Travelling in Australia

Getting around

There are very many ways in which you can get around the country during your stay. These means include:

• Boat                
• Train
• Bus
• Car
• Motor cycle
• Air
• Bicycle
• Hitching

The Boat

Despite the fact that Australia is surrounded by water, the water is rarely used to get around. There is only one company that runs passenger services that are regular. Other than this, moving around in the water will not interest you much unless you have access to a Yacht.


Train

Travelling by train is not usually the first option for most people. It is neither faster nor cheaper. There are those however, who prefer using the train with the reason that it is more comfortable than the bus. For others romantic feelings resurrect when on a long distance train journey. An example of one of the great train journeys in Australia is the Ghan which goes between Darwin and the city of festivals Adelaide.
Each state is responsible for the running of its rail services.

The great Southern Railways runs the three biggest interstate train services. These are:
Ghan - Between Adelaide &Darwin
Indian pacific – Between Perth & Sydney
Overland  - Between Adelaide & Melbourne


Bus

Bus transport is considerably cheap and a quite reliable method of getting around places. If you intend to us a bus transport to travel long distance, you should bear in mind that this can be very tedious and therefore plan ahead to ensure that you are comfortable. Australia’s buses can be said to be modern and have facilities to make you feel more comfortable, most are fitted with toilets, videos, air conditioners and do not allow smoking. In the smaller towns you will find drop-off cum pick –up points next to a post office or shop. Australian Buses do not have class (social classes) divisions. The Greyhound Australia has a network of its buses all over Australia.


Bus services for the backpacker

There exist some options for the budget traveller. There are companies that can be compared to tour operators that offer on and off hop services thus easily and conveniently getting one from one point to another. This is a cheaper option to using big buses. The buses for the backpacker are smaller in size. To add on to this the drivers often act as a tour guide as well and explains many thing to the passengers of whom most are travellers.  The disadvantage of using these hop-on /hop-off buses is that seats are usually taken up very quickly. The crowding in this buses make some travellers complain of the smell of alcohol in the buses linked to the ‘boozy culture’.


Cars

Because Australia is big and is sparsely populated, public transport does not always come in handy. Actually there are some places where public transport does not exist.  For those who would want to get around to places that are out of the way, the use of a car is better suited for this. With a car you will find that you do not need to take a guided tour in order to reach some destinations. This in turn means that you are at liberty to choose when to go as you are not restricted to dictated tour timings.


Car Hire

It is cheaper to hire a car from a local company rather than a big international firm. It is Important to note that a cheap car hire might come with limitations on the mileage. If this would be a problem to you then you may want to hire from a bigger firm but bear the extra cost.


Motor Cycles

Many people when given a chance prefer to use a motor cycle to be able to get around easily. Motor bikes have the ability to get into the bushes quite easily using trails that already exist. The limiting thing maybe would be the cost involved in shipping in your motorbike. You have to acquire a customs document that will permit you to import your motorbike without having to pay duty or tax on it. The other things that you must have are a helmet and a riding licence.


Flying

Australia being a big country may necessitate the use of an air craft. This is more so if you have little time at your disposal and wide areas to cover. Some places for instance, such as destinations in the remote outback or on islands, taking a flight is the only option. The domestic flights in Australia do not allow smoking to the dismay of many nicotine lovers.
The main domestic airline is known as Qantas which has a budget friendly subsidiary known as the Jetstar. Together with a competitor, Virgin Blue, Jetstar always close their check in thirty minutes to the flight.


Bicycle rides

Having a lot of flat land with hills that rollout gently, Australia offers cyclists the most ideal setup for leisure rides. There are numerous winding paths and trails that allow cyclists to explore far and wide. However all cyclists are required by law in all the states to put on helmets and have their bikes fitted with lights, white for the front and red for the rear for use when riding at night.


Hitching a ride

Although this may seem cost effective it is highly discouraged the world over. Although you may get a good person who would give you a ride, no strings attached, stories abound on how people have fallen victim to opportunists who harass them most of the time causing them harm. If however you still want to hitch, it would be wiser to have a partner with you. Also make sure that you have informed an appropriate person of your travel plan and route. To stop a vehicle you can either thumb-up the driver or point your finger downward.