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In '''the coastal and “high”-density areas of Australia''', from about [[Adelaide]] to [[Brisbane]]/[[Cairns]], hitching is much the same as anywhere else in Western culture if you're between [[Adelaide]] and [[Brisbane]]. Road lanes are wide with very often large emergency stopping lanes, so finding a good stop is not very difficult.In the outback[http://nomadwiki.org/en/Outback_(Australia) Outback], though, you may get more empty beer cans thrown at you than rides; some hitchhikers, however, wouldn't agree with that, stating that even hitchhiking through the desert can be pretty good, especially with the many trucks and 'road trains' that are usually going long distances. I looped the entire country in 2016 with just 1$ starting from Melbourne and including smaller towns passed Sydney ; Brisbane; Cairns; Darwin; Broome; Perth- a single ride from 254 km Perth side of Norseman (last town West before Nullambor) potentially to Sydney but I got dropped at the turn off for MelbourneBecause distances are so huge, people are used to driving several hundred kilometers and you will find drivers quite often offering to make huge detours to take you somewhere.

== The Outback Australia-Specific Advice==For some hitchhiking throughout the outback is easy. The people can be friendly, especially the aboriginal folks who would have six people already jammed in a little car and still squeeze you in.

:I managed from [[Broome]] through to Kununurra, Katherine up to [[Darwin]] Australia poses some interesting and down to Aliceunique challenges for hitchhikers. The only time I had to wait more than a half-hour was when I was dropped off on Distances between populated areas can be vast, by far the turn off to Batchelor, which while on majority of Australians live near the main highwaysea, is a real bad spot with nothing the majority of those living in the state capital cities. Temperatures can exceed 45 degrees Celsius in summer and no one for a long waygo well below freezing in winter. AnywayIn many ways Australia is an extreme environment, with some pretty extreme pests, give people and weather; when it a go. If you're in the tropicsrains, be careful where you swim (crocodiles) but don't worry too much about the other wildlife. Generally speakingit pours, if you leave when it aloneblows up a gale, it will leave you alonehowls. Definitely make sure But in saying this when Australia or Australians smile upon you carry enough water AT ALL TIMES (3 litres per person/per day would be a minimum). It is very easy to get dehydrated. If , the heavens open up from above and you can get decent waterfind yourself taken in, taken home, and for all the better, but don't bank on itpractical purposes adopted for life. Most bores are quite brackish tasting and roadhouse taps are heavily chlorinated -- here's to a good litre of fresh rainwater on a sunny 45 degree day! (Amory Tarr)

When going to As long as you remain on the outback go main axes or smaller tourist roads you don't have to truck stops worry more than in other countries and talk you can hitchhike as you usually do. Only remember to the truckies there (make sure the town '''carry more water than you think youneed're going '', temperatures and distances can greatly exceed your expectations. You might find it hard to HAS a truck stopstay at the road if the sun in hot and there is no shade.Also, or if you walk too far from towns as it may be leave you somewhere very isolated. A single walker in trouble: see Kununurra on the map!), a lot middle of truck companies (but not all) nowhere might have rules against drivers carrying passengers in their trucks but if you talk a better chance to the truckies at stops they get picked up because people are much more likely to ignore surprised or impressed. But make sure that rule. The only time truckies truly cannot give you have a lift is when they are operating under a dangerous goods license back up plan and then, by law they are not allowed enough water to have another passenger in the vehicle. Truckies will often take walk back if you long distances, don't get a lift especially if you are willing to stay awake, and help the driver pass the time through conversation. Routes such as [[Adelaide]] or [[Perth]] to [[Darwin]], [[Port Augusta]] to [[Perth]], [[Darwin]] to [[Townsville]], are frequented by trucks, but if you want to get off the main road, be prepared to wait awhiletraffic isn't reliable.

