Commencing on Monday December 31, 2012 buses will be departing Bunbury six days a week heading for the popular surfing beaches of Yallingup and Smiths Beach. The service is programmed to run over the Christmas school holidays, concluding on Saturday February 2, 2013.
Download the 2012-2013 Timetable
The Runaway Bus service is the only ongoing event of its kind offered to our youth living in the South West. Its survival is due solely to Sponsors who are the backbone of the operation.
The Runaway Bus Committee acknowledges the support of the following sponsors for 2012-2013
The Runaway Bus Service was introduced in 1988, when students at Busselton Senior High School were surveyed by the Health Department, asking for suggestions on alleviating boredom during school holidays. The outcome of the survey was a request for "affordable daily bus transport to the popular surfing beaches of Yallingup and Smiths Beach".
South West Coach Lines and the Health Department initiated the service, and with the help of many willing corporate sponsors, the Runaway Bus springs into action each Christmas school holidays, offering transport in air-conditioned coaches from many South West towns to Yallingup and Smiths Beach and return for a subsidised fare of only $8.00.
In its most recent year of operation the Runaway Bus carried nearly 2,000 young people from Manjimup, Bridgetown, Balingup, Donnybrook, Collie, Bunbury, Capel, Busselton, Vasse, Dunsborough and other centres.
The Runaway Bus provides an exciting venture to look forward to in the Christmas school holidays each year, relieving boredom and enticing youth to participate in a healthy outdoor program. It also creates a wonderful social opportunity in which young people can meet other young people from nearby regional centres. Visitors on holiday also regularly patronise the service.
The bus service is open to all members of the public, and passengers can get on and off the buses anywhere along the route. Free connections into Bunbury from Manjimup, Bridgetown, Donnybrook and Collie are sponsored by South West Coach Lines.
The Runaway Bus is managed and operated by the Runaway Bus Committee Inc.
For more information on the 2012-2013 season or to participate as a sponsor, please contact us.
INDEMNITY CONDITIONS ALL CARE TAKEN BUT NO RESPONSIBILITY: The Runaway Bus and connecting bus routes are ‘Public Bus Services’. No responsibility is accepted by Sponsors, Associated Government and Non Government Organisations, South West Coach Lines or any other person connected with the Runaway Bus operation whilst passengers are on or off the bus. No responsibility is taken by the above organisations for the loss or damage to baggage or belongings. Parents should be aware children using the services are not supervised whilst on or off the bus service. AGE ELIGIBILITY: A child of 14 years and over may travel unaccompanied. A child under the age of 14 years must be accompanied by a person 16 years and over. Infants up to the age of 2 years sitting on the knee of a parent or an adult 18 years and over and not utilising a seat may travel free. Children 3 years and over will pay the approved fare.