while you wait. There is big row of customer service people who can help with your questions and a little café to purchase magazines or food for the trip. There are nice toilet facilities and a freight area where you can pick up packages sent up on the buses. A definite improvement on what used to be there before, although there is still not great parking which becomes a pain.

Where to go to get a bus. I have bad memories of this bus station because I hate long haul bus trips, and I inevitably resent wherever I arrive after hours cooped up in a sweaty bus.
That being said, this place is fine. It’s a fairly new building with high ceilings and adequate facilities including a small shop, lockers, bathrooms, shower and indoor/​outdoor seating. It’s also located inside the city centre, so other forms of transport like cabs, city buses and trains are just a walk away.
I suggest booking ahead if you’re travelling through here because unlike many other transport hubs, these guys shut in the early evening and often won’t book tickets after six pm. Also, watch you bags and your pockets. I’ve heard stories of people being quietly robbed here.

The Adelaide Central Bus Station is the city’s hub for regional and interstate bus travel, as well as specialist tour operators. I have used the services available at the Adelaide Central Bus Station to travel back to my home town of Mildura, and I’m never disappointed. The buses have been generally comfortable, and the last few times I’ve travelled they have been good enough to put in movies. They stop every now and again to allow you to stretch your legs, which can get annoying as it makes the 4 ½ hour drive to Mildura from Adelaide into 6 hours. The ticket prices aren’t too bad. $ 60 approx to get to Mildura, which is about a tank of fuel which is what it would cost you anyway. Just be careful because they don’t run on some days. So plan your trip ahead.
The actual station is good too. If you need to wait a while for your bus, there is a large seated area and a small café where they serve relatively good coffee.
For ticket information you need to contact the particular coach/​tour operator. These include:
Regional and interstate services:
Buses ‘R’ Us
Firefly Express
Greyhound Australia
LinkSA
Premier Stateliner
Sealink
V/​Line
Yorke Peninsula Coaches
Tour and charter operators:
Adelaide Sightseeing
Adelaide’s Top Food and Wine Tours
Bookabee Tours
Des’s Mini Bus Tours and Charters
Explorer Coachlines
Genesis Tours
Gray Line
Great Sights
King William Travel
Sealink
Tourabout Adelaide