In the eastern states (QLD, NSW, VIC, SA) Another tip that makes a bit more sense than the west (WA & NT), recent changes to for [[insuranceEurope]] costs throughout the western world, have meant that trucks face stricter and stricter insurance limitations, one of which is that they are commonly not allowed to have any unlisted passengers in their vehicles. These rules are normally enforced by larger companiesfor example, where all riders sign in at the depot prior to the trucks' departure. If you personally know a driver it is often possible for them to sign you in and take you along to help keep them awake. These rules don't really apply to owner/operators, unless on long term contract to a particular company. Unfortunately it's hard for you to know which trucks it will or won't apply to, though you can be confident that the big name trucks like Australia Post, Woolworths etc this is absolutely the case. All of this does very careful about not mean you can't get a ride in a truckannoying your host. What it does mean is that our global fear You could be thrown out of strangers has gone up here as much as elsewhere, and the amount of trucks picking up 'strangers' is greatly diminished. I have had some great lifts with road trains, Australia Post trucks etc etc, though they seem less and less common. In fact my first go at driving a road train was on a hitch across vehicle by the Nullabor Desert, a truly mad but memorable experience of driving 50 tonnes of rolling monster across irate driver 200km from the midnight plainsnearest town. (Dave Hodgkin)

== Police The Outback==Laws regarding hitchhiking come under State, not Federal jurisdiction, I have been arrested and charged with hitchhiking in Queensland, though charges were later dropped (long story). Throughout Australia, it is however illegal to incite a vehicle to stop in a non stopping zone. Such zones include bridges (and 30 odd meters either side, road edges with an unbroken white or yellow line, spots within 30 meters of an intersection, etc. Compared to some countries, Australian police are fairly relaxed, more so in the country than the city, but they will get toey if they believe your actions are placing yourself or others in danger. Choose your hitching site carefully, as always look for somewhere well lit, with plenty of room for approaching vehicles to see you well in advance and room for them to pull on to the shoulder without blocking traffic. It should be noted that most freeways and motorways (as opposed to highways) often have limited (if any) street lights, have little, if any, shoulder on the side of the road.

Most police officers won't harass But the most unique aspect of hitching in Australia is the challenge of the Outback. There youcan say that you are off the beaten track, but which gives a great feeling of emptiness. However some cops basic survival rules have to be observed as you might get stuck for some reason.For some, hitchhiking throughout the outback is easy. The people can be friendly, especially the aboriginal folks who might tell you that it's illegal to hitchhike have six people already jammed in Australia. Don't show your thumb when you see a cop little car, and if they stop, just tell them that still squeeze you're waiting for a ride share that should have showed up a lot earlierin.

:''It is illegal but I've had police stop twice, once When going to tell me the outback go back to town truck stops and catch a bus (but left me alone besides telling talk to do that) and the second time “truckies” there. It is a good option as they are driving huge distances at once in places where not many cars pass by. Make sure the cop gave me town you're going to HAS a lift about 40 truck stop, or 50km you may be in trouble if you are dropped in the middle of the outback, which is similar to the border middle of Victoria/South Australianowhere.''

:''It's illegal ===What to hitch in no-pedestrian zones like freeways but other places it seems to vary state to state. I don't think it's against the law at all in most places and I've never had any trouble anywhere be careful with in the eastern states.''Outback===

:''Wait at petrol stations or truck stops for It is written in its own name! The outback is far from everything and "cities" can be very far from each other. What look to be a ride. This way you won't get into trouble with large town on the police, map can ask people for actually be a lift and you're close to water, food and village with a toiletdozen or fewer houses. Some service stations don't like hitchhikers hanging around, though parts of the outback are so be careful they don't call the police on remote that you.''do not want to get stuck out there hitchhiking!

:''[[User:Bernhard|Bernhard]] had a chat with a crime prevention officer from the Queensland police and the officer said the following: "The hitch hiking legislation in Queensland says that a Make absolutely sure you are carrying enough water AT ALL TIMES (3 liters per person can not stand on the roadway to solicit /per day would be a rideminimum). Meaning that if they stand on It is very easy to get dehydrated under the footpath or away from the roadway they are not comitting an offenceAustralian sun. One of If you can get decent water, all the main reasons we do stop people standing better, but don't bank on the road hitching a ride is for their own safety and the safety of the motorists drivingit. So some roads Most bores are very busy quite brackish tasting and its an offence roadhouse taps are heavily chlorinated -- here's to stand a good liter of fresh rainwater on the roadway and solicit a ride and it is sunny 45 degree day! Be aware that phone coverage has a 40 dollar fine if the policeman chooses to give you a infringement notice for that offencehigh chance of being nonexistent." He also said that it is possible to stand on (Telstra has the footpath and hitch a ride, when there is enough space for a car to pull overbest chance of working by far. Police may stop a hitchhiker ) Letting someone know where you are heading and ask for an ID, mostly how long till they should next expect to check on his records and WHY he is hitching a ride (is he running away hear from you can be a crime? Is he in trouble? Does he need help?)good idea. Police officers want to know who is going through their area, so if a hitchhiker is on the footpath and not soliciting a ride at a dangerous spot, they will question him about his story but then let him go.''

