Australia is a great country to see from different modes of transportation. Cruises are one of the most popular ways to view beautiful Australia. Cruises are all-inclusive and allow travelers an opportunity to relax while on their cruise vacation. When docked at a port, passengers may view the nearby area by rental car, tour bus, bike, helicopter, balloon, taxi or walking. Some cruises are longer and will allow passengers to combine flight with cruise to go deeper into the country for exploration. Here are some details of how visitors view the impressive terrain of Australia.
1. Cruises
There are many cruises Australia has to offer and they are a great way to view the gorgeous coastline. While on board the ship, guests can enjoy standard to luxury accommodations, swimming pools, water slides, Broadway-like entertainment, movie theatres, casinos and a host of dining options. Some of the dining options are award-winning.
When docked in the port, passengers have an opportunity to view sites such as the Sydney Opera House or take a snorkeling tour to view coral reef. Glass bottom boat tours are also popular. The tours are easy to reserve and are fairly inexpensive.
2. Cruise, Flight and Bus Tours
These tour companies combine both the cruise with an extended stay in Australia. With this type of tour, passengers not only get to see Australia at the shore, but they also get to see the interior of Australia. Flights are taken to the other major Australian cities and bus tours are available to view specific sites. These tours can get quite expensive but are heavily discounted from what passengers would pay if each mode of transportation were booked separately. The tours are convenient and preferred.
3. Biking, Walking or Wine Tours
These tours are generally inexpensive and are usually under $100 per person, although, some wine tours can be more expensive and may cost $150 or more. The walking tours typically last between one hour and three hours. Some biking and walking tours can last more than 10 hours or up to seven days.
4. Helicopter or Balloon Ride Tours
The helicopter and balloon tours are slightly more expensive than some of the other options. Expect to spend at least $200 for a helicopter or balloon ride tour. The average tour is approximately $350, and some tours can cost as much as $1,700. Wine and luncheon helicopter tours are popular and available. The balloon rides at sunrise or sunset and are simply breathtaking. Helicopter tours over the Great Barrier Reef are also popular.
5. Train Tours
Many people choose the train to visit remote areas of the country in ultimate comfort. Viewing Australia by train can help people view the sites and countryside from a different perspective and without the stresses of driving.
Photo credit: Runmonty
This is a fabulous train ride right across Australia from Sydney or Adelaide to Perth, giving you a real sense of Australia’s vastness which flying simply cannot deliver. With a cosy bed at night in your own room, a restaurant for your meals and a lounge in which to relax during the day, it’s a rolling hotel.
That might be a fun option for us when we hit Australia. We would like to visit both coasts, and this might be a great way to connect the two.
I would suggest hitchhiking. (: Not only is it free, but you get to meet a lot of interesting people. Granted, you should probably go with another partner for safety of numbers (I recommend someone of the opposite sex b/c 2 chicks = seen as easy to take advantage of; 2 dudes = scary). I did it with my bf up and down the east side and never had a problem. We even got to crash at some of our ride’s houses for a while; though I prefer offering to work if they ask if you want to.
Also, check out Warwick, NSW during the Tree Jumper Festival in July. They have some really cool tree decorations. 😀 Cape Bridgewater, Victoria for beautiful views and seeing lots of wild kangaroos and seals. (: Oooh, and go along the Barry Way if you can – just not at night. I have a lot more favorite sites, but I’ll leave it at that.
Thanks for all the wonderful suggestions. Please let us know of your other favorite sites. It is always helpful!
Oh boy, um:
Brisbane – lots of free stuff to do: rock climbing/bouldering at Kangaroo Points Cliffs, free boat transport, Giant Games Night every few weeks on Kings’ George Sq, and a lot of other events listed on the event columns placed throughout the city.
Lightning Ridge – free hot spring in pretty good condition and open roughly 20 hours a day. Ignore the slight smell; that’s normal because of the natural heating.
Seldom Seen – it’s a petrol station/accommodation spot somewhere along the south part of the Barry Way (or maybe a little further). I’d recommend going with a group and emergency services on speed dial for all the paranoid people out there (ie: me), but it’s definitely not a spot you should miss for all it’s uh…eccentric uniqueness. (: Plus, the way too and from there is really beautiful.
Melbourne during the Comedy Festival – the festival lasts a full month and has a lot of free shows on Federation Square. The Swedish guy was my favorite (he specialized in horrible magic). XD
Port Parham – it’s a free campsite (for RVs and tents) right on the coast between Adelaide and Port Augusta. The most amazing part is the sun sets directly over the water in an absolutely beautiful show. Well, unless they actually started racing those giant tractor things they drive out into the water at high tide. Last we were there, the lady who picked us up (hitchhiking) mentioned starting a racing group with her friends.
Quorn – it’s a small town to the east of Port Augusta in the Adelaide Hills. There are two free campsite about ten minutes north of it in one of the woods (both have toilets and at least one has running water – boil first). The woods are speckled with walking trails and amazing views as well as a few different types of kangaroos. Plus, if you keep traveling up north from there, you’ll see some scenery that you would stereotypically associate Australia with (there are also free hand painted caves you can check out along the way).
Farina – it’s a ghost town alongside the “new” Farina and there’s information there that speaks of its history. There is also a really good bakery located in the old underground one. They cook it just like they did in the olden days, using its oven and cooling system and everything. Really cool.
Oodnadatta Trail – amazing views in the middle of nowhere with the Milky Way lighting up the sky as if it was a Christmas tree. Somewhere along it is a bubble oasis pool thing (sorry, can’t remember the exact name) and though you’re not allowed to dip into it, it’s really cool to see. Though that might be because I still have a child’s enthusiasm and watching the bubbles was exciting… >.> lols
Coober Pedy – underground mine town. Do I need to say more? 😀
If you want to know of any free campsites on the east side of Australia, I can probably help you out as well. During our entire three month trip, we only paid for accommodation once (and that wouldn’t have happened if the bike didn’t seize up and die in the middle of nowhere XD).