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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Many people tend to lump New Zealand and Australia together with that catch-all term ‘Down Under”. True, both are south of the equator, but that’s where most similarities come to a screeching halt. New Zealand and Australia each have their pros and cons on the travel scale, and here’s a list of a few of them.

Getting To and Fro

Australia is huge. Huge. It is its own continent, after all. New Zealand is much more manageable, especially for the traveler on a time schedule. A ferry links the north and south islands for the road or train traveler, and a flight between Auckland and Christchurch takes just over an hour. That being said, it’s not as if air and train and road travel don’t exist in Australia, but much more time will be spent on travel between cities.

Cosmos or Beer

With the exception of Auckland, New Zealand is still quite a rural and laid back country. This is a big draw for many travelers, but for those in search of thumping nightlife, some of Australia’s very cosmopolitan cities may be a better fit. Sydney and Melbourne are consistently at the top of the list for internationally recognized DJs and clubs, as well as frequent visits by touring acts from around the world. Brisbane and Darwin come highly recommended, as well.

Sports Weather

Weather plays a huge factor in travel decisions, which is especially true when outdoor sports are involved. New Zealand definitely has the upper hand if a ski trip is on your radar, as its volcanic terrain has inspired some great ski resorts. Surfing is popular in both countries, so it comes down to a personal warm or cold water preference. The same holds true with SCUBA diving, but Australia has the Great Barrier Reef, and that’s hard for any country to compete with.

Scenery

New Zealand has that type of landscape that inspires magic, and epic films like Lord of the Rings. From fjords to volcanos to grasslands, New Zealand’s landscapes are stunning in their beauty. But so is Australia’s. The Outback offers some of the best desert scenery on the planet, including Alice Springs and the impressive Ayers Rock. Additionally, people flock from all over the globe to Australia’s pristine beaches and thousands of miles of coastline.

Wildlife

In the wildlife department, Australia takes the cake. With its abundance of marsupials, including the cute kangaroos and koalas, as well as many species of lizard, snake, birds, mammals and a vast array of sea life, Australia is a nature lover’s dream. Of course, New Zealand has wildlife as well, but the kiwi simply can’t compete.

In a perfect travel world, we could travel to each country in the world and make our own opinions about the best and the less than best. At the end of the day however, it is up to you, the traveler, to decide whether Australia or New Zealand is next on your travel agenda. Each destination has its own very distinct culture, people, sights and activities to take part in, any of which will be a highlight in and of itself.

Also in a perfect world, we could answer this question simply using the rugby quotient, and we all know what the result would be.

New Zealand.