50-cent Fun - February edition!

We've had a few 50-cent train rides over the past 18 months.  

Queensland's 50-cent fares became permanent in early 2025 after a six-month trial period. The scheme applies to all Translink buses, trains, ferries, and trams.

As much as I usually blog of our road trips, there were a couple of train trips from our NSW days. 

Back then we travelled as a family of four - and carted picnic provisions in our trusty trolley.  

Nick is currently off work and we've been seeking cheaper entertainments -  even before all the rising fuel costs.  Mostly it's just two of us, so no need for the trolley.

Our first planned 50-cent adventure was to the State Library's "Driven" display - yep, spot the irony of catching the train to a car exhibition!

We hadn't packed lunch, so walked from the Library to West End and bought some lunch items from Woolies.  There was more walking to a shady spot beside the river where we sat on a huge rock and enjoyed the view. 

All up we walked 7km that day and spent $26 on lunch, plus $9 later in the afternoon for drinks and snacks.  $37 total spend, which included $1 each for our train fares.

After the Driven day out we bought an insulated backpack from BigW, on clearance for $6.50.  

We already had two insulated lunch boxes that fit inside and I made a simple tote bag to tuck into a side pocket. 

Our next outing was fairly impromptu.  We caught the train to Rosewood.  

We poked around opshops, found a few bargains and then bought some lunch items from Drakes supermarket.  

We found a shady picnic table. It was hot out, so after lunch we sat in the air conditioned library till it was time to go home.

Total spend was $10 for lunch and $2 for our train fares -  with 3.5km walked.

Rosewood is one end of our local train line.  Caboolture is the other end - and that was our next destination, a couple of days later.

The Art Gallery had a very interesting exhibition. We then picknicked at Centenary Lakes, while watching various bird antics. Highlight was a dozen cormorants doing some synchronised swimming! After lunch we walked a bit further to a couple of opshop and scored some excellent bargains - including a pair of cushions for the nearly two-hour trip home!

I'd packed excellent lunch provisions that day - a ham roll for Nick, Greek salad for me and juice boxes for both of us.  There was even apple/almond cake. Our fares were just $1 each - and we walked 5km.  

I'm currently researching for more public transport outings - here's to making great use of our 50-cent fares!