🦘 Australia Travel Guide · Updated 2025

Getting Around
Australia

✍️ Cooee Tours Editorial Team 🗓 Updated June 2025 ⏱ 9 min read

Australia is continent-sized — the right transport choice defines your experience. From $59 budget flights to legendary 65-hour train crossings, here's everything you need to know.

7.7M
km² to explore
5
Ways to travel
8
Capital cities
4,000km
Coast to coast
✍️ By Cooee Tours Editorial Team
🗓 Updated June 2025
📚 25 years running Australian tours
ATAS Accredited ✓
All Transport Options

How Do You Want to Travel?

From quick domestic hops to epic road trips and bucket-list rail journeys — here's everything you need to know about getting around Australia.

By Air

Domestic Flights

The fastest way to cover Australia's enormous distances. Sydney to Perth in under 5 hours versus 4+ days by road. The most practical option for long interstate journeys.

From ~$59 one way on sale routes
  • Major carriers: Qantas, Virgin Australia, Jetstar, Rex Airlines
  • Budget routes from $59–$99 one way (booked 6–8 weeks ahead)
  • Frequent flyer programs (Qantas Points, Velocity) offer strong long-term value
  • All capital cities + 150+ regional airports nationwide
  • Check-in baggage is usually extra on Jetstar — budget accordingly
Flight guide →
By Rail

Trains & Rail Journeys

Iconic long-distance rail is a bucket-list experience in itself — not just transport. The Indian Pacific and The Ghan rank among the world's great train journeys.

From ~$400 one way (seated) · Cabins from $1,500+
  • The Ghan: Adelaide → Darwin, 54 hours through the Red Centre
  • Indian Pacific: Sydney → Perth, 65 hours across the continent
  • The Overland: Melbourne → Adelaide, 12 hours via the Grampians
  • All operated by Journey Beyond Rail Expeditions
  • City rail networks: Opal (Sydney), Myki (Melbourne), Go Card (Brisbane)
  • Book sleeper cabins 6–12 months ahead — especially June–August
Rail guide →
By Road

Long-Distance Coaches

The most affordable way to hop between cities and coastal towns, with routes reaching places planes and trains simply don't go. Ideal for the East Coast backpacker trail.

From ~$1 one way booked in advance (Greyhound)
  • Greyhound Australia — largest network, covering all major routes
  • Firefly Express: Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide (budget overnight service)
  • Hop-on hop-off passes: Greyhound Whimit Pass from ~$599
  • Wi-Fi and USB charging on most modern coaches
  • Connects Brisbane, Gold Coast, Byron Bay, Sydney, Melbourne
  • Book early for the $1 fare deals — limited seats at each price tier
Coach guide →
By Sea

Ferries & Water Taxis

Essential for island-hopping and harbour crossings. The Spirit of Tasmania offers an iconic overnight crossing to the Apple Isle — with your car on board.

From ~$55 per adult (Spirit of Tasmania)
  • Spirit of Tasmania: Melbourne ↔ Devonport, 9–10 hours overnight
  • Sydney Harbour & Manly Ferry (Opal card) — a highlight in itself
  • Rottnest Island ferry from Perth/Fremantle — home of the quokka
  • Whitsunday island transfer boats and sailing charters
  • Great Barrier Reef day-trip vessels from Cairns and Port Douglas
  • Book Spirit of Tasmania 3–6 months ahead for December–January
Ferry guide →
Self-Drive

Car Hire & Road Trips

The most rewarding way to experience Australia. A self-drive unlocks national parks, wine regions, coastal drives, and remote Outback adventures that no other transport reaches.

From ~$50–70/day (economy car hire)
  • Drive on the left — valid overseas licence accepted in all states
  • Economy car hire from $50–70/day; 4WD from $100–180/day
  • Campervans (Jucy, Travellers Autobarn) from $120–230/day
  • Petrol cheapest on Tuesdays in most cities — plan refills accordingly
  • Outback tracks (Gibb River Road, Oodnadatta) require 4WD and planning
  • Book ahead for peak season (Dec–Jan, Jun–Aug in the north)
  • Relocation deals (relocate.car) can get you free or near-free rentals
Road trip guide →
Within Cities

City Public Transport Cards

Each major Australian city has its own tap-and-go transport card. Load one up before you arrive — using cash on buses and trains costs significantly more per trip.

Sydney & NSW
Opal Card

Covers trains, buses, light rail, and ferries across Sydney. The Manly Ferry with an Opal card is one of the world's great commute views — for $7.65.

