Byron Bay Budget Travel Guide #1 Transport: Aside from driving there, both Greyhound and Premier Coaches (Premier is the marginally cheaper option) stop at Byron on their routes from Brisbane to Sydney. Otherwise, you can easily catch the train to the nearby (ish) inland town of Casino and hop on a bus to Byron from there. There are bus services running from Casino to Byron Bay and train-bus combination tickets are available from NSW Trainlink. Get around edit There is limited regular public transport within Byron Bay, operated by Blanch's Bus Company - however most destinations within the bay are walkable, including The Lighthouse Walk. Enjoy your free guide to Byron Bay. Byron Bay is a coastal town located on the far-north coast of NSW, Australia. Home to Australia's most easterly point and the iconic Cape Byron lighthouse, the region is known for its spectacular beaches, unique shopping and dining experiences, world-class festivals, and vibrant community spirit.

Regional Excursion Daily (RED ticket): Holders of Pensioner Concession, NSW Seniors or War Widow/er cards, can purchase a RED ticket from the bus driver for $2.50. The ticket is valid for all day travel within the region. You can get on and off the bus as much as you want and you can travel on different bus companies. Show your eligible concession card to the driver, they will give you a RED ticket which you can use for the rest of the day.

Country Pensioner Excursion Ticket: A Country Pensioner Excursion (CPE) ticket is an affordable ticket for eligible pensioners and seniors to travel by train in regional NSW and the ACT.

For $2.50 you can book an Economy class seat on a NSW TrainLink Regional train service. You will need to book 7 days or less in advance. Click here for more information.

Regional Seniors Travel Card: The regional seniors travel card provides eligible seniors living in regional, rural and remote areas of NSW with a $250 prepaid card to help ease the cost of travel. You can use the card at certain retailers to pay for pre-booked NSW Trainlink Regional trains and coaches, fuel and taxis. Click here for more information.

Half Fare Concessions: Full time tertiary students, jobseekers, apprentices and trainees are entitled to half fare travel on presentation of a relevant card. You can obtain an application from Centrelink, your training institution or workplace.
Click here for more information.

Taxi Transport Subsidy Scheme (TTSS): People with a severe and permanent disability may be eligible for subsidised taxi travel. TTSS consists of vouchers that pay for ½ your taxi fare per journey. Up to a maximum of $60 a ride. So if the fare is $25 you would pay $12.50, and if it is $120 you would pay $60. Ask your doctor about the scheme or phone 1800 623 724.
Click here for more information and download a form

If you are travelling interstate you can order Interstate Taxi Dockets. Order them in advance of your travel as they may take up to two weeks to arrive.
Click here to download an order form.

School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS): Travel to and from school is subsidised for most students. Contact your school for an application form.
Click here for more information.

Assisted School Travel Program (ASTP): Subsidised school transport for students with an intellectual, physical or behavioural disorder, should their parents be unable to provide transport. Apply through your school or phone 1300 338 278.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has a range of transport schemes for Veterans with disabilities living permanently in NSW. For more information and an application form contact a regional RSL Sub Branch office or call 1800 555 254.
Click here for more information.

Isolated Patients Travel & Accommodation Scheme (IPTAAS): A referral-only service for people who need to travel more than 100km to obtain inpatient or outpatient specialist medical treatment and/or specialist oral health surgical treatment that is unavailable locally. Claim forms are available from your medical practitioner or contact 6620 2168.
Click here for more information.

Companion Card If you have a significant, lifelong disability and require attendant care for the rest of your life, you may be eligible for a companion card. An attendant travelling with you will receive free travel on public transport in NSW. This card also provides free entry for the attendant to many venues throughout the state. For more information and an application form phone 1800 893 044.
Click here for more information.

Assistance Animal Permit If you have a disability and rely on the assistance of an animal that has been trained to alleviate the effects of your disability, you can apply for an Assistance Animal Permit. The animal must meet training standards so that it assists you to use public transport effectively, and to ensure it does not pose any risks or disruptions to other passengers or staff. Find out more or get an application from a NSW branch of Vision Australia or Guide Dogs Australia
Click here for more information.

