East Side, West Side, All Around Australia

Oz Experience, a bus company that provides hostel-to-hostel service on routes throughout Australia, has created new air/bus packages for overseas visitors.

In addition to stops at popular activities and door-to-door coach service, travelers have the freedom to make any stops they want in their journey. Each ticket is for a specific route, and you are allowed up to six months to complete your journey--just book your next leg of transportation by telephone 48 hours in advance.

The new packages can be purchased in Australia. Travelers must hold a valid international transportation ticket, detailing arrival and departure, and a passport.

Sydney is the gateway that most North Americans use. Here are some of the new Oz Experience air/bus opportunities for travelers starting in Sydney.

The Cobber Rama package is designed for exploring Australia’s east coast. It includes a flight from Sydney north to Cairns and a bus pass that will allow you to take up to six months to travel down the coast back to Sydney. The total cost is $408.

The Ute package from Sydney is designed for exploring the outback. Because several segments are packaged together, travelers have up to 12 months to complete the trip. The package includes air transportation to Alice Springs plus a two-day bus trip to Ayers Rock, Kings Canyon and the Olgas, a three-day overland bus trip from Alice Springs to Adelaide, plus transportation from Adelaide to Melbourne and from Melbourne to Sydney. The total cost is $640.

The Wombat route offers travel to both the center of the country and along the east coast. It includes a flight from Sydney to Alice Springs; a two-day Ayers Rock, Kings Canyon and Olgas trip; a three-day Alice Springs to Cairns overland trip; and a ticket for travel by bus from Cairns to Sydney. The total cost would be $691. Oz Experience bus packages are also available from Adelaide, Melbourne, Darwin, Perth and Cairns. For more details, contact Oz Experience at 3 Orwell St., Kings Cross, Sydney NSW, 2011; telephone 011-61-2-368-1766, fax 011-61-2-368-0908, or check with travel agents that specialize in Australia, student and youth travel.

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The 1996-’97 edition of Jim de Cordova’s “Jim’s Backpacker’s Bible,” a listing of more than 1,000 places where you can stay for $20 or less per person, per night, is now available.

This is the fifth edition of the guide geared to students, backpackers and international travelers. It includes low-cost lodging in hostels, hotels, motels, inns and KOA campgrounds, and lodgings that are members of Willing Workers on Organic Farms. WWOOF locations are dedicated to organic farming and environmentally conscious activities and depend on volunteer helpers.

“Jim’s Backpacker’s Bible” can be ordered for $7 (including postage and handling) from P.O. Box 5650, Santa Monica, CA 90409.