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What it's like to backpack in Australia. Looking for a new adventure? By Leah Dobihal A backpacking holiday is about possibility. What is a backpacking holiday?
What is a backpacker? What do I need for a backpacking holiday in Australia? What can I expect on a backpacking holiday in Australia? Helpful resources. If you're aged between 18 and 30 and hold a passport for a country or Arriving in Australia on a working holiday Get ready for a year of epic experiences, breathtaking beauty and incredible adventure. Backpacker packing list Heading off on an Australian adventure? More articles like this. Why you should go backpacking in Australia.
The deadly box jellyfish also comes closer ashore in the summer resulting in near complete beach closures. Since the north is almost always visited in the winter, demand is very high during this time. Prices will be much higher because of short supply so be sure to keep this in mind before finalizing your itinerary.
Having lived in the nation for some time, I can confidently say that are very few countries that have as many music festivals per capita as Australia! There seems to be a different one nearly every weekend in this country. There are other cultural celebrations in Australia that showcase other forms of expression but they sometimes feel buried by the musical ones.
They, in addition to the public holidays and the music festivals, make for a thrilling time. Get your packing for Australia right! On every adventure, there are six things I never go traveling without:. This is a regular looking belt with a concealed pocket on the inside — you can hide up to twenty notes inside and wear it through airport scanners without it setting them off. Having a filtered water bottle means you can drink from just about any source.
Hostel towels are scummy and take forever to dry. Microfibre towels dry quickly, are compact, lightweight, and can be used as a blanket or yoga mat if need be. A decent head torch could save your life. If you want to explore caves, unlit temples, or simply find your way to the bathroom during a blackout, a headtorch is a must. Taking a tent backpacking is not always practical but hammocks are lightweight, cheap, strong, sexy chicks dig hammocks , and allow you to pitch up for the night pretty much anywhere.
Well worth having as it helps to have quick access to all your stuff. Australia has a nasty reputation for being full of deadly creatures that are out to get you at every turn. Killer snakes, spiders, crocodiles, jellyfish, hell even the kangaroos can really ruin your day here.
Believe it or not, the common bee and wasp , not spiders, are actually the number one killers in Australia. That being said, it is extremely important to take all cautionary advice and notices with the utmost seriousness. Australians have become day-to-day experts on what can kill you and how to avoid it. The elements should probably be your biggest concern while backpacking in Australia.
Drowning is perhaps the 1 cause of death in Australia as the ocean currents can be very strong. The water may seem calm but, get caught in a wild rip, and you can quickly get submerged or pushed out to sea. Swim in designated areas and check signs for ocean conditions.
As mentioned before, heat is a major problem in Australia. Temperatures can soar to unthinkable heights and atmospheric radiation is a serious threat here. Forest fires caused by dry conditions are a serious problem as well, but usually only occur in the backcountry. Be prepared for what life throws at you on the road. Australians love to party; a lot. Drugs and alcohol in Australian are astronomically expensive.
These ridiculous prices are why you see Australians partying all the time outside of their country: everything is just so much cheaper abroad and so they go crazy. Prices be damned though, Australians still like to have a good time in their native land. Many go out in groups and buy rounds or shouts for one another. Drinking a beer that someone has bought for you and not contributing to the shout is a dick move.
Be careful when drinking and driving as well. Australia has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to drunk driving and any BAC over 0. Random checkpoints are commonly set up and at all times of the day to pull over drivers and check their sobriety. Traveling without insurance would be risky so do consider getting good backpacker insurance sorted before you head off on an adventure.
I have been using World Nomads for some time now and made a few claims over the years. I battled a seriously nasty infection that snaked up past my knee and by the time I made it to a local hospital they wanted to amputate.
I was delirious, unable to walk, and in a lot of pain but I managed to call my insurance provider — they moved me to a much better private hospital where the doctors were able to save my leg. Moral of the story: consider getting travel insurance before you head out into the wilds, people!
Getting to and around Australia can be a long and arduous affair. There several different types of tourist visas available to those who wish to go backpacking in Australia. The three primary tourist visa types are:. The and visas essentially function in the same way albeit with different application processes.
The grand majority of nationalities can apply for all of these visas online. The ETA and eVisitors are the simplest and easiest visas to acquire. Both enable unlimited entries into Australia within the span of a year — the duration of stay cannot exceed 3 months at a time. The biggest difference between these two types of visas is that they are only available to specific countries.
