Charter and Tour Bus Driver

A Charter and Tour Bus Driver operates large passenger vehicles on scheduled and non-scheduled routes, transporting tourists and charter groups to destinations across Australia. The role involves navigating varied terrain and traffic conditions, managing passenger comfort and safety, and maintaining vehicle roadworthiness according to regulatory standards. Drivers liaise with tour operators, coordinate itineraries, and ensure compliance with Heavy Vehicle National Law and fatigue management requirements.

Operate multi-axle coach or charter buses on long-distance routes, managing fuel consumption and route efficiency. Conduct pre-trip and post-trip vehicle inspections to verify brakes, tyres, lights, and mechanical systems comply with National Heavy Vehicle Regulator standards. Maintain accurate work diary records to demonstrate compliance with fatigue management laws and work and rest hour limits under the Heavy Vehicle National Law. Communicate with tour operators or dispatch centres to confirm passenger manifests, itinerary changes, and delivery schedules. Provide passengers with commentary about landmarks, cultural sites, and points of interest during scenic or guided tours. Manage passenger boarding, seating allocation, and safety briefing procedures, including seat belt compliance and emergency evacuation protocols. Navigate toll roads, checkpoints, and vehicle weight restrictions while planning routes that accommodate Heavy Vehicle Checking stations and permit requirements. Respond to minor mechanical issues or passenger emergencies and escalate to roadside assistance services when required.

The standard entry pathway requires a Certificate II or III (ABS skill level 4). Specific qualification requirements vary by employer and state. Some employers may accept equivalent experience. Check yourcareer.gov.au for available courses and dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe for subsidised training options.

You'll need to get a Heavy Rigid licence and meet strict fatigue rules that limit your driving hours. The work is seasonal (tourism dries up in winter), so income isn't steady. Long days away from home are common, and you're responsible for passenger safety and a vehicle worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Pay caps out fairly low compared to other HV driving roles.

Regional and outback areas get work during peak seasons. In reality these jobs cluster around tour operator hubs and depend heavily on tourism demand, making coastal cities and natural attractions the main job centres.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 7312, the wider group this job sits in, not for this job on its own.

This is the median for full-time employees who are not managers and are paid at the adult rate, before tax and salary sacrifice. It is a guide to what the work pays, not a wage rate.

Source: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.

• Active Listeningcore
• Adaptability and Flexibilitycore
• Adhere to transportation work schedulecore
• Clean road vehiclescore
• Complaint Handlingcore
• Cultural Awareness and Sensitivitycore
• Customer Needs Assessmentcore
• Delivery Schedulingcore
• Incident Reportingcore
• Policy and Procedure Adherencecore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Time Management and Prioritisationcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Apply conflict management
• Attention to Detail
• Basic Arithmetic and Numerical Accuracy
• Conflict De-escalation
• Dispatch Documentation
• Empathy and Emotional Intelligence
• Inclusive Practice
• Record Management
• Workload Self-Management

• ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
• ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
• ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.

Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.

Where our numbers come from.

Last updated: 30 October 2026