Leslie Massey
Australia offers a variety of transportation options for travellers, including trains, planes, buses, bicycles, cars, and ferries. The best mode of transportation depends on one's interests, schedule, and budget. Flying is ideal for covering long distances quickly, with domestic airlines serving major and regional cities. Australia's rail network provides excellent connections between cities, offering beautiful scenery along the way. For those seeking comfort and flexibility, coach travel is a good option, with Australia's national operator, Greyhound, offering travel passes. Car rentals are available at airports and central city locations, providing the freedom to explore the country's well-maintained roads and scenic routes. Additionally, ridesharing, public buses, metros, and trams are affordable options for getting around cities. Ferries are also available for those seeking a unique travel experience. With its vast network of transportation options, Australia makes it convenient for travellers to explore its diverse regions and attractions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Distance | Australia is the sixth-largest country in the world, so domestic flights are often the best way to cover large distances in a short time |
| Cost | Flying is expensive, but so are car rental, insurance, fuel and accommodation costs. Coach travel is comfortable, efficient and reasonably priced |
| Convenience | Australia has a vast network of well-maintained roads, and rest stops and service stations at regular intervals. It also has a good rail network with excellent connections between major cities, but train travel is not cheap, convenient or fast |
| Attractions | Some services, such as Melbourne's City Circle Tram, are completely free. The Ghan and Indian Pacific are spectacular rail journeys offering comfort and a sense of nostalgia |
| Accessibility | Airports, airlines, trains, buses and ferries are accessible to people using wheelchairs or mobility devices. Most buses, metros, trains and trams can accommodate prams and other access requirements |
| Transport options | People can travel by plane, train, bus, car, bicycle, ferry, taxi, rideshare or foot |
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What You'll Learn
- Travel by air: Australia's domestic airlines serve all state capital cities
- Travel by rail: Australia's rail network offers excellent connections between major cities
- Travel by road: Renting a car is a good option for shorter trips
- Travel by sea: Ferry services connect suburbs around Sydney Harbour and on the Brisbane River
- Travel by foot: Australia's cities and towns are great for exploring on foot
Travel by air: Australia's domestic airlines serve all state capital cities
Australia is the sixth-largest country in the world, and flying is the best way to cover its large distances in a short time. Australia's domestic airlines serve all state capital cities and many regional cities, making it easy to travel between iconic destinations. Qantas, Virgin Australia, Jetstar, and Rex are the four main domestic airline carriers. Qantas is the largest in terms of fleet size, offering more domestic airline flights in Australia than any other carrier. Qantas Explorer fares must be booked in conjunction with a Qantas international fare to Australia or New Zealand, and they have the same validity as your international ticket.
Virgin Australia is the second-largest of the Australian domestic airlines. Its fleet has bases in Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane, and it currently services more than 33 airports across the country. Virgin Australia flights cover all Australian capitals and other major cities, including Cairns, Newcastle, Alice Springs, and Townsville. Jetstar is a low-cost airline with a network of about 20 destinations in Australia and various destination airports in New Zealand, Asia, and the Pacific Islands. Jetstar is one of the most popular local airlines in Australia, with travellers on a budget, thanks to its affordable ticket prices and extensive network of routes.
Regional Express is another low-cost domestic airline, flying to small regional airports from its bases in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Townsville, and Cairns. The airline operates in 60 airports across the country, like Wagga Wagga, Mount Isa, Mildura, Monkey Mia, and Port Augusta.
Competition between domestic airlines means that some great-value fares are available, especially if you book in advance.
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Travel by rail: Australia's rail network offers excellent connections between major cities
Australia's rail network offers excellent connections between major cities. The country's first steam-powered railway opened in Victoria in 1854, and today, there are several notable long-distance rail journeys across the continent.
One of the most famous routes is the Indian Pacific, which travels between Sydney, Adelaide, and Perth, stopping at Broken Hill and Kalgoorlie along the way. This route covers the vast Nullarbor Plain and offers a sense of Australia's vastness. Another iconic journey is The Ghan, which travels between Adelaide and Darwin, taking in the Red Centre and the tropical Top End. This route is particularly notable for its comfort and sense of nostalgic romance.
Other long-distance rail journeys include the Overland between Melbourne and Adelaide, the Great Southern between Brisbane and Adelaide, and the Countrylink trains connecting Sydney to Melbourne, Brisbane, and Canberra. Queensland Railways also offers a service from Brisbane to Townsville and Cairns. These trains are comfortable and air-conditioned, with affordable prices, and they run daily, making them a convenient option for travellers.
While Australia does not yet have high-speed rail, it is planned for the future. In the meantime, purchasing tickets online has become easier and faster, with websites like Rail.Ninja offering booking services for trains in over 50 countries. For those seeking a unique travel experience, Australia's rail network provides a comfortable and scenic way to explore the country's diverse regions and climates.
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Travel by road: Renting a car is a good option for shorter trips
Australia is a large country with very different regions and climates. There are many options for travelling within the country, including flying, taking a train, or renting a car.