COVID-19 has been a catalyst in expanding telehealth and remote medicine, with many of the changes here to stay.

Byron Bay is set for a huge influx of visitors when Queensland relaxes border restrictions next month.Source:News Regional Media

Dozens of medical professionals who have been trapped in Queensland because of border restrictions and unable to assist NSW’s Northern Rivers region will soon return to work.

The health professionals are among hundreds of workers that have been “locked out” of their workplaces because of Queensland‘s tough border restrictions, says Byron Shire Mayor Simon Richardson.

Queensland‘s “border bubble” allowed communities either side of the Tweed River to move freely across the NSW-Qld border but excluded the Byron Bay Shire and other nearby areas in the Northern Rivers region.

Byron Shire Mayor Simon Richardson says hundreds of workers have been absent from the region since Queensland closed its border on August 8. Picture: SuppliedSource:News Regional Media

Under the easing of restriction from October 1, Queensland will extend its COVID-19 line of demarcation as far south as Casino, Lismore and Glen Innes, with free movement between states for those residents providing they have a border declaration pass.

Byron Bay To Casino Nsw Opening

Mr Richardson said more than 100 health professionals alone had been prevented from attending medical centres since Queensland closed its border on August 8, and it had put enormous stress on the health system.

Byron Bay To Casino Nsw Bay

Their return next month would be welcomed with open arms, he said.

“It's been emotional, social, economic and stressful for so many of our community members,” Mr Richardson told NCA NewsWire.

“We've had a couple of dozen (council) staff, many quite high up, that have not been able to access Byron, and we’ve had over 100 health professionals who have not been able to provide services to the north coast area,” he said.

“For instance, I had a call from an emergency surgeon from Byron Bay hospital who lived in Kirra who said she has not been able to come for a couple of months.”

Health Minister Steven Miles concedes people from NSW hot spots will mingle with Queenslanders at Byron Bay and COVID-19 will be imported into the state. Picture: Nigel HallettSource:News Corp Australia

Not only will health professionals be welcomed but so will Queensland day-trippers who have been missing for the best part of two months from the coastal town.

The two-edged sword for the Queensland Government is that people coming from NSW hot spots will be freely mingling with Queenslanders, making the most of the borders marginally reopening.

Queensland Health Minister Steven Miles aired his concerns on Wednesday and conceded there was a risk in allowing Queenslanders to travel to Byron Bay.

“It does create a risk,” he said.

“There will be people holidaying from Sydney in Byron Bay at the same time people from Queensland are visiting Byron Bay, and while that step is one removed, it is still a real risk.

“We will need to continue to monitor it closely.”

Influencer Natalie Roser spending time in Byron Bay. The coastal town is set to come alive when Queenslanders are allowed to return there from October 1. Picture: Natalie Roser / https://www.instagram.com/natalie_roser/Source:Supplied

Byron Bay To Casino Nsw Australia

Byron Bay Services Club general manager Darren Schipp said restaurants and cafes had taken a massive hit with no international tourists for six months and the absence of Queensland visitors since early August.

“It’s been a hassle being outside the bubble, and people couldn't visit Byron from the Gold Coast without going into isolation on the way back,” he said.

“There’s well over a 100 cafes and restaurants within the CBD and town and we have missed out on day-trippers coming here and having no international tourists, and you really notice that during the week.”

The border will reopen on the long weekend; however, it won’t be easy for Queenslanders to find accommodation in Byron Bay.

Mr Schipp said the area had become an even more prominent holiday destination in the northeast of NSW since Queensland closed its borders.

“Anecdotal evidence around town is that it's very hard to get accommodation with people travelling in from NSW, and it may be hard for people from Queensland coming in for the long weekend because it’s going to be pretty chockers,” he said.