east coast of australia on my own

hey! the last month ive been debaiting were to travel i was going o do usa but ive decided to do the east coast of australia and if i have any money after i can allways go over to states from there.

but basiclly i just wanted to ask a few things about the trip im doing

which way is better to do it start of sydney and and head up the east coast or to head down?

i have also been looking about on internet on transport i was looking at oz experiance and they have a cobber pass for coach travel. has anyone done this before and reccomend it? or do you think it is better to sort out travel once over there?

also the money situation im hoping to have about 3500 by time i go im hoping to go august spend about 5 to 6 months on trip. hopefully fingers crossed il find some work but obviously its not as easy as it seems as everyone wants work.

but anyway any advice will be great. or if anyone is also starting the east coast around august would be great to chat!

thanks jimmy

Hi Jimmy, well I know that most international flights fly into Sydney but see if there is a cheaper! Flight to melb it's much better to go melb to cairns then the other way, but saying that august is winter and the weather will be really bad so if you can go into Brisbane/cairns and go down cause by the time u reach melb it will be summer and u will miss qld wet season. I wouldn't like to do aus by coach! I have drivn it a few times but it is very long! I've never ever heard of a cobber pass!! But there are state coach companies which are pretty good with prices state with vline nswtransport etc. Good luck tavlling let me now if u need anything else!

hey ashley. thanks for the advice would you think its better to sort out all my transport when i arrive there then? my intentions were to make my way down and then if i want to stay i could spend christmas and new year in sydney. i still have a lot more reasearch to do though! and if i dont find work il doubt il even make sydney! haha

Well you should be there for new years it goes of in the habour (I did it last year, just get there early!!!) You can play it by ear, and pay as you go, but i do suggest you have a little look now! WHat do you plan to work as? Work is earliy found, as long as you not fusy!

It should be okay as long as you have a quick look. Unlike Europe to fly between states is really expensive.

You have to make it to Sydney! If your backpacking it will be hard to find accomadation! You should have a quick look before you start! good luck

im not fussy at all a bit of bar work would be nice but at end of day works work! i hope i make it! lol. ivr got plenty of time to think about it anyway probably book a flight out in the new year and then just have to do hardcore saving for 7months! thanks for all your help!

Hey Jimmy, if you're starting in August you're best to start from Cairns and head south to Sydney. August is winter in Sydney and the cold extends as far north as Byron (880klms north of Sydney). Mid-winter in Cairns is just gorgeous: clear skies warm days, and very little rain. If you start in the north you'll arrive in Sydney well into summer. Oz Experience or Greyhound? If you're taking 5-6 months to travel then Greyhound is the best option. They have passes under $400 (check the website) for up to 180-days travel. The buses depart every day. Oz Experience has an express pass launching in January 2011, but I can't say too much about it as it hasn't launched yet. The standard Oz Experience pass is over $600. As for work? there's plenty of if down the coast if you're prepared to do fruit picking and farm work. Its hard work, but you do it for beer and travel money, not as a career move. Or just network with other travellers in each town.

Its dead easy to arrange travel once you're here, and this also gives you an opportunity to speak to other travellers who've been there and done it already. And it keeps you're options open for a couple more days.

If you're flying into Sydney and haven't already purchased a one-way flight ticket from Sydney to Cairns then this is easily done with Virgin Blue or Jetstar. Booking a little ahead gives you the cheapest flight. Or, when you book your international flight see if the agent (if you use one) will throw in a free Sydney - Cairns flight: don't ask don't get!

Cheers