When you're backpacking Australia, every dollar counts. Transport is usually the second biggest expense after accommodation,and the East Coast is long. Really long. Sydney to Cairns is about 2,500 km, and you're going to feel every one of them in your wallet if you don't plan ahead.

We've been asked hundreds of times: "Is ridesharing actually cheaper than the bus?" So we sat down and compared the real numbers.

The Greyhound reality

Greyhound offers hop-on hop-off passes, which sound great in theory. The most popular one (the East Coast pass from Sydney to Cairns) costs around $299 AUD. That covers the bus,but not the detours, the small towns off the highway, or the flexibility to stop when you want.

Individual tickets add up fast too. Sydney to Byron Bay alone is about $90. Byron to Airlie Beach? Another $180+. And you're locked into their schedule.

The rideshare reality

On AllRide, drivers set their own prices based on fuel costs. The platform average for a long-haul ride is about 60–70% cheaper than the equivalent Greyhound ticket. Here are some real examples:

Route	Greyhound	AllRide (avg)
Sydney → Byron Bay	$89	$30–40
Byron Bay → Brisbane	$45	$15–25
Brisbane → Airlie Beach	$185	$60–80
Airlie Beach → Cairns	$130	$45–60

That's a total of about $449 by Greyhound vs $150–205 by rideshare. You could save $250+ on just the transport leg of your trip.

But it's not just about price

Ridesharing means you can stop at places buses don't go. That waterfall 20 minutes off the highway? That beach town no bus route touches? With a rideshare, you just ask the driver. Most of the time, they're happy to make a quick detour,especially if it means discovering somewhere new too.

Plus, you're sharing the car with 1–3 other people, not 40 strangers on a coach. The conversations are better. The playlists are better. The experience is better.

The verdict

If you want the cheapest, most flexible, most social way to travel the East Coast: rideshare wins. The Greyhound has its place,it's reliable, it runs daily, and it doesn't depend on finding a driver. But if you're willing to be a little flexible with timing, you'll save hundreds and have a much better story to tell.