Americans and Canadians, in addition to several other nations, must apply for an ETA. British, as well as most European citizens, must apply for an eVisitors visa.
The Visitor visa is the most expensive of Australian visas but can grant the most time. Australian customs takes declared items very seriously so you must be sure to do so. Also, note that criminal offences and felonies may bar you from entering the country.
Need to travel around Australia on the cheap? Use Bookaway to find the best deals on bus, plane, train, and ferry tickets. Book your transport on Bookaway now to guarantee your seat and for the right price. Australia was one of the first countries to shut its borders and imposed some of the strictest quarantine rules in the world. I have heard incredible reports from people about how difficult it is to enter Australia during the COVID outbreak, and even how some are unable to return.
Fair warning: the hotel in Sydney offers very bland food — use Postmates instead. Once you complete the day quarantine, congrats! You can travel freely around Australia; except not really. You must still follow the territorial rules, which, as of October , are still fairly restrictive. There are two ways of traveling in Australia and both offer widely different experiences.
The first is by public transport i. The latter option is the vastly superior method. Using public transport to travel outside and in between the major cities can be a tedious affair.
Bus travel in the bush, which pretty much includes all of South Australia, the Northern Territory, and Western Australia, can be long and, in turn, pricey. Greyhound does offer hop-on-hop-off travel passes that can certainly be convenient. Check the rates at the official website and weigh the pros and cons of purchasing a pass. Train travel is possible but this is a more luxurious form of travel i.
Taking the train in Australia is an experience in itself though and some long-distance routes, like the Ghan , can be very rewarding.
Flights are relatively cheap and actually quite convenient. Hitchhiking in Australia is a common and very safe practice. Make sure to follow the usual rules of the trade though and, as always, use common sense. By far the best way to get around Australia is by having your own vehicle. There are many car rental companies in Australia that offer long-term contracts. Each has a wide variety of vehicle types from sedans to 4x4s to campervans.
Campervans are definitely the most popular way of getting around Australia as they provide both transport and lodging at the same time. Living out of a campervan can be convenient, fun, and cheaper than conventional travel.
Most offer good rates especially for longer periods of time. I recommend going with Wicked Campers if you plan on renting a campervan in Australia. Make sure to check the contract though — many rental companies impose certain restrictions on going offroading and over a certain amount of miles per day, and charge extra fees for not following these parameters. If you plan on staying in Australia for a long time more than 6 months try buying your own campervan.
You can find adds for used campers in many hostels and on the online boards like gumtree. When buying a camper, be sure to take the vehicle to the shop to get it checked before actually committing. Most auto shops are used to this kind of request and will charge a competitive fee.
Luckily, Australia benefits from some very, very cheap international airline routes. The cheapest and most convenient flights out of Australia are usually bound for Asian destinations. Seriously, you can get just about anywhere in Asia from Australia and for a great price.
Malaysia is a pretty cool spot and backpacking around the peninsula or on the island of Borneo is definitely worth trying. Otherwise, you can get just about anywhere from Kuala Lumpur. Asia aside, you can, of course, head across the Tasman to start backpacking in New Zealand. Unlike Australia though, New Zealand has a wildly diverse geography and is much more temperate, both in terms of climate and native personality.
If you really want to go somewhere different, why not consider the Soloman Islands?! Our friends over at TravellingKing wrote a great article about visiting the Pacific-islander paradise.
Check it out! Most backpackers end up with fruit picking jobs in Australia. The work can be hard and life can be boring at times but the cost of living is quite low and those with a visa will earn an extra year on their visa. If you can manage it, this is one of the best ways to have a working holiday in Australia! There are dozens of online boards with postings for farm jobs in Australia. Some popular websites are:. Many of these farms look like hostels complete with bunk rooms, communal areas, and recreations.
You can make a decent living working on a farm. Make no mistake though: this is difficult work. Some of the best jobs for a working visa in Australia include serving, nannying, cooking, and cleaning.
If you decide to work in the city, know that costs of living will be much higher. Keen to live the digital nomad dream while traveling the world? Teaching English online is a great way to earn a consistent income on the road.
Depending on your qualifications, you can work remotely from your laptop and make a positive impact on the world! Check out this detailed article for everything you need to know to start teaching English online. Several nationalities have the option of applying for an Australian working holiday visa , which authorizes travelers to work legally in the country.
This visa is an amazing opportunity for anyone who wants to stay and go backpacking in Australia for a longer-term. Both visas entitle visitors the ability to work in Australia for a period of 12 months. Note that the possessor of a or can only hold a single job for a period of 6 months.
