As a tour operator, we are required by law to have a Covid-19 safety plan. This plan includes:

• Keeping contact records (name, phone and address of each customer for 28 days)
• Encouraging social distancing, wherever possible
• Cleaning and sanitising tour vehicles after each tour (as we have always done)
• Wiping down handrails and other high-touch surfaces during the day

As a customer you will need to:

• Complete a COVID 'check in form' before boarding our vehicle (provided by Service NSW)
• Disclose to us if you have recently travelled to one of the 'hot spots' listed on NSW Government website
• Provide contact details for each passenger (full name, phone, address), if this is a charter
• Inform the tour guide/driver if feeling unwell or have flu-like symptoms before/during the tour
• Use the provided hand sanitiser before entering the tour vehicle
• Practice social distancing wherever possible
• Please respect that we have made this decision for the safety of all

That's all for now, stay safe, stay healthy.

The team from Connect Coaches will communicate directly with you to organise a fun day out in the Hunter Valley for you & your group. With several vehicles to choose from, we can take a group of 8-14 in one of our mini buses or a group of up to 28 in our mid-size coach.

Connect Coaches Tours:

Connect Coaches operate Public Day Tours to a variety of Hunter Valley Wineries on a regular basis. We also operate private charters for your own group & are happy to work with you to design your own personal tour that meets the needs & wants of your group. Whether it be wine, beer chocolate or cheese (or perhaps a combination of all four!), Connect Coaches will help make your day in the Hunter memorable & fun.

Vehicles:

We own a 28 seated coach wihich has leather reclining seats & ample leg room as well as plenty of under coach storage for your purchases. We can also provide one of our three mini buses for the smaller groups of 10, 14 & 20.

Connect Coaches provides regular public day tours to the Hunter Valley for the following groups:

Concert Events
Seniors Day Tours
Wine & Cheese Tasting Days
Lovedale Long Lunch

Contact Us

Hunter Valley Home Page Click Here

Central Coast Driver Training services now trading as Connect Coaches have been providing Heavy Vehicle Driver Training on the Central Coast for over Twenty years

We pride ourselves on beeing the only Heavy vehicle Driver Training service specialising on specific training for people wanting to obtain the skills and ability to enter the Bus & Coach Industry

Bus Authority Course 

Light Rigid Licence Course

Medium Rigid Course - One Day Course [ Previous Experience ]

Medium Rigid Two Day Course 

Our depot is at Erina / Springfield but we can also arange to meey clients at Somersby or Tuggerah or Bateau Bay

Central Coast Suburbs

Alison, Avoca Beach, Bar Point, Bateau Bay, Bensville, Berkeley Vale, Blackwall, Blue Bay, Blue Haven, Booker Bay, Bouddi, , Budgewoi, Budgewoi Peninsula, Buff Point, Bushells Ridge, Calga, Canton Beach, Cedar Brush Creek, Central Mangrove, Chain Valley Bay, Charmhaven, Cheero Point, Chittaway Bay, Chittaway Point, Cogra Bay, Colongra, Copacabana, Crangan Bay (part), Daleys Point, Davistown, Dooralong, Doyalson, Doyalson North, Durren Durren, East Gosford, Empire Bay, Erina, Erina Heights, Ettalong Beach, Forresters Beach, Fountaindale, Frazer Park, Freemans, Glenning Valley, Glenworth Valley, Gorokan, Gosford, Green Point, Greengrove, Gunderman, Gwandalan, Halekulani, Halloran, Hamlyn Terrace, Hardys Bay, Holgate, Horsfield Bay, Jilliby, Kangy Angy, Kanwal, Kariong, Kiar, Killarney Vale, Killcare, Killcare Heights, Kincumber, Kincumber South, Kingfisher Shores, Koolewong, Kulnura, Lake Haven, Lake Munmorah, Lemon Tree, Lisarow, Little Jilliby, Little Wobby, Long Jetty, Lower Mangrove, MacMasters Beach, Magenta, Mangrove Creek, Mangrove Mountain, Mannering Park, Mardi, Marlow, Matcham, Milsons Passage, Moonee (part), Mooney Mooney, Mooney Mooney Creek, Mount Elliot, Mount White, Narara, Niagara Park, Norah Head, Noraville, North Avoca, North Gosford, Ourimbah, Palm Grove, Palmdale, Patonga, Pearl Beach, Peats Ridge, Phegans Bay, Picketts Valley, Point Clare, Point Frederick, Point Wolstoncroft, Pretty Beach, Ravensdale, Rocky Point, San Remo, Saratoga, Shelly Beach, Somersby, Spencer, Springfield, St Huberts Island, Summerland Point, Tacoma, Tacoma South, Tascott, Ten Mile Hollow, Terrigal, The Entrance, The Entrance North, Toowoon Bay, Toukley, Tuggerah, Tuggerawong, Tumbi Umbi, Umina Beach, Upper Mangrove, Wadalba, Wagstaffe, Wallarah, Wamberal, Warnervale, Watanobbi, Wendoree Park, West Gosford, Wondabyne, Woongarrah, Woy Woy, Woy Woy Bay, Wybung, Wyoming, Wyong, Wyong Creek, Wyongah, Yarramalong and Yattalunga

Connect Coaches Heavy Vehicle Bus & Coach Training

Bus & Coach training

Course Cost $1600

Course Duration

Over two consecutive days, starting at 8:00am & finishing at 4:00pm each day

Course Information

This course is designed for people wishing to obtain their Medium Rigid licence with the plan to become a bus driver in the future.

