Getting around

Getting around in Australia

Travelling within Australia is always going to be expensive. It's such a big country and there is no way round travel being a large part of your budget. Having said that there are ways around it:

Planes are ridiculously expensive. Some hour-long flights go for $300-500 ONE WAY! Don't even think about flying across the country. That'll set you back thousands! You do find good deals provided you book a few months in advance and aren't opposed to catching the red-eye flights. Look out for deals where possible and remember that flying can be a lot cheaper than driving to your destination.

Buses are relatively more expensive than planes are. A 2 hour flight could take 2 days by bus. You'll have to eat along the way presumably. Rural Australian food is very expensive and high in calories. Don't be surprised if you arrive at your destination looking like the Michelin-person.

Hitch-hiking is a possibility that many choose to try their luck with. You're pretty much guaranteed a ride, just watch out for those drivers that expect you to kick in for gas money. If you are able to afford it by all means do so, however you can get around for free if you are patient and resourceful enough. Ask a Truckie, he'll be in need of some conversation and the company has paid his fuel costs. Backpackers generally don't have the best reputation amongst Australians and not all Aussies are willing to stop for us.

Ride Share. Find someone on Gumtree or through hostels that is going where you want to go. Meet up and if you hit it off you'll share the costs and the adventure on the way to your intended destination.

Vehicle relocation. Google this term. It's when a car company needs a car in the city you are staying at moved to another part of the country. This is common and happens all the time. Several websites offer this option and in return you get a free car to get to your destination within the time frame (it's a generous time frame) and they even throw some fuel money in.

Buying a car? Yes! It's a good idea. You can find cars for under $1000 in Australia that are still road-worthy. Don't ever buy anything that is listed on a backpackers job board. Whoever bought it will have bought it at an already inflated price and will list if for what they intend to receive for it. This amount is well above the vehicle's actual worth. Backpackers are generally lousy when it comes to vehicle maintenance or care. The vehicle has probably scraped through the country a few times and will not have been cared for. Look instead in local newspapers and on Gumtree. When you are done with your car, just sell it on (on a backpackers job board).

Insurance is very reasonable in Australia as are fuel prices relative to the cost of living. Cars are so much better than vans, for reasons elaborated below. The cost of maintaining a car is usually around the same as taking public transport.

Buying a van? NO! Think again. This is the ultimate rip-off that people fall for time after time. It seems like the whole Australian backpacking experience is centred around having a van and that being the only valid way to see the country.

Vans limit you, backpacker vans are the most un road-worthy pieces of crap out there. Sure they have beds in the back, beds that 1000 people have slept in before you and some may have a sink or stove (waste of space). This is all still wasted space. You can pullover and camp pretty much anywhere out bush so there is no need to have a mattress in the back.

Anyone who sells you a van will assure you that it runs like a charm and they never had any problems with it. I can honestly testify that I haven't seen a single road-worthy van the whole time I've been out here. Most of the vans I see make me cringe in disgust. How some people pay $3000-6000 for these vans is beyond me.

The one good thing about them is that they are sold with a lot of accessories that the previous owners left behind (coolers, board games, camping chairs...). It may be worth making a deal on those items that interest you the most. All backpacker ads specify what the van comes with.

It's worth noting that everything you need and then some fits into a car. You can have just a good a trip in a car. You won't be overtaken by every other vehicle and are much less likely to break-down. Rural roadside assistance crews are sick and tired of coming to the help of backpackers and their shoddy vans.

Bottom line, enjoy Australia but not in a van.