Oceania (Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific) - Hitchhiking in Australia

Is it really illegal in Australia?

The basics seem to be that hitchhiking is illegal in Victoria and Queensland.
What the law states is that it's illegal to stand on the roadway. There is some discussion about whether you could stand off the road, eg. on the grass verge, and be ok. However I would not like to argue this one with a policeman. Technically it appears to be legal in other states, except on freeways.

There have been a number of bad things that have occurred to unwary tourist hitchhikers. For many reasons I don't think it would be a good way to travel. Australia is a large country, I would be checking out air and bus fares for travel.

I'd never recommend it. In the early 1990's 7 backpackers were murdered in the NSW bushland after being picked up hitchhiking.

I'd never recommend it. In the early 1990's 7 backpackers were murdered in the NSW bushland after being picked up hitchhiking. The offender is now locked up with a LWOP sentence. Psycho's happen everywhere.

Dave

The offender is now locked up with a LWOP sentence. Psycho's happen everywhere.

Dave

Yep, but still a good reason not to hitchhike.

There's nothing wrong with hitchhiking in Australia. I hear the Belanglo State Forrest is beautiful this time of year!

Here's a great tourist video you may want to watch:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKxBT94bWfQ

The offender is now locked up with a LWOP sentence. Psycho's happen everywhere.

Dave

I agree. However, most Australians will not pick up hitchhikers, so the ones that do may not be the type of people you want to spend much time with.

I'd never recommend it. In the early 1990's 7 backpackers were murdered in the NSW bushland after being picked up hitchhiking.

I would not recommend driving a car, either. In the early 1990s there was a crash on a highway and 7 passengers were killed.

Is it really illegal in Australia?

I'd go for it ... Aussi's are nice people. What's the worse that could happen ?

Have they ever even had jails in Australia ? Oh wait ....

:)

I'd go for it ... Aussi's are nice people. What's the worse that could happen ?

Have they ever even had jails in Australia ? Oh wait ....

:)

Yeah, just like the USA it was at one time a penal colony. These days a much smaller percentage of its population is criminal than that of the US, so it's come a long way.

I would not recommend driving a car, either. In the early 1990s there was a crash on a highway and 7 passengers were killed.

Lol....

If people want to be moronic and do it then so be it.

Those murders might have been rare, but it has given enough people a second thought about hitchiking.