Journeys
Across this massive land and all its 12,000 islands,
thousands of possible journeys connect endless unique
Australian experiences, destinations and products. Short
or long, by horse power or horse back – it is journey that have
always created the threads which continue to connect us to
each other; that make our land seem small and immense at
the same time.
From the very beginning of our creation, Aboriginal people knew it was only by travelling the land, letting nature and spirits shape the journey, that they could have a true understanding of Australia. Over 50,000 years of Dreamtime, they have called the traces of these journeys songlines.
Even today, travelling in Australia is not about getting from here to there, but discovering the diversity, the wonder, isolation and vibrant towns, the people and their unique way of life, on the journey in between.
You can take weeks weaving through rolling countryside, red desert, sparkling waterholes and spiritual heritage, or a few days exploring wine regions, wilderness coast, island clusters and reefs…the choices are endless.
Here’s a few more – go Outback to experience endless space and the roots of our culture in the vast Red Centre, or ‘out bush’ to country towns, to hinterlands and boutique regions. Or take a break from your usual world – meet a winemaker, go deep sea fishing or spot a croc.
Travelling our ancient and lightly travelled land is one of the most rewarding journeys you will experience – whether you take the luxury option, decide to camp under the stars, hotel hop or tow a caravan, you’ll create a songline of your own.
Some journeys facts
• With a landmass of 7.68 million sq kms, this is the world’s smallest continent, and largest island. Australia is also the lowest, flattest, most stable continent, with desert comprising 35% of the land mass .
• ‘Terra Australis’ was one of the last discovered land masses. Her west coast was discovered by the Dutch but it was the British who staked their claim in 1770 following the arrival of Captain James Cook on the east coast. The country was inhabited by Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders for thousands of years before the arrival of European settlers in January 1788 following an eight month journey by sea.
• Australia is home to the longest section of straight railway track (487km) and the longest straight section of tarred highway (146.6km) in the world.
• Highway One, which circumnavigates the Australian continent, is 24,000 km in length. More than a million people travel on some part of this road each day. Prime movers and semi-trailers worth in excess of AUD$3 billion ply its trade routes daily, along with thousands of cars and other vehicles.
We have some great suggested self-drive itineraries
• There are more than 2,700 caravan parks throughout Australia.
• It takes several days and 3,026 km to travel by road between Adelaide in South Australia to Darwin in the Northern Territory. The Ghan, one of the great rail journeys of the world, shaves around 50 kms off the trip and can be completed in two nights in absolute comfort.
Uniquely Australian
• You can journey by car or four-wheel-drive and set your own pace – giving you lots of opportunity to take roads less travelled and to meet the locals along the way.
• Join the great Aussie tradition and pack up your car, caravan or 4WD and head off on our vast network of highways. There are thousands of roads that criss-cross our great nation, endless experiences to be discovered and plenty of Aussies to meet along the way; all ready to share a tale and to provide advice.
• This is the world’s largest island – a massive continent – so flying is a logical way to cover huge distances more quickly. And we have craft of all shapes and sizes to take you on your way. You can buy a seat on a commercial airline, charter a private plane and even take a hot air balloon ride over our vast countryside. Or you may prefer to hitch a ride with a postie as he makes his rounds by plane to some of Australia’s remotest communities.
• If you don’t want to drive, or see the landscape from a plane, you can experience some of the best railway journeys in the world. You can watch the scenery constantly change as you cross the country north to south, east to west or choose to head inland to our great Outback. You can take an epic three night journey or, from some cities, a short 90 minute trip into the hinterland.
• On an island like this, rich with waterways, reef and harbours, journeys afloat are an obvious choice. You can choose everything from kayak trips, sailing tours and ferry rides to spectacular cruises and luxury adventures between tropical islands and warm water reef.
• Caravans and camping are one of our own most-loved ways of exploring the country. There are well-travelled trails and popular camp sites where you can join us on our holiday pilgrimages, and plenty of out of the way roads and sites for a more solitary tour.
• Luxury camping is a specialty too – there are glamorous camp-style retreats and resorts offering an elegant experience of island, Outback, forest, desert or beach life.
• Or you can head out on foot and walk across our everchanging and ancient landscape. There are no rules. When you want to go, how you want to go, where you want to go. It’s your choice, your journey.