Travelling between Australian cities: regional trains, long-distance coaches and ferries

Intercity trains leave Central Station in Sydney on the Central Coast & Newcastle Line for Gosford, Wyong and Newcastle Interchange, and on the South Coast Line for Wollongong and further south; the Blue Mountains Line runs west to Katoomba and beyond. Opal and contactless cards are valid on all of them, and the stations at Gosford, Newcastle and Wollongong are hubs for the local buses.

NSW TrainLink trains also run between Sydney and Canberra, and coaches link Canberra with Sydney and other towns in New South Wales.

In South East Queensland the Translink network links the three biggest cities. Trains run from central Brisbane to the Gold Coast, ending at Varsity Lakes, with connections at Helensvale to the G:link light rail towards Southport, Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach. Towards the Sunshine Coast, trains run to Nambour, and buses connect the stations with the beaches and towns on the coast.

The same go card and fares system applies to the whole trip, including the connecting bus or light rail.

V/Line regional trains leave from Southern Cross Station in Melbourne for Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo, with frequent services on weekdays. myki is valid on these trains, and the stations in Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo are hubs for the local town buses.

V/Line coaches continue from the railheads to smaller towns across Victoria; tickets for longer V/Line journeys can also be bought as reserved tickets.

Queensland Rail runs long-distance trains north from Brisbane along the coast, stopping at towns such as Bundaberg, Rockhampton, Mackay and Townsville, with the Spirit of Queensland continuing to Cairns. The Ghan crosses the continent from Adelaide via Alice Springs to Darwin, and the Indian Pacific runs from Sydney via Adelaide to Perth; both are scenic journeys that are booked well ahead rather than everyday transport. NSW TrainLink XPT trains also connect Sydney with Brisbane and with Melbourne.

For the longest distances, for example from the east coast to Perth or Darwin, most travellers fly.

Long-distance coaches, run mainly by Greyhound Australia, serve many routes along the east coast and inland, and are often the only public option for smaller towns. In Tasmania, coaches link Hobart and Launceston with each other and with other towns on the island.

The Spirit of Tasmania car and passenger ferry sails across Bass Strait between Geelong and Devonport in northern Tasmania. Book coaches, long-distance trains and the ferry in advance, especially during school holidays.