So you’ve heard about the snakes, spiders, drop-bears, crocodiles and are thinking Australia might not be the place for you? During my travels I’ve come across so many people who tell me they’ll never travel to Australia because we have too many animals that will fight you, sting you, bite off your leg or poison you.
For those who are new here, I’m Monika, I aim to debunk travel myths and simplify travelling by sharing my experiences, tips and insights. I’ve lived in Australia for over 20 years and travelled all around the country. I’m here to tell you Australia isn’t as scary as it sounds, and help you prepare for your trip if you are thinking of visiting down under!
Table of contents:
- Australia at a glance
- Where to go in Australia
- What to see in Australia
- Tips for travelling Australia
- Food to try in Australia
Australia at a glance
Australia is located in the Southern Hemisphere and yes, its seasons are indeed the opposite of the Northern Hemisphere and yes, Christmas is celebrated in the Summer, sometimes on the beach. Australia has a vast range of landscapes and climates including scorching deserts, windy beaches and snowy mountains, so be prepared for all climates.
A brief history: Australia is and will also remain owned by the first nation’s people. It was invaded by the British in 1788, which then was flooded with migrants for the Gold Rush (yes, literally when people came to to dig for gold) in the 1850s, to then become the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901 (RIP queen Lizzy, but yes, we are technically still ruled by the King of England). Australia today is one of the most multicultural nations in the world, with Melbourne for example having over 40% of the population as non-Australian born.
Population: 26 million people, with most of the population mainly residing along the East Coast of the country as a lot of Australia is inhabitable.
Capital city: Canberra! Not Sydney, as most people think…
National language: English, Aussie style. In some areas of Australia speaking Mandarin, Cantonese, Indonesian or Hindi is very common, however English is the most commonly spoken language around the country.
Where to go in Australia
East Coast
- Melbourne & The Great Ocean Road
- Sydney & The Blue Mountains
- Gold Coast & Bryon Bay
- The Whitsundays
- Canberra & The Snowy Mountains
- The South Coast (Ulladulla, Tathra, Bega, Merimbula)
- Tasmania (Hobart, Freycinet & Cradle Mountain)
Central Australia
- Adelaide & The Barossa Valley
- Alice Springs & Uluru
- Darwin & Kakadu National Park
West Coast
- Perth, Rotnest Island & Margaret River
- Broome & The Kimberley
What to see in Australia
Hmm okay so you’re scared of sharks, spiders, and don’t really like the outdoors? Australia is not all about the great outdoors, it also has some amazing city culture, including great art, wine, music and theatre. Although I will say, the nature is what makes Australia a truly magical place. Here are some cool things to do in Aus to throw on your bucket list.
Snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef
Yes the reef is f**king dying, and it’s terribly sad that Australia still powers its country with coal. But see the reef before its too late! Plus, its one of the UNESCO sites of the world, so we’re not kidding about how beautiful it is. My top recommendation for where to stay if seeing this wonder is from Cairns in northern Queensland.
Visit the biggest rock in Australia, Uluru
Another UNESCO gem. Stay in Alice Springs and drive out to see the largest rock in Australia, trust me, it’s cooler than it sounds. But do not climb it! This beautiful rock is sacred to the indigenous people of Australia and is located right smack bang in the middle of the country. There are direct flights to Alice Springs from most cities in Australia.
See the Three Sisters in the Blue Mountains
This mountainous region of Australia has a haze of blue when you look into the horizon, very unique naming I know! Hiking in this area is absolutely amazing and one of my favourite spots in Australia. Only a 2 hour train ride from Sydney and can be done as a day trip or a full weekend. There are lots of other options for hikes in this area, but this one is the most famous and unique. There are lots of signs on this well marked track, so doubtful you’ll get lost, but download the AllTrails app and map of this route just in case!
Explore the Great Ocean Road
Even though you get those cold chills from Antarctica and to be frank even living in Melbourne, I still can’t swim in these cold waters, it is worth a visit! You need a few days to explore this beautiful section of the country. Rent a car, grab a tent (or book some Airbnbs on the way), and enjoy. I camped along the Great Ocean Road one weekend in 2019 and we decided to park our car at the beginning of the trek, hike one way and hitch hike back. Surprisingly it was very easy to get a ride back, but note that most hiking trails are one way and not loops.
Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge
A pretty unique experience and something that should be on all Aussie bucket lists. For someone like me who doesn’t like heights, some bits are a little scary but absolutely worth the views. You’ll need to get tickets in advance and it’ll cost you around $300 AUD. If you don’t have the cash to splash, you can just walk across it on a dedicated pedestrian footpath next to the cars, or view it from other locations, such as the Sydney Opera House.
Tips for travelling Australia
Climate
Australia is a huge country and doesn’t have a one-size fits all model for the climate. The northern parts of the country follow tropical weather patterns, the desert generally remains hot all year round, while the southern parts follow a somewhat normal(ish) weather patten.
High season: December to February
If you want to visit New South Wales & Victoria, these are lovely as you get regular hot sunny days, which are perfect for the beach. If you want to visit the north, you may be stuck in torrential rain as this is the wet season. If you want to visit anywhere in central Australia, you’ll be looking at some 45+ degrees Celsius days, which is insanely hot.
Shoulder season: February to April and September to November
Most of Australia is lovely this time of the year, with autumn (April in particular) being my favourite month in the south as the colours are magnificent. The spring time is also beautiful, I usually try get up to lower Queensland for some warmer beach days…Bryon or Gold Coast.
Low season: May to August
If you like less crowds, and cheaper prices, these are the months for you. If you’re at all thinking of visiting central or northern Australia, these also are the months for you.