The course is completed over two days, maximizing the chance of you not only obtaining your Medium Rigid driving licence, but also getting sufficient time & experience behind the wheel so that when you apply for a Bus Operator position you can have confidence during your interview that you have given yourself the best opportunity of getting that job.

Liam from Connect Coaches has been involved in the Bus & Coach Industry for over 28 years so the two days spent with him will give you ample opportunity to ask as many questions about your new career path plan. The course is not designed around the "one day wonder" mentality that many other driving schools offer and about making a quick buck.

So if you're wishing to become a bus or coach driver and learning the required skills to get the job, Connect Coaches will train and show you how to:

• Complete a pre-departure check
• Comfortably perform all reversing maneuvers required by the RMS
• Drive in a defensive manner suitable to giving passengers a comfortable ride
• Maneuvers a large vehicle through tight roundabouts and narrow streets
• Drive on suburban streets, country roads and freeways

You will also be shown how to:

• use a tachograph card
• correctly use work diaries
• show & explain the correct use of vehicle monitoring equipment

Step One

Read through the Roads & Maritime heavy vehicle handbooks that can be purchased from the RMS

Complete your Drivers Knowledge Test 

• Your Knowledge Test must be completed at the Roads & Maritime Services. Click above link for further information
• Purchase Competency based Log Books

At the completion of your knowledge test, you must purchase the Competency Based Logbook from the Roads & Maritime Services at your own expense
Competency based log books must be purchased from the Roads & Maritime Services (RMS) at the completion of your drivers knowledge test

Training & Assessment

• Connect Coaches will provide one Roads & Maritime approved trainer/assessor to complete Assessment Criteria 1-15 over the 14 hours of the course
• Connect Coaches will provide one separate assessor as per Roads & Maritime requirements for final assessment
• Connect Coaches will provide one 28-seated mid-size coach for both the training & assessment components of the course

Final Assessment

• Connect Coaches will provide and arrange for a separate assessor for final assessment. The final assessment will be filmed via an in-cabin video as per Roads & Maritime requirements. This video can later be audited by the Roads & Maritime Services.
• The final assessment is conducted by a separate assessor over a minimum of 45 minutes but can take up to 70 minutes, depending on the route and traffic conditions

Unsuccessful Final Assessment

• Connect Coaches conducts its courses over two days to reduce the chance of applicants requiring a second assessment by giving more on-road time in the vehicle and improving the confidence of the applicant.
• The Connect Coaches instructor has the responsibility of doing everything possible to achieve a successful outcome during this assessment,However, Connect Coaches cannot be responsible for an applicant making errors due to nerves or any other reason.
• If the final assessment is deemed unsuccessful, a second assessment can be completed an hour later
• This assessment can also be completed on another day if the applicant or the trainer feel that this may help achieve the result required
• A second assessment will incur a fee of $200 for the hire of the vehicle and for the second assessor's fee

Completion of training & Assessment

At the completion of the final assessment, the applicant will be issued a Certificate of Competency by the assessor to take back to the RMS to obtain your heavy vehicle licence.

Book Your Course

Central Coast Suburbs - 

Alison, Avoca Beach, Bar Point, Bateau Bay, Bensville, Berkeley Vale, Blackwall, Blue Bay, Blue Haven, Booker Bay, Bouddi, , Budgewoi, Budgewoi Peninsula, Buff Point, Bushells Ridge, Calga, Canton Beach, Cedar Brush Creek, Central Mangrove, Chain Valley Bay, Charmhaven, Cheero Point, Chittaway Bay, Chittaway Point, Cogra Bay, Colongra, Copacabana, Crangan Bay (part), Daleys Point, Davistown, Dooralong, Doyalson, Doyalson North, Durren Durren, East Gosford, Empire Bay, Erina, Erina Heights, Ettalong Beach, Forresters Beach, Fountaindale, Frazer Park, Freemans, Glenning Valley, Glenworth Valley, Gorokan, Gosford, Green Point, Greengrove, Gunderman, Gwandalan, Halekulani, Halloran, Hamlyn Terrace, Hardys Bay, Holgate, Horsfield Bay, Jilliby, Kangy Angy, Kanwal, Kariong, Kiar, Killarney Vale, Killcare, Killcare Heights, Kincumber, Kincumber South, Kingfisher Shores, Koolewong, Kulnura, Lake Haven, Lake Munmorah, Lemon Tree, Lisarow, Little Jilliby, Little Wobby, Long Jetty, Lower Mangrove, MacMasters Beach, Magenta, Mangrove Creek, Mangrove Mountain, Mannering Park, Mardi, Marlow, Matcham, Milsons Passage, Moonee (part), Mooney Mooney, Mooney Mooney Creek, Mount Elliot, Mount White, Narara, Niagara Park, Norah Head, Noraville, North Avoca, North Gosford, Ourimbah, Palm Grove, Palmdale, Patonga, Pearl Beach, Peats Ridge, Phegans Bay, Picketts Valley, Point Clare, Point Frederick, Point Wolstoncroft, Pretty Beach, Ravensdale, Rocky Point, San Remo, Saratoga, Shelly Beach, Somersby, Spencer, Springfield, St Huberts Island, Summerland Point, Tacoma, Tacoma South, Tascott, Ten Mile Hollow, Terrigal, The Entrance, The Entrance North, Toowoon Bay, Toukley, Tuggerah, Tuggerawong, Tumbi Umbi, Umina Beach, Upper Mangrove, Wadalba, Wagstaffe, Wallarah, Wamberal, Warnervale, Watanobbi, Wendoree Park, West Gosford, Wondabyne, Woongarrah, Woy Woy, Woy Woy Bay, Wybung, Wyoming, Wyong, Wyong Creek, Wyongah, Yarramalong and Yattalunga

