Going Down Under; What it is like to travel in Australia
About 10 years ago, I booked my plane ticket without even knowing what it is like to travel in Australia. Lonely Planet was my main travel guide, as mobile internet was not that advanced yet. And more important, it was a time where I had an unlimited amount of time to spend my holiday. Now times have changed, after my recent 3 week trip, I would love to share my experience about what it is like to travel in Australia in 2017!
Sure, we’ve all heard from this beautiful country down under. Filled with kangaroos, wonders of the world and some dangerous creatures here and there. But since it is such a long journey to get there in the first place, it might seem like it is not worth the effort, but trust me, it is! I have been fortunate enough to visit the country twice. The first time for about 6 months and the second time for a 3 week holiday. Of course I do not want to spoil your imagination about this fantastic part of the world, but if you would like to know what it is like to travel in Australia, keep on reading!
Upon arrival…
The first moment I arrived in Sydney, still pretty jet lagged yet full of energy, I knew it was a great decision to fly all the way to the other side of the world and take on a journey to explore this far away continent.
People are laid-back, everybody is friendly and opposite to the Netherlands, everybody spends his or her free time outside. Where they enjoy each other’s company and the great weather on most occasions. If I would compare Sydney to any other place in the world,I’d say it has the grandness of a city like New York, the laid-back atmosphere of California and lots of happy people with a charming accent. It is all very relaxed and easy going.
But of course you don’t fly the distance, just to see Sydney. So, what is it like to explore this country? Why would I recommend it? Well first of all, the country or better, the continent (because it is BIG) is very diverse. Whether you are into beach life, surfing, hiking, spotting (unique) wildlife, diving, sailing or city life. Australia offers it and that is what makes this country so great! Second is that everything is pretty easy to arrange. There are no language barriers (mostly), the culture is very western and yet traveling still feels like an adventure.
Australian Beach life
The beach life in Australia is great, the sun shines bright, the water is clear and looks extremely inviting. But it is good to keep in mind that in some parts of the country you cannot just swim anywhere in the ocean. Due to a number of things, like currents, jellyfish or crocodiles, not just any reason so to say.
The vibe and sights are different throughout the country. The east coast signature look is relaxed! White sandy beaches, with good surf all the way between Sydney and Brisbane.
Queensland
In the North of Queensland, surroundings will appear more like the tropics with rain forrests that surround the beaches. In the northern part of Queensland, you cannot just jump in the ocean anywhere you like. During the months November to May the waters are populated by poisonous jellyfish (stingies). From the plain and simple one, up to the ones who’s poison can be lethal to humans. Outside of the jellyfish season, you still have to take into account that saltwater crocodiles inhabit the waters as well. so don’t just go around dipping your toes in, because risks still apply.
We heard the story of a lady who went for a swim in Palm Cove a bit north of Cairns. In the early morning she swam a few laps within the netted enclosure on the beach. Although the life gard was not yet on duty at that early hour, she felt save within the enclosure. She was shocked when she came face to face with a salt water crocodile. She managed somehow to get out alive, but it tells a clear story how careful you need to be in and even close to those waters.
In Queensland you can also find one of the most beautiful world heritage sights on earth. The Great Barrier Reef. As I mentioned before, the country is very diverse and whether you are a diver or you want to learn more about the ocean. The reef is the place to go and a true highlight of Queensland.
The South Coast
The south coast on the other hand, between Melbourne and Adelaide is more rough, with high limestone cliffs and lush green vegetation. This makes for beautiful sights, they don’t call it Great Ocean Road for nothing.
Western Australia
The west coast is more versatile, from white/yellow sandy beaches, to shell covered bays and rocky cliffs. The advantage of the west is that there are no dangerous jellyfish and no crocs, so here you can jump in and out as you please, but mind the sharks. Good surf is also present you even find some relaxing surfing towns here and there.
Surf Rescue
Luckily at the most popular beaches you will always find lifeguards who keep an eye on you. Swimming is only allowed between the red and yellow flags, because this is where the guards will be present. They will also warn you about possible presence of jellyfish or rip currents. Besides that, you are free to ask them if you are not sure about the situation in the water.
When we were traveling, there was a surfer in the news, who was picked up by a cargo ship 6 km from the coast. He had been floating on his board for almost 24 hours. As he was swept away from the coast by the strong current and wasn’t able to make it back.
Last but nog least, wear sunscreen! The sun is extremely strong in this part of the world. So a minimum factor 30 is highly recommended.
City life
The most populated area’s in Australia, are in and around the big cities, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Cairns and Darwin. The cities provide everything you look for in a city. It’s lively, lots of pubs and cool restaurants, great coffee places and the best part is that each city has it’s own feel to it.
Sydney has a super relaxed atmosphere and you will find nice beaches all around the city. Melbourne is a bit more arty and has a rough edge, street art is present throughout the city. Perth is one of the most sunny cities in the world and blessed with an amazing coastline, the hip and trendy suburb Fremantle is also worth a visit. Cairns is the take-off point for trips to the reef and due to that, you will find that is quite touristy. Still the city does a great job in keeping it appealing for their visitors.
In general the cities are easy to navigate, especially compared to European cities. Similar like in the US, cities are build in blocks, so no troubles of getting lost.
