hollycat

hi there, would be grateful for bit knowledge regarding internal transport in Australia

Travelling from Singapore to Adelaide in May, (2 people)
Will then fly to Alice Springs
Is it best to hire car to get from AS to Uluru - approx how long is drive by 2 wheel?

From Uluru we want to fly to Cairns then go to one of the Whitsunday Islands. Is there public transport from Cairns to Islands. If so do we need to book ahead?

What is best way to get from Whitsunday Islands to Brisbane to fly back to Singapore?

Appreciate your help. Thanks
hollycat

Bushranger

It's about a five hour drive from AS to Yulara- resort village for Uluru and with a hire car it'll mean missing out on Kings Canyon and the off bitumen sites that way though you could do another three hours return trip to Kings Canyon from the mitumised main access road.

It's about 440 km. on direct route and 260 km return for Kings Canyon and you can stay overnight there in basic accomodation.

You might want to have a look at a camping out tour with www.waywardbus.com.au and quite a few other companies to choose from also.

You can get from Cairns to the Whitsundays by either train to Proserpine - http://www.traveltrain.com.au/2/default.asp and then local bus to Airlie Beach, bus direct from Cairns with either www.greyhound.com.au or www.premierms.com.au and then there's flights to Hamilton Island - http://www.travel.com.au/domestic-ai...amilton-island and you have to tack on about $50 to take the ferry from Hamilton Island across to Shute Harbour.

You'll likely find it cheapest to take the bus over to Proserpine [about $20] and take a flight from there to Brisbane but do check on www.webjet.com.au for Hamilton options for the airlines have been changing flight services to the Whitsundays.

Do you have a specific reason for going to Adelaide first for www.airasia.com fly KL to Gold Coast and a bus/train to Brisbane and flight to Proserpine/HI and then Cairns/Uluru/Brisbane to Singapore may be worth considering and Airasia or one of the other sea airlines probably have cheap Singapore to KL flights.

stormbird

Hi Hollycat,

When you are researching your fares from the north coast just be aware that Proserpine is listed as Whitsunday Coast - so that is the departure point you are looking for there. You can also fly out of Hamilton Island to Brisbane. It just depends where exactly you end up on the north coast - let us know.

I would hire a car to get to Uluru then you will have some independence to get around - check out the rock at sunrise/sunset etc and also you can head over to Kata Tjuta (The Olgas). The drive is very easy and you shouldn't experience any difficulties with this.

Hope we can help some more if you need it.

afterall

Are you going to Cairns because you want to go there or because you think that is the best way to get from Uluru/Alice Springs to the Whitsunday Islands?

Re the Rock - I know it's popular here to self drive but I honestly think it's one of those areas where you get far more from a visit if you know what you are looking at. In other words, a tour is the better option, preferably one that spends at least one night away from the artificialness that is the Yulara Resort.

If you wanted to take the bus from Cairns to Airlie Beach booking a day in advance would be fine. It's very unlikely to be full!

Cheers.

Jeff_Australia

You can book on www.virginblue.com.au or www.jetstar.com.au for discount flights. both of these sites allow you to sign up to recieve emails promoting special offers and cheap flights.

Hope this helps
Cheers
Jeff

Saltuarius

Afterall,
I think it really depends on how much one is prepared to read and prepare. For most people a guide will add to the experience but some are scared of the loss of freedom that a tour represents. I have a number of friends who cater for such people by offering personalised tours. Those who work as step aboard guides, that is they travel with you, are inexpensive.