Exact legislation can If you're in the tropics, be found at Austlii;[http://wwwcareful where you swim (crocodiles and deadly jellyfish) but don't worry too much about the other wildlife.austliiAustralia has dangerous wildlife in terms of spiders and snakes so keep it in mind but generally speaking, if you leave it alone, it will leave you alone.edu.au/cgi-bin/sinodisp/au/legis/wa/consol_reg/rtc2000113/s259.html?query=hitch%20hike WA][http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/disp.pl/au/legis/nsw/consol_reg/rr2008104/s236.html?query=Road%20Rules%202008%20REG%20236 NSW]Very very few people die each year so don't stress too much either!

== Australia Particular Advice =Personal experience===Australia poses some interesting and unique challenges for hitchhikers. Distances between populated areas can be vast, by far the majority of Australians live near the sea, with the majority of those living in the state capital cities. Temperatures can exceed 45 degrees Celsius in summer and go well below freezing in winter. In many ways Australia is an extreme environment, with some pretty extreme pests, people and weather, when it rains it pours, when it blows up a gale, it howls. But in saying this when Australia or Australians smile upon you, the heavens open up from above and you can find yourself taken in, taken home, and for all practical purposes adopted for life.

:''I have been stuck for managed from Broome through to Kununurra, Katherine up to 3 days in a number of places in Australia, (notably Coober Pedy Darwin and Ningin) whilst on the other hand down to Alice. The only time I've been given the keys had to the family holiday home and told to make myself at home wait more than a half-hour was when I get there (In Manjimup was dropped off on the way from Perth turn off to Albany)Batchelor, which while on the main highway, or taken home is a real bad spot with nothing and no one for a week, nurtured and spoiled rottenlong way. Whatever the circumstance you find yourself inAnyway, more than in other countries be preparedgive it a go.:-Let someone know where you are heading and how long till they should next expect to hear from you:-Carry more water than you think you need:-Walking out of town, to look like you're motivated, may leave you somewhere very isolated:-Be very careful about not annoying your host, I've been thrown out of a truck by an irate driver, off his head on NoDoz, for some quite harmless comment, 200k from the nearest town...(Amory Tarr)

== When you're really stuck for a place to stay... ==You know you're off the tourist track when you get to a town without a backpackers. Most small towns I have a town pub that offers pretty cheap accommodation and many have a free campground on the edge of town or a picnic spot beside a river* Schoolyardshad some great lifts with road trains, normally there is somewhere discrete under cover, in most small towns there is green grass, and even toilets and drinking waterAustralia Post trucks etc etc, just set your alarm early though they seem less and get out before 7:30ish when cleaning staff etc may start to arriveless common. (The primary school In fact my first go at driving a road train was on a hitch across the edge of Mt Isa has rescued me on more than one occasion.)* Non Returned soldiers areas at Cemeteries, clearly not for the superstitiousNullabor Desert, a truly mad but these sites tend to have nice soft green grass, and often have free public toilets and fresh drinking water. The cemetery at the end memorable experience of thee railway line in Hexham on your way north out driving 50 tonnes of Sydney is a classic, if headed north through from Canberra or Melbourne, you can jump the train in Campbelltown or Parramatta, ride it through to Central Station, change to the Newcastle line, then switch to rolling monster across the Hexham line, and get off at the unnamed station for free, right next to the best cemetery I have ever slept in, right next to The Prince's Highwaymidnight plains.* Many remote areas have shade structures as bus shelters, these can provide quite a comfortable night's sleep, as can late night train stations (spent my time on the floor of the girls' toilet at Nyngan railway station) Church Foyers (3 nights in the foyer of the underground church in Coober PedyDave Hodgkin).* Showgrounds on the edge of towns often have toilets, water and a place undercover.

