Australia

General info

Transport and tours

To and from airport

Sydney: Airport buses can be caught outside Central Station on Eddy Avenue. Trains take just ten minutes to go to the airport

Melbourne: Buses cost $12 one way to or from the airport and run frequently over 24 hours. You may catch the bus from Spencer St Station or be picked up (which you can arrange when booking in advance) which take 25 minutes.

Sydney
Buses: there are plenty of buses with high frequency on some routes. Some routes have buses running through the night. Some services operate for 24 hours but the frequency is very low. The company is STA - State Transit Authority, and the information office is near the entrance to Central Station on George St near Broadway (the escalators). As destinations on some services vary at certain times, please read destination scrolls. They are always correct. City destinations are Millers Point/The Rocks, City and Central Station, Railway (Central), QVB, Wynyard, so you would know if the buses are going to the city or not by reading them.

The trains are quite good and punctual. There is real time network at upgraded stations so you know how many minutes left before the train comes. Tickets for buses are available in newsagents and are cheaper than paying cash. For trains, you may pay at the station or use a vending machine. There are cards for both buses and trains.
Web www.sydneybuses.nsw.gov.au. There is a few train stations in the city: Central, Town Hall, Wynyard, Circular Quay, Museum. Some stations close early so check in advance.

Ferry: there are many ferry routes serving Sydney, and many ferries operate from Circular Quay. One of them is Manly-Circular Quay which can be taken as a tourist attraction

Melbourne: there is a very good tram network run on electricity. Though slow, they are quite reliable. Their timing is quite good - they are very punctual. There is a lot of trams running through St Kilda Rd.Traffic jams may hinder trams at times in some areas but most of the time, they move through even at peak hours. However, during peak times, they may be packed. Weekly or 10-trip tickets for trams can be bought at newsagents and whereas only single or 2-hour trip tickets are available on the trams.

Tasmania: due to its low population, buses are infrequent. When travelling around Tasmania, you are advised to book in advance to ensure your seat availability. You can pay the driver on boarding the bus.

Adelaide: the buses are modernised and there are two free buses taking you around the city. There is an old tram which takes you to Glenelg Beach and back.
Web www.adelaidemetro.com.au

Countrywide and tours

Around Australia:

Train: there are trains serving cities. The route from Sydney to Melbourne is $55 which takes a time length of 10:15 to travel without stopping.

Firefly: this bus runs to and from Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. The Syd-Mel route is served twice daily with one during the day and one overnight. It takes about 12 hours each way, with two stops (Goulburn and Albury) for up to 40 minutes at each. Stops are shorter on the overnight route. The cost varies depending on the season - it may be $40 or $50. There is no saving on the return fares as they are twice the single fares. The seats are comfortable and there is a TV for videos

Greyhound Pioneer/McCaffertys: these buses take you around quickly as they take you from one place to another in the shortest distance possible, i.e. they do not take you off the main track. You can get tickets for all of Australia and hop on and off anywhere.
Web www.greyhound.com.au

Oz Experience: One good thing about this is that you can go off hte main tracks that you would see more. You can hop on and off the bus at any of the stops mentioned in Oz Experience book. Drivers book hostels for you but not in some cities. Activities are also booked by the driver. If you get off somewhere for a few days, you need to book your seat 48 hours in advance or longer on busy routes. You can do so through email or website.
Web www.ozexperience.com.au Email enquiries@ozexperience.com

Desert Adventurer: this runs from Alice Springs to Cairns and vice versa. The driver was very good when he came up to me every time he stopped to explain what he said to the other passengers. Accommodation is either included in the ticket price or free, but food is extra and is cheap at $45 for 2.5 days worth of dinners, lunches and breakfasts

Air

Air companies serving Australia whether internally or externally are Virgin Blue, Qantas and Ansett. Ansett collapsed during 2001 but it has been saved, though flights are limited. You can book on the internet or go into backpackers or travel agencies.

Ansett Web www.ansett.com.au
Virgin Blue Web www.virginblue.com.au
Qantas Web www.qantas.com.au

Cars and vans

On the other hand, you may want to rent out a van or car, or buy one of them. Petrol is very cheap for around 70¢ a litre

Walking

Then again, walk around! If you live in the inner city, it would probably take under an hour to reach the city. In Sydney, Glebe is up to 45 minutes walk