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Cars 4 Rental Guide To Travel In  Australia

International Airports There are a great number of airports and landing strips throughout the country, including airports in all capital cities and regional centres such as Alice Springs, Launceston and Uluru (Ayers Rock). For further information contact the Australian Tourist Commission (see Contact Addresses section). Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Canberra, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. All airports have a duty-free shop, bank/bureau de change, restaurant/bar, tourist information kiosk, car hire and taxi stand; these will almost always be available on arrival and departure of international flights. Sydney Airport (SYD) (Kingsford Smith) (website: www.sydneyairport.com) is 8km (5 miles) south of the city (travel time – 30 minutes). Airport Link connects the airport to Sydney Central Station (travel time – 13 minutes). Coaches meet all incoming international and domestic flights, departing every 20-30 minutes. There are many courtesy guest shuttles; enquire at hotel when booking is made. The international terminal is separate from the domestic terminal. Passengers may be set down at city airline terminals and some city hotels, motels and guest houses on request. There are also buses and taxis. Adelaide Airport (ADL) (website: www.aal.com.au) is 6km (4 miles) west of the city (travel time – 30 minutes). Coaches meet all international and domestic flights. Buses and taxis are available to the city and hotels. A new terminal is currently under construction. Melbourne Airport (MEL) (Tullamarine) (website: www.melbourne-airport.com.au) is 22km (14 miles) northwest of the city (travel time – 30 minutes). Skybus Coach (24 hours) or taxis are available to the city centre. There are also regional bus links from the airport. Perth Airport (PER) (website: www.perthairport.com) is 12km (7 miles) northeast of the city (travel time – 25 minutes). There are separate international and domestic terminals. Airport buses meet international and domestic flights. Taxis are available. Brisbane Airport (BNE) (website: www.bne.com.au) is 13km (8 miles) northeast of the city (travel time – 35 minutes). Coach services are available to the city, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and major hotels. Coaches meet all international flights. Taxis are also available. Darwin Airport (DRW) (website: www.darwinairport.com.au) is 13km (8 miles) northeast of the city (travel time – 20 minutes). Coaches and taxis meet all incoming international daytime flights. Hobart Airport (HBA) (website: www.hobartairport.com.au) is 16km (10 miles) east of the city (travel time – 25 minutes). Coaches meet all incoming flights. Buses and taxis are available to the city. Cairns Airport (CNS) is 8km (5 miles) north of the city (travel time – 10 minutes). Coaches meet all incoming flights. There is also a shuttle taxi service, limousines, car hire and taxis. Canberra Airport (CBR) (website: www.canberraairport.com.au) is 8km (5 miles) east of Canberra (travel time – 15 minutes). Taxis and shuttle buses are available to the city centre. Back to Top Air Travel Australians rely on aviation to get from place to place as inhabitants of smaller countries rely on trains and buses. The network of scheduled services extends to more than 150,000km (95,000 miles) and covers the whole continent. Both first-class and second-class service is available, with meals and hostess service on many routes. Recent deregulation of Australia’s domestic airlines means that flight services are more competitively priced. Aircraft can be chartered by pilots who pass a written examination on Australian air regulations and have their licences validated for private operations within Australia. The major domestic airlines are: Jetstar Airways (website: www.jetstar.com.au), Qantas (website: www.qantas.com.au) and Virgin Blue (website: www.virginblue.com.au) which serve the major resorts and cities throughout Australia. In addition, Rex Regional Express (website: www.rex.com.au) operate throughout New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria; Air North (website: www.airnorth.com.au) operate throughout the Northern Territory; Macair Airlines (website: www.macair.com.au) operate throughout Queensland; Skywest (website: www.skywest.com.au) operate throughout Western Australia and several small airlines operate to the islands off Tasmania (see Tasmania section). Nearly all the domestic airlines operate special deals or air-passes at greatly reduced prices. The national airline is Qantas (QF) (website: www.qantas.com.au). Approximately 30 international airlines fly to Australia. Approximate flight times: From London