Tastes of Culture

There is no dearth of transportation options in Australia for a visitor who wants to travel from one place to another. In a country where traveling by road is cheaper than journeying by train, often car rental is an attractive option. However, when it is a matter of inter-city travel which involves a few hours, taking a flight could be a better idea. However, let us not forget the bus which has gained in popularity once again recently, but how do you know if this is the best way to travel – well continue reading.

Bussing it in Australia

The reputation of bus services in Australia is looked down upon by many. The truth of the matter however is that there are plenty of bus services to choose from from the luxury to budget categories, depending on the carrier. The bus industry in Australia is dominated by Greyhound. Companies like McCafferty’s and Intertransit are smaller bus operators. Moreover there are many well-founded bus service companies who work at the regional level but have to take the help of Greyhound on some routes.

Competing head on with the airlines industry is the introduction of luxury bus services, yet another new introduction to the industry. Such carriers offer A-1 services with coaches that reek of luxury and are considered to be most effective to travel to a destination which requires less than 6 hours of travel.

If you are unsure if this is the way you want to travel, some regular questions have been answered below. What kind of budget do you have? If it is tight, bus journey could be your best choice.

When you get to where you are going, will you really need to hire a car? Remember in cities like Sydney and Melbourne a car is not only useless but can prove to be a big hassle for driving around and finding a parking space.

How far are you going? If you are traveling less than a five or six hours it is probably faster to take the bus than to fly when you factor in waiting time at the airport. Additionally a bus will usually take you right up to the central area which makes it so much easier to find your way about in the city.

What is your destination? Remember most of the people in Australia find traveling by bus more convenient even if it is to the remote areas of the country as this is the only viable means of public transport. Are you in a hurry? If you have adequate time on your hands, traveling by bus could enable you to enjoy the landscape at leisure. If you are under time pressure, the bus is probably not the best choice as it is subject to traffic delays and usually takes a little longer than other modes of transportation. Overall, the bus is a great option for visitors to Australia who are looking for transportation between major Australia cities and more remote destinations alike. As the gas prices soar and train services get curtailed, this could be one of the most viable options for traveling.

If you happen to get to a beautiful little town in Australia called Whyalla, why not stop and stay a while? There’s some great accommodation in Whyalla and heaps of things to see and do. And it’s serviced by bus from Adelaide!