Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - best way to get from Sydney to Melbourne

Hi all,
I'm going to Australia(first time) this Dec and would like get some suggestions on which type of transportion should I take from Sydney to Melbourne. I'm looking at serveral options such as train, bus and air.
I'm not sure if it is worth the time to take the train(countrylink) or bus(greyhound or firefly express) to see country and sight seeing.

Thanks for any suggestions and comments.

-cece

I've done it with both Firefly and rail. If you can do it cheaply by air, I'd fly. It's a pretty dull route compared to other parts of Australia.

Keep in mind if you're really trying to save money, rail and bus can be done as overnight trips so you can sleep.

Im actually heading to NZ and Aussie myself in Dec/Jan for a month... I am flying between Syd and Melb because my friend told me that there isnt much to see between the two cities, but everywhere else...

The cheapest method for domestic travel is: www.virginblue.com, www.quantas.com.au, www.freedomair.com.

Note: if you are going to quote from quantas, check their webdeals! thats where the cost savings start. make sure you go to the "au" website otherwise you wont be able to book. if you want to do the conversion back to USD you can try www.xe.com for exchange rates. typically the AUD is bout 25% off...

I think you'll find that link should be www.qantas.com.au

Hi There,

If this is the only part of the countryside in Australia that your'e going to see you should really go by bus or train during the day. After clearing the interminable western suburbs of Sydney you'll pass through the beautiful Southern Highlands of NSW (no snow this time of year though) then down to sheep country with the ranges in the distance. Many great sights along the way including the mighty Murray River on the state border at the twin cities of Albury(NSW)/Wodonga(VIC). I know it takes 12 hours but you may even see a kangaroo!

Here are some sample fares from www.greyhound.com.au

$60.00 Internet Fare Sat 18/DEC/2004 MC230 Depart SYD 9:15 AM
18/DEC/2004 Arrive MEL 9:45 PM


They also offer 2 overnight services at the same price.

Here are the 2 SYD-MEL services Countrylink services - see http://www.countrylink.nsw.gov.au/

Journey time: 10hours, 52 mins $115.50 $161.70 $243.10
Y F Sleeper
Sydney Mon 20:43
Melbourne Tue 07:35
Melbourne XPT

The prices are in AUD and are Y F

Journey time: 11hours, 12 mins $115.50 $161.70


Sydney Mon 07:43
Melbourne Mon 18:55
Melbourne XPT

Virgin Blue have fares for around $115 inc tax. A great airline - I wish they'd join *A!

I hope this all helps and I know you'll have a great time down here! :)

Adam.

Definitely fly. Everything else takes long and is often more expensive, too.

Check Qantas, JetStar, and VirginBlue for cheap flights.

Definitely fly. Everything else takes long and is often more expensive, too.

RUBBISH - it depends upon what you want to see.

One of the best train trips I have done was from Los Angeles to Chicago. Could have flown there in 5% of the time, at 10% of the cost. I still loved the trip though, the ability to see the countryside which I would not have been able to see from 35,000 feet.

If you are out to see some countryside, go the train. If looking at overnight, fly.

Dave

Well then since what I say is RUBBISH, I would suggest that if you have the time and want to see the countryside, get a car and drive yourself. Just stop wherever you feel like it.
I personally don't think driving SYD-MEL is worth the time. MEL-ADL is quite beautiful. ADL up to Ayers Rock is not too bad. And BNE and SYD is also quite nice a drive.

I just booked a one way SYD-MEL for March on Qantas. Got a fare of $90AUD which was like $66 US.

I just booked a one way SYD-MEL for March on Qantas. Got a fare of $90AUD which was like $66 US.


I regulatrly travel with VirginBlue instead of Qantas. (www.virginblue.com.au) Support the new airline is my motto. If they go down, Qantas will charge like wounded bulls!


There are SYD-MEL fares on the Virgin website right now for AUS$79 which includes tax. With the exchange rate at 1 Aus$ = US$0.78, this equates to US$62.00. I'd rather sit in a plane for an hour than a bus for 15, and the cost is basically the same. I suppose it depends on whether you want to see some countryside and small towns while you are in Australia, or whether you are happy to see the big cities.

By the way, Melbourne is a great place. See you at the MCG for the cricket on Boxing Day (Dec. 26th)

Well then since what I say is RUBBISH, I would suggest that if you have the time and want to see the countryside, get a car and drive yourself. Just stop wherever you feel like it.

Problem with that is that you don't get to see a lot of the countryside, particularly if you take the Hume, since it is now mostly dual carriageway bypassing major towns and so on.

Also, you can't stop off at a pub for a few cleansing ales - the Highway Patrol are LETHAL along there. :D

I personally don't think driving SYD-MEL is worth the time.

