Travel Within Australia
There are many ways to travel within Australia once you are here, with the most popular options once you are out of the major cities being by plane or car.
By Plane
The airlines fly frequently between the major cities, and they also fly to many regional areas throughout Australia. If you cannot find a major airline flying into your desired location, then there are also private operators who may be able to get you there.
Some of the major airlines are:
Some chartered airlines for hire are:
By Car
If you are planning on escaping out of the major cities and not going on an organised tour, then the best option will be to rent a car. Once again plan your trip well as distances can be huge. Calculate the distances and work out if it is easier to fly to a destination and rent a car from there. Also study the types of roads you will be driving on as there are a lot of unsealed roads in Australia, so you may require a 4WD vehicle.
Depending on the style of holiday you are planning, there are many types of vehicles you can hire, from 2WD and 4WD campervans where you can sleep in the back of the car, to standard sedans if you plan on sleeping in hotels / motels.
Car Rental
There are many options to hire cars, and below are a list of a few of the hire companies available to you.
Campervan Rental
Travelling around Australia by Campervan is fantastic fun and its a great way to meet fellow travellers and learn about the secret locations they have travelled to. Whether you are a backpacker after campervan rental or a traveller after a little bit of luxury, there are campervans available for all budgets.
Some of the hire companies where you can hire the campervans from are:
Buying a Car
If you are staying in Australia for a considerable amount of time, it may also be worthwhile purchasing a car and then selling it before you leave. Many backpackers purchase a car for their extended holiday, so it should be quite simple for you to pick one up from one of Australia's larger cities.
Here are some websites that specialise in backpacker cars for sale:
Coach Bus
If you don't like travelling by plane, or there are no flights to your destination, then Australia has an extensive bus network as an alternative to get around. Most of the buses have a toilet, air conditioning and a video player.
Greyhound is the main bus company in Australia and has a good network across the country. They have a number of travel passes such as the Explorer Passes which allow you to hop on off at fantastic destinations, a Kilometre Pass which allows you to purchase a set number of kilometres, plus more. Check out their website for details.
Also have a look at Oz Experience as they offer different passes for you to travel around Australia on the bus.
By Rail
You can travel between all the major cities via rail within Australia, along with up the centre of Australia, starting from Adelaide, through Alice Springs and onto Darwin.
There are four major routes you can take:
Indian Pacific
The Indian Pacific train journey travels the width of Australia, allowing to to travel between Sydney, Adelaide and Perth.
The Ghan
The Ghan journey travels through the heart of Australia, travelling from Adelaide, through to Alice Springs and onto Darwin.
The Overland
The Overland is a shorter journey, allowing you to travel between Adelaide and Melbourne.
The Southern Spirit
For a totally unique outback rail adventure, The Southern Spirit takes you between Brisbane and Uluru via Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. This journey is an organised tour, so if you are interested please check the website for details.