Certain countries can only apply for a or i. To apply for either visa, applicants will need to show that you have at least AUD 5, in their bank account. Both visas will also require a bill of clean health and a clean criminal record.
Applicants of a visa will need to provide some key additional details. With the exception of the United States, those applying for a must provide a letter of support from their government. Usually, a certificate of excellence, like a diploma or special certification, will suffice for this. Unfortunately, American citizens and other applicants can only have a working holiday in Australia for up to a year. Australia is volunteering gold — there are lots of different volunteer projects you can join whether it be teaching, animal care, agriculture, hospitality, tourism, or pretty much anything!
And of those alternatives, we have one favorite at The Broke Backpacker: Worldpackers! Worldpackers likes to put the focus on community. They connect you with meaningful volunteering opportunities that really help you feel like your contributing to local communities. PLUS their platform comes loaded with nifty features for connecting volunteers too! Make Down Under your stomping ground.
Worldpackers: connecting travellers with meaningful travel experiences. Australian cuisine is heavily influenced by its colonial roots. English, Italian, Asian, and Greek styles are all present in modern day Australian cooking to varying degrees. Being a colony of the British Empire first and foremost, Australian cuisine resembles most that of the English variety.
When dining out in Australia, expect a similar experience to as if you were dining out in the UK. The food will be hearty, heavy, and, at times, somewhat basic. Being a nation of immigrants though, there is plenty more than the usual English fair. Several Mediterranean cultures call Australia home as well and have brought their cuisines with them.
Thank the Italians for introducing a strong cafe culture in Australia — coffee in Australia is surprisingly delicious and taken seriously. Kangaroo is healthy and cheap. Other more exotic meats like emu, alligator, and even grubs are available in specialty markets. They have so little worries and give so little fucks that life just seems easier in their presence.
It can be argued that the Australian attitude derives from their inhospitable environment. An Australian is threatened on a near day-to-day basis either from deadly creatures, ridiculous climate patterns or from people that constantly need to remind them of these last two points.
After a while, danger itself just becomes commonplace and desensitizing. The fact that Australia is so geographically remote as well means that hardly any international presence notices or really holds Australia very accountable. To be fair, Australians who live in their home country are a little different from the ones that you see traveling so much. Rooted Australians are still hard workers and seemingly proficient at any trade involving blue collar work.
Aboriginal people, the original Australians, are also present in modern Australian society, though to a smaller degree. Refer to the Closing Thoughts section for more info. The Australian accent is infamous by now having been the subject of a million pop culture references. When asked to impersonate an Australian accent, most foreigners emulate characticatures like Crocodile Dundee or Steve Irwin.
Hate to break it to you but the way in which many of these icons speak is either over-exaggerated or very demographically specific. Most Australians speak in a fairly neutral accent and with proper diction. The Australian accent can be pretty diverse.
As you travel south — towards Adelaide and Melbourne — the manner of speech becomes more subdued and may sound more similar to that of an Englishman. Conversely, the farther north you go, the more the accent begins to sound like that stereotype. Australians use a lot of slang; so much so that sometimes it can be hard to understand them.
There is a lot of word chopping and sometimes it seems as if a random vowel is stuck at the end of every word to complete it. These are some of my favorite travel reads and books set in Australia, which you should consider picking up before you begin your backpacking adventure…. The following is a brief history provided by Alexandria Zboyovski , who wrote our Backpacking the East Coast and Tasmania guides.
Their traditions relating to music, art, and spirituality are among the longest surviving in human history. Before the arrival of the British, the number of Aboriginal people living in Australia was between , and 1 million. Furthermore, convicts were sent to all states, but South Australia became a free colony in More than , convicts were transported to Australia from Great Britain.
Australia began to look like a desirable location after the discovery of gold and the kickstart to their economy. The Eureka Stockade at Ballarat, in , was a rebellion against taxation. In , a federation of all of the states, the Commonwealth of Australia was created. The creation of Canberra marked it as the capital of New South Wales, with a temporary parliament in Melbourne. Australians remember and pay their respects to the sacrifices of their armed forces on this day.
Between , The Snowy Mountains Scheme employed , people. Today, people from all over the world call Australia home. The continent has become known for its equality and lack of clear class distinctions. Hiking, or bushwalking, is one of the most popular pastimes in Australia!
