Help us get to Australia without flying
How can my husband and I travel to Australia without flying and without going on a cruise ship? The time it takes is not too important but we cannot afford to spend much more than the cost of flights. We would prefer not to fly due to the effect on the environment. We know about cargo ships but this is too costly. We would appreciate any suggestions and we do not plan to travel until 2010.
Ruth, Derbyshire
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Comments
fly
Just go on the plane, it will still fly whether you are on it or not. So you will make no difference..
Centre for Alternative Technology
Hello
you might try the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) in Wales. A member of staff did exactly this to attend a freinds wedding so I'm sure there will be much useful advice to plunder there!!
Good luck!
Jenny got there first!
I too was going to let you know about Babs to Brisbane. Her story was covered by the national press:
http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/the-green-way-to-get...
And looking at her website, her book's coming out in January '09!
Good luck with your trip!
Duncan
Direct to Oz
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2008/apr/26/top100flightfreeholidays.bu...
There's a direct bus journey detailed in the link above.
I was actually trying to find an article I read in a Sunday paper magazine not that long ago. (Perhaps August) which I am sure suggested a way of making this trip by cruise. I will keep trying. I usually read the Sunday Mirror so think it was in there but I do sometimes deviate.
Good luck
London-Singapore at least...
I've just come from London-Oz *mostly* overland - got as far as Singapore then flew from there to Darwin as the shortest available flight. See http://julietk.livejournal.com for my blog of the experience! It was great fun - took me about 6 weeks. You could do it a bit faster but it would be very tiring and a shame not to see any of the places en route. Most of my info came from http://www.seat61.com
I was told by someone I met en route that you can get a ship (I think he meant a yacht or similar, rather than a cargo ship, but not sure) from Singapore - Aus but you need to be able to hang around Singapore following up leads for 3-4 weeks.
Alternatively you can go by cargo ship, which is how I'm coming back next May - quite expensive though. Talk to Hamish Jamieson of FreighterTravel, NZ, who is v helpful and seems to be the world authority on the matter :)
Good luck!
Juliet
Local Contact
You may get advice without going outside the county. Railwayman Colin Boocock, of Derby, went round the world, as much as possible by train, in 2004, to raise funds for the Railway Children. See www.railwaychildren.org.uk/wcore/showdoc.asp?id=600. You can find his contact details on www.192.com
butterfly bus!
Hi there, recently heard of a bus you can take from London.......to Oz! Look up ´Buddah bus´ or Butterfly bus on a search engine. Know it def goes as far as china, but sure it goes onto Oz too. I really fancy it, though would be pretty intense! I´m currently in South America, and came by cargo ship, it is pricey. And, its impacts have turned out to be be fairly difficult to work out in the end......not as clear cut as I´d thought. In the end, we´ve decided that its is a better option for travel as you are not adding to demand, as with flying- the ship is going anyway and only takes a max of 6 paying passengers. So, youre kind of piggybacking on their emissions. Also, there are many ways that the shipping industry can clean up its act, and is looking into currently, ie huge kite sails, and simply steaming at a slower speed.
Good luck with your challenge, I´d love to hear about it. Check my blog for cargo travel details- http//mrtwasright.blogspot.com
Go on a cargo ship!
You can go as a paying passanger on a cargo ship (watch out for pirates!) I got to Canada that way in 2004 and it was quality. Also you could buy a bike and cycle there. You might need a few months though, but it would definatly be something to tell the kids about.
London to Sydney carbon free?
I am along way from actually taking this challenge but would like to do it some day. I will read these pages with interest.
In fairness, getting to Australia without flying is a challenge that could prove a point. But bear in mind shipping pollutes too.
This site's probably also
This site's probably also worth a look:
http://www.babs2brisbane.com/
Thanks
Jenny
It has been done!
Hi Ruth
Good luck with your very exciting plan. The excellent Seat 61 has a guide to flight-free travel to Australia:
http://www.seat61.com/Australia-overland.htm
And here's a couple who've done it the hard way:
http://www.bike2oz.com/
Take care
Jess
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