Backpackers planning for travel in Australia will find it to be a thrilling adventure. An entire continent, filled with all kinds of pleasures both natural and man-made, awaits visitors. The trip includes urban meccas like Sydney and Melbourne, fabulous beach vacations along the Gold Coast, and exotic adventures into the Outback.
An exploration of the land down under usually has Sydney as the first stop. Backpacker hostels here can be found in the CBD (southern half) and Haymarket, and some may prefer to stay in the cheap accommodations in beach-front suburbs like Manly or Bondi. Sydney attractions aside, there’s plenty more in NSW to enjoy with day trips out of Sydney that take travelers to the Blue Mountains or the wine country in Hunter Valley.
Melbourne with its stadiums and football loving people should be the first pit-stop in Victoria. Most of the budget accommodations are concentrated either in the city centre or in St. Kilda. Don’t miss Luna Park in St. Kilda, the cafes in Fitzroy, shopping on Chapel St. In Prahran, and Brighton Beach.
In Tasmania’s Hobart, there are plenty of decent backpackers near the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, and in the New Town suburb about 4 km from the CBD. Those visiting Queensland will no doubt want to start with Brisbane and make out at Mt. Coot-tha. The best place to look for a cheap stay in Brisbane would be in Upper Roma St.
In South Australia, the cheap Adelaide hostels can be found near the central bus station, and a trip to the Barossa Valley is recommended for wine lovers. Those visiting Western Australia will need to start from Perth, and should be ready for football, beaches and kangaroos. The Northbridge area in Perth is a good place to look for backpackers.
A trip to the Northern Territory and Darwin is all about cultural immersion into a melting pot of Asians and Aboriginals, with a bit of WW II history and museums thrown into the mix. Mitchell St. Is probably the best place to find backpacker hostels here. Those who have covered all seven of these trips can safely claim to have been backpacking in Oz.
Whether you just want to travel in Australia or you like to travel in Oceania, visit the award-winning Indie Travel Podcast for great advice from real people. As well as articles they have videos and audio podcasts for you to download to your iPod.