Buses
They come in all shapes, sizes, conditions, prices and destinations. In fact Australia is covered from top to tail by buses services. You will find coaches easy going, cost-effective and a great way to discover Australia.
The whole country is criss-crossed by interlinking services and many offer hop-on hop-off opportunities or unlimited travel for a fixed time.
Firefly (1300-730-740 as an example) have very cheap daily services from Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney. Greyhound Australia goes to a wide array of destinations at good prices.
There is also a wide array of choice when it comes to the smaller operators who normally offer tours and trips off the beaten track. There are also backpacker-specific coaches that travel between the main Australian cities and towns. These services are often tailored to the needs of backpackers, young travelers and are guaranteed to be a ton of fun.
Tours
Tours can be the most cost effective way of seeing what is really worth seeing in Australia. With a tour guide, accommodation supplied and all the best places to visit right there on your itinerary you are bound to get the best bang-for-your-buck if you choose this route.
Many tours are activity specific such as ‘learn to surf’, ‘wildflowers’, ‘swim with sharks’, etc. Outback, wine and 4WD tours are also very popular in Australia and may well be worth checking out. These tours often offer you a lot of flexibility by allowing you to mix and match the tours you specifically want into a custom designed trip that is just right for you. If you can’t find what you are looking for with your first tour operator find another that will offer you what you need – you will find one that can offer you what you are looking for.
Australian tours can be a great way to travel with accommodation in hotels, hotels, cabins or even tents. Camp out in the bush and listen to the dingo’s and cockatoos, eat indigenous ‘bush tucker’ and have a cup of Billy tea – you’ll think you have gone to heaven and back.
Buying or Hiring a Camper Van
By far the best way to see Australia is in your own wheels and the best of those are the ones attached to a camper van of some sort. The advantage of the camper is that you don’t have to fork out all the time for accommodation and the money you save is well worth it. Also you have an opportunity to get to places that the regular transport doesn’t get to.
You have two choices if you use a motor vehicle to tour in – buy or hire. Each has their advantages and disadvantages.
- Buying
You own the vehicle and can save money by selling it at the end of your trip but getting it sold may be a bit of a pain. Trying to find a buyer when you have only 24 hours left in the country can be a real problem. You are responsible for all maintenance and repair and unless you buy a vehicle that’s in pretty good condition that can end up being expensive – so pick a good one if you do buy.
- Rent/Lease
You have a bit more security because many hire companies offer you free maintenance when you’re on the road so if there’s a breakdown you’ll be looked after (make sure you get this services from your hire company and make sure it’s Australia wide).Cars can be hired for as little as $30 a day so a 3-month stay will only cost $3000 and if you share with 2 others it can be a very cheap way to get around. Campervans are more expensive but come with a lot of amenities not found in your regular motor vehicle such as a shower, fridge, cooker, comfortable bed, etc.