The Roma Street Transit Centre is Brisbane’s main train station for long-distance travel with daily trains to most major destinations including frequent local trains within the Brisbane area, trains to the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, interstate services to New South Wales and trains on the Brisbane–Cairns line.
Long distance trains from Roma Street train station include the NSW TrainLink XPT train to Sydney, the Westlander to Charleville, the Spirit of the Outback to Longreach (via Rockhampton), the Tilt Train to Rockhampton and the Spirit of Queensland to Cairns.
Rottnest Express ferries connect Rottnest Island with Fremantle and Barrack Street Jetty in Perth. One-way fares from Fremantle are $20.25–30 and from Perth are $30.25–40. Please note that a $17 fee for the Rottnest Island Authority is added to the cost of each return ticket.
The Rottnest Island ferry terminal is located at the Thomson Bay Settlement, where you can find the visitor information centre and many of the island’s cafes and restaurants.
This is where most coins are minted and offers fascinating tours where you can see money being made.
The Royal Botanic Gardens occupies the large area of parkland at the north eastern edge of the city centre. It is home to Government House, ponds, gardens and lots of fruit bats.
Built in 1879 for the International Exhibition of 1880, this exhibition centre is an architectural masterpiece; the concrete dome over the main hall was modelled on Brunelleschi’s cathedral in Florence. It is one of the world’s oldest exhibition pavilions and is Australia’s first non-Aboriginal cultural site to be classified as a World Heritage Site. The exterior is more impressive than the interior, partially due to its setting within the Carlton Gardens.
This outback institution provides medical support in isolated communities. The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) maintains visitors centres in several outback towns and this one is a working base with a museum on site. A visit includes a one-hour tour of the base.
The Alice Springs branch of the RFDS is open to visitors and includes a small museum with informative displays about this outback institution.
The local tropical fruits are used by juice stands and the best place to sample and buy fresh fruit and vegetables is Rusty’s Markets next to Gilligan’s Hostel.
The Sandbar is a bit nicer than most other pubs in Mildura and it has a beer garden and live music.
There are several companies operating scenic flights over the Great Ocean Road that allow you to see the Twelve Apostles from a unique perspective. Apollo Bay Aviation operates scenic flights from Apollo Bay that take in the main attractions of the Great Ocean Road including the 12 Apostles.
There are several companies operating scenic helicopter flights of the main sights on the Great Ocean Road. This includes scenic helicopter rides operated by 12 Apostles Helicopters that depart from the 12 Apostles visitor facility near Port Campbell.
Scenic flights start at $145 for a 15-minute flight that takes in the 12 Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge and London Arch (formerly known as London Bridge); $235 for a 25-minute flight that continues beyond London Arch to the Bay of Islands and $570 for a 60-minute flight that also takes in Cape Otway Lighthouse.
With an incline of 52°, the Scenic Railway is the world’s steepest inclined railway. It is very popular and feels a bit like a slow roller coaster ride.
The Scenic Skyway cable gondola travels over the Jamison Valley and provides an impressive view of Katoomba and the Blue Mountains.
While the Flying Doctor looks after medical problems in the outback, the School of the Air educates the outback. This unique correspondence school allows visitors to experience what life is like for children in the more remote parts of the outback. It is essential to book tours in advance through the tourist office.
This museum of science and technology is full of hands-on interactive exhibits. Although it was designed for children, it’s a lot of fun for everyone.
This hands-on science museum features over 160 interactive exhibits. However, like many science museums, it is geared mostly toward kids.
Although it is accessible by bus from Sydney, Newcastle and the Hunter Valley, the train is the best way to visit Scone.
Scone lies at the western terminus on the Hunter line on the CityRail network and the frequent trains put it almost within commuting distance of Newcastle.
Scone is also accessible by NSW TrainLink train services that stop here en route between Sydney and Armidale or Moree.
You can travel to Scone on NSW TrainLink trains using the
Discovery Pass rail pass
Scruffy Murphy’s is one of the more popular of Sydney’s centrally located Irish pubs. A lot of travellers prefer the rowdy atmosphere of Scruffy Murphy’s, although it is not as nice, nor as popular with travellers, as Paddy Maguire’s on Capital Square.
