The ideal way to get to know Australia as much as possible is definitely by renting a car. For longer distances, on the other hand, use a plane; connections are frequent and relatively cheap.

However, long-distance bus or rail services are also good, although not very frequent.

By car

As in England, driving in Australia is on the left. You get used to it fairly quickly. But also be careful where you look when crossing the road as a pedestrian.

Car hire companies are located at all Australian airports, but also in the centres of major cities. There are a huge number of multinational and local car rental companies operating in Australia.

Compare prices at booking.com/cars

For detailed information on travelling by car, see the chapter Car rental in Australia.

Air travel

The distances between major cities are great. This is also why air transport is the most common form of domestic transport.

There are a huge number of scheduled airports in Australia and the routes between major cities are among the busiest in the world.

There are several modern airlines operating in Australia.

Ticket prices and when to buy

Domestic one-way tickets can be purchased from 110 aud on the shortest routes between major cities.

However, fares on longer routes across Australia are quite expensive and can cost well over 250 aud one way.

The highest prices are on short regional routes to small communities and locations where there are only a small number of planes flying with limited capacity and also limited competition. Prices on these routes range between 250 aud and 400 aud.

The usual price on the busiest Sydney to Melbourne route is between 100 aud and 190 aud for a one-way flight.

The cheapest tickets are usually available 1-3 months before departure.

Buy flight tickets around Australia

Airlines in Australia

There are many airlines operating in the country, both low-cost airlines that don't include checked baggage in the cheapest fares, and conventional airlines with free checked baggage.

Compare flight prices at skyscanner.com

You can buy flights within Australia on the following airlines.

• Qantas - National airline with checked baggage included but higher flight prices
• Jetstar - Generally the cheapest airline, a low-cost carrier with no checked baggage, with major hubs in Melbourne and Sydney
• Virgin Australia - another low-cost carrier without checked baggage, with main hubs in Brisbane, Perth and Sydney
• Rex Airlines - a large regional airline flying to a large number of small inland cities
• Link Airways - a regional airline flying to small cities mainly from Brisbane
• Airnorth - a regional airline flying to small towns mainly from Darwin or Alice Springs
• FlyPelican - a small regional airline flying from Newcastle

Rail transport

Normal rail services are mainly concentrated in the south-east and eastern parts of the country, but two spurs run to Perth and Darwin across the continent.

Several carriers operate in Australia:

• NSW Trainlink: operates routes around Sydney and long-distance routes Sydney-Melbourne, Sydney-Brisbane and Sydney-Canberra
• Queensland Rail: routes around Brisbane and in the state of Queensland
• Transwa: carrier operating in Western Australia around Perth
• V/Line: runs mainly from Melbourne to surrounding cities

Tickets should ideally be purchased online at least 1 week in advance from the websites of the above companies.

Ticket prices and routes

Examples of the most popular routes are:

Route	Price from	Frequency
Sydney - Melbourne	84 aud	2x daily
Sydney - Brisbane	73 aud	1x per day
Sydney - Canberra	37 aud	3x daily
Sydney - Newcastle	25 aud	3x daily

Tourist railways across Australia

The long-distance luxury trains running across Australia from north to south and east to west are very popular.

All of these tourist routes are operated by Journey Beyond Rail.

Routes, booking and ticket prices

We recommend booking tickets well in advance, especially on the longest routes from Adelaide to Perth and Adelaide to Darwin, where tickets can sell out months in advance.

Book your tickets at journeybeyondrail.com.au.

The Ghan

The Ghan route is regarded as one of the most amazing train routes in the world.

Trains run across the Australian desert from north to south along the following route:

• Adelaide - Manguri - Marla - Alice Springs - Katherine - Darwin
• The route covers a total of 2,790 km

Tickets can be purchased in several variations:

• The entire Adelaide - Darwin route
  • Prices from 4 090 aud
  • 52 hours journey time
• Adelaide - Alice Springs
  • prices from 2 175 aud
  • Travel time 25 hours
• Darwin - Alice Springs
  • Rates from 2 175 aud
  • Driving time 26 hours
• Booking tickets: journeybeyondrail.com.au/the-ghan

Indian Pacific

The world's longest rail route runs through the orphaned southern desert from west to east, then through the mountains to Sydney and on to the Pacific.

Trains run along the following route:

• Sydney - Blue Mountains - Broken Hill - Adelaide - Cook - Rawlinna - Kalgoorlie - Perth
• The route covers a total of 4,352 km

Tickets can be purchased in several variations:

• Full route Perth - Sydney
  • Prices from 3 980 aud
  • 73 hours journey time
• Adelaide - Perth
  • prices from 3 600 aud
  • Travel time 40 hours
• Booking tickets: journeybeyondrail.com.au/indian-pacific

Great Southern

A great route through the south-east of Australia from Brisbane to Adelaide, running partly along the coast and partly inland.

Trains run along the following route:

• Brisbane - Coffs Harbour - Newcastle - Grampians - Adelaide
• The total route is 2,885 km

Tickets can be found in this option:

• The entire Brisbane - Adelaide route
  • Prices from 3 100 aud
  • 55 hours journey time
• Ticket booking: journeybeyondrail.com.au/great-southern

The Overland

The shortest of Journey Beyond's routes runs only from Melbourne to Adelaide.

Tickets can be found in this option:

• Full Melbourne to Adelaide route
  • Prices from 145 aud
  • 13 hours journey time
• Ticket booking: journeybeyondrail.com.au/the-overland

Long distance buses

Buses may be another acceptable mode of transport. Among the best-known carriers are the red Greyhound buses. It's an ideal way for solo travellers, but also for groups.

Long-distance buses are fairly reliable and relatively cheap, but the journeys are lengthy and it's still true that travelling by plane will be more comfortable and often quicker if you're travelling with just one piece of luggage.

Ideally buy your tickets online at least 1 week in advance from the websites of the companies listed below.

Buses only run between major cities and mainly in the south-eastern part of the country

Major bus operators:

• Greyhound Australia: serves virtually all populated parts of Australia
• Premier: Greyhound's competitor for east coast travel from Sydney to Cairns
• Firefly Express: frequent services from Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney
• Integrity: the largest bus operator in Western Australia around Perth
• V/Line: bus and train operator operating mainly in the south and south-east of Australia
• Murrays Coaches: frequent service from Canberra to Sydney and other coastal cities

Ferries

The only frequent boat service for general foot passengers and cars runs to Tasmania Island and on two routes from Darwin.

Tasmania

Passenger ferries run on the Geelong to Devonport route.

• Spirit of Tasmania: spiritoftasmania.com.au/sailing-fares/sailing-schedule
• 1-2 times daily
• Sailing time approx. 11 hours
• Price from 115 aud for walking / from 336 aud with car

Darwin

Regular ferries sail to the Tiwi Islands, 3-4 times a week. For details, visit sealink.com.au/tiwi-islands/ferry-information/ferry-timetable.