7 Australian destinations that are better [and cheaper] via train or coach

Port Elliot, Fleurieu Peninsula (South Australia)

Driving south from Adelaide on a Friday means crawling through Mount Barker on the South Eastern Freeway. The LinkSA bus takes the same route (without the road rage), reaching Port Elliot in under two hours and dropping you a short walk from everything worth seeing, including your bed for the night.

A restored historic beach house, YHA Port Elliot sits right on the coastline, with views over Horseshoe Bay and a cosy atmosphere that’s the perfect base for a short winter break. Port Elliot is cosy as a destination too, with the main street, cafes and the beach all within walking distance of each other.

Between June and October, Southern Right Whales come close enough to shore to watch from the sand or the YHA balcony with binoculars. You can book in with Alia, the property's resident marine biologist, for the best chance of a sighting. Outside of whale season, the Harbourmasters Walking Trail loops around the clifftops above Horseshoe Bay, and the Encounter Bikeway runs 30 kilometres of mostly off-road track between The Bluff and Goolwa. Hotel Elliot has live music most weekends, and the Fleurieu produce trail brings olive oil, cheese and bread to the local market, held on the first and third Saturday of every month.

Image credit: Graham Scheer

Travel light and let YHA Port Elliot sort out the rest. The property rents out SUPs, surfboards and bikes ($10 for a half day on the bikes). Reception also books Granite Island penguin walks, Kangaroo Island day trips, and Swim with the Tuna at Boston Bay. For historic train lovers, the Cockle Train runs from Port Elliot to Victor Harbour in around 10 minutes for $20 return, and is one of the most iconic short trips of the region. 

Getting there: Jump on the LinkSA bus (Route 1251) from Adelaide Central Bus Station on Franklin Street, with daily services running twice a day direct to Port Elliot and Victor Harbor. The journey takes just under two hours, and tickets cost around $6 to $9 each way.

Tip: Ride the Encounter Bikeway in the morning before the wind picks up off Goolwa, then swim at Horseshoe Bay after lunch. At the YHA, there’s a cosy games room and large outdoor deck to relax during the afternoons and evenings if you want a night in.

Stay: YHA Port Elliot

Katoomba, Blue Mountains (New South Wales)

Driving the Great Western Highway out of Sydney on a Friday afternoon can take up half your weekend. Take the train to the Blue Mountains instead. There’s no tolls or traffic, and in under two hours from Central Station, you’ll pay just $9.65 on Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays with an Opal or credit card. You’ll feel the crisp mountain air as soon as you step off the train in Katoomba. 

Wander south along the town’s main street and you’ll reach Echo Point and the Three Sisters, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site, with some of the best photo ops over the Jamison Valley. Scenic World's Cableway and Skyway (from $64) delivers incredible angles the lookouts can’t deliver.

For hikers, you don’t need a car to access many of the great walks across the region - use the bus instead. The Grand Canyon Track is a six-kilometre loop starting near Blackheath, winding past Gordon Falls in Leura and returning through Neates Glen. The Ruined Castle takes several hours and delivers views stretching to Wentworth Falls. High and Wild runs canyoning, abseiling and rock climbing experiences too. For added convenience, these depart from the doorstep of the YHA Blue Mountains, and YHA members get 10% off.

Back in town, Tempus and the Pomegranate cafe have great coffee and food, while Station Bar and the historic Carrington Hotel (which literally towers over Katoomba) have regular live music. A few minutes from Katoomba Station, YHA Blue Mountains offers a beautifully restored 1920s ballroom with a log fire crackling, ensuite rooms, and a huge kitchen for cooking up a storm after a long day of exploring. It’s the perfect, cosy base for your winter getaway.

Getting there: NSW TrainLink runs direct from Sydney's Central Station to Katoomba in under two hours. Trips are capped at $9.65 on Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays with an Opal or contactless credit card.

Tip: Stock up at the main street bakeries and supermarkets, pack a picnic from the guest kitchen, and you can enjoy a delicious lunch near some of the best lookouts in the country.

Stay: YHA Blue Mountains (Katoomba)

Fremantle (Western Australia)

One of Australia’s most rewarding winter weekends is only 30 minutes from Perth by train. Services to Fremantle Station run every 15 minutes and drop you near the Round House (WA's oldest public building). Everything in Fremantle is within walking distance, and the best way to explore the historic one-way streets and laneways is on foot.