Costs
Local currency: Australian Dollar (AUD)
Card vs. cash? Australia is very card heavy and some places don’t even take cash these days. I recommend getting a good travel card like Wise or 28Degrees.
Is Australia expensive? In short, yes. It still remains one of the most expensive countries to travel to (with Sydney being one of the most expensive cities in the world), although can be done on a budget as there are lots of beautiful things to see for free and if you’re willing to stay in hostels, avoid tourist traps and are cook for yourself every now and then.
Average accommodation costs: $70-$100 USD per night for a dorm in a hostel, $100-$200 USD per night for an Airbnb or budget hotel, $250+ for a fancy hotel.
Average food costs: $10-$15 USD for a budget meal, $20-50 USD+ for a nicer meal.
Average transport costs: $10 USD per day for public transport, $20-$80 USD for longer distance buses, $150-$300 USD for flights between cities
Transport
Transport within cities
Public transport: Cities have generally reliable public transport with a mixture of trains and buses, most cities require a local transport card for public transport which can be purchased from Newsagents. Towns generally do not have public transport, so if you’re heading out of the major cities, consider renting a car.
Ubers & taxis: Uber is much more popular in Australia compared to taxis, it usually ends up being a lot cheaper and is much easier to hail a cab via an app rather than trying to find a cab… Note that a lot of towns don’t have Uber or even taxis, so renting a car if you’re going to be spending a lot of time in rural places is a good option.
Transport between cities
Flying: Jetstar is the cheapest carrier which flies between main destinations, however Qantas has a lot more flights to remote destinations. Flights can be bloody expensive, particularly when booked last minute, so consider booking any flights in advance or looking out for sales
Driving: if you want the true backpacker experience, renting a van or car and travelling around is a good way to see the country as this can save you a lot of time and money (particularly if you can sleep in your car/van). Juicy Vans is the cheapest company, however other options include Hertz and Avis are other good options. Remember in Australia we drive on the left hand side of the road, and there can be loads of animals on the roads so avoid driving at night!
Busing: buses are semi-okay in Australia, particularly on longer distance routes as generally buses are significantly cheaper than flying and a good way to see some of the landscape. Popular companies include Greyhound and V-Line.
Safety
…don’t fear the animals
Snakes, spiders, ‘drop-bears’, sharks and every animal in Australia are more scared of you than you are of them, they will not harm you without reason. It’s very rare you’ll see a dangerous animal in the wild, however I do want to share the following tips with you so you can be prepared.
While camping or hiking
Hiking in Australia can be very relaxing, safe and enjoyable particularly in touristy, well trodden areas. Most hikes are so busy you’ll never see anything dangerous, but you may be lucky enough to see a kangaroo jumping around or a koala in the trees! I always make sure I have a working fully-charged phone and download offline maps before venturing out on any hike in Australia.
My top tips are stick to marked trails and campsites, do not feed the animals, wear protective clothing, do not leave your shoes or food outside of your tent or in the open and ALWAYS bring a first aid kit with you.
I’ve done a lot of camping and hiking in Australia and honestly have only seen a snake a handful of times. A few times lying on a rock next to the path, or probably the worst, when one was wrapped around my tyre driving in central Australia… It’s important to never interfere with snakes and they’ll likely just slither away.
While swimming in rivers and beaches
Read all signs near bodies of water (i.e. don’t swim if there are signs stating not to!), listen to lifeguards and swim between the flags while at a beach and avoid swimming after a storm.
Once travelling to the Northern Territory, I was swimming in an area after a big rain season and met some locals who told me to GTFO because crocodiles can come from other bodies of water if it floods too much… honestly, don’t be stupid like me and risk getting your leg bitten off.
Generally while in the outdoors
Stock up on mosquito repellent, I recommend the brand Bushman’s with at least 40% deet, particularly while hiking or out in the bush.
Avoid walking in the bush by yourself as if something happens to you it’s very likely you won’t have phone service and be able to call anyone. And avoid hiking at night! A big no no.
Food to try in Australia
Alright, now we’ve moved past the safety, we can move onto the good stuff, good. You’re generally safe with food in Australia! With such a mishmash of cultures, we have some amazing foods to try, some recommendations below.
Tim Tams! The god of all biscuits. Soft chocolate sandwiched between two chocolate biscuits, coated in MORE chocolate. You can bite off both ends and dunk and tip your tea with it or full experience.
Vegemite. A yeasty, black spread for toast. Remember don’t eat it like Nutella. Toast some bread, spread A LOT of butter on it and LIGHTLY SPREAD the Vegemite…
Kangaroo. It’s funny because this animal is not only famous to our country, but is also on our Coat of Arms. It’s actually one of the more sustainable meats, as the population of kangaroo has gotten a little out of control that rangers are starting to cull them. My favourite way to enjoy this meat is as a patty on a hamburger, Australian style, with beetroot, pineapple, lettuce, tomato and fried egg and some good burger sauce.
Barbecue. Not like the Texan style American BBQ, but one with veggies, shrimp, chicken, lamb, sausages, salads (coleslaw)..yoom. Also there are some excellent options for alternative meats for Vegans now available in Australian grocers, which some are just as good if not better than traditional meat…
A pub feed! Due to the British influence in Australia, we have some excellent pub food and culture. Some classics to try would be a chicken ‘Parma’ or bangers and mash with a good pint of local beer (please avoid Victorian Bitter).
Asian fusion. Outside of Asia, honestly hands down Australia has the best Asian food due to high migration from our neighbours. The Australians have mixed it up with Western cuisines to form this great cuisine. Melbourne is the best spot for it, try Chin Chin or Rice Paper Scissors.
Mon's Voyage 
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