Backpacking AustraliaIf it’s fun; like minded people, perfect beach days and great times, then backpacking Australia really is unbeatable. Without Australia, it is probably fair to say that the modern backpacker ‘gap year trip’ would not be the popular rite of passage that it is today. A ‘western’ country that still manages to feel a million miles away from home, Australia provides thousands of backpackers with exactly what they want from a trip overseas... But it’s not just the ‘crazy nights and lazy days’ that make Australia great. The country really is massive and has some of the most staggering sights on the planet within and around its shores. Do take the time to see them, take some pictures and savour the moment: there are pubs back home! It is also possible to get off the beaten track when backpacking Australia – especially if you head north, or west, where you can get seriously ‘Outback’, and often drive for a couple of days without seeing anyone, or camp on a beach and not see anyone for a month! Aside from what it offers the ‘carefree-cash-rich’ backpacker, Australia can also be an essential leg for the ‘didn’t think I’d spend quite so much’ traveller... If you are in the 18-30 age bracket then you are probably eligible for a Working Holiday Visa, which can be your ticket to travelling money for the rest of your trip. It goes without saying that backpacking Australia is a more expensive experience than, say, South East Asia. In fact, Australia is expensive by any standards - travelling around, doing the classic tours, and drinking your way from town to town is just plain expensive. Be aware of this: if you’re doing a long trip on a shoestring then maybe limit your stay to a week or two... But do go!
Where is it and what’s there?Australia is the world’s smallest continent, and its biggest island... You could fit the entire United Kingdom into Australia around 30 times over. Despite its size and favourable climate, Australia is not densely populated. It has a population of just over 20 million, with around 60% of this living in the state capitals (the largest of these being Sydney, Melbourne and Perth).Australia is surrounded by some of the largest oceans on the planet. Consequently the beaches pick up a lot of ‘swell’ (hence Australia’s popularity with surfers) and– with a couple of exceptions – you need to be careful if you go in the water. If you’re not sure then only swim under the supervision of lifeguards. The sea temperature in Darwin is comparable to Thailand, but south coast water temperature can fall to a chilly 12°. This said: clichés about Australians living a pretty beach-centric life are well placed.
The ClimateDue to its size, Australia does have pretty much every climactic condition. The North sees temperatures in excess of 40° for days on end, while the ‘Alpine Resorts‘ around Melbourne have a pretty dependable ski season.For backpacking, the East Coast between Melbourne and Cairns is the classic trail and you’re certain to spend some time here. Melbourne has four seasons (running the ‘other way round’ to European seasons). Winter tends to be cool and damp – but rarely below 10° - and summer is generally hot, with averages in the low 30s. Cairns on the other hand is in the tropics, and consequently has 2 seasons: the wet season running from November to May, and the dry from June to October. It is hot year round (average maximums are 30°). Between these two places, (Sydney, Gold Coast, Byron Bay) the climate is seasonal and warm, with plenty of sunshine year round. Visas and WorkIf you fall in to the age bracket (18-30) and you are planning on spending more than a couple of weeks backpacking around Australia (and won’t be returning later in life), then it is definitely worth getting a Working Holiday Visa (WHV). Even if you think your bank balance is adequate, it’s nice to know that you’ve got a fall back plan if funds are running low. The working holiday visa allows you spend 12 months in Australia, working for a maximum of 6 months with any one employer. It costs AUD$230 and you are only entitled to one – so use it wisely!In terms of work: it is realistic for anybody to find temporary work in Australia. Options range from office jobs (which can be fairly well paid) through to waiting tables, to fruit-picking. If you are planning on working for a few months, then it is probably worth heading to a city and looking for medium term employment, and then renting a flat to save on hostel costs: this is the most realistic way to save money. There is always agricultural work (normally picking fruit or vegetables) if you arrive in the right region at the right time of year. If you knuckle down then this can also be a good way of saving money. Just be aware that it is generally very hard work. The days can be hot and long, and the work exhausting. Plus many farms have ‘deals’ with the hostels (who charge you a fee for taking you there and picking you up), and hostels can be expensive. This said, you can make some great friends in the fields; you’ll shift a few of those ‘beer related’ pounds, and will definitely feel as if you’ve earned your next trip or parachute jump!