Fremantle winters are around 18 to 20 degrees celsius, so portside strolls, markets and outdoor brewery tables are all on the cards. Winter is also when Freo comes alive with festivals and events. The Arrival Festival (May 27 to June 6) features music from local and international artists, while 10 Nights in Port (August 20 to 30) lights up the region with art installations, fire performances and live music across the city’s streets and parks. You don’t need to spend a fortune to enjoy either of these events.

The WA Maritime Museum, the Shipwreck Galleries and Bathers Beach are all within 15 minutes of each other, and the historic Fremantle Markets run Friday through to Sunday, where you’ll find jewellery, clothing, coffee, pastries and fresh produce all under the same heritage roof. Cicerello's at the Fishing Boat Harbour is the go-to for fish and chips, while Gage Roads Freo Brewery at Victoria Quay has the best waterfront tables. Claim your spot before sunset for a front row seat as the cargo ships sail by, with Rottnest Island on the horizon.

Sitting in the heart of the port precinct, YHA Fremantle Prison is the only accommodation in Western Australia with UNESCO World Heritage status. Book either a converted prison cell, or a modern family or private room for more space. After dark, the Torchlight and Tunnels Tours run below the main part of Fremantle Prison, which sits next door (there have been 44 executions here since 1888). YHA members save 15% on all three Prison experiences. 

Getting there: Take the Fremantle line from Perth Station with direct services every 15 minutes, and you'll be there in about 30 minutes, no parking required. Better yet, if you base yourself at YHA Fremantle Prison, you’ll be minutes from all the main attractions. 

Tip: Save on a Fremantle Prison tour by combining any two daytime tours for $34 (they’re normally $24 each). The evening Torchlight tours are $30 each, and you might also run into a ghost or two!

Stay: YHA Fremantle Prison

Newcastle (New South Wales)

The train takes about the same time as driving the M1 freeway from Sydney, and it drops you at the Newcastle Interchange, minutes from the beach and right in the centre of town. Winter here is quieter, and swimming in the salt water on a sunny morning is the perfect wake up call. Think of it as your natural ice bath with a view. 

The city is flat and coastal, with a thriving cafe, waterfront restaurant and nightlife scene that is worth exploring. Some of the best seats in town sit on the water. Rustica at Newcastle Beach has a Mediterranean menu with ocean views, while Scratchleys on the Wharf has fresh seafood and cargo ships passing by the windows. For a sundowner with rooftop views, head to QT Newcastle and you won’t be disappointed.

Stay at YHA Newcastle, with Newcastle Beach literally five minutes away. The Ocean Baths are 15 minutes on foot and it’s a 25-minute walk along the cliffs to reach the Bogey Hole, cut into the rock shelf below Shepherds Hill. At the YHA, surfboards, bodyboards, bikes and scooters can be hired for free if you’re a guest. On Tuesdays there's free wine and cheese, with free BBQs on Thursdays rounding out the weekly events calendar. Both are a great way to make new friends if you're travelling solo. At reception, you can also book skydiving, Hunter Valley wine tours and Port Stephens dolphin trips at YHA member rates.

Getting there: Catch an intercity train from Sydney's Central Station to Newcastle Interchange on any of the regular daily services, and you'll arrive in 2.5 to 3 hours.

Tip: An Opal fare from Sydney is $9.65 each way on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Buy groceries at the supermarket two blocks from the YHA, cook on site, and surf the free boards in the morning before breakfast.

Stay: YHA Newcastle Beach

Apollo Bay, Great Ocean Road (Victoria)

The Great Ocean Road looks incredible until you're the one driving down it, especially in winter when the weather turns. Instead, let the V/Line regional coach handle the same road for you. Three hours from Melbourne (train first, then swap to a coach at Geelong), means you’re watching the Otway Ranges from the window instead of focusing on the road. 

Apollo Bay is where the 91-kilometre Great Ocean Walk starts, heading west towards the Twelve Apostles. A 20-minute walk up to Mariners Lookout on the first morning gives you a feel for the area, with the Otways rising up alongside the coast.

Down at the harbour, fishing boats come in at dawn and the seals gather between the hulls. During winter, Apollo Bay Surf & Kayak runs sea kayaking trips (starting from $99) out to the breeding colony at Marengo Reef. Head inland and the Great Otway National Park has the Mait's Rest rainforest walk and the Hopetoun Falls, where you might spot a koala sleeping in the gum trees. 