If you plan on going backpacking in Australia, you must go walking in the wilderness for a few days. Here is a forbidding land, full of harsh landscapes and bitter elements, the likes of which tested and tortured the original settlers. Should you decide to brave these wilds, you will gain real insight into the Australian identity.
To enter the Australian backcountry you will also need to be prepared. I always suggest getting a sturdy backpack as well, especially so if you intend venturing deep into the wilderness. PLUS, you save money and the environment! Be a part of the solution and travel with a filter water bottle. Surfing is as much a part of the Australian identity as kangaroos or prawns on the barbie.
Australia is extremely passionate when it comes to hanging ten and catching some waves. Sprinkled throughout the Australian coastline are many gorgeous reefs, sunken ships, and sea caves that are just waiting to be explored. These destinations definitely get far fewer tourists than the Great Barrier Reef and far more diving enthusiasts. For most countries, Australia included, solo travel is the name of the game.
That said, if you are short on time, energy, or just want to be part of an awesome group of travelers you can opt to join an organized tour. Joining a tour is a great way to see a majority of the country quickly and without the effort that goes into planning a backpacking trip.
However—not all tour operators are created equal—that is for sure. G Adventures is a solid down-to-earth tour company catering to backpackers just like you, and their prices and itineraries reflect the interests of the backpacker crowd. You can score some pretty sweet deals on epic trips in Australia for a fraction of the price of what other tour operators charge.
Check out some of their awesome itineraries for Australia here…. It would take a lot of effort to really piss off an Australian. Time after time, Australians just roll with the punches quite literally sometimes and then proceed to take a piss and forget about whatever may have had a chance of bothering them.
No one likes an asshole coming into their country and stirring shit up. Backpackers especially have been the recipients of much criticism in recent years as some of their behavior has really been causing trouble. I hate to imagine a future where backpackers are ostracized because of a few dumbasses. For the sake of all backpackers, be a good sort. Show respect to the locals and keep your wits about you. On a different note, be sure to tread lightly when it comes to interacting with Aboriginal Australians.
This group of people has been subject to unthinkable horrors in the past and are still treating the racial scars that are leftover. Be sure to speak using respectful language as well. For more information on the subject of talking with an about Aboriginal natives, refer to this webpage. Many museums in Sydney and Melbourne are also completely free and you can take in the overwhelming nature of Northern Queensland and the Outback without paying a cent through your own hikes and scenic drives.
See our recommendations for things to do in Australia below. Australia is one of the most amazing countries in the world. The most famous landmark in Australia is Uluru. It takes a couple of days to get there by car and is expensive, but anyone you speak to who has visited it says it is worth it.
Book your hostel in Alice Springs. If the weather is lovely, take a walk next to the Yarra River and make your way through the Kings Domain to the impressive Shrine of Remembrance war memorial. This two or three-day trip includes many stunning beaches and rock formations; the most famous one is the Twelve Apostles, which are slowly disappearing due to erosion, so you better hurry up if you want to see them. Most of the backpackers opt for the classic east coast itinerary when visiting Australia for the first time, taking in most key destinations from Melbourne to Cairns.
Listed below are some of the key landmarks and attractions you should include when doing this classic Australian backpacking route. This lively and vibrant city has an incredible range of beaches — and, of course, you must take a selfie with the Opera House and spend an afternoon chilling in Hyde Park.
Take the ferry which I highly recommend, especially at night and visit Manly and Shelly beach. Both beaches are amazing and the surfy suburb of Manly is also worth a visit.
The easiest way to make new friends in Sydney is to go to a backpacker bar , such as Scary Canary near Darling Harbour, and start talking to other people.
Most of these bars are entwined with hostels, like the awesome Wake Up! You can visit the breathtaking Three Sisters rock formation and enjoy a long walk in the park, to absorb all the natural beauty.
Book a hostel and stay overnight — or even for a couple of days — as you will find so many new and amazing things to do here. Check out our Sydney guide. Known to be a little hippie stoner town, its reputation has grown so much that people say the moment you drive into the city you become high. Make sure to visit the lighthouse at the top, it will give you a fantastic view. Incredible things to do in Byron Bay. The next stop is something entirely different: Surfers Paradise.
But there is so much more to the Gold Coast than partying. Immerse yourself in the natural wonders of the regions, such as the very Instagramable sunflower fields in Allora or lush waterfalls at Tallebudgera Valley. Amazing things to do on the Gold Coast. Close to the Gold Coast is the Queensland state capital, Brisbane. Some people are surprised at how different it is to Sydney and Melbourne, with its own unique vibe.
