SE QLD Tourist Public Travel Card launched

[markis10]

Not great value, considering a go card provides free travel after 9 journeys in any given week starting Monday, unless you are arriving into Brisbane and heading to the coast:

SEEQ Go Cards, which will be available from Wednesday, will allow tourists unlimited travel over three consecutive days for $79, while a five-day travel pass will cost $129.

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Included in the price is a return trip to Brisbane Airport on the Airtrain, which would normally cost an adult $31, meaning an average visitor will pay about $20 a day for unlimited travel across the southeast corner.
Children's SEEQ Go Cards will cost $40 for three days of unlimited travel and $65 for five consecutive days of travel.

Read more: Translink Offers Go Cards For Tourists | Southeast Queensland
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[anat0l]

This is really only for those who are tourists doing sightseeing - and quite a bit of it at that. Something like up and down the coasts. If you stay purely inner city (or surrounding suburbs), it starts to lose its shine.

The economics of this card vs. buying an Airtrain return (or full one-way, hotel discounted ticket back) then investing in a standard go card (taking advantage of the 9 journeys in a Mon-Sun period then free) are not clear cut in favour of the SEEQ card. The only advantage of the SEEQ card is less stuffing around, but still.

The comparison against the other "travel cards" of other systems around the world is compelling, though suffice to say if you were to travel substantially out of the inner city areas of London or Paris (in the same way you need to in order to visit some of the prime Brisbane attractions), you'd be paying more, too.

 

[Must...Fly!]

I've been meaning to ask about Go Cards, here would seem the appropriate place.

We're going to the Gold Coast for 11 days in December. Staying in Broadbeach, so anticipate a few runs up to surfers and back, and of course going to the theme parks every other day. I'm thinking a Go Card for each of us would be the most economical way to get around? Flying in to OOL so no concerns with AirTrain.

 

[markis10]

I've been meaning to ask about Go Cards, here would seem the appropriate place.

We're going to the Gold Coast for 11 days in December. Staying in Broadbeach, so anticipate a few runs up to surfers and back, and of course going to the theme parks every other day. I'm thinking a Go Card for each of us would be the most economical way to get around? Flying in to OOL so no concerns with AirTrain.

They are a no brainer considering the paper tickets are much more expensive, just make sure you always touch off, unlike some other cards such as in Melbourne where its not necessary to do so on some services. The public transport to the theme parks is very good, you can even grab a bus from OOL to Broadbeach as well which wont take much longer than a dedicated transfer, yet is a lot cheaper.

They can be bought online (note for others coming into BNE, the Airtrain does not sell them).

https://gocard.translink.com.au/webtix/tickets-and-fares/go-card/online/buy/step-one

 

[Must...Fly!]

Perfect markis10, thanks. Last time I went to the GC (many years ago) we also caught the buses up to the parks, surfers, etc but no go card then so it was the expensive paper tickets! The bus service was excellent though.

I didn't know about the bus from OOL! That's awesome, may investigate that as I am due in solo, others will be arriving in a group so taxi for them will not be expensive.

 

[markis10]

I didn't know about the bus from OOL! That's awesome, may investigate that as I am due in solo, others will be arriving in a group so taxi for them will not be expensive.

Gold Coast Airport to Surfers Paradise/Southport
From directly in front of the Domestic arrivals/baggage collection area at the terminal, bus route 702 runs to Southport every half hour between the first and last flights of the day, connecting to other services on the Gold Coast Highway.


Use the journey planner:

Journey planner | TransLink

EG:

• 7.52pm - 8.28pm
  Catch bus 702 Airport, Burleigh Heads, Broadbeach, Surfers, Southport to Gold Coast Hwy at Cannes Avenue more info & times
• 8.28pm - 8.33pm
  Walk 317m to Crowne Plaza Surfers Paradise

Fare information

This is a 5 zone journey, travelling in zones 14 - 18
[TABLE="class: content-table"]
[TR]
[TH]Ticket type[/TH]
[TH]Price[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]go card adult[/TD]
[TD]$5.43[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]$4.35 (off-peak)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]go card concession[/TD]
[TD]$2.72[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]$2.18 (off-peak)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Single paper adult[/TD]
[TD]$7.90[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Single paper concession[/TD]
[TD]$4.00[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[Must...Fly!]

I arrive in on a Sunday, only every half hour. And I'll have been up for a looooong time...we'll see if it works out. I will buy my goCard online just in case

 

[k_sheep]

Seems expensive compared with the melbourne myki, from what I can work out.

From myki fares - Public Transport Victoria ... seems you can do unlimited trips zone 1 for $6.56 per day, or up to $11.08 for zones 1+2.

Feel free to correct me though Melbournians! That was my plan when I'm down in a few weeks' time ...

 

[seanpodge]

Seems expensive compared with the melbourne myki, from what I can work out.

From myki fares - Public Transport Victoria ... seems you can do unlimited trips zone 1 for $6.56 per day, or up to $11.08 for zones 1+2.

Feel free to correct me though Melbournians! That was my plan when I'm down in a few weeks' time ...

No, that's correct. Also a little bonus if you're only using PT at night, 2 hour tickets validated after 6pm are valid until either 2 or 3 am. For all the (deserved) criticism Melbourne's public transport system gets, the unlimited trips on all modes on dailies is a real positive.

 

[richie9x]

It seems a bit of a strange offer. In only a few cases it would it actually be better value for tourists than a normal go card.

 

[chrisb]

It seems a bit of a strange offer. In only a few cases it would it actually be better value for tourists than a normal go card.

Don't under estimate the value of simplicity to tourists. Sometimes it's nice to have something you can just buy and not worry about trying to work out the costs and details of the local transport system.

 

[k_sheep]

No, that's correct. Also a little bonus if you're only using PT at night, 2 hour tickets validated after 6pm are valid until either 2 or 3 am. For all the (deserved) criticism Melbourne's public transport system gets, the unlimited trips on all modes on dailies is a real positive.

*excellent* /Monty Burns voice.

Simplicity is handy for tourists ... by why does it have to be so bloody expensive? Who is going to spend hours going up and down the coasts on a holiday?

Love my SIN card! Now there's a city that has it right ...

 

[seanpodge]

Simplicity is handy for tourists ... by why does it have to be so bloody expensive? Who is going to spend hours going up and down the coasts on a holiday?

Love my SIN card! Now there's a city that has it right ...

Haven't used the Singapore version, but I'd say the the Berlin tourist pass is also a very good example of how to do such things right. Fair price for all urban public transport and plenty of discounts for genuinely popular and worthwhile tourist attractions.

 

[Mal]

Is it also valid on the special Brisbane explorer buses? That would add value to the pass.

... and the answer is NO.

17. SEEQ cards cannot be used for travel on Gold Coast tourist shuttle services (pre booked service) or theme park shuttle services (hotel pick up) operated by Surfside bus lines or City Sights services operated by Brisbane City Council.

 

[Simo]

Another EPIC FAIL from the Qld Govt.