How to travel cheaply from Melbourne to Cairns in Australia without breaking the bank. Here are some tips to save money and still move to one of the most expensive countries in the world.
THEAustralia it's an expensive country, there's no doubt about that, and I've said it many times since I've been here, but that doesn't mean you can't take a low cost trip. Transport works well, is punctual and clean. So in case you just want to do one beach day outside the cities, just take one of the many lines that link the center to the coast.
If you want to embark on a journey that covers the whole east, stopping in the magnificent villages with breathtaking landscapes that populate it, the best alternative to renting a car (which has exaggerated prices) could be to buy a subscription (made especially for backpackers!) with the two most famous bus companies: the grayhound and Premier.
The complete route connects Melbourne to Cairns, allowing you to decide your stops just like an open ticket. The subscription is valid for three months, and allows you to move only in one direction, north or south: when a stretch has been covered, for example going from Sydney to Port Stephens, it will not be possible to go through it again. In case you want to go back to Sydney and go to a small town before Port Stephens, the ticket will not be valid because that stretch has already been covered.
Si recommends the Greyhound, because it has a much greater frequency, with connections both in the morning and in the evening. The cost may initially seem high (it depends on the route, for example I paid 307 Australian dollars from Sydney to Airlie Beach, thanks also to the discount), but in reality it allows you to save if you plan to travel on the road, especially considering the high cost of transport in Australia.
How does it work? Once you have subscribed, you will receive a User code and a PIN, with these it will be possible to enter your personal page and book the route you are interested in and the time. It is possible to change them at least one day before departure (depends on the company).
Another very important tip, if you have student cards, subscriptions to hostel chains (YHA, very famous in Australia, or others that can be consulted on the companies' website) you can receive price discounts total. Subscriptions can be made either directly in company offices, or in YHA hostels or other affiliates. In short, do not be like me who discovered it later and spent a lot more!