For an affordable stay on the Great Ocean Road, YHA Apollo Bay Eco is an architecturally designed eco-retreat with solar power, and a wood fire heater that's perfect for winter. There’s two guest kitchens and an organic herb garden you're free to use. Between June and October, humpback whales pass on their northward migration, often visible from the rooftop deck.

Getting there: Take the train from Melbourne's Southern Cross Station to Geelong, then swap onto the V/Line coach direct to Apollo Bay. The whole trip takes about three hours, and seeing the Otways at the end is worth grabbing a window seat.

Tip: Use mornings to explore the Otways and the Great Ocean Walk. Return in the afternoon and cosy up by the fire with a good book or board game. Between the cost of the coach fare and a shared room, a weekend ends up being very affordable. Consider staying the night before at YHA Melbourne Central. It's five minutes from Southern Cross Station, right where the train departs, so there's no rushing in the morning. Plus every night you stay grows your future savings on the YHA Explorer app.

Stay: YHA Apollo Bay Eco

Coolangatta, Gold Coast (Queensland)

Beachfront parking on the Gold Coast costs around $20 a day in peak season, and the M1 out of Brisbane is busy most weekends. Skip that for the Greyhound coach or TransLink train from Brisbane, and you’ll arrive at Coolangatta in under two hours. Queensland public transport has a permanent 50-cent flat fare per journey, covering buses, trains (excluding Airtrain), ferries, and trams.

Coolangatta sits at the southern tip of the Gold Coast, just over the NSW border, and feels like a sleepy coastal town. Winter is warmer than southern parts of Australia (around 21 degrees celsius on average), with the beach facing north-east and the surf breaking from Snapper Rocks to Kirra Point. If you're still building confidence in the water, YHA members can book discounted surf lessons with Coolangatta Learn to Surf.

From the main beach you can walk north through Greenmount and Kirra, or cross south into Tweed Heads before lunch. Between June and October, Cooly Eco Adventures runs small-boat whale and snorkelling experiences out of the bay, with discounts for YHA members. The Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre at Burleigh Headland also runs guided walks sharing stories from people of the Bundjalung Country. 

Just across the road from Bilinga Beach, YHA Coolangatta sits close enough to hear the shorebreak from the balcony, with surfboards and bikes for hire through reception.

Getting there: Greyhound and Translink both run from Brisbane in under two hours (from $21), and the TransLink Surfside bus network connects directly from any Gold Coast train station. You can also take the Flixbus from Byron Bay for another way up. With the 50-cent flat fare, every connection within the TransLink network costs next to nothing once you arrive.

Tip: Keen to surf in a place where you still get sunshine most days? Surfboard hire at the front desk starts at $5 an hour or $15 for a half day. Just check the conditions are safe before you head into the water. 

Stay: YHA Coolangatta

Byron Bay (New South Wales)

Beat Byron’s infamous traffic jams and arrive by FlixBus or an airport shuttle. It will mean zero time lost finding parking and more time enjoying your winter getaway.

Staying at YHA Cape Byron or YHA Byron Bay puts you minutes from Main Beach, also close to the start of the 3.7km lighthouse loop, which climbs through the Cape Byron State Conservation Area, moving from subtropical rainforest at the base through to open clifftops as the headland rises. Once a week, both properties run a free guided walk to the lighthouse, also a great way to meet other travellers.  The Cape Byron Lighthouse marks the most easterly point of mainland Australia, and in winter, humpback whales pass below the headland on their northward migration, close enough that binoculars are optional. 

Hire a Trek bike from the YHA reception and explore Byron at your own pace. The Pass at the northern end of Main Beach has been surfed and photographed for decades, and the whole stretch from town to the lighthouse can be covered in a morning. During the afternoon, grab a table at one of the Jonson Street cafes, or head to the outdoor deck of the Beach Hotel to watch the sunset with a beer and wood-fired pizza.

Getting there: FlixBus runs direct from Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Shuttle services including Blanch's Bus and Byron Easy Bus connect from Ballina Byron Gateway Airport, with no car required.

Tip: A FlixBus fare from Brisbane runs around $20 to $35 depending on when you book, which is far cheaper than petrol. Once you arrive, bike hire from YHA is $15 for a half day or $26 for a full day, which covers every beach worth reaching.

Stay: YHA Cape Byron, YHA Byron Bay

Words: Troy Nankervis