== When you're really stuck for a ride Hitchhiking with “truckies”==Jumping railway cars is also still possible in Australia, (although you did not hear it from me).* The three day journey from Mt Isa to the coast on the coal trains (pick up a Beanbag, a tarp and a shade cloth from the Op-shop in town, few things beat making love on a pile of coal at 20km/h under the desert stars :)* The cargo train across the Nullarbor, a trip of a lifetime, my mate Alex did it, certainly one of those life-changing adventures.

''HoweverQuite a few truck drivers give a first impression of being a bear, don't be stupid and jump off when the trains but are moving too quicklyusually gentlemen in their own way. I have had the terrible experience As roads are quite wide, it is not rare that they manage to stop for you! With a truck of seeing course not going as fast as a teenager jump off a train which came from Brisbane to car, you can easily make more than 500 or 1000km at once given the Sunshine Coast in Queensland and that did not end up well. That boy lost his life simply to save distances between the cost of a short trip. What a wastecities.

A lot of truck companies (but not all) have rules against drivers carrying passengers in their trucks. If you do jump onto rail services just make sure talk to the truckies at stops they are much more likely to ignore that rule. The only time truckies truly cannot give you a lift is when they are operating under a dangerous goods license and then, by law they are not allowed to have another passenger in the vehicle. Truckies will often take you long distances, especially if you are willing to stay awake, and help the driver pass the time through conversation. Routes such as [[Adelaide]]/[[Perth]] to [[Darwin]], [[Port Augusta]] to Perth, Darwin to [[Townsville]], are frequented by trucks, but if you use some common sensewant to get off the main road, be prepared to wait awhile.''

== When In the eastern states (QLD, NSW, VIC, SA) more than the west (WA & NT), recent changes to insurance costs throughout the western world, have meant that trucks face stricter and stricter insurance limitations, one of which is that they are commonly not allowed to have any unlisted passengers in their vehicles. These rules are normally enforced by larger companies, where all riders sign in at the depot prior to the trucks' departure. If you personally know a driver it is often possible for them to sign you in and take you along to help keep them awake. These rules don't really stuck apply to owner/operators, unless on long term contract to a particular company. Unfortunately it's hard for foodyou to know which trucks it will or won't apply to, though you can be confident that with trucks for the big name companies like Australia Post, Woolworths etc this is absolutely the case. All of this does not mean you can't get a ride in a truck. What it does mean is that our global fear of strangers has gone up here as much as elsewhere, and the amount of trucks picking up 'strangers' is greatly diminished.I found the most likely truckies to pick up hitchhikers to be the less conservative Aussies and truckies who owned their own company..and of course the "crazy" ones- but they're more fun anyway, right..? I can't count the times I was told "I'd love to take you BUT"... ==In my own experiences it's much more likely NOT to be a trucky that takes you the longest distances

== When really stuck Searching in the Australian law database, Hitchwiki contributors have been able to find two distinct law texts. The first one features in the Australian Road Rules and has come up in searches for water ==Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales and Northern Territory, the second one concerns Western Australia only. In theory, the laws say that in most places you're not allowed to hitchhike from a shoulder, in practice however police rarely cares.

Never ever decide to take a shortcut across a paddock or field, stick with All the roadfollowing has been taken from [http://www. If bitten by a snake or even if you trip over and sprain an ankle in the middle of a field, there is no guarantee that you will be found by anybody before you have dried out and desiccated like a deadaustlii.edu.au/cgi-dingo's-donger!bin/sinodisp/au/legis/cth/consol_reg/ntctlarrr2006947/sch1.html?stem=0&synonyms=0&query=hitchhike this website].

Yes, "Bear Grylls"-wannabe, you can drink your own piss 236 Pedestrians not to stay alive - no it's cause a traffic hazard or obstruction:(4) A pedestrian must not pleasantstand on, not very effective and I don't recommend it. If you are stuck on one of Australia's mad dirt "highways" like the Tanami or the Gunbarrelmove onto, a road--::(b) to hitchhike [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_still Solar Still.] is your best bet:(7) In this rule: road includes any shoulder of the road, and any median strip, painted island or traffic island, but does not include any other road-related area.

