Australia is a vast country with many vibrant cities and stunning natural wonders to explore. Just what is the best way to see it all?
One popular option is to take a long-haul coach service such as a Greyhound bus or Firefly bus. These services offer different routes and stops around the country and can have many advantages over taking a plane or hiring a car. However, there are also drawbacks to travelling by coach. This post compares the pros and cons.
The pros
It’s cost-effective
Travelling by coach is likely to be the most affordable way of getting around Australia if you’re on a tight budget. Coach companies offer many competitive deals to take advantage of that are generally much better than hire car fees or plane tickets. Overnight coaches tend to be very cheap and you can sleep on them to save money on accommodation.
It’s generally comfortable
While it varies depending on the coach service you take, the biggest coach services in Australia are designed for long-distance travel, and as a result have very comfortable seating and amenities such as air conditioning and restrooms. They’re generally more roomy and cosy than taking a car or a plane. You can eat on these coach services, but be wary that certain foods and drinks may be restricted (like alcohol and pungent foods).
You can take in the scenery
Covering both rugged outback roads and beautiful coastal routes, coach services allow you to take in some incredible scenery along the way. This is scenery you miss out on when taking a plane, plus you don’t have to focus on the road like you do when driving a car. If you like the idea of being able to take photos out of the window and see sights out of the window, take a coach.
You can meet people along the way
Long-haul coaches can be a great way to meet other backpackers and adventurers from around the world. If you’re travelling alone, you may find that taking a coach helps you to make some new travel buddies.This is something you don’t benefit from when hiring a car – on long journeys, it could get quite lonely if you’re travelling alone. Families also commonly travel on coaches across Australia.
The cons
It’s a slow mode of travel
Travelling by coach is very slow – a coach from Sydney to Melbourne can take 11 hours, while a plane journey is only 1 ½ hours. If you’ve got limited time to explore Australia, you could waste a lot of it getting from A to B. You’ll also need to explore different ways to occupy yourself to stop you getting bored. Fortunately, free wi-fi does mean that you can entertain yourself with the internet – which could involve streaming TV shows, updating a travel blog or solving online word search puzzles.
There are limited routes
While the likes of Greyhound has 180 stops across the country, you still don’t have the flexibility that you might have when hiring a car. Travelling to some remote places could still be tricky and you won’t be able to plan where you want to stop. In a car, you can go off the beaten track and stop to take in views and roadside oddities along the way. Of course, this may not matter if you’re just planning on visiting the cities and major attractions.
You’re tied to a schedule
Coach services run on a tight schedule. You need to plan your journey around the coach timetable – which could mean not being able to spend as much time in certain places. Some coaches may only rarely travel to certain stops, plus there’s always a risk that a coach could get cancelled, leaving you temporarily stranded somewhere.
These coaches can get quite crowded
When travelling certain routes during certain times, you could find that some coaches get fully booked. While you’re usually guaranteed your own seat, a full coach could make for a noisy journey and you may struggle to find overhead space for luggage. It’s advised that you pack light when taking a long-haul coach and that you bring some noise-cancelling headphones or earplugs (if you want to sleep).
Should you travel around Australia by coach?
Taking a coach across Australia could be a social and budget-friendly way to travel, while also offering scenic views and comfortable seating. You should avoid taking a coach if you don’t want to be restricted to certain routes or schedules or if you only have a short period of time to explore the country.