Connect Coaches 

Interested in becoming a bus or coach driver?

Liam from Connect Coaches provides Bus Authority Courses on the Central Coast on a regular basis.

Click on the links below for further information:

Bus Authority Course

Medium Rigid Licence - Coach

Liam has been providing the Bus Authority Accreditation course on the Central Coast for over 15 years now.
Liam started his bus & coach career 28 years ago at Burwood Depot State Transit Buses and than went on to drive for the following companes:

Ryde Depot - State Transit

Delwood Coaches

Clipper Tours

Gosford City Coaches

Busways Ourimbah Depot

Busways Kincumber Depot

Managing Director of Connect Coaches
During Liam's career in the bus industry, he has been involved in all type of work, from service work to tourist work such as:

Bus Safety Officer - 3 years spent providing a bus safety program to all schools on the Central Coast

Union Delegate at Busways Kincumber depot and Burwood depot State Transit

Operated the Sydney to Rock Darling Harbour tourist service for State Transit

Full commentary trained driver for international tourists for city sights, Blue Mountains, Hunter Valley vineyards and Canberra day trips

Provided charter work

School runs & route services

Kincumber depot Busways trainer

Liam Green

Central Coast Suburbs

Alison, Avoca Beach, Bar Point, Bateau Bay, Bensville, Berkeley Vale, Blackwall, Blue Bay, Blue Haven, Booker Bay, Bouddi, , Budgewoi, Budgewoi Peninsula, Buff Point, Bushells Ridge, Calga, Canton Beach, Cedar Brush Creek, Central Mangrove, Chain Valley Bay, Charmhaven, Cheero Point, Chittaway Bay, Chittaway Point, Cogra Bay, Colongra, Copacabana, Crangan Bay (part), Daleys Point, Davistown, Dooralong, Doyalson, Doyalson North, Durren Durren, East Gosford, Empire Bay, Erina, Erina Heights, Ettalong Beach, Forresters Beach, Fountaindale, Frazer Park, Freemans, Glenning Valley, Glenworth Valley, Gorokan, Gosford, Green Point, Greengrove, Gunderman, Gwandalan, Halekulani, Halloran, Hamlyn Terrace, Hardys Bay, Holgate, Horsfield Bay, Jilliby, Kangy Angy, Kanwal, Kariong, Kiar, Killarney Vale, Killcare, Killcare Heights, Kincumber, Kincumber South, Kingfisher Shores, Koolewong, Kulnura, Lake Haven, Lake Munmorah, Lemon Tree, Lisarow, Little Jilliby, Little Wobby, Long Jetty, Lower Mangrove, MacMasters Beach, Magenta, Mangrove Creek, Mangrove Mountain, Mannering Park, Mardi, Marlow, Matcham, Milsons Passage, Moonee (part), Mooney Mooney, Mooney Mooney Creek, Mount Elliot, Mount White, Narara, Niagara Park, Norah Head, Noraville, North Avoca, North Gosford, Ourimbah, Palm Grove, Palmdale, Patonga, Pearl Beach, Peats Ridge, Phegans Bay, Picketts Valley, Point Clare, Point Frederick, Point Wolstoncroft, Pretty Beach, Ravensdale, Rocky Point, San Remo, Saratoga, Shelly Beach, Somersby, Spencer, Springfield, St Huberts Island, Summerland Point, Tacoma, Tacoma South, Tascott, Ten Mile Hollow, Terrigal, The Entrance, The Entrance North, Toowoon Bay, Toukley, Tuggerah, Tuggerawong, Tumbi Umbi, Umina Beach, Upper Mangrove, Wadalba, Wagstaffe, Wallarah, Wamberal, Warnervale, Watanobbi, Wendoree Park, West Gosford, Wondabyne, Woongarrah, Woy Woy, Woy Woy Bay, Wybung, Wyoming, Wyong, Wyong Creek, Wyongah, Yarramalong and Yattalunga