Other than that, you can get away with drinking just about any water if you can boil it for The definition of "road-related area" here is<br> 13 What is a good 10road-15 mins. This includes roadside puddles, brown sludge from underground, radiator liquid. As an old Aboriginal friend related area<br>:(1) A road-related area is any of mine once said, when looking for water in the outback, simply head down hill following::(a) an area that divides a road;::(b) a footpath or nature strip adjacent to a road;::(c) an area that is not a road and when you get that is open to the lowest point dig public and designated for use by cyclists or animals;::(d) an area that is not a hole... this works really well if there are any large hills road and that is open to or rock outcrops around, but used by the public for medriving, is a tad harder when the whole landscape appears flat and I'm bloody thirsty...riding or parking vehicles.

Australia has water legislation The definiton of "shoulder" here is:12 What is a road :(3) The shoulder of the road includes any part of the road that makes it mandatory is not designed to share water if you have itbe used by motor vehicles in travelling along the road, makes it legal to enter private property to access and includes:::(a) for a kerbed road -- any permanent river or water source. part of the kerb; and::(So long as you obey b) for a sealed road -- any unsealed part of the usual rules road, and any sealed part of land - if you use a gate, leave it open/closed as you found it, don't mess with livestock/equipment/etc.)the road outside an edge line on the road

All in all, '''As a conclusion:''' It is very clearly regulated where you will probably never need the above tips, but if can stand as a hitchhiker and where youcannot. You can're not t stand on the edge of your comfort zonea shoulder, but you're not trying - for me being stuck in the middle can stand on most other kinds of nowhere and learning surface next to chill and enjoy, is the true Zen of Hitchhikingroad.

Some of my most amazing experiences have included a cold winter night wrapped in cardboard in an abandoned wheat silo sharing a humpy with aboriginals in a town camp on the edge of Tennant Creek, waking up only === Particular to bashing my head on the underside of a Dodge van I had crawled under to avoid the rain, only to be offered a cuppa tea by the occupants digging my car out of a salt lake when we took a wrong turn with two English backpackers as rain clouds loomed... This to me is the real Western Australia (Dave Hodgkin)===

== Personal experiences ==:''I have hitched the entire coastline of Australia, 259. Selling papers and although there are sometimes long waits between ridescars, I have met some of the most generous and welcoming peoplehitch&#8209;hiking etc. Make sure you get to the edge of the towns:(1) A person shall not, just where the highways start while on a carriageway or turn from median strip::(a 70 into a 100 km/h zone) solicit contributions, employment or similara ride from an occupant of a vehicle [.'' (author unknown)..]