Return from Backpacking Australia to the home page Getting thereThere is no shortage of flights to Australia, and if you shop around and are flexible with dates (especially if you arrive in the winter and avoid major holidays), you can often find surprisingly cheap deals. Flying from South East Asia or South America can also be a cheap option (remember the flight from Perth to Bali is only 4 hours).The ‘classic’ city to start off your Australian exploits is Sydney, which has the country’s biggest airport and is very well prepared for backpackers so a good choice. This said, it is worth planning your trip and thinking about 1) how long you’ve got, and 2) the time of year you are arriving. Flying in to Perth, Melbourne or Brisbane generally costs the same as flying to Sydney so, say you’re starting your trip in January, why not look at flying in to Perth and working your way along the south coast while it’s warm in the summer, and doing Sydney and the East Coast after this? Getting aroundYou’ve got three main options with backpacking Australia:• Buy a vehicle. If you’re backpacking Australia for a few months, travelling in a group, or want 100% freedom - then buying a car or a camper is a great plan. Australians favour cars that have been built to rack up a few miles, so – generally speaking – they are pretty dependable. Head to Kings Cross in Sydney for the largest Backpacker Car Market in Australia, or check in hostels or private ads elsewhere in the country. This can easily work out as the cheapest option too: providing your car or camper goes the distance, you will probably sell it for a similar amount to what you paid... • Backpacker Buses. There are a few backpacker specific buses which travel to all of the main destinations (Oz Experience, Wayward Bus (in the south) and Easyrider are the main ones). These generally operate a ‘hop on hop off’ system, whereby you buy your route (Adelaide to Cairns for example) and can then either go in one hit, or break your journey down over a few weeks. The advantage of this type of travel is that you will get to travel with other backpackers, and the buses will generally take you to hostels – so a good option if you’re on your own, or looking to meet people. The disadvantage for some people is that the buses stop a lot and don’t take the most direct routes, and they can also stop for ‘tours’ - if you don’t want to go on the tour, then you’ll need to amuse yourself for a couple of hours. • Freestyling! Backpacking Australia isn’t a daunting experience and it is perfectly realistic to make it up as you go along. For longer journeys Greyhound buses are relatively cheap, or you can catch the train which is a great experience in itself (The Indian Pacific runs from Perth to Sydney!). Plus if you’re staying in hostels you can just keep your ear to the ground and maybe catch a lift up the coast with some fellow backpackers. Things to do when backpacking AustraliaAssuming you’ve got cash in the bank, your itinerary for backpacking Australia will be dictated by one factor: time. Due to the vastness of the continent, it simply isn’t practical to see the whole place in 2 weeks. You might manage to ‘tick off’ all the favourites but will spend most of your time looking out the window of a bus, plane or train. If you are time limited and you want the classic (and brilliant) backpacking experience then head to the East Coast and follow the trail. If you’ve got a bit longer, then don’t just stay on the East Coast, it does have a habit of eating up time (and money), but be strong and break away: it’s a big island with much more to see!Here are a few ideas to get you started, some on the East Coast, some further afield... • The Great Barrier Reef. The world’s largest coral reef. Whether you tie it in with another trip, or just head out for a day on one of the organised tours: it really is a staggering place. Although the scuba diving is epic, a mask and a snorkel are plenty enough to blow your mind too. You just need to look under the surface... • Shark Bay. If it was on the East Coast, Shark Bay would be a number one attraction. But it’s not: it’s in one of the most isolated parts of Australia - the North West. A World Heritage Area, the Bay is home to around 10,000 ‘dugongs’ (sea cows) and has a massive dolphin population, as well as important turtle nesting areas. A mission to get to - but a memorable journey - and a massive area, but you will be rewarded with a very special (and even by Australian standards, quite unique) experience. There are various places to stay and tours where you can dive and swim with dolphins. • Sydney Harbour. One of those places where – having seen it so often on television - you feel like you’ve been there. It is, however, still well worth seeing the Opera House and Harbour Bridge from the water. You could turn your sightseeing into a day trip too, and head over to the beachside borough of Manly. • Drink wine. No, not just out of cheap casks. Australia has some of the best wine regions in the world. Most vineyards have tours and tastings, and some offer evening meals where you get to sample their wines with food. Have a few nights off the stubbies, and then treat yourself to some proper grog. Check out the Hunter Valley, Margaret River or Barossa Valley. • Bondi beach. Maybe the most well known surfing beach in the world. Now a hotspot for backpackers and expats alike. Definitely quite ‘home from home’: but on the beach! Great nights out, a friendly atmosphere, and a great place to make some new friends. If you end up working in Sydney, then the place to head to sort out accommodation for a few months too. • Australian wildlife. You probably won’t have to pay to see a kangaroo, or a big spider! Some things are worth seeing up close and personal though. The Lone Pine Koala sanctuary (Queensland) is the world’s largest koala sanctuary and well worth checking out. Or Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures just north of Cairns is an eco-park and you can walk around, or go croc-spotting on one of their boat tours. • East Coast sights. However long your stay, you’ve got to head to the Whitsunday Islands, Byron Bay and Fraser Island. Take a look at the New South Wales and Queensland pages for more details. • Canoeing and trekking in the Northern Territory. Explore some of the vast national parks and experience true Australian wilderness. From Darwin there are various providers who will take you deep into the bush along Aboriginal hunting trails and through vast ravines. Live the Indiana Jones dream for a few days! • Melbourne. Sometimes neglected when backpacking Australia. Melbourne really is an awesome city. Don’t be put off by the ‘cultural’ label, Melbourne has a lot to offer backpackers. There is something to suit every musical/culinary/shopping taste in ‘The Lanes’, and if you’re into sport then you’ll also be in great company. Definitely worth planning a summertime stop off. • The Outback. Do try to see Uluru-Kata Tijuta National Park (Ok, Ayer’s Rock!) – it will blow you away. But be brave and try to get ‘Outback’ without the crowds. There are some great tours and some great places to stop off and get a feel for the prehistoric Australia: nothing much has changed for the last few million years. • Go West. With more sunshine hours that any other Australian city, Perth obviously has its climactic merits. It is also a great city in its own right, with a unique ambience and a ‘genuine’ and friendly feel to it. There aren’t many watersports that you can’t do in Perth either, so maybe the spot to book that kitesurfing lesson, or take a cruise out on a racing yacht...
• Classic Australian culture. Not all countries live up to their stereotype quite like the Australians do. You will find yourself at the beach, or at a ‘barbie’ with alarming frequency – and you’ll normally have a beer in your hand. Embrace it! Australia is a fantastic place and consequently it is no surprise that it’s incredibly well set up for the backpacker. It’s hard not to fall in to the ‘East Coast trip’ when backpacking Australia, and the best advice is to make sure you’ve got plenty of bucks in the bank and enjoy it. This said, there is much more to Australia than the ‘standard’ stops, so – if you have the time – do try and get ‘Outback’, find a few deserted beaches and get a sense of the other side to the 'backpacking Australia' coin. Check out the following pages for more information about the territories:- Backpacking Australia
New South Wales
Backpacking Australia
(Queensland)
Backpacking Australia
(Victoria)
Backpacking Australia (Western) Return from Backpacking Australia to Backpacking World
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