Getting Around Australia (Cheapest and Best Ways)
Australia is a huge country, there are so many great things to do and places to explore but there is no avoiding the fact that the distances between places here in Australia are quite far.
There are so many great ways you can travel around Australia, having a good idea of how you are going to arrive at the location and what transport options are available will definitely help your planning.
In this article, I will share with you the best tips and information to get around Australia easily and make the most of your travels.
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1. Travel Options in Australia
There are a number of different transport options you can use to move around in Australia. The most common are:
- Bus
- Train
- Plane
- Car
If you are travelling around Australia on a budget, I suggest you watch this video. It sums up all the points in this article.
Australia is a huge country, if you are traveling from cities or larger towns this can be done quite easily using public transport. However, If you intend to travel to rural areas you will need your own transport as public transport won’t reach these areas. We cover the best and cheapest ways to use each travel method below.
Let’s go through the above transport options in more detail as well as highlight the benefits and disadvantages of each.
2. Traveling By Bus in Australia
Buses in Australia are one of the most common ways that backpackers get from one place to another.
Buses have good connections (within reason) to most places you want to travel and can be used to get around towns and cities.
The Greyhound bus, the largest bus company, therefore has the most number of routes and frequency of schedule. The bus rides in Australia are slightly slower than driving because they make stops, however, they are comfortable with all Greyhound Buses offering air-conditioning, toilets, Wifi, and decent leg space.
Bus rides in Australia can be long, for example, a journey from Melbourne to Sydney on a Greyhound bus is around 10-12 hours.
Cost:
Bus travel in Australia can be relatively cheap and there are plenty of ways to save money. However, the further you are away from major cities, like in central or western Australia, then the more expensive a Greyhound bus journey will become.
If you are planning on traveling to a few places in Australia the Greyhound Bus offers a Whimit travel pass which allows you unlimited travel through Australia. You can catch as many buses as you like and hop on and off at any point.
The Greyhound Whimit Travel Pass has the following options:
- 15 days of unlimited travel around Australia for $399 AUD
- 30 days of unlimited travel around Australia for $505 AUD
- 60 days of unlimited travel around Australia for $569 AUD
- 90 days of unlimited travel around Australia for $719 AUD
- 120 days of unlimited travel around Australia for $849 AUD
If you want to make your own travel plan, you can create a customised Whimit Travel Pass starting at $329 AUD.
Within Cities:
Bus travel within the city or town varies between states by is generally between $2 – $10 AUD for a 2 hour period. You are usually allowed to transfer buses as many times as you like within this 2 hour period.
2.1 Advantages of Buses in Australia
There are many advantages of catching the bus in Australia:
- Generally, bus travel will give you better access to more remote places than train or plane travel would
- Bus travel is usually cheaper
- Buses in Australia are generally very reliable and keep to schedule
- You can be more flexible with your travel, you don’t have to book a ticket as far in advance as a plane ticket Cost. Especially if you have a Whimit Pass it won’t cost you more if you book last minute or miss the bus. Simply rebook for no extra fee.
- You don’t have to drive or navigate your journey as you would if you drove yourself. Just get on the bus and relax.
- Bus Terminals are usually located in a central location in the city so you don’t have the extra time and costs that are involved in going to the airport. When you arrive you are usually in the center of the city and have a shorter journey to your accommodation.
- Lots of time to meet other travelers on the bus and share experiences. I’ve made some great friends on the bus who were traveling the same route as me.
2.2 Disadvantages of Buses in Australia
- The bus is slower than a plane, some trains and driving yourself
- Scheduled stops, you can’t stop whenever you feel like compared to if you were driving yourself.
3. Traveling by Train in Australia
Train travel is often overlooked in Australia and many backpackers don’t even consider it, however, it can definitely be a viable option.
Trains are a lot more comfortable than buses and in some cases, it can be easier to get a train than a bus. For example, if you wanted to travel from Sydney to some parts of rural NSW, such as Moree, it would actually be more convenient to get a train.
Riding a train across parts of Australia, particularly in the outback, can be a great travel experience in itself and routes like The Ghan, The Overland, and The Indian Pacific are popular tourist attractions.
Cost:
Train travel is usually more expensive than bus travel, but you can buy rail passes, which can work out cheaper. A Discovery Rail Pass costs $298 for 3 months and $420 for 6 months.
Advantages:
- Riding the train is a lot more comfortable than riding a bus.
- Train travel is a great way to see rural Australia.
- In some cases, it can even work out cheaper than taking a bus, so it’s always worth checking out and comparing both.
Disadvantages:
- Railways do not cover as many routes as buses.
- Long-distance rail travel is generally slower than bus travel, and definitely slower than traveling by plane.
4. Traveling in Australia by Plane
If you’re traveling from one large city to another, it can be easier, and certainly faster, to travel by plane. Because Australia is so large, flying may be the only viable option if you are traveling long distances. For example, if you want to travel from Melbourne to Cairns it would take you 32 hours if driving (even longer on a bus) compared to a 3-hour flight.
When looking for flights the main domestic airlines in Australia include:
- Jetstar
- Qantas
- Virgin Australia
- Rex (new to the commercial domestic market)
There are also smaller regional carriers to more remote areas and islands.
