Backpacking in Australia: Sightseeing and Budgeting Tips

Backpacking is a great way of discovery the delights of Australia as it gives you complete liberty to roam. Australia is such a diverse place with so many regional highlights that being tied down in a single resort would be a shame. The best thing about Australia is that it is really set up for backpackers. The country is full of relatively cheap accommodation that will suit a backpacker’s budget. It is also criss-crossed by public transport connections and there are car hire operators in most large towns as well as the cities. If you are considering a trip to Australia it is well worth making your time there a backpacking experience and enjoying the utter freedom it brings.

Accommodation

There are plenty of budget style hotels – that you see all over Europe – in Australia. These offer room-only rates which are of exceptional value. Usually, each room is set up simply with your own shower room and toilet. These sorts of hotel are mostly located on the outskirts and suburbs of the large cities. If you are travelling into rural Australia then opt for backpacking hostels. You may have to share a bathroom, or even a dormitory from time to time, but they are often very well run and a great way of making friends, particularly if you are travelling alone. Hostel Bookers is a good place to find hostels before you jet out.

Camping is another option you could consider to keep your costs down. Some campsites offer tents that are available to hire but you cannot rely on this – so check ahead unless you have you own. However, many campsites, particularly those along the tourist areas of the Australia’s stunning coastline, will offer you the option of trailer-style accommodation. If you are travelling from one town to the next it is worth asking about the sort of accommodation you can expect before departing to make sure you are not caught out without somewhere suitable to stay.

Travel

The major expense of a backpacking trip to Australia is, for UK visitors at least, the cost of long haul flights to the country. If you are flying internally on a domestic flight then these costs can mount up. Either way, it’s best to use a comparison like Momondo as a means of ensuring that you are keeping the costs down. Remember that Australia is a vast island country and so internal flights may work out to be a more cost-effective way of getting from one coast to the other, rather than travelling overland.

Major Australian towns and cities are linked by the country’s rail network, however the service is not really suited if you want to explore the bush and rural parts of the country. Car hire is really the best way to go for backpackers to get around. Use a nationwide hire service so that you don’t have to return the car to the place where you hired it. If you cannot drive, then the best option is to go for the bus network which is extensive. Many Australians rely on buses to travel long distances. Trips of nine hours or more are not infrequent and many of the buses that do the long routes have films that are shown during the journey.

Sights and Things To Do

Australia has so much wonderful wildlife that you can see for yourself that it is a shame to only visit a city zoo. Get into the bush and hike into the countryside. However, it is always advisable to follow marked routes to avoid getting lost. Don’t go hiking with your full backpack, especially in the heat of the day. Take precautions like applying sun cream and carrying water to drink.

Nearly the whole of Australia has some wine making industry associated with it and many vineyards welcome visitors to sample their produce. In wine making regions it is certainly possible to sign up to an organised tour of local wineries to really get a flavour for the grapes whilst not having to worry about driving back to your accommodation.

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