Expanding Your Travel Horizons: Check Out The Public Transport System

One of the messages I wanted to provide in Sustainable Australian Travel For Dummies was that sustainable travel is not just about going for bushwalks and hugging trees. Well, it can be, but the term sustainable travel covers all types of travel activities that minimise the impact on the planet while enhancing your understanding and respect for the local environment, history and culture of the place you’re visiting. That is why when visiting urban areas, the public transport modes of trains, trams, buses and taxis, as well as cycling and walking, are the best ways to travel. These modes not only minimise your holiday carbon footprint but also provide you with a great opportunity to view the locals in their natural habitat!

When you visit the world's biggest and best cities you'll realise that most of them have very good public transport systems that get tourists to most of the main attractions a city has to offer. Australia is no different. The advantage of relying on Australia's urban public transport system is that you can visit interesting areas that are outside walking distance of the main city centre area and off the beaten tourist track. In fact, catching a train or a bus for the day can be an attraction in its own right.

It appears some people shy away from using public transport when they travel because it all seems a tad too confusing. It needn’t be if you arm yourself with the right information. All the public transport providers across Australia explain how to use their system much more effectively than they used to. You can get all manner of maps and timetable, route and ticket information either on their web sites or to take away from their main transport stations. This info also includes how to escape the cities and visit the regions, which is possible in most states by rail and where the rail does not go, buses will get you close to where you want to go.

Here is a run-down of some of Australia's best public transport networks:

* Brisbane has a transport network that includes trains throughout the metropolitan area and connecting down to the Gold Coast and up to the Sunshine Coast. In the Brisbane metro area, the rail network is supported by new bus-only roadways and an extensive network of cycle paths between Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

* Melbourne runs Australia’s last remaining tram network and one of the most extensive tram systems in the world. Combined with a far reaching suburban rail and bus system, Melbourne is a great public transport city to visit.

* Perth has Australia’s most improved train system, with new lines and stations being been built in recent years and still being expanded. Combined with an extensive bus network, Perth is fast becoming a public transport city of some standing.

* Sydney has one of the world’s largest rail networks, serving key regions of the sprawling metropolitan area. And there’s nothing better than catching a Sydney Harbour ferry for unmatched views across the glorious Harbour.

And here are some useful links to most of Australia's urban public transport providers:

* Sydney's CityRail -  http://www.cityrail.nsw.gov.au/
* Sydney Buses - http://www.sydneybuses.nsw.gov.au/
* Sydney and NSW Transport Info - http://www.131500.com.au/
* Melbourne and Victoria Trains, Trams and Buses - http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/ 
* Melbourne and Victoria Transport Info - http://www.viclink.com.au/
* Brisbane, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast Transport Info - http://www.transinfo.qld.gov.au/
* Perth's Transperth - http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/
* Perth and WA TransWA - http://www.transwa.wa.gov.au/
* Adelaide's Metro - http://www.adelaidemetro.com.au/
* Tasmania's Metro - http://www.metrotas.com.au/
* Darwin and Alice Springs bus services - www.nt.gov.au/transport/public/bus/index.shtml