Brisbane has the most beautiful botanic gardens, where you can wander around in for hours. Head to the South Bank to visit the beautiful Gallery of Modern Art and the National Library, then chill by the river in the sunshine or grab a drink and enjoy the sunset.
This city has a beautiful and historical centre, with many cool places and shops. Find yourself a new outfit and go dancing, because there are a lot of great places to party. Brisbane is a vibrant city with an interesting history. Find a hostel in Brisbane. This little town has the most stunning beaches. Please stop and stay here for a couple of days, enjoy the coastal walk, take a sunset boat tour, and go kayaking on the Everglades.
Find a hostel in Noosa. Head to the coastal town of Rainbow Beach to catch the barge to Fraser Island. It also a great place for spotting whales and other sea life along with the occasional dingo.
Fraser Island is indeed a magical place; when the sun goes down, head to the beach with your towel, lay back and watch the stars. Your next stop is further along the coast. The little town of Airlie Beach is another starting point for an iconic Australian attraction: the Whitsunday Islands.
Go snorkelling, hire a paddle board or simply relax. Discover secret things to do in the Whitsundays. To get here, you first have to travel to Townsville ; this city has a range of great hostels, so you can either stop here for a night or head straight to the island to stay at one of the hostels here. Drive down to Bungalow Bay Koala Village and pet these cute animals at this beautiful sanctuary.
Find your hostel in Cairns. If you want to see the real Australia, you must go to the west coast. If you want to drive yourself around the west coast, then I recommend that you rent a 4WD sized car. This is the only way to go to all the cool places — as the west coast has some places that are seriously off-the-beaten-track.
Awesome places to visit in Western Australia. Find a hostel in Darwin. Take a boat trip around the lake and swim with non-dangerous crocodiles. After this, drive to King Leopold Range National Park and try one of the walks here or just relax and enjoy the nature. By now you will arrive in the third biggest town on this backpacker itinerary, Broome. You can even ride a camel on the beach. Find a hostel in Broome. The west coast of Australia has some of the most beautiful national parks, including Karijini National Park.
If you like sea animals, then you need to stop at Shark Bay also known as Monkey Mia. Find a hostel in Monkey Mia. The next national park is also the most famous one on the west coast: Kalbarri National Park. Find a hostel in Kalbarri. This is the biggest city on the west coast and the most famous attraction here is Kings Park.
You also need to visit Freemantle where there is a charming market — or just stroll around in Perth, go to a nice pub and start chatting with the locals, who are very friendly.
You can also do a day trip to the Pinnacles Desert, which is filled with incredible and funny rock formations. Free things to do in Perth. Recommended by Zuleika Conte. Firstly, Australians call them prawns not shrimp and, while steak may once have been preferred at a charcoal-like consistency, the ones I came across on my travels were all beautifully cooked. That Aussies love their beer is undeniably true, but the variety most definitely extends beyond Fosters — especially in the increasingly popular craft beer scene.
Australian food reflects, unsurprisingly, the incredibly diverse mix of cultures that have at some point made Australia their home — from Indigenous to Asian and Mediterranean, amongst others. Mod Oz — or modern Australian cuisine — is the attempt to fuse all these eclectic influences into something uniquely Australian. Wattleseed, an Indigenous plant that is usually ground and roasted, is popping up in restaurants nationwide and can be found in all sorts of dishes.
But Mod Oz is still mostly limited to the larger cities and — even then — to trendier restaurants. Equally Australian and culturally-influenced is the suburban food scene of service station meat pies and pub food. Burger joints and steadily-disappearing chicken shops, of course, reflect the ubiquitous influence of the USA. But even though these foods derive from other countries, the Australians have added their own unique take.
Chicken shops would not be the same without the inimitable chicken salt — a uniquely Australian spice mix made up of garlic, onion, paprika and turmeric. Like Marmite, you either love or hate Vegemite — a dark-brown, gooey yeast extract with various vegetable and spice additives; I adore the stuff. Consume with a hot cup of tea and I challenge anyone not to love it.
The criticality of correct consumption goes for other brand-foods too. Take Tim-Tams : the best way to eat them is said to be to diagonally bite off each end, place one bitten end in your mouth, dip the other in a hot drink and then suck, using the Tim Tam as a straw. As the liquid is pulled through, the biscuit will start to disintegrate into a gooey, chocolatey mess.
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