About Us - Compass Tours

Our Company

Who we are?

Since our beginnings in 1966, we have remained committed to delivering safe, reliable, and comfortable transport solutions tailored to the needs of senior and community groups across New South Wales.

Our company was founded on the belief that every journey—no matter the distance—should be a positive and memorable experience. We take pride in offering more than just transport: we provide peace of mind.

Passenger safety is, and always has been, our highest priority. Our modern fleet is equipped with the latest in safety technology and accessibility features, ensuring that every traveller can enjoy their journey with confidence and comfort.

With a legacy built on trust, respect and care, Compass Tours continues to uphold strong community values while evolving with the times. Today, we offer personalised service backed by decades of experience, a well-maintained and fully compliant fleet, and a dedicated team who understand the importance of getting every detail right.

Whether you're planning a day tour or an extended journey, we are here to support you—because at Compass Tours, it's not just about the destination, it's about the experience along the way.

What we do?

At Compass Tours, we offer a broad range of transport services tailored to meet the diverse needs of our clients, including:

School excursions & educational trips
Senior Groups and Social Clubs
Sporting Teams and Community Organisations
Corporate Transport and Site Inspections
Emergency and Scheduled Public Transport Replacement
Government Transport and Diplomatic Services
Private Events and Special Occasions
Social and Recreational Outings
Airport and Cruise Terminal Transfers
Inbound Tourism Support for Travel Agencies

60+

Years Of Experience

24/7 operations with after-hours on-call support

Computerised booking and dispatch system

24-hour online quoting and booking

Live GPS vehicle tracking

Jeff Chalker

Managing Director

1357 +

Happy Clients

58 +

Number of Buses

60 +

Year Experienced

283 +

School Excursion

Welcome Aboard

to Compass Tours, incorporating Penrith Bus Company and Blue Mountains Bus Company!

First Class services

Luxury buses, professional drivers, and top-tier comfort for a premium travel experience across Sydney.

24 Hour Online Booking

Easy and secure reservations anytime, ensuring your journey is planned with convenience and flexibility.

Packages For Groups

Customizable bus tours for corporate events, weddings, and special occasions, tailored to your group’s needs.

Educational Tours

Engaging and informative school excursions with safe, comfortable transportation.

Our Story

Proudly sharing the journey through school excursions, coach tours, and special events since 1966.

1966

The journey of Compass Tours began in 1966, when John Burke entered the transport industry by acquiring route 87 Eastwood – West Ryde. A true hands-on operator, John drove the single-bus route himself. In 1972, he expanded with the purchase of route 163 Epping – North Epping.

Recognising an opportunity beyond route services, John founded Commodore Coaches, which quickly gained a strong reputation for both day charters and long-distance extended tours across New South Wales. By 1977, the company had grown to a fleet of eight vehicles, including a mix of reliable Ford, Bedford and Leyland coaches. That same year, operations were sold to Cumberland (Todds), marking the end of John’s chapter in transport. He later moved into hospitality until his passing in 1982.

1985

In 1985, Mike Bedford, a recognised figure in the radio industry, re-launched Commodore Coaches, relocating the depot to Waters Road, Werrington. Leveraging media exposure, he re-established the brand as a trusted name in group travel.

Mike introduced Commodore Educational Tours, a specialised offering for school excursions, and invested in fleet upgrades—most notably the acquisition of two 1989 Scania PMC Apollo High Deck coaches. These vehicles delivered excellent performance, capacity, and reliability, laying the groundwork for a new standard in passenger comfort and safety.

2005

Before his passing, Mike entrusted the company to Frank Reynolds, a respected industry veteran and former owner of Silver Line Coaches. Frank, together with his wife Narelle, led Commodore Coaches from Lake Tabourie in a caretaker capacity.

Under their leadership, the fleet was further modernised with the addition of another Scania coach, and in 2006 the company proudly celebrated its 40th anniversary—testament to its reputation and resilience. In 2009, the business was listed for sale, paving the way for a new era.

2009

In November 2009, Jeff Chalker, founder of Compass Tours, acquired Commodore Coaches. With extensive experience in transport and logistics, Jeff revitalised the business through modernisation, operational restructuring, and rebranding.

The entire fleet was upgraded and rebranded under the Compass Tours identity, marking a new beginning that combined decades of tradition with forward-thinking service. The company embraced a customer-first philosophy, introducing improved training, systems and service standards to meet the evolving needs of senior and community travellers.

Now

Today, Compass Tours continues to build on its proud legacy with a modern fleet equipped with the latest in comfort, safety, and environmental performance. From climate control to low-floor access and advanced safety features, each coach is selected with passenger wellbeing in mind.

Under the leadership of Jeff Chalker, Compass Tours remains committed to its core values: reliability, care, and community. With over half a century of experience, the company proudly serves seniors, community groups, and schools across New South Wales—offering expertly managed, friendly, and safe transport solutions tailored to every journey.

Comfortable and safe coach tours for every group

We specialise in multi-day coach tours designed for senior and community groups. Safe, reliable, and fully customisable.

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