~$5–15 per day | Daily cap: $17.80
Melbourne & VIC
Myki Card

Works on trams (CBD trams are free!), trains, and buses. Load it at 7-Eleven stores or station machines. Carry a $10 minimum balance.

~$5–12 per day | Daily cap: $11.00
Brisbane & QLD
Go Card

Covers CityCat ferries (fantastic way to see the river), buses, and trains across South East Queensland including the Gold and Sunshine Coasts.

~$5–12 per day | Daily cap: $10.60
Perth & WA
SmartRider

Perth's train network is modern and efficient. The free CAT (Central Area Transit) buses cover the CBD — great for exploring without spending a cent.

~$4–10 per day | Free CBD CAT buses
Adelaide & SA
Metrocard

Adelaide's compact CBD means many attractions are walkable. Free tram along North Terrace and into the city centre. Metrocard for buses and trains beyond.

~$4–10 per day | Free CBD tram zone
Darwin & NT
Bus Network

Darwin is best explored by car or with Darwin Bus services. The compact size means Ubers are affordable. For Kakadu, a hire car or guided tour is essential.

~$3–8 per day buses | Car hire recommended
At a Glance

Transport Options Compared

Not sure which option suits your trip? Use this table to compare speed, cost, comfort, and what each is genuinely best for.

Mode Speed Cost Comfort Scenery Best For
✈️ Domestic Flights
 Very fast Moderate Standard Aerial views Long interstate trips; time-poor travellers
🚆 Long-distance Train
 Very slow Expensive Excellent Spectacular Bucket-list experiences; slow travellers
🚌 Long-distance Coach
 Moderate Very affordable Decent Roadside scenery Backpackers; East Coast trail; budget travel
⛴️ Ferry
 Slow–moderate Moderate Relaxed Coastal & harbour Tasmania; island hopping; harbour cities
🚗 Self-Drive / Campervan
 Your pace Moderate Total freedom Unbeatable National parks; wine regions; road trips
🏙️ City Public Transport
 Fast in cities Very cheap Adequate Urban views Getting around Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane
Iconic Self-Drive Routes

Australia's Great Road Trips

A self-drive opens up Australia's greatest landscapes. These are the routes our guides recommend most to visitors with time and a sense of adventure.

Great Ocean Road
243km · Victoria · 3–5 days recommended

One of the world's great coastal drives — winding cliff-edge highway, the Twelve Apostles, rainforest hinterland, and charming beach towns. Best driven from Torquay (Bells Beach) westward to Warrnambool.

  • Twelve Apostles
  • Lorne
  • Cape Otway
  • Bells Beach
  • Otway National Park
Red Centre Way
1,100km loop · Northern Territory · 5–7 days

The ultimate Outback circuit: Alice Springs to Uluru-Kata Tjuta, Kings Canyon, and back. Unsealed sections require a 4WD. Stargazing far from any city light pollution is extraordinary.

  • Uluru
  • Kata Tjuta
  • Kings Canyon
  • West MacDonnell Ranges
WA Wildflower Trail
1,000km+ · Western Australia · 7–10 days

August to October sees Western Australia's mid-west erupt in wildflowers — one of the world's great natural spectacles. Drive north from Perth through the Wheatbelt, Midwest, and back via the coast.

  • Kalbarri
  • Midwest
  • Geraldton
  • The Pinnacles
  • Wave Rock
Gibb River Road
660km · The Kimberley, WA · 7–14 days · 4WD essential

One of Australia's most remote and spectacular drives through the ancient Kimberley. Gorges, waterfalls, station stays, and Aboriginal rock art. Open May–October only — flooded in the Wet.

  • Mitchell Falls
  • Windjana Gorge
  • El Questro
  • Bell Gorge
Barossa & Clare Valley Loop
200km · South Australia · 3–4 days

A manageable weekend drive from Adelaide through Australia's greatest wine country. Cellar doors, farm-gate produce, heritage German villages, and world-class riesling make this one of Australia's finest short drives.

  • Tanunda
  • Nuriootpa
  • Clare
  • Seppeltsfield
  • Hahndorf
East Coast Explorer
2,900km · Sydney to Cairns · 3–6 weeks

The classic Australian road trip: Sydney up the coast through Byron Bay, Gold Coast, Noosa, the Whitsundays, and into the tropical rainforest of Far North Queensland. Plan for at least 3 weeks to do it justice.

  • Byron Bay
  • Noosa
  • Whitsundays
  • Mission Beach
  • Cairns
Expert Advice

Travel Smarter Around Australia

Insider tips from 25 years of running Australian tours — things most travel sites won't tell you about getting around the country.

