Australia’s beautiful landscape is a pleasure to see and experience. Our rich wildlife and abundant beaches are a beacon for world travellers. Australia even made it to the ‘The top 10 happiest countries in 2018’ list. The only downside is that travel can be expensive. Tourism in Australia is a very wealthy affair. If you’re planning a trip to Australia, be ready to spend. Nothing comes cheap, from the food to the transportation. If you’re keen on experience what the land down under has to offer, but not so keen on draining your savings doing it, one great option to consider is backpacking. Backpacking is a great way to travel through Australia without going broke.
Places to see when backpacking in Australia
Sydney
Sydney is most travellers first pit stop in Australia. It’s a bustling city that has something for everyone. You can’t come to Australia and not take some selfies in front of the iconic Harbour bridge and the Sydney Opera House!
Melbourne
Sydney and Melbourne are constantly butting heads over who’s the better city. While Sydney is mainstream Australia, Melbourne can be termed as a more artsy city, with great restaurants and a buzzing nightlife.
Great Ocean Road
Another iconic location is the 12 Apostles rock formation, on the Great Ocean Road. The Great Ocean Road is a road trip that will give you a taste of what Australia is all about – gorgeous beaches, lush rainforest and breathtaking views.
Byron Bay
Byron Bay is a surfer’s paradise. Sure, it’s become more upmarket and fancy over the years, but there’s always room for backpackers who just want to sunbathe at the beach and ride some waves.
The list is nowhere near done. There are many other locations, such as Gold Coast, Airlie Beach and Cairns that are must-see places. It all depends on how much time you have. If you’re planning to travel for a month, you can make it a point to see all the places mentioned here. But if it’s a shorter trip, you will have to pick and choose the locations, based on what you want to see.
Best way to travel an Australia – buy a used car
The best option when backpacking is to buy a used car to drive around. If your trip is longer than a week, then buying a used car is actually the most cost effective option, beating out renting a car or travelling by public transportation.
Where to buy used cars?
You can buy a cheap used car from a dealer or from online platforms such as Gumtree (which is similar to Craigslist). Remember that you only need the car for a couple of weeks, so be flexible with what you want and find one that fits within your budget. The main thing is to not get carried away and buy something fancy. What you need is a car in relatively good condition to take you from place to place.
Where to sell used cars?
Of course at the end of your trip, you will want to sell your car. What you need is a quick and easy way to do that. Selling a car is very easy if you know where to look. There are many Facebook Groups that are great avenues for a quick car sale.
Cheap accommodation – backpacker hostels & AirBnB are the way to go
Cheap accommodation is a big part of the backpacking experience. Apart from the traditional backpacking hostels, you can also look for affordable accommodation on AirBnB. A word of caution though, always be sure to read reviews and do your research before option for accommodation. Another great option for accommodation, if you’re not averse to roughing it out, is camping. You can load up a tent in your car, book camping sites en route your Australian road trip, and stay as close to nature as possible.
There are many great apps for backpackers to help you plan your trip, read reviews about places, find accommodation and plan your outdoor activities such as hiking and biking.