Cross the Australian Outback by Train

For those who wish to travel leisurely by train from Sydney to Perth, the Indian Pacific may be the choice for you. It's one of the long-distance trans-continental trains which include the Ghan on the Adelaide-Darwin line, the Overland between Melbourne and Adelaide, and the Southern Spirit between Adelaide or Melbourne and Brisbane. In Queensland, there's also the Sunlander traveling north from Brisbane and on to Cairns.

With petrol price increases seemingly unstoppable, train travel — particularly for long distances — is definitely a favored option.

But if you want to drive, and have the opportunity to stop wherever you want, you can certainly go by road all around Australia on Highway 1.

• Australia by Train
• Australia by Road on Highway 1

Photo: The Indian Pacific crossing the Nullarbor Plain, courtesy Great Southern Railway