Renting a car is a good option for shorter trips. You can rent a car in Australia for as little as $11 per day. The most popular rental car in Australia is the Hyundai i20, followed by the Toyota Corolla and the Kia Rio. To rent a car, you must be at least 21 years old and have held your license for at least one year. Some companies charge a young driver fee for drivers between the ages of 22 and 25, and a senior driver fee for drivers over 65. If your driver's license is from outside Australia, you will need to have it for at least two years, and it must be printed in Latin script and include your photograph. If your license does not meet these requirements, you will need an International Driving Permit.
When renting a car, you will need a valid driver's license and a credit or debit card. You will also need insurance, which can be purchased through the rental company or a third party. In addition, you may want to rent a GPS system, as these are not always included with the car. Speeding can be costly in Australia, so be sure to watch your speed and be aware of speed limits.
Renting a car allows you to explore the country at your own pace and access destinations that cannot be reached by other means of transportation. Australia has a vast network of well-maintained roads and some of the world's most beautiful road trips. You can collect your rental car from the airport or other pick-up locations in major cities or towns.
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Travel by sea: Ferry services connect suburbs around Sydney Harbour and on the Brisbane River
Australia has a range of ferry services that provide scenic journeys and connect various suburbs. Ferry services in Sydney Harbour and the Brisbane River are particularly notable.
In Sydney, ferries are a popular mode of transport, with the Sydney Ferries Network offering various routes and timetables. The Lane Cove River, or Turrumburra, flows from Sydney Harbour, passing historic neighbourhoods like Balmain, Woolwich, and Hunters Hill. Captain Cook Cruises operate a rocket ferry service, providing a smooth and fast journey with views of beautiful suburbs. Ferries also depart from Circular Quay, providing easy access to destinations like Balmain East and Parramatta. The Parramatta River can be enjoyed via a leisurely cruise on a RiverCat catamaran, avoiding congested freeways. Sydney's western harbour precinct, Barangaroo, offers an entertaining mix of parklands, restaurants, and bars, with ferry connections to Balmain and Blackwattle Bay. The southern shire of Cronulla features uncrowded beaches and operates a ferry route to Bundeena, offering access to the Royal National Park for hiking, swimming, and kayaking.
Brisbane also offers iconic ferry services on the Brisbane River through its CityCats, CityHopper, and Cross River Ferry networks, operated by RiverCity Ferries. These ferries provide scenic journeys to destinations like Kangaroo Point, South Bank, Riverside, and the West End suburb. The Brisbane River ferries offer a unique perspective of the city and are a great way to commute or explore.
Ferry services in Sydney and Brisbane provide a combination of convenience, scenic views, and connections between suburbs, contributing to a memorable travel experience in Australia.
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Travel by foot: Australia's cities and towns are great for exploring on foot
Australia's cities and towns are great for exploring on foot, with well-maintained footpaths and scenic walkways. Walking is a fantastic way to explore a new city and take in the sights, with the added bonus of working up an appetite for your next meal!
Sydney is a great city to explore on foot, with five of its major attractions situated within walking distance of each other. These include the iconic Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. Darwin, Cairns, and Hobart are also walkable cities, each taking around one hour and 47 minutes to explore on foot.
When planning your walking adventure, tools like Google Maps can help you figure out the best route based on what you want to see. Researching existing walking trails and scenic walks in your chosen city is also a good idea. Checking the weather forecast is essential, as Australia experiences a range of weather conditions. A hat and sunscreen are must-haves for the warmer months, and a waterproof parka is necessary for the colder, rainy months, especially in Melbourne and Hobart.
For those seeking a more serious trek, Australia offers some of the longest tracks and trails in the world, with journeys of a thousand kilometres or more that can take several weeks to complete. The Overland Track through Tasmania's World Heritage-listed wilderness and the Larapinta Trail across the West MacDonnell Ranges in the Northern Territory are impressive hikes that reveal the country's spectacular landscapes.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia is a large country, so flying is the best way to cover long distances in a short time. However, flights can be expensive, so if you're on a budget, you might prefer to take a long-distance train or bus.
For shorter distances, you can travel by bus, metro, tram or train. All of Australia's cities have reliable, affordable public bus systems, and in bigger cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, you'll also find subways and tram systems.
If you're looking to save money, ridesharing is a great option in Australia. Every hostel has a bulletin board where travellers post rides, and websites like Gumtree and Couchsurfing have active ridesharing sections. You can also use public transport, which is inexpensive, or take a backpacker bus, where everything is organised for you.
If you want to travel in comfort, you might prefer to rent a car, which will give you the freedom to travel at your own pace. You could also consider taking a train, which is more comfortable than a bus, or flying, which will allow you to cover long distances without the discomfort of a long journey.
To take in Australia's beautiful scenery, you could take a road trip or travel by train. Australia has some of the most beautiful road trips in the world, and its rail network offers panoramic views of sweeping landscapes and untouched countryside.
