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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. Because 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 ==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.=== Personal Experience experience===''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.''* 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...

== When you're really stuck for a place to stay... ==You know you're off the tourist track when you get I managed from Broome through to a town without a backpackers. Most small towns 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* SchoolyardsKununurra, normally there is somewhere discrete under cover, in most small towns there is green grass, and even toilets and drinking water, just set your alarm early Katherine up to Darwin and get out before 7:30ish when cleaning staff etc may start down to arriveAlice. (The primary school on the edge of Mt Isa has rescued me on only time I had to wait more than one occasion.)* Non Returned soldiers areas at Cemeteries, clearly not for a half-hour was when I was dropped off on the superstitious, but these sites tend turn off to have nice soft green grassBatchelor, and often have free public toilets and fresh drinking water. The cemetery at which while on the end of thee railway line in Hexham on your way north out of Sydney main highway, 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 the Hexham line, real bad spot with nothing and get off at the unnamed station no one for free, right next to the best cemetery I have ever slept in, right next to The Prince's Highwaya long way.* Many remote areas have shade structures as bus sheltersAnyway, these can provide quite give it a comfortable nightgo.'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 PedyAmory Tarr).* Showgrounds on the edge of towns often have toilets, water and a place undercover.

== When you're really stuck for a ride ==Jumping railway cars is also still possible in 'I have had some great lifts with road trains, AustraliaPost trucks etc etc, (although you did not hear it from me)though they seem less and less common.* The three day journey from Mt Isa to the coast on the coal trains (pick up In fact my first go at driving a Beanbag, a tarp and a shade cloth from the Op-shop in town, few things beat making love road train was on a pile of coal at 20km/h under the desert stars :)* The cargo train hitch across the NullarborNullabor Desert, a trip truly mad but memorable experience of a lifetime, my mate Alex did it, certainly one driving 50 tonnes of those life-changing adventuresrolling monster across the midnight plains.'' (Dave Hodgkin)

If Quite a few truck drivers give a first impression of being a bear, but are usually gentlemen in their own way. As roads are quite wide, it is not rare that they manage to stop for you do jump onto rail services just ! With a truck of course not going as fast as a car, you can easily make sure you use some common sensemore than 500 or 1000km at once given the distances between the cities.''

== When really stuck for foodA lot of truck companies (but not all) have rules against drivers carrying passengers in their trucks.If you 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 want to get off the main road, be prepared to wait awhile. ==

* I have been helped out when stuck in a small townIn the eastern states (QLD, NSW, VIC, by SA) more than the Country Women's Association west ("The C.W.A."WA & NT)- best scones of my life, nothing beats hunger recent changes to increase insurance costs throughout the flavour of jam and cream.* I've eaten my share of roadside fruits from passing orchardswestern world, and cooked my share of roadkill, the smell quickly gives away the freshness or lack thereof. The best introduction you'll ever have to roadkill delights is a fresh kangaroo tail. Make sure the tail is still flexible meant that trucks face stricter and the smell is only of dirty furstricter insurance limitations, not the smell one of old meat, Kangaroos which is that they are hit by trucks every day, so this is commonly not as uncommon as it soundsallowed to have any unlisted passengers in their vehicles. Hack off the tail as close the rump as possibleThese rules are normally enforced by larger companies, do this by cutting where all riders sign in at the way around depot prior to the tail, through the fur, then levering and breaking the tail between two vertebrae, not as hard or messy as it soundstrucks' departure. I recommend dragging the 'roo off behind some bushes before If you start this process as mad hitchhikers wielding knives under the full moon, does not do much for our reputation.<br/>To cook the tail, first build personally know a large fire over some clean ground, preferably riverside sand, though well above the water table, when the fire is at full blaze, singe all the fur off the tail, scraping driver it clean with the back of a knife or a sharp rock, repeat this a few times as it takes a while to sear off all the fur, being careful not to over cook or burst the skin as this is the wrapping material often possible for cooking. Let your fire burn down till it has strong hot coals and the ground below has started them to really heat up (30-40mins depending how much of a fire sign you made) scrape the fire off to one side and dig a hole in the sand where the fire was. Using a stick, bury the tail about 15-20cm below the surface (check, but this area should already be nice and hot by now) and return the fire take you along to abovehelp keep them awake. Re-stoke the fire and cook for a further 40mins till the fire dies down. letting the fire die down slowly will allow the tail These rules don't really apply to really cook through nicely. Scrap the fire out of the way and dig up the tail. You will know when it is doneowner/operators, if the fat is sizzling and the skin is starting unless on long term contract to split in places, if still not done, roll over and cook for a further 20-30 minsparticular company. The amount of fat and gristle in the tail ensures that this is one of the few parts of the 'roo that Unfortunately it's hard for you to actually over cook.- Snake is also a great introduction know which trucks it will or won't apply to roadkill, choose a fresh wet-smelling snake, chop off though you can be confident that with trucks for the head and squashed bitsbig name companies like Australia Post, cut open along the belly and de-gut, sew Woolworths etc this is absolutely the stomach back together with thin twigs and cook as per instructions for 'roo tail abovecase. Be sure that the snake is completely dead before approaching - thereAll of this does not mean you can's t get a reason Australians have the expression "Like ride in a cut snake"truck. The head of snakes can also display reflexes after being severed from the body - enough What it does mean is that you could still be bitten and have problems.Nothing beats the total delight our global fear of fresh billy tea boiled in a discarded coke canstrangers has gone up here as much as elsewhere, fresh damper and road kill under a full moon beside the road..amount of trucks picking up 'strangers' is greatly diminished.

