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OceaniaAdventureBeachNatureCity Break

Australia

The East Coast road trip, the Outback, the Great Barrier Reef, and a backpacker culture that's been perfected over decades.

Oceania
🏄 Surf🦘 Wildlife🍻 Hostels🚐 Road Trips

Backpacking Australia

The classic working holiday destination — Australia is expensive but the Working Holiday visa (ages 18–30) lets you earn while you travel. The east coast circuit (Sydney, Byron, Brisbane, Cairns) is one of the world's great backpacker routes.

£60–100/day avg daily budget
Key Info
Dollar (AUD)EnglishType I (Australian)Drive Left
Not expected — but increasingly common in cafés
Weather
Best: Sep–Nov, Mar–May
Shoulder Seasons (Sep–Nov, Mar–May)Warm without the summer crowds — perfect for the east coast drive
Vast country — north is tropical (avoid Dec–Mar), south temperate. East coast great year-round.
Health
Tap water safe — Excellent tap water quality throughout Australia
No vaccines requiredrecommended
Transport
Uber13cabsGreyhound east coast bus
✈️ Sydney (SYD) / Melbourne (MEL) / Brisbane (BNE) / Cairns (CNS)
Train and metro in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane — Greyhound for coast hopping
Emergency
👮 Police000
🚑 Ambulance000
🔥 Fire000
The Highlights

8 Things to Do in Australia

01
Road trip the East Coast — rent a campervan from Cairns to Sydney or vice versa
02
Sail the Whitsunday Islands — anchor at Whitehaven Beach at sunset
03
Snorkel or dive the Great Barrier Reef at Cairns or the Whitsundays
04
Hike the Blue Mountains and see the Three Sisters at dawn
05
Watch the sunrise over Uluru (Ayers Rock) — deeply sacred and deeply moving
06
Surf Bondi, Byron Bay, or Bells Beach depending on your level
07
Four-wheel-drive Fraser Island — the world's largest sand island
08
Do a work exchange on a farm in exchange for free accommodation
Where to Go

Breaking Down Australia

Each region has a completely different character. Here is what to expect.

🏙️Sydney

Opera House, Bondi Beach, Blue Mountains. The Bondi to Coogee coastal walk is the best free morning in Australia. Blue Mountains (2 hours) feel genuinely wild.

🐠Cairns and the Reef

The world's largest coral reef — snorkelling and diving from day boats. The outer reef has better coral health. Live-aboard dive boats (3 days) access the finest sites.

🦘Melbourne

Australia's most liveable city — coffee culture taken very seriously, street art laneways, world-class restaurants. The Great Ocean Road (12 Apostles) is a 3-day self-drive from here.

🏜️Uluru

Uluru at sunrise and sunset changes colour in ways photos don't capture. The Anangu ask visitors not to climb it — walk around it instead (10km, 3.5 hours). Kings Canyon equally extraordinary.

Money Breakdown

What to Budget For

Budget Tip

Australia is expensive.

Hostel Dorm

Hostel dorm £25-40.

Eating Out

Cafe breakfast £8-12.

Budget Tip

Supermarket self-catering saves significantly.

Getting Around

The Greyhound bus pass and campervans are the traditional budget routes..

Travel Responsibly

Eco and Community Tips

Keep 10 metres from all wild animals and never feed them. The Great Barrier Reef is stressed by climate change — choose dive operators supporting reef restoration. Take guided walks with Aboriginal-owned tour operators rather than self-guiding at cultural sites.

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