How to get around and buy tickets
Australian rail passes and tickets
There are some great train journeys in Australia, most notably The Ghan train which takes you all the way from Sydney to Perth, through the Nullabor Desert. Australia is a big place. Many people choose train travel for the big journeys, as it is quicker and more comfortable than by bus. You can buy point-to-point train tickets like you would back home, or there are a number of brilliant rail passes on offer. Read on for details...
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Pass and ticket details
Why buy this?
See Australia in style! If you travel by train, you'll get comfy, reclining seats and big windows to take in the view. You can wander around the train as you like, meeting new people, or head to the buffet car for a snack or drink. If you're into train travel or just want to cross Australia's massive expanses in comfort, this is for you. The different options are outlined below...
Rail pass: Great Southern Railway
Why fly when you can see Australia's vast Outback from the comfort of a train? The Rail Australia Great Southern Railway Pass provides backpackers with six months' unlimited travel on:
The Indian Pacific: Perth - Adelaide - Sydney (and vice versa)
The Overland: Melbourne - Adelaide (and vice versa)
The Ghan: Adelaide - Alice Springs - Darwin (and vice versa)
Jump on and off as often as you like during the six months' validity of the pass. Travel is in Rail Australia's Red Kangaroo Daynight Seater Class. All trains are fully equipped with a buffet car, comfortable reclining seats, toilet and shower facilities.
Rail pass: Austrail Flexipass
The Austrail Flexipass is the ideal way to experience Australia within a designated timeframe. The 15-day Flexipass gives you 15 days of travel over a six-month period. Travel is available on all rail services operated by Rail Australia, Queensland Rail and CountryLink. As an added bonus you can also use it on the Kuranda Scenic Railway, The Gulflander and Savannahlander, as well as CityRail services operated by New South Wales State Rail. Trains are fully equipped with a buffet car, comfortable reclining seats and toilet facilities.
15 day pass: £355
22 day pass: £498
Rail pass: Backtracker
There's more to New South Wales than Sydney! Find out just how much on the CountryLink rail network with one of these excellent passes. Coming in denominations of 14, 30, 90 and 180 days, the pass allows you unlimited travel around this great state for a set number of days. The pass is valid for travel on all CountryLink train services and connecting CountryLink coaches. In Sydney the Backtracker Rail Pass includes a 'City Tripping' voucher. Visit famous destinations such as Bondi Beach and The Blue Mountains.
Trains are fully equipped with a buffet car, comfortable reclining seats and toilet facilities.
14 Days: £90
30 Days: £103
90 Days: £112
180 Days: £157
Rail tickets: point to point
If you just want to buy a single journey, then contact the gapyear.com team at STA Travel. We have some excellent fares, for example:
Indian Pacific (Adelaide to Perth): from £108
The Ghan (Adelaide to Alice Springs): from £77
The Ghan (Adelaide to Darwin): from £119
The Overland (Melbourne to Adelaide) from £26
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Useful reading
Did you know there’s a whole section of gapyear.com dedicated to Australia? Learn where you can meet friendly wild dolphins, read all about bungy jumping and skydiving or find out how you can sail around the gorgeous Whitsunday Islands. You can chat to people who’ve travelled around Oz, read loads of personal accounts and find out all about planning a working holiday too.