== When really stuck for water Police & Law ==

If really stuck Searching in the middle of nowhereAustralian law database, and yes it does happen and has happened to me! Remember Hitchwiki contributors have been able to go into casual energy conservation mode, wander down the road till you find a nice shady spot not too far from two distinct law texts. The first one features in the road's edge Australian Road Rules and chill out, get has come up when you can hear a car approaching from either directionin searches for Victoria, and stand beside the roadQueensland, looking clean, presentable, forlorn New South Wales and lost... a "help" sign helpsNorthern Territory, but even without, many people will slow down - look very innocent/unarmed/helpless/etcthe second one concerns Western Australia only.In theory, remember the primary aim at this point is to get out of wherever laws say that in most places you are, which direction simply does 're not matter, just get allowed to the nearest town. You can live for hitchhike from a month without foodshoulder, but you will die without water in a few dayspractice however police rarely cares.

Yes, "Bear Grylls"-wannabe, you can drink your own piss to stay alive - no it's not pleasant, not very effective and I don't recommend it. If you are stuck on one of Australia's mad dirt "highways" like All the Tanami or the Gunbarrel, a following has been taken from [http://enwww.wikipediaaustlii.orgedu.au/wikicgi-bin/Solar_still Solar Stillsinodisp/au/legis/cth/consol_reg/ntctlarrr2006947/sch1.html?stem=0&synonyms=0&query=hitchhike this website] is your best bet.

Other than that236 Pedestrians not to cause a traffic hazard or obstruction:(4) A pedestrian must not stand on, or move onto, you can get away with drinking just about any water if you can boil it for a good 10road--15 mins::(b) to hitchhike [. This ..]:(7) In this rule: road includes roadside puddles, brown sludge from underground, radiator liquid. As an old Aboriginal friend any shoulder of mine once said, when looking for water in the outbackroad, simply head down hill and when you get to the lowest point dig a hole... this works really well if there are any large hills median strip, painted island or rock outcrops aroundtraffic island, but for me, is a tad harder when the whole landscape appears flat and I'm bloody thirsty...does not include any other road-related area.

Australia has water legislation The definition of "road-related area" here is<br> 13 What is a road-related area<br>:(1) A road-related area is any of the following::(a) an area that makes it mandatory divides a road;::(b) a footpath or nature strip adjacent to share water if you have it, makes it legal a road;::(c) an area that is not a road and that is open to enter private property to access any permanent river the public and designated for use by cyclists or water source. animals;::(So long as you obey the usual rules of land - if you use d) an area that is not a gate, leave it road and that is open/closed as you found itto or used by the public for driving, don't mess with livestock/equipment/etcriding or parking vehicles.)

All in all, you will probably never need The definiton of "shoulder" here is:12 What is a road :(3) The shoulder of the road includes any part of the above tips, but if you're road that is not on designed to be used by motor vehicles in travelling along the edge of your comfort zoneroad, you're not trying and includes:::(a) for a kerbed road -- any part of the kerb; and::(b) for me being stuck in a sealed road -- any unsealed part of the middle road, and any sealed part of nowhere and learning to chill and enjoy, is the true Zen of Hitchhiking.road outside an edge line on the road

Some of my most amazing experiences have included '''As a cold winter night wrapped in cardboard in an abandoned wheat silo sharing conclusion:''' It is very clearly regulated where you can stand as a humpy with aboriginals in hitchhiker and where you cannot. You can't stand on a town camp on the edge of Tennant Creekshoulder, waking up only to bashing my head but you can stand on the underside most other kinds of a Dodge van I had crawled under to avoid the rain, only surface next 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..road. This to me is the real Australia (Dave Hodgkin)

== Personal experiences = Particular to Western Australia ===:''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)

259. Selling papers and cars, hitch&#8209;hiking etc.:(1) A person shall not, while on a carriageway or median strip::(a) solicit contributions, employment or a ride from an occupant of a vehicle [...] 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.  === Experiences === ''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 experiences of hitching Australia==''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]]) 03:10, 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)

* [httphttps://maps.googlevisa-worldwide.com Google Maps/ Visa to Australia]  == Trashwiki & Nomadwiki == [[trash:Australia]] supports finding routes in [[nomad:Australia]]