How to Get Around Australia: Best Transportation for Travelers | Zicasso (2024)

Australia has approximately 613 domestic and international airports, offering easy access to the country's remote corners.

The number of airports makes it much easier and faster to travel long distances between popular cities, main highlights, and unique destinations you may want to reach as you experience a luxury Australia tour.

While trains offer relaxed, scenic routes, flying is generally your best option when traveling during your trip, whether from Sydney to Uluru, Melbourne to Cairns, or Perth to Darwin.

Tilt Train. Photo courtesy of Queensland Rail

Trains are a unique way to travel long distances in Australia. The country’s rail network offers excellent connections between major cities. With over 21,000 miles of tracks, train travel is convenient, but does take longer than flying.

Australia has six popular rail lines that offer good service and beautiful scenery. The most popular journeys include the Tilt, the Indian Pacific, the NSW TrainLink, The Ghan, and the Spirit of the Outback.

The beautiful sights can become more enjoyable as you indulge in Australia’s scenic train rides, offering panoramic views of sweeping landscapes and untouched marvels of the countryside.

Barossa Valley, Australia. Photo courtesy of Tourism Australia

Australia has a fascinating urban culture, with dramatic scenery easily accessed by private vehicle. The driver often doubles as a tour guide when traveling around a city or on a day trip, offering a faster and more efficient experience.

Whether you are interested in tasting new vintages during an Australia wine tour of the Barossa Valley, visiting the Blue Mountains for the day in one of the nation’s best national parks, wishing to reach a specific beach, or having an early flight, a private driver gives you personal service, a safe environment, and a sense of luxury.

The Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Australia

Traveling Australia by car can be challenging, especially if you have a schedule to keep. The country is enormous and there is considerable distance between the most popular destinations, such as Sydney to Melbourne or Alice Springs to Uluru.

The expansive outback requires precautions like a satellite phone, extra gasoline, and extra water in case of car issues, while more common roads in the countryside can become congested with wildlife after sundown. Driving in Australia can become an epic road trip, but only with expert guidance and research.

Our selection of the best scenic drives in Australia adds variety and opulence to the freedom of having your own car when traveling in and around the country.

Rural Australia

Travel by bus can be an alternative to travel by train, providing access to rural areas. Buses are more economical than trains, but are far slower, making it difficult if you have a limited number of days to travel through Australia.

The seats are comfortable and the vehicles offer entertainment, charger points, and wifi for a travel experience on easily navigable highways and roads. Buses can be an efficient way to visit the most remote destinations in Australia, but when not traveling to more remote corners of the country, it is easier and faster to fly.

Sailing in the Whitsundays, Australia

The majority of Australia’s population lives within about 30 miles of the water, making travel by boat a fun and unique way to explore the shoreline, especially if wishing to visit the secret islands of the Great Barrier Reef.

However, Australia is a vast country and traveling by boat between cities would take a tremendous amount of time.

Instead, traveling in this way is excellent for smaller excursions, such as on cruises around Sydney Harbour, sailing along the Great Barrier Reef, or boating around the Whitsunday Islands.

Flinders Street Station in Melbourne, Australia

Taxis are an efficient way to travel around Australian cities. Cabs are usually painted yellow, silver, or white, and visibly display their meters.

This mode of travel is a great alternative to walking or taking public transportation in the best cities to visit in Australia, including Melbourne, Sydney, and Perth, but each territory has its own public transportation system, with great connectivity and schedules.

The metro systems are reliable and easy to manage, but do not give you the same freedom to travel on your own schedule as a taxi does.

Ridesharing apps are very popular in cities like Melbourne and Sydney. The diversity thereof in larger cities can give you plenty of choices, whether with a private car or standard taxi.

Several ridesharing apps offer different service options, such as luxury vehicles, child seats, or licenses for transporting passengers in wheelchairs. Ridesharing apps are not always cheaper than traditional taxis in Australia, as prices can change depending on the city or time of day.

The Indian Pacific in Southern Australia. Photo courtesy of Journey Beyond

Australia has great transportation options, depending on your travel schedule and budget. With so many amazing sites, you can easily find the right time to explore Cable Beach in the Kimberley or Flinders Chase National Park on Kangaroo Island on Australia tours and vacations with information on the best time to visit Australia.

Our Australia travel guide can give you more hints on how to discover the Land Down Under.