Dublin to Sydney without flying

dropinthocean

I remember seeing a show a few years ago about an Irish guy who tried this
and it inspired me to try the journey for myself. Im a long Way away from planning and saving money etc but ideally would like to give it a try starting next summer.

I'd imagine I would go the trans-Siberian route down through China to Singapore and try to get a cruise or freighter from there to Darwin..

Just wondering if anyone had any tips or advice before I get seriously into the planning stage??

Thanks in advance

Munsterbhoy

the website the man in seat 61 has plenty of info on getting to oz without flying, looks like the singapore to oz is the tricky bit..

Mrs OBumble

Don't underestimate Darwn to Sydney, either. It's further than you think.

Stationmaster

There was a crowd in London that used to do this by bus too. Remember looking it up a good bit in the mid noughties as I nearly did it. It would give you a good idea of the route anyway for starters.

Atlantic Dawn

Hitching a lift in one of the cabins on a cargo ship would be an option, takes about 44 days with lots of ports on the way, €105 per day for single traveller, there's 10 or so cabins on each boat. Would work out about €4.5k

https://www.freightercruises.com/SWN_677_1603.php#anchor_cmacgm_bellini

Muahahaha

I did Dublin to Bali, Indonesia all overland a few years back using the Trans Mongolian to get into China before zig zagging SE Asia down to Singapore and the ferry to Medan on Sumatra. I looked into freighters to Darwin at the time but they were very expensive and you might have to wait around ages for one.

Another option might be to contact Mike Ball diving who run scuba trips from Australia to Papua New Guinea. They might pick you up in Papua and bring you to Cairns, expect to pay AUD100 a day. Your only problem then though is getting overland from Bali all the way to Papua, it is not a comfortable journey. Though if you do it that way you can stop to see Komodo dragons on Komodo Island and also the three volcanic lakes of Kelimutu which are spectacular.

Munsterbhoy

Well 10 months on from original post just wondering is there any more news on planning the journey..

coylemj

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Don't underestimate Darwn to Sydney, either. It's further than you think.

+1 watched a Discovery type program the other day and they showed long trucks delivering supplies to Darwin from Alice Springs as there is no rail link north of Alice. Which means that you'd either have to hitch a ride on one of those trucks to go south from Darwin or try to get to somewhere in Queensland by ship and then continue to Sydney overland.

finbarrk

Sounds torturous to me.

mel.b

coylemj wrote: »

+1 watched a Discovery type program the other day and they showed long trucks delivering supplies to Darwin from Alice Springs as there is no rail link north of Alice. Which means that you'd either have to hitch a ride on one of those trucks to go south from Darwin or try to get to somewhere in Queensland by ship and then continue to Sydney overland.

Yes there is. The Ghan runs from adelaide to darwin via alice springs (and vice versa) Takes 2.5days
Www.greatsouthernrail.com.au

The Ghan however may not carry cargo whichbis why you have the road trains (the really long trucks)

coylemj

mel.b wrote: »

Yes there is. The Ghan runs from adelaide to darwin via alice springs (and vice versa) Takes 2.5days
Www.greatsouthernrail.com.au

The Ghan however may not carry cargo whichbis why you have the road trains (the really long trucks)

You're right but the Ghan appears to be a destination in itself, something like the South African Blue Train, it's basically luxury travel for the well-heeled and certainly not economy travel. Cabin and all-inclusive dining (including local wine and beer) is included in the fare, similar to a cruise ship.

Sample fare: One-way low season Darwin to Alice or v.v. costs AUD 1,149 (EUR 800).

Rented Mule

Charlie Boorman - By Any Means Necessary was the name of the series/book.

hytrogen

Mrs OBumble wrote:

Don't underestimate Darwn to Sydney, either. It's further than you think.

It took me nearly two weeks to navigate this along the great barrier reef on a cruise ship. A good month around the whole of Australia.. vast is an understatement