BootsnAll Travel Community

hey,

im going to be going to these 3 places in april, taking about a month. and wanted to know the places way to get around? im guessing bus... but does anyone know good companies to go with?

thanks for any info!!

Hey jakeeo,

Do you want to see/stop at the areas in between the cities or make a base in the cities and make day trips from there? If it's the latter, I definitely recommend flying between the cities, on either VirginBlue or JetStar. Tickets between Sydney and Melbourne can be as low as $50 one-way and tickets between Sydney and Brisbane are about the same, if slightly higher. Otherwise, I know there is a train that makes the trip from Sydney-Brisbane every day, and you can also take the Greyhound bus. However, if you are asking about bus companies like OzExperience, I've never had any experience with them, so I can't help you there.

Hope that helps!
- Kristin

Ok,

Flying would be the quickest way to see those specific cities...If you want to see places in between you could take a bus...Personally I did a trip between Melbourne and Sydney...there isn't a whole lot going on...My suggestion when in Melbourne take a day trip to the wineries, and places around melbourne...

In sydney you could do the same, take day or overnight longer stays to places like the blue mountains which are about an hour outside of Sydney (maybe 2)...

Brisbane - I only passed through personally, did not stay there at all...have heard mixed reactions...My suggestion would to maybe go a little farther north to places along the beach (brisbane does not have a beach in case you were wondering)...There are really nice beach towns along the gold coast...

OZ experience - I took the OZ Experience (ok guys my first major bus trip solo) from Byron Bay to Cairns...People do that in many months (up to 6), I had a tight schedule and did it in 3 weeks...It was a fun experience...loads of young travelers, i'd say between 18-21...A lot come from England and are on gap year, as you should know being from england...You will get sprinkles from other parts of the world, but on my particular trip it was loaded with people from the UK and England...Now if its between May and August you may get some american's as that is our typical summer break...

Hi there Jakeeo,

You don't say which airport you will be landing at, but Sydney is in-between Melbouren and Brisbane. You my wish to fly to each city, but if not , you can get an East Coast Discovery Pass which is valid for 6 months. Unfortunately they are only for travel in 1 direction. If you started in Melbourne that would take you thru to Brisbane.The cost is AUD$198.00.

Alternatively,there is a Backtracker pass which gives unlimited journeys to overseas visitors on the entire CountryLink network--including Brisbane, Gold Coast, Byron Bay, Tamworth, Broken Hill and Albuty and Melbourne--with four vouchers on Sydney's CityRail network.

Backtracker Pass fares.


14 days $232.00
1 month $275.00
3 months $298.00
6 months $420.00

Information no. 132232.Or book thru YHA Travel Centres.

The Brisbane City YHA is located within the CBD and just a short walk from the Brisbane Transit Centre at Roma Street.You can take a ferry ride along the river,enjoy views of the city from Mt. Coot-tha lookout and climb the Story Bridge.

Some of the dining and entertainment precints--the Valley, Caxton Street, West End and South Bank.There are markets held at Southbank on week-ends.

Contact for Brisbane YHA is 392 Upper Roma Street,Brisbane, 4000.Phone 07 3236 1004. Email brisbanecity@haqld.org

Sydny. Two city YHA's , Central and Railway Square.Central contact is sydcentral@yhansw.org.au ( 556 beds )
and Railway Square contact is railway@hansw.org.au (280 beds)

I've not stayed in hostels in Sydney, as I stayed with family.Things to do--Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge it is truly awesome when you are on the top between the flags, if you can catch the sunset it really is spectacular.

Ride on the ferries from Circular Quay(pronounced key) I kept on saying Quay (kway) and got some really weird looks. The Manly ferry is probably the most popular.When you get off walk up the concourse and at the end is the Back Beach, a surf beach. lots of palm trees etc.

If you won't have a car, you can get to Katoomba by train from Sydney Central Station, about a 2hour ride.You can then get the "Explorer Bus" costs about $20.00 and you get some vouchers. It's a double=decker which takes you around the Blue Mountains ,Leura, the Three Sisters and more. You can hop on and off wherever you like.

If you are into wine, you cann't go past a Hunter Valley Winery Tour.The smaller buses are somewhat cheaper than the big ones like AAT Kings.

Oh by the way, about 60 odd kms from Katoomba is Jenolan Caves,really beautiful stalagmites and stalagtites, (I forget which ones go up and which go down) You would find it cheaper to stay in a hostel at Katoomba and do a Cave tour from there, rather than from Sydney Central.


The "Rocks" which is near the Quay is very popular and the oldest pub is near there.

MELBOURNE.

Well what can I say? Being a Melbourne gal I know Melbourne pretty much like the back of my hand, and thanks to my dad and mum who took me all over Victoria during my childhood I can pretty much tell you how to get to anywhere in Victoria.

Melbourne is laid out like a grid and is almost impossible to get lost in, unlike Sydney which has little windy streets and rabbit warrens (I used to get lost the first 3 or 4 times I stayed there)

There are 2 YHA hostels ,Melbourne Metro at 78 Howard Street, North Melbourne, phone no. 03 9329 8599 email at melbmetro@yhavic.org.au 348 beds 5 star hostel rating, and Melbourne Oasis 76 Chapman Street, North Melbourne, phone no. 03 9328 3595 enail at oasis@yhavic.org.au

These are a 5-10 minute walk to town. Some city attractions are Queen Victoria Market, Old Treasury Building , Parliament House, Melb Aquarium,Rialto Towers Observation Deck,the M.C.G. and cruises on the Yarra. There are of course many others.

One thing I suggest you really should is a trip to Sovereign Hill which is near Ballarat.
Catch the Ballarat train from Southern Cross Station to Ballarat. About 1 and a half- 2 hours. There is a shuttle takes you to Sovereign Hill. I would suggest overnight stay The Sovereign Hill Lodge YHA is located next to Sovereign Hill Goldmining Township, which is a re-creation of an 1850's township.The hostel has great backpacker facilities including a BBQ area and television/common room.

If you decide to overnight there remember to book as hostel has only12 beds. Contact ballarat@yhavic.org.au
Phone no. 03 5333 3409.

You can pan for gold and see a working display of the gold mining era. Everybody there is a volunteer and all are dressed in traditional 1850's costumes.

AT night there is the Sound and Light Show called "Blood on The Southern Cross" This is a re=enactment of the Eureka Stockade which took place in the 1850's, The miners rebelled against the greedy land owners and government and a battle took place. They were fighting against the harsh "Miners' Liscenses". It is so surrealistic you would swear the train was coming or the horses were by your side,. The burning of the Charles Napier Hotel is one of the highlights.

I think this post is getting lengthy , if you would like anymore info I'd be happy to help.

Have a wonderful time in Australia, and lots and lots of happy memories.

Have a nice day, whistler.

If you can keep a sesnse of humour and see the funny side if life, you will never grow old. SMC.

Melbourne.
Being a Melbournian I can tell you heaps and heaps about my city. This post is already pretty long, so I'll

Oopsa daisies, read Albury not Albuty.


Have a nice day, Whistler.


If you can keep a sense of humour and see the funny side of life, you will never be old. SMC.

thanks for the info extremely useful