Australia: banks & phones

Any Aussies reading this, I could do with some advice. I need to open a bank account, and I figure I should also pick up a local prepay mobile.

Banks: is it like the UK (where banks are nationwide, in general) or like the US (where they're state-based)? i.e. if I open a bank account in Adelaide, will this be a PITA when I get to Sydney? Also, any particularly good/bad experiences or suggestions appreciated.

Phones: argh, prepay is horribly complicated. But anyway. Good/bad networks?

Australia: banks & phones

Any Aussies reading this, I could do with some advice. I need to open a bank account, and I figure I should also pick up a local prepay mobile.

Banks: is it like the UK (where banks are nationwide, in general) or like the US (where they're state-based)? i.e. if I open a bank account in Adelaide, will this be a PITA when I get to Sydney? Also, any particularly good/bad experiences or suggestions appreciated.

Phones: argh, prepay is horribly complicated. But anyway. Good/bad networks?

Alice Springs

Good morning from the centre of Australia, where it is a mere 20deg (35 max expected today).

My ride on the Ghan (the Darwin-Adelaide railway) started somewhat unexpectedly, viz, in a coach, due to a freight train derailment. We got put back on the train at Katherine, where there's a 4-hr stop anyway. Which gave time to take the local nature tour cruise thingy, where I saw WALLABIES and kites and lots of other sorts of birds and drank tea from a billy with gum-tree leaves in. It was all very, very beautiful.

Strangely enough, the reclining seats on the Ghan are a lot less comfortable than a proper sleeper (bah), although my lack of a seat-mate made life a bit easier. I migrated to the floor halfway through. You don't get provided with a pillow or blanket, which IMO is a bit cheap of them, and my pillow was in the checked luggage - will resolve this problem on the next stint.

After much Sorting Of Things Out, finally decided that I am hiring a car to get myself down to Uluru & then doing the Aborigine-led tours, rather than going with a backpacker minibus tour (lack of ethical/eco tourism certification was the main mover for this). Irritatingly, I have just discovered that the car rental I booked has changed its location at the last minute from downtown (where I am now) to the airport (where I am not), so I am off to hunt for the airport shuttle bus.

Alice Springs

Good morning from the centre of Australia, where it is a mere 20deg (35 max expected today).

My ride on the Ghan (the Darwin-Adelaide railway) started somewhat unexpectedly, viz, in a coach, due to a freight train derailment. We got put back on the train at Katherine, where there's a 4-hr stop anyway. Which gave time to take the local nature tour cruise thingy, where I saw WALLABIES and kites and lots of other sorts of birds and drank tea from a billy with gum-tree leaves in. It was all very, very beautiful.

Strangely enough, the reclining seats on the Ghan are a lot less comfortable than a proper sleeper (bah), although my lack of a seat-mate made life a bit easier. I migrated to the floor halfway through. You don't get provided with a pillow or blanket, which IMO is a bit cheap of them, and my pillow was in the checked luggage - will resolve this problem on the next stint.

After much Sorting Of Things Out, finally decided that I am hiring a car to get myself down to Uluru & then doing the Aborigine-led tours, rather than going with a backpacker minibus tour (lack of ethical/eco tourism certification was the main mover for this). Irritatingly, I have just discovered that the car rental I booked has changed its location at the last minute from downtown (where I am now) to the airport (where I am not), so I am off to hunt for the airport shuttle bus.