Australia is a big country and you may not know how easy it is to get around? For getting around Australia you better consider the fact of renting a car.  If you intend to stay in Australia for an extensive period, you might consider buying a car.  Distances between the main cities could be long, and public transport just covers the major highways.

Following are the different ways you can explore our vast and diverse country.  

Air

Flying is the best way to cover large distances in a short time. You’ll spend less time travelling and more time on the ground savouring Australia’s can’t-miss landscapes and laid-back lifestyle. Australia’s domestic airlines – Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin Blue, Rex and their subsidiaries - serve all state capital cities and regional centres. Competition amongst domestic airlines means that great fares are available.

Main international airline companies in Australia are:

Qantas: Tel. 13 13 13 in Australia, www.qantas.com.au
Virgin Blue: Tel. 13 67 89 in Australia or 07/3295 2296, www.virginblue.com.au
Jetstar: Tel. 13 15 38 in Australia, www.jetstar.com.au

Airport transfer

All of Australia’s international airports have regular public transport such as bus, train and taxi connections and private transfers with the city centres. Shuttle buses are also available and provide transfers to accommodation.

Drive

Australia has a vast network of well-maintained roads and some of the most beautiful touring routes in the world. Travel from Sydney to Brisbane past sleepy seaside towns and lush hinterland. Experience Australia’s Red Centre in an epic drive across the desert. Or follow Victoria’s Great Ocean Road as it hugs our spectacular south-east coast. You’ll find car rental companies at major airports, central city locations, suburbs and resorts. So hire a car, four wheel drive, caravans or motorbike and hit the highway.  

For exploring an area of Australia in depth it's much better to rent a car, so you can go with no hurries wherever you want to, especially if you're planning to visit the National Parks which are Australian best attractions.

Some car rental shops in the country are:

Avis: Tel. 13 63 33 in Australia, www.avis.com.au
Budget: Tel. 1300/794 344 in Australia, www.budget.com.au
Hertz: Tel. 13 30 39 in Australia, www.hertz.com.au/

Driving Laws

Australians drive on the left-hand side of the road, with the steering wheel on the right-hand side of the car. The maximum speed limit in cities and towns is 60km/h and 50km/h  in some suburban areas. On country roads and highways, the maximum speed is usually 110km/h. For your safety, drink-driving laws apply, and drivers and passengers must wear seat belts at all times. Motor cyclists and cyclists must wear helmets. Australians drive on the left-hand side of the road. An international visitor may drive in Australia on a valid overseas driver’s licence for the same class of vehicle.  If your driver’s licence is not in English you may need to get a translation or an International Driver’s Licence. However, an International Driver’s Licence doesn’t mean you can automatically drive in Australia You should carry both your home licence and international licence when driving.

Bus/Coach

Coach and bus travel in Australia is comfortable, easy and economical. Coaches generally have air conditioning, reading lights, adjustable seats and videos. Services are frequent, affordable and efficient. The bus system is a lot more comprehensible than the train service. Australia’s national coach operator, Greyhound, offer passes to fit every budget. The coach service within Tasmania is given by Redline Coaches.

Greyhound: Tel. 13 14 99 in Australia or 07/4690 9888, www.greyhound.com.au
Redline Coaches: Tel. 1300/360 000 in Australia, www.redlinecoaches.com.au/

Rail

Train travel gives you an insight into Australia’s size and diversity, all from the comfort of your carriage. Scheduled services are a great way to get quickly between our cities and regional centres. Your travelling options range from budget to luxury and a range of rail passes let you see large sections of Australia at an affordable price. For touring by rail take the classic Indian-Pacific rail trip from Sydney to Perth. Or hop on the legendary Ghan from Adelaide to Darwin, past red desert and the tropical Top End.

Trains in Australia are comfortable, safe and have many facilities and a good service. The main routes in Australia are from Perth to Adelaide and from Melbourne to Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane and Cairns. Prices are a bit expensive than bus service, some companies offering long- distance train services are:

Great Southern Railway: Tel. 13 21 47 in Australia or 08/8213 4592, http://www.gsr.com.au/
Traveltrain: Tel. 13 22 32 in Australia, http://www.traveltrain.qr.com.au/
Countrylink:  Tel. 13 22 32 in Australia, www.countrylink.nsw.gov.au
Public Transport Authority: Tel. 1300/662 205 in Western Australia or 08/9326 2600, www.transwa.wa.gov.au

Ferries

The Spirit of Tasmania runs a passenger and vehicle ferry service between Melbourne and Tasmania nightly. Extra services are running during summer peak times.  Sealink ferries connect South Australia and Kangaroo Island several times a day.  Ferries connect suburbs in our capital cities – they criss-cross Sydney Harbour, the Swan River in Perth and the Brisbane River in Brisbane.
 

Walks

Walking is a great way to get around our cities, so get ready to pound our wide, easy-on-the-feet pedestrian streets. You can also tackle some of the longest tracks and trails in the world in Australia – impressive journeys of a thousand kilometres or more that can take several weeks to complete.

Cycling

Many people in Australia transport themselves in bicycles, there are a lot of bike rental places across the country so it'll be easy for you to get one, there are many facilities for biking around the cities as well defined cycle routes and bike lanes.