to Adelaide is 24 hours 25 minutes, to Brisbane is 23 hours 25 minutes, to Cairns is 25 hours 45 minutes, to Darwin is 21 hours 25 minutes, to Melbourne is 23 hours, to Perth is 21 hours 50 minutes, to Sydney is 23 hours 30 minutes and to Townsville is 26 hours 5 minutes. From Los Angeles to Sydney is 13 hours 30 minutes. From New York to Perth is 30 hours 10 minutes and to Sydney is 20 hours. From Singapore to Sydney is 8 hours and to Perth is 5 hours. International airports: Boomerang Pass: For international travellers visiting Australia, certain airlines offer the Boomerang Pass, a zonal ticket permitting travel within Australia and to selected airports in Fiji, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu. Participating airlines include Air Pacific, Air Vanuatu, Australian Airlines, Polynesian Airlines and Qantas. Passes must be purchased prior to arrival in Australia with a minimum of two passes per person. Nationals of countries in the South Pacific region are not eligible. Departure tax: None. Back to Top Travel By Water Cruise liners dock at Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart, Perth (Port of Fremantle), Adelaide and Brisbane. International cruise lines calling at Australian ports include Cunard, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Orient Lines, P&O, Princess Lines and Silver Sea. There are 36,738km (22,600 miles) of coastline and many lakes, inland waterways and inlets, all of which can be used for touring by boat. From paddle steamers along the Murray River to deep-sea fishing cruisers along the vast Barrier Reef, all are available for charter or passenger booking. Most tour operators also handle shipping cruises. The Spirit of Tasmania is an overnight car-ferry service linking Melbourne with Tasmania daily (website: www.spiritoftasmania.com.au). Back to Top Rail Over 40,000km (24,850 miles) of track cover the country. Due to the vastness of the country internal flights are a preferred option for travelling long distances, particularly as rail travel can be slow and relatively expensive. For further information on rail transport within the different States, see the individual State entries, or contact Rail Australia (website: www.railaustralia.com.au). Two services span the continent from coast to coast. The twice-weekly Indian Pacific travels 4350km (2704 miles) on standard 1435mm (56.5-inch) gauge from Sydney on the east coast to Perth on the west coast, via Adelaide. The journey takes 3 days and 3 nights, crossing the Nullarbar Plain on the famous 478km (297 mile) stretch of straight track, the longest in the world. The Ghan travels 2979km (1891 miles) between Adelaide and Darwin, via Alice Springs. The service runs weekly in each direction and takes 2 nights. Both trains are fully air conditioned and soundproofed, with first- and second-class sleeping cars, a lounge car, bars and good restaurant facilities. Other express service links (not always daily) from the state capitals are as follows: The Canberra Monaro Express links Canberra with Sydney in 4 or 5 hours. The XPT Express runs from Melbourne to Brisbane via Canberra and Sydney. The Sunlander and the Queenslander link Brisbane with Cairns (31 hours). The Prospector links Perth with Kalgoorlie and this is one of Australia’s fastest trains (6 to 7 hours). The Spirit of the Outback runs Brisbane to Longreach via Rockhampton. There are also a number of scenic rail journeys available: the Great South Pacific Express is a luxury train resembling the Orient Express and travels along the East Coast from Sydney to Cairns via Brisbane; the Kuranda Scenic Railway links Cairns with Kuranda via a 34km (14-mile) climb through tropical rainforest. Both first- and second-class tickets are available, with sleeping accommodation on long hauls. Several routes have motor-rail facilities. Long-distance trains are air conditioned and have excellent catering facilities and showers. Reservations for seats and sleeping berths are essential on all long-distance trains and are accepted up to 6 months in advance. Luggage allowance: All interstate rail passengers are allowed 50kg (111lb). Medium-sized suitcases and hand luggage can be placed in the passengers’ compartments. Large suitcases must be carried in the guard’s van and checked in 30 minutes prior to departure. Sleeping berths: Single and twin apartments are available for a surcharge on most inter-capital overnight services. All ‘Twinettes’ have two sleeping berths and wash basin. Twinettes are available either first-class or holiday-class; the first also offer individual showers. ‘Roomette’ (single compartment) cars have showers at the end of each car. These are first-class only. Cheap fares: Unlimited travel, valid for 14, 21 and 30 days, with 7 day