Vast. That’s the best word to describe Australia. Make no mistake, the distances to cover if you’re going to see even a fraction of the best of this country are enormous. Don’t think you’ll be able to travel easily and quickly between the major sights — because you simply won’t. For example, Uluru (Ayers Rock) is more than 2,800km (1,760 miles) northwest of Sydney, and the Great Barrier Reef is a similar distance northeast of Sydney — that’s roughly the distance from New York City to Denver, Colorado. Possibly the biggest mistake visitors make is underestimating how long it takes to get around. Flying is the best way to travel between most points. If you have the time or the inclination, you can travel by train, bus, or car, but the landscape is often unchanging. A good compromise is to fly when the distances between your chosen destinations are long and use land travel for shorter hops.
