TransDEM Forum

I do not wan to spend the cash on transdem unless it is going to work for me
I know others have done Australian maps before but can not work our where you get the data from

can I get a refund if I just can not get it to work or if I just not work it out

There are three options for DEMs for Australia: Classic SRTM (3 arc sec), ASTER GDEM2 (nominally 1 arc sec, but artefacts) or the new NEDF portal (1 arc sec). For the latter see here.

For raster maps (Trainz ground textures) you can work with Map Tile providers like Open Street Map, MS, Google or Yahoo, all preconfigured in TransDEM and the easiest way to acquire a map. There is also a nationwide Australian WMS, but it's only 1:250,000. A number of Australian states have web map portals. Some allow you to download map images with georeferencing info attached, others without, and for some you can only do screenshots which you need to georeference manually.

Let the Australian route builders tell you, which map source they use.

Unfortunately, that's not possible.