The Best Way to Travel Australia On a Budget
You are ready to travel Australia. Wide open roads, wild coastlines and red desert sunsets. The question is, how will you get around? Let’s explore some options.
The Best Way to Travel Australia On a Budget
Shared Rental vs Campervan vs Bus
You are ready to explore Australia. Wide open roads, wild coastlines and red desert sunsets. The question is, how will you get around? Do you rent a campervan and go solo? Join a guided tour? Or hop on a bus and hope you make friends? The way you choose to travel will define your journey, shaping not just what you see, but who you meet and the memories you make. Let’s explore some options together.
Ways to explore Australia
Let’s break it down:
| Option | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Campervan Rental (e.g. Home on the Road) | Complete freedom, your own space. | Expensive fuel and rental costs, solo driving fatigue, limited social connection. |
| Guided Tour | Everything planned, zero stress. | More expensive than other options, often shorter in duration, fixed itinerary with little flexibility. |
| Public Buses (e.g. Greyhound, Integrity Coachlines) | Affordable point-to-point travel, no driving. | No control over stops, no way to explore beyond bus routes, often have to pay for extra tours in each place which increases costs. |
| Shared Rental (e.g. Share Bus) | Split costs, flexible route, camping gear and fuel included, new travel mates, adventure at your pace. | Requires teamwork within the group, often part of the fun. |
Campervan Rental
Hiring a campervan is a classic way to explore Australia. You get your own vehicle and the freedom to pull over almost anywhere. However, the costs add up quickly and fuel for long distances is expensive. Rental fees can also be high and when travelling solo the costs are all on you. Driving for hours alone can also be draining, and it’s not always the most social way to travel.
Campervans still offer the comfort of your own space and the flexibility to move entirely at your own pace.
Top Providers:
- Home on the Road – family owned-business with a fleet of high quality and affordable Toyota Hiace campervans. Very good reviews.
- Travellers Autobarn – well known, moderately priced campervans. Good reviews.
- Jucy Rentals – well known, affordable campervans. Average reviews.
Guided Tour
Tours are a good choice if you want everything organised for you. Meals, accommodation, and stops are often taken care of. The downside is price, guided tours are usually more expensive than other options, often shorter in length and stick to a strict schedule. That means less freedom to linger in the places you love.
Top providers:
- Intrepid Travel
- G Adventures
- Contiki
Public Buses
Public buses are the cheapest way to get from one major stop to another. Although, they come with big trade-offs. You can’t control where you stop, and once you arrive you usually need to book extra tours to properly explore.
Those add-on costs can make a “cheap” bus ticket more expensive in the end. Overall, public buses are a reliable way to cover big stretches of Australia without the hassle of driving.
Top providers:
- Greyhound Australia
- Integrity Coachlines
- TransWA
Shared Rental
A shared rental combines the best of everything. You split the cost of travel with a group of like-minded adventurers. Unlike buses or tours, you decide where to go and how long to stay. The group dynamic means teamwork, but it often turns into one of the best parts of the journey, making new friends and sharing memories along the way.
Top providers:
- Share Bus
Why Travel Alone When You Can Share the Ride?
A shared rental with Share Bus gives you the best value for money while keeping the freedom of a road trip.
Take control of your itinerary
You are not locked into a fixed schedule. Your group decides where to go, how long to stay, and what to see along the way. This means you can spend extra time in places you love and skip the spots that do not interest you.
Cut your travel costs
With Share Bus, fuel, rental fees, camping equipment, and even national park entry are all included in the price. That means no surprise add-ons along the way. When you compare this to hiring a campervan solo or paying for guided tours, the savings are clear — and you still get the freedom to explore at your own pace.
Camp anywhere without breaking the bank
Camping does come with some extra costs, but Share Bus makes it easy to keep them low. All the camping gear you need, from tents to cooking equipment, is included in the trip. You also get a list of low cost and free campsites so you can spend your nights under the stars without expensive accommodation eating into your budget.
Travel with instant adventure mates
You travel with like-minded adventurers who are also excited to explore. This adds a social element to the trip, with shared memories and new friendships formed along the way.
See all of the places you want to see
With Share Bus, you are not limited to fixed stops or strict itineraries. Public buses usually drop you off far from the main attractions in town and guided tours only visit the places on their schedule. On a shared rental trip, you and your group have the flexibility to explore each town properly so you can actually see the sights that matter most to you.
Making the Most of Your Australian Adventure
There are plenty of ways to explore Australia, and each option has its own benefits. Campervans give you independence but can be expensive on your own. Guided tours make travel simple but limit your flexibility. Public buses are affordable yet often leave you needing to pay extra for tours once you arrive. A shared rental like Share Bus offers a middle ground, giving you flexibility, social connection, and lower costs by pooling resources. The best choice depends on the experience you want, but for many travellers, sharing the journey is what makes it truly memorable.
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