Unless you are currently living in Australia, you know that you must either fly or take a lengthy cruise to reach the country. However, once you have reached Australia, did you know there are different methods of transportation you can use to see the numerous destinations? I love how this country makes it easy to explore and discover new areas! And the best part is you can choose between the different ways to travel in Australia and only utilize the options that will work for your family.

Travel in Australia: Family Vacation Transportation Options

Plane Travel in Australia

Flying is the best way to discover different areas of Australia in the shortest amount of time. There are multiple airlines to choose from for your travel in Australia. However, the main ones are currently Qantas and Virgin Australia. Both these airlines fly into every capital city. Only Qantas flies into most of the major rural hubs. But you can reach a few of them via Virgin Australia.

The length of the flights your family takes will be dependent on where you are flying to. Flights between Sydney and either Melbourne or Brisbane are only approximately an hour and a half. It can take five hours to fly to Perth from Sydney, though.

Check out my travel guide for planning a vacation in Australia.

Car

Driving a rental car is an excellent way to see more of Australia during your travels. You do need to have more vacation time available if you choose this option. Unless you only focus on one section of the country.

Most of the roads in Australia are well-maintained. And traffic isn’t too bad on many of the highways. It is only when you reach the bigger cities that you will find traffic jams and headaches.

The weather in Australia can be unpredictable at times. So, it is important that you check the weather before venturing out for a drive.

This is especially true if you are headed into the outback, where cell services and other amenities are few and far between. I also recommend making sure you pack all the essentials in the car for your road trip. I can help you with a list of things your family will need.

Check out all the different states of Australia to see where you should spend your family vacation. 

Bus

Public transportation in Australia is plentiful. Yes, you will find buses in the larger cities. But you will also find buses that will take you from one destination to another when you travel in Australia.

There are a couple of different bus companies to choose from. The only downside to taking the bus in Australia is there are multiple stops before you reach your destination.

The good news is that you can easily look out the window at the scenery and simply relax until you reach your own stop.

Train Travel in Australia

There are two incredible luxury rail journeys to consider for your family travel in Australia. The first is the Ghan, which runs from Adelaide to Darwin. It takes three days to complete this route, and there are stops filled with excursions along the way.

The other rail journey in Australia is the Indian Pacific train. That train goes from Sydney to Perth and takes four days.

There are other trains that go between many of the major cities in Australia. The insides of those trains are slightly dated, but they are a good option if your family wants a new adventure while on vacation.

Ferry

The ferry should be your method of choice when traveling to the island within Australia. The Spirit of Tasmania can transport your family to Tasmania for the day or an entire week.

And if you are looking to visit Kangaroo Island, the SeaLink ferry is ready to transport you.

There are other ferries in Australia. Most of those will take you around the Swan River, Brisbane River, or the neighboring suburbs in the city of Sydney.

Hiking

There are numerous places to hike or simply walk when you are on a family vacation in Australia.

I recommend walking around the major cities, when possible because you avoid the need for transportation altogether. And when you are away from the cities, your family may want to tackle a few of the popular hiking trails. Overland Track and the Larapinta Trail are two of the favorites.

As you are choosing your method of travel in Australia, you will want to keep in mind how massive this country truly is. Australia is almost three million square miles. This equates to approximately ten times the size of the state of Texas.

There is one road called Highway 1 that goes around the outer edge of the mainland. That highway is almost fifteen thousand miles long. And it can take hours to drive from one major city to another in this country.

However, the sheer size of Australia should never deter you from taking a family vacation there. This is a travel bucket list item that everyone wants to check off sooner than later. I simply recommend that we plan your visit carefully and choose the methods of travel that will allow your family to see as much of the country as possible.

Sample itinerary for a family vacation in Australia and New Zealand. 

So, are you ready to plan a little family vacation while you travel in Australia?

If you said yes, I would like to invite you to schedule a planning session with me by clicking here. When you click on this link, you will be taken directly to my digital calendar to schedule a time that is convenient for you.

And if you are not ready to plan a family vacation in Australia just yet, you can sign up for my newsletter by clicking here. This will ensure you continue to receive all the travel information I share.