Load Your Transport Card Before You Arrive

Each city has its own card (Opal in Sydney, Myki in Melbourne, Go Card in Brisbane). Cash fares on buses cost 20–30% more per trip. Grab your city card at the airport on arrival.

Book Iconic Trains 6–12 Months Ahead

The Ghan and Indian Pacific sleeper cabins sell out months in advance, especially June–August (peak Outback season). Seated carriages are cheaper but a significantly lesser experience. Secure your cabin early.

Greyhound's Whimit Pass for East Coasters

If you're travelling the classic Brisbane–Sydney–Melbourne East Coast route, Greyhound's hop-on hop-off Whimit pass (~$599) offers excellent value versus buying individual tickets for each leg.

Australia Has Three Time Zones (Plus Quirky Halves)

Eastern (NSW, VIC, QLD), Central (SA, NT — 30 min behind Eastern), and Western (WA — 2 hrs behind Eastern). South Australia's 30-min offset catches travellers out regularly. Double-check all departure times when crossing state lines.

The Wet Season Closes Outback Roads

Roads in the NT and Far North Queensland close from November to April — not June to November as commonly stated. The Gibb River Road, Kakadu access roads, and many Outback tracks are impassable during the Wet. Always check with local councils before departure.

Essential Transport Apps

TripView (Sydney), PTV app (Melbourne), TransLink (Brisbane), and Moovit (most cities) make navigating public transport effortless. Download them before landing. Google Maps also works well for PT navigation throughout Australia.

Petrol Is Cheapest on Tuesdays

Australia's fuel cycle means prices drop on Tuesdays and Wednesday mornings in most capital cities before rising through the week. Fill up strategically. In remote areas, carry extra fuel — service stations can be 400km+ apart in Outback WA and SA.

Consider a Scenic Flight for Remote Areas

For Uluru, the Kimberley, and Far North Queensland, a scenic flight or helicopter transfer transforms the experience. Rex Airlines and regional operators connect remote airstrips where driving simply isn't practical within a typical holiday timeframe.

Common Questions

Getting Around Australia — FAQ

The questions our travel planners answer most often about transport in Australia.

The best way depends entirely on your itinerary and priorities. For long city-to-city distances, domestic flights are fastest and usually cheapest when booked ahead. For exploring regions and national parks at your own pace, self-drive is unbeatable — most of Australia's best experiences require a car. Iconic trains like The Ghan are bucket-list experiences in themselves rather than practical transport. Coaches suit budget travellers on the East Coast backpacker trail.
Domestic flights with Qantas, Virgin Australia, or Jetstar are the most practical option — fares from $59 one way booked in advance. Greyhound coaches connect all major East Coast cities affordably. The iconic long-distance trains (The Ghan: Adelaide–Darwin; Indian Pacific: Sydney–Perth; The Overland: Melbourne–Adelaide) are spectacular but take days — treat them as experiences, not simply transport.
You don't need a car for city-to-city travel, but a car dramatically expands what you can see. Most of Australia's best destinations — national parks, the Great Ocean Road, the Kimberley, wine regions, coastal drives — are only accessible by road. Car hire starts from $50–70/day. A valid overseas driver's licence is accepted in all Australian states. For remote Outback travel, a 4WD is strongly recommended or required.
Domestic flights range from $59 one way on sale to $300–500+ for last-minute fares. Popular routes booked 4–6 weeks ahead: Sydney–Melbourne $120–200; Sydney–Cairns $150–280; Melbourne–Perth $180–350. Jetstar has the lowest base fares but charges extra for checked bags and food. Virgin Australia and Qantas include more and offer better frequent flyer earning — worth comparing total cost including bags.
Australia's three iconic long-distance train journeys are: The Ghan (Adelaide to Darwin, 54 hours through the outback), the Indian Pacific (Sydney to Perth, 65 hours across the continent), and The Overland (Melbourne to Adelaide, 12 hours through the Grampians and volcanic plains). All run through Journey Beyond Rail Expeditions. Sleeper cabins book out months in advance. Book as early as possible for June–August departures.
The Spirit of Tasmania is the overnight passenger and vehicle ferry between Melbourne (Station Pier) and Devonport in northern Tasmania. The crossing takes 9–10 hours and operates nightly year-round, with daytime sailings in peak summer. Cabins range from recliner seats (~$55) to private ensuite cabins (~$130–200). Vehicles can be transported, making it the preferred way to take your own car to Tasmania. Book 3–6 months ahead for December–January departures at spiritoftasmania.com.au.

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