Depends which way you go. A leisurely meander down the South Coast, through Kiama, Nowra, Batemans Bay, Merimbula, Eden and so on is DEFINITELY worth the trip. As is going through Canberra and then down the Snowy Mountains Highway, through Cooma, Bombala to Orbost, and then picking up the Princes Highway through to Melbourne. A side trip into the Snowy Mountains (FANTASTIC in summer) would be a great option.

There are SYD-MEL fares on the Virgin website right now for AUS$79 which includes tax. With the exchange rate at 1 Aus$ = US$0.78, this equates to US$62.00. I'd rather sit in a plane for an hour than a bus for 15, and the cost is basically the same. I suppose it depends on whether you want to see some countryside and small towns while you are in Australia, or whether you are happy to see the big cities.

One thing to remember here though is that ALL of the major airlines have their cheap flights. One day Vermin might be cheapest, the next day it is Qantas, the next day it is DeathStar. It is important to shop around.

Dave

Depends which way you go. A leisurely meander down the South Coast, through Kiama, Nowra, Batemans Bay, Merimbula, Eden and so on is DEFINITELY worth the trip. As is going through Canberra and then down the Snowy Mountains Highway, through Cooma, Bombala to Orbost, and then picking up the Princes Highway through to Melbourne. A side trip into the Snowy Mountains (FANTASTIC in summer) would be a great option.

Dave

True, I totally forgot about those spots. It's been such a long time since I've done that drive. :cool:
Kiama is quite nice and Batemans Bay is very beautiful.

Depends which way you go. A leisurely meander down the South Coast, through Kiama, Nowra, Batemans Bay, Merimbula, Eden and so on is DEFINITELY worth the trip. As is going through Canberra and then down the Snowy Mountains Highway, through Cooma, Bombala to Orbost, and then picking up the Princes Highway through to Melbourne. A side trip into the Snowy Mountains (FANTASTIC in summer) would be a great option.

Agree totally ... last Christmas we drove back to Adelaide from Sydney following the coast the entire trip - lovely drive south of Sydney and then down around into Victoria.

Have also done the Snowys in summer and it is a really beautiful time of year there too.

If you don't have time to drive it - I'd just get the trip over and done with and fly.

A word of caution for those driving the coastal route:

Southern New South Wales is notorious for highway accidents. The holiday season only increases the accident rate. Please drive carefully.

Check the Roads and Traffic Authority (www.rta.nsw.gov.au) for the latest information.

Problem with that is that you don't get to see a lot of the countryside, particularly if you take the Hume, since it is now mostly dual carriageway bypassing major towns and so on.

Also, you can't stop off at a pub for a few cleansing ales - the Highway Patrol are LETHAL along there. :D



Although it's a bit annoying to have to go from 110 to 100 to 50 km/h all the time in the stretch between Albury and the turnoff for Canberra. Made me miss home, where I can drive from Chicago to Memphis (roughly same distance as SYD-MEL) without even adjusting the cruise control on a good day. :)

The police are certainly out in force there...they had a random alcohol screening point set up at 1pm on a Wednesday (!) when my wife and I were going MEL-SYD 2 weeks ago.

Im actually heading to NZ and Aussie myself in Dec/Jan for a month... I am flying between Syd and Melb because my friend told me that there isnt much to see between the two cities, but everywhere else...

The cheapest method for domestic travel is: www.virginblue.com, www.quantas.com.au, www.freedomair.com.

Note: if you are going to quote from quantas, check their webdeals! thats where the cost savings start. make sure you go to the "au" website otherwise you wont be able to book. if you want to do the conversion back to USD you can try www.xe.com for exchange rates. typically the AUD is bout 25% off...

I'm also trying to get quotes for travel from Sydney to Melbourne...but am having problems booking w/Freedom Air. Anyone else have problems with choosing the origin and destination? It looks as if they are do not fly within Australia.

It seems as if the cheapest airfare for mid-march is $150USD. Are there any promos using miles to fly? Similar to inter-island flying in Hawaii for 5k per trip is what I'm looking for! Thanks.

I'm also trying to get quotes for travel from Sydney to Melbourne...but am having problems booking w/Freedom Air. Anyone else have problems with choosing the origin and destination? It looks as if they are do not fly within Australia.

It seems as if the cheapest airfare for mid-march is $150USD. Are there any promos using miles to fly? Similar to inter-island flying in Hawaii for 5k per trip is what I'm looking for! Thanks.


Freedom Air flies trans-tasman only (maybe one or two pacific islands). Definitely not within Australia.

Within Australia main options are Qantas, Jetstar (low cost subsidiary of QF) and Virgin Blue. Depending on the ticket to/from Australia United and Thai may be an option but they dont have traffic rights.

Right now (ending in 12 hours or so), Qantas has a sale (www.qantas.com.au) - as low as A$40 one way for SYD-MEL vv.