Air Travel
You can travel north-south or east-west by road,
rail and air with the fastest and most economical
being air travel. Australia’s main airlines offer
some extremely cheap airfares (by Australian
standards) from place to place.
The largest commercial passenger airlines operating
across Australia are Qantas, Virgin Blue and Jet
Star, with a host of smaller airlines servicing
regional destinations.
Rail
Travel
The Indian Pacific journey begins in Perth on
the west coast and finishes 4,350km away in Sydney
on the east coast of Australia and travels via
Adelaide, South Australia, or the reverse depending
on which city you want to begin your adventure from.
The trip takes four days/three nights. The Indian
Pacific rail journey takes its name from the Indian
Ocean on the west coast and the Pacific Ocean on the
east coast of Australia.
The famous Ghan rail journey crosses Australia from
south to north for 2,970km , beginning in Adelaide,
South Australia and ending in Darwin, Northern
Territory. The trip takes three days/two nights. The
Ghan takes its name from the Afghan camel trains
that used to ply the north-south route prior to the
introduction of the railway.
If asked what Australian items Australians would put
on their Bucket List, we’re sure this would be right
up there with the best of them! Both journeys are an
adventure rather than just another way to get from
one side of the country to another, or any portion
in between. Australia has such a vast magnitude of
landscapes that it would be hard not to be impressed
with the views seen on your journey.
Road
Travel
Vehicles in Australia are right-hand drive, and
drive on the left side of the road.
National Highway Route 1 is a sealed highway that
circumnavigates the country via various highway
names for a total length of an astounding 24,000km
(14,900 miles). Highway 1 links the central business
districts of Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide,
Perth and Darwin with the route cutting through
every mainland state and capital city.
The road condition varies according to local
conditions and traffic volumes, and in almost all
outback areas is single lane each way. Road Trains
(trucks pulling multiple trailers) frequent this
highway, and other across Australia, and can be
pulling as many as five trailers at one time.
The wet cyclone season frequents the north of
Australia from November to May each year with flash
long-lasting floods occurring frequently. Check all
road conditions with local authorities before
beginning your journey.
Australian culture
Australia is a modern country in historic terms,
with a western culture and an open democratic system
of politics. Despite it massive land area Australia
is one of the most urbanized countries in the world.
The vast majority of Australia’s population resides
in towns and cities along the coast, with the inland
areas being sparsely populated.
English is the main language spoken in Australia.
Surprisingly, Australia has no official language,
although over 80% of the population speak only
English at home. The next common languages are
Chinese, Italian and Greek.
The indigenous Aboriginal language was believed to
have up to 300 local dialects before European
settlement 220 years ago, but it is believed only
about 70 Aboriginal languages remain spoken today.
