Getting Around

Getting Around by Water

There are 59,736km (37,119 miles) of coastline, including islands, and many rivers, lakes, inland waterways and inlets, all of which can be used for touring by boat. From paddle steamers along the Murray River to deep-sea fishing cruisers along the vast Barrier Reef, all are available for charter or passenger booking. Most tour operators also handle shipping cruises. The Spirit of Tasmania (tel: (3) 6421 7209; www.spiritoftasmania.com.au) is an overnight car-ferry service linking Melbourne with Tasmania daily.

Rail Passes

Austrail Pass: allows six months' travel on 10 train routes including The Ghan, Indian Pacific, The Overland and XPT. The pass is only available to overseas visitors and a passport must be produced at the time of purchase.

East Coast Discovery Pass: offers six months' travel in one direction on the eastern coast.

Rail Explorer Pass: offers six months' travel on The Ghan, Indian Pacific and The Overland only in any direction but is only available to holders of foreign passports and non-Australian residents.

You can buy passes online at the Rail Australia website (see above).

Getting Around by Road

Traffic drives on the left. Road signs are international. Road quality in the populated areas of the country is excellent. There are few multi-lane highways - major arteries are generally sealed two-lane roads. Driving off major highways in the outback becomes more difficult between November and February because of summer rain, as many roads are little more than dirt tracks. Distances between towns can be considerable, so it is advisable to carry spare water, petrol and equipment in the outback. It is also advisable to let other people know about the route you are taking and what your estimated departure and arrival times are before you travel, especially through outback regions.

Coach: Major towns and cities are linked by an excellent national coach system, run by Greyhound (tel: 1 300 473 946; www.greyhound.com.au). Tasmania also has its own coach service, Tasmanian Redline Coaches (tel: 1 300 360 000; www.redlinecoaches.com.au). There are numerous other companies operating state and interstate services.

Coach passes are available for travel on a variety of routes for between seven days and one year, such as the All Australian, the Aussie Reef & Rock, the Best of the Outback etc. The Aussie Kilometre Pass allows you to purchase your travel in kilometres and then travel in any direction on the national network.

Car hire: Major international and some local car hire companies are available at all major airports and big hotels to those over 21 years old.

Regulations: Minimum driving age is 17 years. The speed limit is 50kph (31mph) in built up areas of cities and towns, unless otherwise signed and 80-110kph (50-68mph) on country roads and highways. Seat belts must be worn at all times and driving licences must be in the driver's possession when driving.

Documentation: An International Driving Permit is required by nationals of countries whose official language is not English. International, foreign or national driving permits are generally valid for three months. An International Driving Permit is only valid in conjunction with a valid national licence. Permits must be carried at all times while driving.

Getting Around Towns and Cities

Comprehensive public transport systems are provided in all the main towns. The state capitals have suburban rail networks, those in Sydney and Melbourne being particularly extensive; trams run in Melbourne and, to a lesser degree, in Adelaide. Meter-operated taxis can be found in all major cities and towns. There is a minimum ‘flagfall charge' and then a charge for the distance travelled. An extra airport charge is sometimes levied. Taxi drivers do not expect to be tipped. A small additional payment may be required for luggage and telephone bookings. Some taxis accept payment by credit card. For further details, see individual state entries.

Journey Times

The following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from Sydney to other major cities in Australia.

Getting Around by Rail

Over 40,000km (24,850 miles) of track cover Australia. Rail travel can be slow and relatively expensive. For further information on rail transport within the different states, see the individual state entries or contact Rail Australia (tel: (8) 8213 4592;  www.railaustralia.com.au).

Two services span the continent from coast to coast. The twice-weekly Indian Pacific travels 4,350km (2,704 miles) from Sydney on the east coast to Perth on the west coast, via Adelaide. The journey takes three days and three nights, crossing the famous Nullarbor Plain. The Ghan travels 2,979km (1,891 miles) between Adelaide and Darwin, via Alice Springs. The service runs twice weekly in each direction and takes two nights. Both trains are fully air conditioned, with first- and second-class sleeping cars, a lounge car, bars and good restaurant facilities.

Other express service links (not always daily) from the state capitals are as follows:
A CountryLink service links Canberra with Sydney (4 to 5 hours). The XPT Express runs from Melbourne to Brisbane via Sydney. The Sunlander and the Tilt Train link Brisbane with Cairns (32 and 25 hours respectively). The Prospector links Perth with Kalgoorlie (6.5 hours). The Spirit of the Outback runs Brisbane to Longreach via Rockhampton.