Transportation

Notes on transportation in Australia

• Transport for NSW is a great site for planning trips
• Get a transportation card
• You need to load your card with money before getting on public transit
• You can add money to the card at machines and retailers around the city
• When you board public transit, just tap your card on the reader and tap off when you disembark

Specific cities

Brisbane

• Get a Translink Go Card
• Available for purchase at Brisbane Airports, convenience stores, and train stations

Sydney

• Get an Opal Card​

Methods of travel

Planes

• Easiest way to cover Australia’s large distances in a short time
• Great value fares are available, especially if you book in advance
• Check out our flight tips for more info on finding affordable flights

Buses

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• Traveling by bus in the land down under is comfy, efficient, and reasonably priced
• If you’re on a long-distance journey, there’s usually air conditioning, reading lights, adjustable seats, and free wifi
• Greyhound is the national coach operator
• Offers hop-on, hop-off passes for popular routes, short trip passes and flexible passes based on the amount of kilometers you wish to travel

Car

• Australia is known for having some of the most beautiful road trips in the world
• You can find car rental companies in major airports or central city locations

Trains

• Affordable, convenient, and beautiful way to explore Australia
• TrainLink runs services between Sydney and the regional centers of New South Wales, and along Australia’s east coast to Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra
• V-Line trains connect Melbourne with regional hubs in Victoria, Queensland Rail covers Queensland
• TransWA crisscrosses through Western Australia
• Don’t wait to board your train until the last minute
• Be prepared to send your bags through a security scanner
• Keep your ticket handy
• Ask staff member to tell you when your station is coming up

Ferry

• Can take you short or long distances
• You can travel to islands or within harbors
• Transport is a helpful site to plan ferry trips

Light rail

• Sydney has a light rail system which is convenient

Metro

• The metro is cheap and convenient 

Walking

• Get ready to walk everywhere!
• Be sure you bring good walking shoes 
• It’s a wonderful way to get around and get a feel for your city and Australia in general
• AllTrails is a great resource for finding hikes in your area 

Note: REMEMBER to stamp your ticket BEFORE you board a train or bus, otherwise you will get a huge fine (a staff member will check tickets for validation during the train ride)

Other Transportation Tips

• Rome 2 Rio — You may use this website for best ways to get from A to B, but be sure to double-check the bus and train schedules before you plan. It’s a good way to see multiple methods of travel and compare cost, times, etc.
• Google Maps — is accurate and helpful
• Transport for NSW
• You can travel on a sleeper train to save on accommodation and arrive first thing in the morning

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