Flights
From Europe, expect twenty to twenty-four hours with one stop, usually in the Gulf or Singapore. From Asia it is far shorter. Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth are the main gateways. Fares peak around the December–January summer holidays and school breaks, and the cheapest months are typically February and May.
Getting around
Distances are continental: Sydney to Perth is four hours by air and four days by road. Domestic flights are the default and competitive. Long-distance trains exist as journeys in themselves rather than transport. Driving is on the left, distances between fuel stops in the outback are serious, and hitting wildlife at dawn and dusk is the main road hazard.
Seasons upside down
Summer runs December to February, winter June to August. The north is tropical with a wet season from November to April — cyclones, flooding and marine stingers; the dry season, May to October, is the time to go there. The south has a Mediterranean climate and is best in spring and autumn. Bushfire season affects the south-east in summer and can close roads and parks at short notice.
Orders of magnitude
| Return flight from Europe | AUD 1,600 to 3,000 depending on season |
|---|---|
| Mid-range hotel night | AUD 150 to 280 |
| Restaurant meal | AUD 25 to 50 — tipping is not expected |
| Car hire | AUD 60 to 120 a day |
What holds everywhere
- Insurance covering medical costs and repatriation stops being optional as soon as local healthcare is limited. Check it actually covers the destination: many policies exclude areas under adverse travel advice.
- Carry cash. In much of the world cards work in the big cities and nowhere else. Check the ATM situation and your bank's charges before leaving.
- Leave margin on connections. A tight transfer on a thinly served route is expensive: the next flight may be tomorrow, or in three days.
- The real budget runs over two years, not one trip: repeated flights, paperwork, translations, legalisations, any support sent. It is always underestimated.