Wining and dining
When it comes to dining out in the cities, the choice of restaurants is pretty big. Next to some proper steakhouses, there is a lot of Asian food, like Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Indian or even Malaysian cuisine. Keep in mind that prices can be quite steep for certain restaurants especially for alcoholic beverages. Luckily there are options. In Australia they have a B.Y.O (Bring Your Own) concept, meaning that you can bring your own drinks to some restaurants.If this is the case, BYO will be mentioned somewhere in the menu.
Tips are welcome, but don’t need to exceed 10% of the total price.
Not very interested in dining out? Public parks and boulevards offer free to use BBQ’s and picknick tables. So all you need is a quick visit to the supermarket and you can have a great barbie.
We found that the Aussies are pretty passionate about the breakfast (or, brekkie). Apparently this is an important meal of the day and they make them with passion wherever you are and whatever you like: granolas, local fruits, eggs, English style with beans. We often found that this was the best meal of the day, so be sure to try this apart from the standard continental breakfast from your hotel.
Driving the Australian roads
In case you didn’t know already, in Australia you drive on the left side of the road! Besides getting familiar with driving on the ‘other’ side of the road (for most of us), the roads are pretty easy to navigate. If you rent a car, they will offer you navigation for a high price. But after driving ourselves, I’d say, you don’t need them.
Getting from one place to the other, there is usually only one road and if that is not the case, these days we are equipped with smart phones. I used to load the route into Google maps, put it on flight mode and the GPS told me exactly where I was. I never got lost and the worst case is that you need to ask a friendly local to guide you the way.
Besides that, cities are marked well on the road signs. You drive straight ahead unless the signs tell you otherwise.
Road information
Throughout most of the country (except in and around the big cities) it is advised to avoid driving after sunset or around and before sunrise. The reason for this is that the wildlife, mostly kangaroos, like to come out around these times and explore the roads to find food. The last thing you want is a dead kangaroo on the hood of your car. In case you do encounter an accident with wildlife, it is the courtesy that you take the animal off the road to prevent further accidents.
If you decide to drive in the outback, take in mind that not all roads will be paved. In fact, for some roads you will need a 4 wheel drive vehicle. Most unpaved roads are well maintained gravel roads, especially if they lead to popular tourist attractions. But due to several weather conditions unpaved roads can be subject to wash outs and creeks can flood the roads. Be sure to check the road conditions here before you plan a trip. Caution for wildlife whilst driving through the outback is extremely important.
In Queensland, in times of heavy rainfall, roads can be subject to flooding. If there is a lot of rain, roads can be closed if they flood. It is strongly advised, to never drive through a waterpool, as you don’t know the depth. Current information about possible road closures can be found at RACQ.
In gereral
Be sure to carry enough water with you at all times. My personal advice would be to try and hire a vehicle with blinded windows. This is a big advantage on sunny days, where some air-con’s just don’t offer enough protection against the heat. The sun in Australia is very strong, and on long drives this is a great solution. Furthermore, stick to the speed limits, as they check a lot.
Even though the distances are pretty big, driving the Australian roads is pretty relaxed and so are the Australian drivers. Road conditions are pretty good, signage is clear and not excessive. Also, gas prices are quite good.
Planning is essential
Knowing what it is like to travel in Australia, I’d say planning is your best friend. It makes it possible for you to see as much as feasible in your holiday. Even though I am not really a person who plans out a holiday. For my 3 week holiday, I literally planned every day before we actually left for the trip. When you have all the time in the world though, don’t plan a thing, just take it as it comes… But for most of us, this is not the case unfortunately.
Think about the best time to travel
The summertime is of course the most popular time to visit Australia. In Australia this is from December until May. When you decide to spend your Christmas holiday in Australia, be prepared for high(er) prices and a lot of local tourists. It is especially then, when you need to plan ahead and make reservations. As you might know celebrating the new year in Sydney is a world famous event. Fireworks fly into the sky from the Harbour bridge and everybody is extatic from the atmosphere in the city. This is one of the best times in Sydney, but you also have to book as early as 6 months in advance, to pay a reasonable price for your accommodation.
But depending on the things you want to do or see, your time to travel can be a different one. After May the risk of jellyfish decreases a lot, making it possible to swim the waters of Northern Queensland. Or maybe you just come to spot the whales, making their annual appearance in autumn.
But hey, whatever you decide, it’s Australia, it’s amazing!!
Accommodation
Although the bigger cities offer all types of hip and trend hotels, smaller towns in the country side often don’t have a lot of options besides their local motel or hostel. I found that motels are often (not always!) a bit outdated but offer all convenience you need. Most motel rooms have a kitchenette and a BBQ, so if you wish you can prepare your own food. My personal opinion was that motel prices can be steep at times, even though the rooms are not incredible.
But sometimes spending a little extra is worth the effort. I spend a couple of nights at the Palm Bay resort on a remote island Long Island and it was amazing. The picture above is exactly what it looked like.
Budget travelers will notice that every town will have a hostel for them to spend the night. One of my favorite hostels are the YHA hostels. They have pretty good quality standards and are usually pretty clean and well maintained.
In the end, what it is like to travel in Australia
What you can expect when you travel in Australia is a lot of stunning seascapes, great hikes a lot of sunshine and people that are very laid back and happy to help you out. But also take into account that a visit to this country doesn’t come cheap. Budget wise it is best to avoid the Christmas holidays as prices can be quite steep and the best places are booked out months in advance.
The country is well facilitated for tourists, making a holiday pretty comfortable. So I’d say, no worries mate, just go to Australia!