THE BEST WAYS TO TRAVEL AROUND AUSTRALIA
If you're going to be backpacking around Australia then you'll need to know the best ways to get around. There are lots of different ways to travel around Oz, including buses, trains and flights, or you buy or hire a car or campervan.
Choosing the best way to get around will depend on where you are going, how much time you have, what your budget is and what sort of experience you want to have.
Here is our useful guide on the best ways to travel around Australia.
GET A HOP-ON HOP-OFF
BUS PASS
There are two bus operators in Australia that offer hop-on hop-off passes - Greyhound and Premier.
These passes allow you to stop at most big towns along the way, which makes them a great option if you're going to be working and travelling around Oz.
There are lots of different passes available, ranging from 2 weeks to 6 months,
The best option for travelling along the east coast is to get a Premier 3 or 6 month pass, which cost around $350.
CATCH A CHEAP FLIGHT
There are four domestic airlines in Australia. Qantas, JetStar, Virgin and Regional Express.
If you just want to get to a particular place quickly then flying will be your best option. Flights within Oz cost between $50 and $400, depending on where you're going. And a good website to compare prices and book a flight is Webjet.
RENT A CAR OR CAMPERVAN
Travelling around Australia in a car or campervan has some pros and cons. You'll have the freedom to go wherever you want, you'll get to see lots of the country and you'll save some money on accommodation. However you probably won't meet as many people and you'll need to spend a lot of money on petrol.
We recommend hiring a campervan for shorter road trips, such as a few days along the Great Ocean Road or a week or two for a trip to the Red Centre. You can check out some options here.
GO AS PART OF A GROUP
AND TAKE A TOUR
Booking a tour and travelling as part of a group is a great option for getting around certain parts of Australia.
You'll probably get to see and do more than if you travelled independently, you'll have an experienced Tour Guide that will make sure you get the most out of the journey and you'll have an instant group of friends to share your adventure with!
Plus your transport, accommodation and some meals will be included.
TAKE THE TRAIN
There is a rail network along the east coast of Australia, however nearly everyone will take a hop-on hop-off bus instead.
However if you want to have an epic journey across the middle of Australia (between Sydney and Perth or Adelaide and Darwin) and you have plenty of time and money then there are some great options here.
POPULAR ROUTES
Almost everyone that goes backpacking in Australia will travel along the east coast by bus, either from Sydney to Cairns or from Cairns to Sydney.
Then most people will spend some time in Melbourne and Adelaide.
Unfortunately only a small percentage of people will travel along the west coast, go to the Red Centre or make it up to Darwin and Kakadu National Park, which is a shame because these are some of the most unique and amazing parts of Oz.