Backpacking Australia (New South Wales)

Many travellers who go backpacking Australia spend most of their time in New South Wales. New South Wales has enough going on and enough allure for backpackers to almost make it a country in its own right. With Australia’s most vibrant night life, skiable mountains and some of the best beaches and surfing in the world all within the NSW boundary – this is no bad thing.

You will probably begin your Australian escapades flying into Sydney. This is the heart of New South Wales and a perfect place to kick off your Australian experience – both practically (there are plenty of hostels where you can find your feet, as well as opportunities to buy a car or a camper if that’s your plan), and socially: there are loads of like-minded people, loads of parties, and loads of clubs, bars and beaches and you can live the ‘cosmopolitan city dream’ for a while! Beware though: Sydney burns money, and (believe it or not!) there is much more to New South Wales than Australia’s biggest city.

Where is it and what’s there?

NSW is Australia’s south-eastern state. It is bordered by Queensland to the north and Victoria to the south, with South Australia making up its western border and the eastern side falling in to the Pacific Ocean. NSW is Australia’s most populous state and much of modern Australia was built ‘out’ from here.

The territory has a remarkable range of differing regions: from the perfectly temperate Hunter Valley wine region, to Australia’s highest peak (Mount Kosciuszko at 2228 metres), to Sydney’s famous surfing beaches where summertime temperatures rarely dip below 25°. Most of the state’s population live in Sydney, but there are two other large cities (Newcastle and Wollongong) and – unsurprisingly – plenty of beach side towns as you go north from Sydney.

Climate

As with many of Australia’s states, you really can’t pigeon hole 'New South Wales’ climate. The snowy mountains can be, well, snowy; while if you head into the interior, it can be 40°+ for days on end. You’ll probably spend most of your time by the coast however, and this is easier to quantify. Sydney’s summer (which is hot) runs from mid-December through to mid-March and winter (cooler and can be wet) from mid-June through to mid-September.

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Getting there

If you fly in to Sydney airport, then it is a five mile journey into the centre of the city. There are other airports spaced throughout New South Wales which you may arrive at if you are flying internally – they are all well located for getting around the state. As Australia’s most populous state, New South Wales is also well served by comprehensive rail and road links, in short: you’ll have no problem getting to New South Wales.

Getting around

Sydney has all of the travel options that you’d expect from a modern city. There is a very efficient underground system (including double-decker trains!), a comprehensive bus network and an excellent overland rail network. Plus another more charming form of transport: ferries... These run throughout the day and most of the night from the beachside boroughs of Sydney to the centre and to other destinations around Sydney Harbour. They are inexpensive and a fantastic way to get around: and Sydney looks stunning from the water.

If you’re heading further afield then you have a few options. The bus network extends up the coast throughout New South Wales (The Pacific Highway follows the route that its title suggests), and is a good way of working your way around the coast.

Alternatively, you may elect to sign up to one of the many bus networks specifically for backpackers (such as the Oz Experience). These are generally ‘hop on hop off’ buses where you can go as far as your ticket allows, or you can break your journey up and stop along the way. They may also stop at pre-arranged spots for a night where your accommodation is arranged by them. You’re guaranteed to be with other backpackers so a good option if you’re travelling on your own or keen to meet people.

The other option is to buy a car or a camper. If you’re planning on doing this then Sydney has plenty of options, with several ‘backpacker specific’ car sales where you can pick up cheap vehicles from other travellers who are leaving Australia. Obviously there are no guarantees that your beloved wheels will go the distance - and sorting out the paperwork can take a while - but this can be both the cheapest, most flexible and the most rewarding way of really backpacking Australia.

Things to do

• Sydney! You’ll probably start off in Sydney and - although it may go against all of your ‘off the beaten track’ instincts - do spend some time here. See the sights (Opera House, Harbour Bridge), travel around and hit the town for a night or two. If you can time your stay for NYE, Mardi Gras or any of the other music festivals then do: Australians throw a great party.

• Blue Mountains. Only 50k from Sydney, but worlds apart in ambience. Not really ‘mountains’ but some spectacular scenery, great walking and a few degrees cooler if the Sydney summer is too much for you.

• Byron Bay. A backpacking rite of passage. A lot less hippy than thirty years ago but still a great place to hang out – the kind of place where you mean to stay a weekend and end up spending three weeks. Some great hostels, fantastic beaches and all round good vibe.

• Hunter Valley. Nowadays one of the most highly regarded wine regions in the world. Take an afternoon off from sunbathing and try out a few classy tipples at one (or two, or three...) of the vineyards.

• Surfing. New South Wales is surfing. With many of the world’s best surfers hailing from these shores, and with waves to suit every level of surfer: there really is no excuse.

Although New South Wales may be the hub for ‘ backpacking Australia ’ and there is absolutely nothing ‘off the beaten track’ about it, if you embrace all that it has to offer then you will be rewarded with some great experiences, good times and probably a load of new friends too. Go on - get stuck in!

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