GETTING AROUND

Australia is so vast that something like 80% of long-distance trips by public transport are made by air. Qantas and Virgin Blue are the two main domestic carriers.

Few people pay full fare for domestic air travel because the airlines offer such a wide range of discounts including random discounting and air passes.

There are several long-distance bus companies but only one truly national service Greyhound Pioneer Australia. Buses are comfortable but if you're travelling between major cities be prepared for a long trip. Australia has a skeletal rail network linking all major cities except Darwin. Few people travel long-distances by train because it's usually the slowest mode of overland transport and remains relatively expensive. Many visitors group together and hire or purchase a car. The latter can be an economical way of travelling round Australia as long as you don't have too many mechanical failures. 

Highway 1 circumnavigates the continent sticking close to the coast much of the way. Watch out for monstrous road trains (trucks with multiple trailers) on country roads; naturally it's wise to give way to anything bigger than yourself.