Cost:
Australia is not like Europe where you have many budget airlines providing dirt-cheap travel, however, air travel in Australia is still reasonably affordable. Airlines often run promotions and you can get good deals on flights. You would expect to pay less than $100 AUD for most domestic flights in Australia to the major cities if you do your research and book in Advance.
Advantages:
- Faster than traveling by bus
Disadvantages:
- Less reliable schedules – flights can change their schedules and can be delayed or canceled more often than buses
- Less flexible travel, have to book flights in advance to avoid high prices
- Can be more expensive than a bus
- Airports are usually located far from the center of the city, leaving and arriving at the airport incurs extra cost and time.
- If traveling with only a hand carry you can’t take your liquids or sharp items (shampoos, creams, aerosol deodorants, scissors, oils, food products, etc.).
5. Vehicle Rentals
Australia is huge and public transport can’t get you everywhere, so driving from one destination to the next may be the only option. It’s also a great way to see parts of the country that you normally wouldn’t on public transport. You also have the benefit that you can stop anywhere.
Driving yourself can be the cheapest way to travel especially if you share the fuel costs with other travelers.
If you want to travel by yourself in Australia there are a few options. Let’s go through them
5.1 Renting a Car or Campervan
Renting a car or campervan is a great way to see Australia if you are planning a short trip however, it is one of the most expensive options. When renting a car you need to consider the type of vehicle that will suit your trip.
Things to consider are:
- The size of the car and the number of people traveling with you remember to factor in baggage for your trip.
- If you are going off-road and need a 4×4
- Whether you want to sleep in the car or campervan
- Length of your trip
Cost:
The costs of hiring a car or campervan in Australia vary greatly, depending on where you are and what type of vehicle you want. To bring costs down you can always share your rental vehicle with friends or fellow backpackers.
Renting a car is a viable option if you are planning a shorter trip of less than one month. Otherwise, it is generally more affordable to purchase a vehicle, see our next section for more information on this.
Advantages:
- Driving will allow you to see more of Australia than you would by bus, plane, or train.
- You get to choose what route you would like to take and where you would like to stop.
Disadvantages:
- There are some restrictions when it comes to renting a car or van which can limit your experience, for example, a lot of rental companies will have kilometer restrictions.
- It can become very costly, especially if you are traveling long distances.
Important
Be aware of the terms of your rental agreement. If you are traveling in more remote areas at night you have the risk of kangaroos, cows, and wildlife crossing the road in front of your car. Some companies state on their rental agreement you cannot drive between certain hours during the night, so if you hit something you are not covered.
5.2 Relocation Rentals
This is something that not many backpackers have heard of before arriving in Australia but is a very popular and one of the cheapest ways for many people to travel. Because Australia is such a huge country people often rent vehicles to travel around and drop them off at a different location than when they picked the vehicle up.
This means the rental companies need someone to bring the vehicle back, rather than pay a worker to drive the car back they let customers rent the vehicles for free and as long as they return them to the rental office on a specific date.
Cost:
The cost of relocation rentals varies. Some are free but most have a small cost per day between $1-20 dollars. The free rental period varies but is usually around 5-14 days. You can sometimes pay more to extend the rental period for a few days.
Advantages:
- Cheaper than paying a full-price rental
Disadvantages:
- The start or drop-off point may not be your desired location.
- The dates might not line up exactly with your travel plans.
6. Buy Your Own Vehicle
Buying your own vehicle is highly recommended if you are staying long-term in Australia. There are so many places in Australia that you cannot reach with public transport and some towns also offer very poor public transport options. It definitely makes things a lot easier when you are trying to look and get your eligible visa days in rural locations
Buying a car in Australia will probably be one of the biggest purchases and can be a tricky process. That said, you can sometimes get most your money back and if you are smart and a bit lucky even make some money. Not to worry we’ve got you covered. we have created a great article on how to buy a car, wagon, or campervan.
Cost:
Depends on what type of vehicle you buy and where you buy it but as a rough idea you can purchase a reliable second-hand car for anywhere between $3,000 – $10,000 AUD. Of course you can pay a lot more and for vans and 4x4s you may want to.
Advantages:
- Depending on the size, it can also double as your accommodation while on the road.
- You have the freedom to go wherever you choose.
- If you look after it, you may be able to sell it afterward.
Disadvantages:
- It may take time to sell the vehicle once you are finished with it.
- It may take time to find the right car for you within your budget.
- Will have to drive everywhere yourself, which can mean less relaxation.
7. Final Thoughts
No matter which travelling method you choose you will have an epic time travelling around Australia. As you can see in this article there is a wide range of travel options you can use throughout Australia. Be sure to check out our other articles on Jobaroo for more great travel and backpacker guides. We have done the research and put it all together in simple and easy-to-follow guides so you can spend more time enjoying Australia.
Which is the best way to travel around Australia?
It depends on your destination and the length of stay. Flying is the easiest way to travel to large cities. However, some areas have limited public transport, so driving is the best option.
What is the cheapest way to travel in Australia?
Public buses are affordable, but they don’t reach some amazing places. If you plan to stay in Australia for a long time, driving yourself is the cheapest option.