extensions available, is available with an Austrailpass, which must be purchased otside Australia, and can only be used by non-Australian passport holders. Only economy-class passes are available. Each State operator offers its own Austrailpass scheme. The Austrail Flexi-Pass is valid for 8, 15, 22 and 29 days within a 6-month period, although it cannot be used on the Ghan or the Indian Pacific. The pass only offers economy-class accommodation. Both the Austrailpass and the Austrail Flexi-Pass must be purchased outside of Australia. The East Coast Discovery Pass offers 6 months’ travel on the eastern coast. An Austrailpass does not include meal or sleeping berth charges. The passes must be used within 12 months of issue. Representative in the UK: Rail Australia, c/o International Rail Limited, Chase House, Gilbert Street, Ropley, Hampshire SO24 0BY (tel: (0870) 751 5000; fax: (0870) 751 5005; e-mail: info@international-rail.com; website: www.international-rail.com). Most major tourist attractions can be reached by train; tickets for multiple destinations can be purchased from travel agents outside Australia. Back to Top Travel By Road Traffic drives on the left. Road signs are international. The speed limit is 60kph (35mph) in cities and towns (50kph/31mph in suburban areas) and 80-110kph (50-68mph) on country roads and highways unless signs indicate otherwise. Seat belts must be worn at all times and driving licences must be in the driver’s possession when driving. Driving off major highways in the outback becomes more difficult between November and February because of summer rain, as many roads are little more than dirt tracks. Road travel is best between April and October. Distances between towns can be considerable, and apart from ensuring that all vehicles are in peak condition, it is advisable to carry spare water, petrol and equipment. Travellers are advised to check with local Automobile Associations before departure in order to obtain up-to-date information on road and weather conditions. Coach: Major cities are linked by an excellent national coach system, run by Greyhound Pioneer (website: www.greyhound.com.au) and McCafferty’s (website: www.mccaffertys.com.au). Tasmania also has its own coach service, Tasmanian Redline Coaches (website: www.redlinecoaches.com.au). There are numerous other companies operating State and Interstate services. The main coach express routes are: Sydney to Adelaide, Melbourne (inland), Brisbane and Canberra; Canberra to Melbourne; Melbourne to Adelaide; Adelaide to Alice Springs, Perth and Brisbane; Darwin to Alice Springs, Cairns, Perth and Kakadu; Alice Springs to Ayers Rock; Cairns to Brisbane; Brisbane to Sydney (inland and coastal) and Melbourne. Coach passes are available for travel on a variety of routes for between 7 days and 1 year, such as the All Australian, the Sunseeker, the Aussie Reef & Rock, the Coast to Coast etc. The Aussie Kilometre Pass allows you to purchase your travel in kilometres and then travel in any direction on the national network to the distance purchased. It is advisable to purchase these passes before departure from country of origin. Coaches are one of the cheapest ways to travel around Australia, as well as one of the most comfortable, with air conditioning, big adjustable seats and on-board bathrooms; some also have television and the latest videos. Car Hire: Available at all major airports and major hotels to those over 21 years old. Documentation: An International Driving Permit is required by nationals of countries whose official language is not English. International, foreign or national driving permits are generally valid for 3 months. An International Driving Permit is only valid in conjunction with a valid national licence. Permits must be carried at all times while driving. URBAN: Comprehensive public transport systems are provided in all the main towns. The State capitals have suburban rail networks, those in Sydney and Melbourne being particularly extensive, and trams run in Melbourne and Adelaide. Meter-operated taxis can be found in all major cities and towns. There is a minimum 'flagfall charge’ and then a charge for the distance travelled. Taxi drivers do not expect to be tipped. A small additional payment may be required for luggage and telephone bookings. Some taxis accept payment by credit card. For further details, see individual State entries. TRAVEL TIMES: The following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from Sydney to other major cities in Australia. Air Rail Coach Canberra 0.45 4.00 5.00 Adelaide 1.40 25.00 22.00 Brisbane 1.20 15.00 15.00 Darwin 5.00 - 92.50 Melbourne 1.10 10.00 14.00 Perth 4.00 65.00 56.00 Hobart 2.05 - - Back to Top

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