The carriageway is here defined as following: "carriageway" means a portion of a road that is improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular traffic, and includes the shoulders, and areas, including embayments, at the side or centre of the carriageway, used for the stopping or parking of vehicles [...] In conclusion: in WA, it's illegal to stand on the shoulder of the highway; however you may hitchhike from a footpath or off the shoulder. A law enforcement officer might not be aware of this, though. The source is to be found in [http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/sinodisp/au/legis/wa/consol_reg/rtc2000113/s259.html?query=hitch%20hike this website]. === Practical Situation === In practice, Australian police are fairly relaxed about hitchhikers. Zenit has hitchhiked some 13000km in all states except WA and Tasmania and has never been bothered; he has heard stories about police in WA being more touchy, however. Keep in mind that it is also illegal to incite a vehicle to stop in a non stopping zone. Such zones include bridges and 30 odd meters either side, road edges with an unbroken white or yellow line, spots within 30 meters of an intersection, etc. In any event choose your hitching site carefully so not to place yourself or others in danger; as always look for somewhere well lit, with plenty of room for approaching vehicles to see you well in advance and room for them to pull on to the shoulder without blocking traffic. It should be noted that most freeways and motorways (as opposed to highways) have limited-access rules barring pedestrians or bicycles from entering them.  === Feedbacks === ''It is illegal but I've had police stop twice, once to tell me go back to town and catch a bus (but left me alone besides telling to do that) and the second time the cop gave me a lift about 40 or 50km to the border of Victoria/South Australia.'' ''It's illegal to hitch in no-pedestrian zones like freeways but other places it seems to vary state to state. I don't think it's against the law at all in most places and I've never had any trouble anywhere in the eastern states.'' ''Wait at petrol stations or truck stops for a ride. This way you won't get into trouble with the police, can ask people for a lift and you're close to water, food and a toilet. Some service stations don't like hitchhikers hanging around, though so be careful they don't call the police on you.'' ''[[User:Bernhard|Bernhard]] had a chat with a crime prevention officer from the Queensland police and the officer said the following: "The hitch hiking legislation in Queensland says that a person can not stand on the roadway to solicit a ride. Meaning that if they stand on the footpath or away from the roadway they are not comitting an offence. One of the main reasons we do stop people standing on the road hitching a ride is for their own safety and the safety of the motorists driving. So some roads are very busy and its an offence to stand on the roadway and solicit a ride and it is a 40 dollar fine if the policeman chooses to give you a infringement notice for that offence." He also said that it is possible to stand on the footpath and hitch a ride, when there is enough space for a car to pull over. Police may stop a hitchhiker and ask for an ID, mostly to check on his records and WHY he is hitching a ride (is he running away from a crime? Is he in trouble? Does he need help?). Police officers want to know who is going through their area, so if a hitchhiker is on the footpath and not soliciting a ride at a dangerous spot, they will question him about his story but then let him go.'' ==When you are really stuck...=====For a ride===[[Train hopping]] is also still possible in Australia although this is an option to consider with extreme care.The three day journey from Mt Isa to the coast on the coal trains (pick up a Beanbag, a tarp and a shade cloth from the Op-shop in town, few things beat spending the night on a pile of coal at 20km/h under the desert stars :)The cargo train across the Nullarbor, a trip of a lifetime, certainly one of those life-changing adventures. However, don't be stupid and jump off when the trains are moving too quickly. One hitchhiker had the terrible experience of seeing a teenager jump off a train which came from Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast in Queensland and that did not end up well. That boy lost his life simply to save the cost of a short trip. What a waste. If you do jump onto rail services just make sure you use some common sense. ===For water===First, make sure you have enough water (3 liters/day/person). Remember that you can survive more than a month without food but that you will die without water in a few days. But if you get really stuck for water, you can still survive ;)First stop moving to keep your energy and relax as much as you can. Find a spot with shadow next to the road and as soon as you hear a car coming from either direction stand up and show you are here. Destination doesn't matter, you just need to reach the first town. You can even have a “help” sign and look as innocent/unarmed/helpless/etc as you can, but mostly cars will stop or at least slow down. Find more information on Nomadwiki on how to [http://nomadwiki.org/en/Outback_(Australia)#How_to_survive_in_the_Outback.3F find water] and to [http://nomadwiki.org/en/Purifying_water clean it]!===For a place to stay or for food===See [http://nomadwiki.org/en/Australia Nomadwiki] as it is more relevant for this website.