Australia is huge. Really huge. To give you a good idea of how huge it is, Perth and Cairns are roughly 3450km apart – which is the same aerial distance as London to Beirut.
Even cities like Sydney and Melbourne – which can look deceivingly close on a map – are 878 km apart. That’s an 8 ½ hour car journey.
Because of this, you need to carefully weigh up your transport options when getting around. Some options are much faster, while others are cheaper. The best option will depend on your travel goals and limits.
In this guide, we’ll compare the big four travel options: car, plane, coach and train. We’ve scored each one for comfort, flexibility, speed and cost, helping you to determine the best suited solution for your needs.
Car
Comfort: 8/10 (assuming a decent car)
Flexibility: 10/10
Speed: 5/10
Cost: 7/10
Let’s start by considering the classic Australian road trip. Driving a car yourself gives you full flexibility to choose your own route, where you want to stop and how long you want to stop there. No timetables, no check-ins and no luggage limits!
It’s a chance to explore the roadhouses and roadside attractions of the outback. Of course, you or someone you’re travelling with will need a driver’s licence, and need to be prepared to sit behind the wheel for long periods.
Speaking of which, driving can be a relatively slow way to get around, so bear this in mind. It does depend on how few breaks and detours you want to take – regular stops are encouraged to prevent fatigue, although on some stretches of road you may not find any roadside services for 100 miles (plan ahead your fuel stops!). Tedium can set in after miles of staring at nothing but brush, but can prepare your own playlist or listen to downloaded podcasts.
Comfort and cost depend a lot on the type of car you choose. Hiring a tiny old hatchback will cost you less than a modern campervan, but you’ll sacrifice comfort. If you’re planning to travel for over a month, buying a used car might actually cost less than hiring one, but be careful of reliability issues. Being able to split the cost with other passengers can make hiring or buying a car much cheaper. Make sure to also budget for fuel and accommodation.
Plane
Comfort: 7/10
Flexibility: 6/10
Speed: 10/10
Cost: 6/10
If Australia had a ‘teleport’ button, it would be air travel. Yes, it’s not as romantic or as cheap as other modes of transport, but it is fast – Sydney to Perth is 5 hours by air vs 5 days of driving. Even when you factor in airport transfers and check-in time, you’re still saving days, which is extremely valuable if you’re only in Australia for a short period.
When travelling between major cities, you’ll often be able to choose from multiple flight times per day. You may however have to contend with occasional changes and cancellations. Flights to remote and regional locations are meanwhile fewer and further between, which could be a challenge if you want to experience the outback.
The cost of flights varies dramatically depending on what time of year you travel, how far in advance you book (last-minute tickets can be very cheap) and whether you fly economy or a higher class. Most people choose economy class, where seats can be a bit cramped, but you still get amenities like air con, food and access to toilets.
Make sure to look into luggage restrictions to avoid extra fees or having items confiscated. Try not to eat at the airport if you’re on a tight budget as food here can be expensive, and make sure you plan transfers to and from accommodation.
Coach
Comfort: 5/10
Flexibility: 5/10
Speed: 3/10
Cost: 9/10
You may have heard of the famous Greyhound buses. They operate across Australia and are typically much cheaper than any other mode of transport – making them a popular option for backpackers wanting to save as much money as possible. Sleeper coaches can even save you money on accommodation.
Unfortunately, coaches aren’t the most glamorous way to travel. Legroom can be limited and some people may struggle to get to sleep due to the upright position. Many coaches have toilets on board, but some don’t, and rely on frequent toilet stops. Wi-fi can be found on most Greyhounds, but can be slow – you’ll be able to entertain yourself with a game of Wordle, but streaming a movie might be harder (download beforehand just in case).
Coaches are the usually slowest form of transport across Australia – while you can save time travelling through the night, you should expect many stops along the way along fixed routes that may not always be the most direct.
Services are also limited along some routes, so you need to check timetables and book tickets in advance.
Train
Comfort: 9/10
Flexibility: 4/10
Speed: 4/10
Cost: 5/10
Is travelling in comfort your priority? Trains are the kings of comfort – they typically have larger seats than planes and coaches, plus you have space to walk around if you need to stretch your legs. Some trains also have sleeper cabins, dining cars and lounges.
Don’t expect Europe-style frequent trains though – passenger rail across Australia is very limited with some train services only operating a few times per week. This means that if you miss your train, you could have to wait days for the next one. Trains between cities in the south east are more regular.
Trains are typically faster than coaches, but not by much. Some cross-country journeys will still take days as a result of frequent stops and speed limits. Plans are in place to build the country’s first high speed rail line, however some estimates have suggested this won’t be complete until 2060!
What about the cost of a train? It varies depending on the level of luxury you’re looking for. For a basic seat, you may pay as little as a coach in some locations (particularly Victoria), but sleeper cabins and dining cars will cost much more.
So, which one should you choose?
To choose the right transport mode, consider what matters most to you:
For flexibility to travel where and when you want, choose a car.
For those with limited time in Australia that need speedy travel, opt for air travel.
Want to save as much money as possible? Travel by coach.
If comfort is most important to you, nothing beats a train.
What about the overall all-round scores? Travelling by car scores a 30, travelling by plane scores a 29, and coach and train score 22. So a road trip in a car might be the best choice for those wanting balance, however it does depend a lot on what vehicle you use.
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