The Victorian Seniors Festival returns this October. This month-long celebration offers thousands of free and low-cost events across the state.
Jump on public transport to visit attractions in Melbourne and regional and rural locations.
You can travel for free on:
- Melbourne trains, trams and buses
- Victorian regional trains, coaches and buses (including regional town bus services) as listed below.
How to travel during the free travel period
Remember to carry your Seniors myki and Victorian Seniors Card on public transport. From Saturday 3 to Sunday 11 October 2026, tap on and off as usual - you won’t be charged.
On regional services that don’t use myki, show your Victorian Seniors Card to the conductor or bus driver.
Find out more at Transport Victoria’s Concession webpage or call 1800 800 007.
Travelling in regional Victoria
If you travel during off-peak hours, you are more likely to find a seat.
You need to reserve a seat on some long distance V/Line trains and coaches. See Reserved V/Line services below.
To book a seat:
- visit your nearest station or agent
- phone 1800 800 007 from 10 am on Tuesday 1 September 2026.
Seats can fill quickly, so book early! You’ll need to collect your tickets within 48 hours of booking.
Visit your nearest station or agent to make a group booking for:
- up to 19 people on V/Line train services
- 12 or more people on V/Line coach services.
For larger group bookings, please submit a group booking request. You can make a booking request from 10 am on Tuesday 1 September at V/Line's group webpage.
Booked but can't travel?
If you book then can't travel, let V/Line know so they can reallocate your seats.
Information on regional town buses and V/Line services
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Travel for free during the Victorian Seniors Festival on regional town buses in:
- Ararat
- Bacchus Marsh
- Bairnsdale
- Ballarat
- Beaufort
- Bellarine Peninsula
- Benalla
- Bendigo
- Churchill
- Cobram
- Colac
- Drouin
- Echuca/Moama
- Geelong
- Gisborne
- Hamilton
- Horsham
- Kilmore
- Korumburra
- Kyneton
- Lakes Entrance
- Maryborough
- Mildura
- Moe
- Mornington Peninsula
- Morwell
- Portland
- Rochester
- Sale
- Seymour
- Shepparton-Mooroopna
- Stawell
- Swan Hill
- Traralgon
- Wangaratta
- Warragul
- Warrnambool
- Wonthaggi
- Yarrawonga
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Travel for free without booking a seat on trains and coaches starting or ending at:
- Ballarat / Wendouree / Ararat
- Bendigo / Eaglehawk / Echuca
- Geelong / Marshall
- Traralgon
- Seymour.
-
You will need to reserve a seat before travelling for free on these services.
Check whether you need to book by looking for an 'R' on V/Line timetables.
Reserved services include:
- Albury/Wodonga
- Bairnsdale
- Shepparton
- Swan Hill
- Warrnambool.
Plan your journey
To plan your journey:
- use Transport Victoria's journey
- download the Transport Victoria app.
Year-round public transport benefits
Victorian Seniors Card holders enjoy free public transport anywhere in Victoria on weekends.
Until 1 January 2027, all Victorians have a 50% discount on public transport fares. The Victorian Government has provided this discount. This means Seniors Card holders can get a further 50% off their weekday fares.
For more information, visit Public transport benefits.
Reviewed 22 June 2026