== Personal experience ==''I have hitched the entire coastline of Australia, and although there are sometimes long waits between rides, I have met some of the most generous and welcoming people. Make sure you get to the edge of the towns, just where the highways start or turn from a 70 into a 100 km/h zone, or similar.'' - Author unknown  ''I hitched around 4,000km in the states of NSW, Victoria and South Australia. There are plenty of long lay-by stop areas along most highways (including Pacific Highway) where cars can easily and safely pull off the highway to pick you up. I found any highway (especially Pacific Highway) with a decent amount of traffic is very reliable with average waiting time of 15-20 minutes and never any longer than 30-40 minutes. In more rural areas and backroads I often encountered as little as 10 cars per hour and sometimes only 1-2 per hour, but people living in rural areas are much more likely to pick you up as they know they may be the only car for a while. The Australians are very welcoming and hospitable, on many occasions the driver would offer a place to stay for the night with a meal or insist on giving me 20 dollars for food. When hitching in cities, pedestrians have sometimes come to me and again insist upon giving me money for a train ticket further down the road. I felt very at home hitching here, the generosity of the people being overwhelming." ('' - Jools 2011  ''I have been stuck for up to 3 days in a number of places in Australia (notably Coober Pedy and Ningin), whilst on the other hand I've been given the keys to the family holiday home and told to make myself at home when I get there (In Manjimup on the way from Perth to Albany), or taken home for a week, nurtured and spoiled rotten. Whatever the circumstance you find yourself in, more than in other countries, be prepared.'' - Author unknown  ''I hitched from Perth to Uluru via the Great Eastern & Central Highways, then north and east via Stuart, Barkly, and Landbrough Highways to Brisbane. Journey took 10 days and 16 rides. Be ready to go by sunrise, as most traffic in the outback is in the mornings, and rarely any traffic in the afternoon. Daylight is your friend for getting rides. Hitch from the edge of towns, as inside towns you won't get rides. Truckies will only give you rides if you befriend them, they will never stop. Nomads (people with caravans) will never ever give a hitchhiker a ride due to their prejudices, so be fun with them to boost your morale. Times for rides were 2 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 2 hours, 3 hours, 3 days, 1 hour, night+morning, 1 hour, night+morning, 1 hour, 1 hour, night+morning, night+morning, night+morning.'' - [[User:Balupton|Balupton]] ([[User talk:Balupton|talk]]) 4 June 2015 (CEST)  ''I hitchhiked up and down the Stuart Highway and Kakadu National Park and bits and pieces of New South Wales, Tasmania and almost regularly on the remote Tanami Highway. Generally I found it easier to get lifts in remote areas. Especially in the outback and close to Aboriginal settlements. There might be two or three cars per hour on some roads. But chances that they pick you up are very high. There is a great sense of caring. Some Australians are truly paranoid about hitchhikers due to some events in the past. Tradies (craftsmen)are friendly quite often while tourists are certainly less likely to pick you up and Australia is a very individualistic country. Kakadu National Park was hard in the beginning but turned out allright. I just don't like it when there are too many tourists vans driving by. At stages I picked up 10 litres of water and just walked along the road. It seemed to have quite an effect on some people who gave me a lift to find me standing next to the road far away from anything else. In Kakadu you are supposed to stick to campsites for camping though. All in all it is not a walker/hitchhiker friendly national park. All in all Australia is a great country for hitchhiking because a lot of people are open and like to talk. You hear great stories on your way and can learn a lot. Hitchhiking can be truly adventurous here.''- Japanangka 14.09.16 I hitchhiked around the entire country with $1 in 2016 starting and ending in Melbourne passing every major city and lots of small towns in between during wet season which took about 7 weeks, including a day of not a single offer of a ride up in a tiny town Northern Territory (after 12 hours and sunburn on my hitchhiking arm a local I'd chatted to while getting a flat white and a pie at 6 a.m passed me at 6 p.m and took me home fed me watered me gave me internet, laundry and a lift to the same spot next morning where after 30 minutes I got a ride) and a week of being invited into a local's home. Hitchhiking is my lifestyle, and in Australia especially it is respected as such, even though now, in 2023 most drivers I meet tell me they hardly see any hitchhikers anymore Hitchhikernick - I have visited nearly every nook and cranny of Australia over the course of several visits; in 2015-16 WHV, 2019 June-Aug and 2023 July-Sept. Pick up times have varied from seconds to 3 days. The longest wait was in Kununurra heading towards Catherine where I waited 3 days with my skis and had to follow the shade of the speed sign at edge of town in 35 centigrade heat, thankfully there were hospitable locals who helped me out until i finally got a lift. I managed to reach Cape York and climb Uluru (Ayres Rock), with my skis, in my 2019 visit 😁 I saw stunning places that I never envisaged in Australia. I never had issues with cops anywhere except for Queensland where they do actually enforce the law against hitching, so you gotta be careful and discreet in that territory. Not had much luck with roadtrains, mostly just private cars. Never get on back of vehicle if going through desert unless you want a serious red dusting like I experienced when coming back to Halls Creek from Wolfe Creek crater. Easy peasy to camp, just make sure you have a tent to stop the creepy crawlies and snakes getting you. Surprisingly the kangaroos never jumped on or kicked/boxed my tent whilst I was camping.

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