Transport: Getting Around Your Australian City

It’s time for you to hit the streets!

Whether you are walking, riding a bike, catching public transport or driving a car, you need to know what is the best way to get from A to B.

WALKING

The cheapest and easiest way to get anywhere in your new city is your own two feet. You don’t need to worry about bus timetables, or whether you’ve caught the right train—just budget your time correctly, and get out in the fresh air and explore your city.

Make sure you do it safely:

• Keep track of where you are with a map app on your smartphone
• Cars drive on the left side of the road in Australia, so be sure to check for oncoming traffic from both directions before crossing
• Stick to well-lit areas at night time and early in the morning

Here are some great walks to help you get to know your city a little better:

Adelaide | Brisbane | Melbourne | Perth | Sydney

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Each city has a different public transport network to help you get around. They all have buses and trains while only Sydney, Brisbane and Perth have trams and ferries.

Adelaide | Brisbane | Melbourne | Perth | Sydney

BIKES

Buying a bicycle is a great investment and an excellent way to save money as a student, not only will it get you from A to B for free, but it will keep you fit and healthy too! When buying a bike, you need to think about its purpose, as there are different types of bike frames and wheels to cater for different riding preferences.

See our guide to bike riding in Australia.

Most of the bigger Australian cities have at least one cycle track that’s designed to let you explore the city. For some information on great rides in your city, have a look at these links:

Adelaide | Brisbane | Melbourne | Perth | Sydney

CARS

Depending on where you are in Australia, you might never need a car. But if you want to get out and about and explore your new home, a car offers you the freedom to do just that.

Your driver’s licence: First and foremost, in Australia you need a driver’s licence to be able to drive a car, and our driving laws change from state to state. Some require you to have both your foreign driver’s licence and an International Licence; others ask that you have your foreign licence and a formal translation in English.

However, the majority of Australian states and territories let you drive with your current overseas licence. Have a look at the links below to find out the laws for your state for driving with an overseas licence:

ACT | NSW | NT | QLD | SA | TAS | VIC | WA

TAXIS AND RIDE-SHARING

There might be those times when you don’t have your bike, the trains have stopped running, and you can’t be bothered walking—and in those times, you’ll want another option.

Whether you choose a traditional taxi or ride-sharing service like Uber, is up to you. The difference is the service.

In most major cities you can hail a taxi off the street, and you can book a taxi well in advance by calling and speaking with someone. However, some companies charge for this service, and you have no way of knowing if the taxi will show up on time or not.

Uber is a more boutique service, which you operate through their simple app for your phone. You can only order an Uber when you need one, but the app shows you real-time information of your closest driver and shows you their profile and customer rating. An Uber ride will usually be cheaper than ordering a taxi.

While Uber is effectively legal in the majority of major cities, be aware that in the Northern Territory Uber has not yet been made legal, so don’t try and book an Uber ride if you’re in Darwin.