Start planning your next adventure down under with our Ultimate Australia travel tips destination guide!
This sunburnt continent is known worldwide for its beautiful beaches, national parks ecosystem, amazing coral reefs and wildlife found nowhere else.
Come see the waves and surf at Bells beach, enjoy the coffee culture of Melbourne, snorkel the Great Barrier Reef or hike through the worlds oldest temperate rainforest there are so many things to see in Australia.
Planning a trip to Australia is an exciting and fun time full of planning and packing, but there are quite a number of things you should know before you pack your suitcase and travel to Australia.
Whether you’re a backpacker, seasoned traveller or prefer your eggs benny we’ve created this guide to ensure you are best prepared for EVERYTHING Australia can throw at you.
We hope you find this guide on how to travel to Australia helpful in planning your next trip.
Chris and Laura Travels acknowledges the Bunurong people as the traditional custodians of the land, and we pay our respects to Aboriginal elders past and present.
READ MORE>> Check out these INCREDIBLE activities in Australia in 2023
Australia travel tips summary
If you don’t feel like reading this whole guide then this Australia travel summary will give you a basic understanding of what to expect.
Currency
The Australian dollar is the currency that comes in both coin and polymer plastic form. There’s also an extensive range of ATMs and banks to withdraw money from.
At the time of writing 1AUD = 0.67USD, 0.54 British Pounds and 0.61 Euro
Entry/Visa Requirements
From countries other than New Zealand you will require a Visa to enter Australia and may need to meet certain health requirements like vaccines that will be declared before arriving.
Make sure you check the latest update on Australian entry requirements.
Power
A type 1, 3 flat pined adaptor in a triangular fashion using 230V supply voltage in 50Hz is what is used nationwide.
Transport
Australia is a huge country, however its made easier for travel with a range of public transport options such as trains and city trams, taxis and Ubers with ride share options.
Most major train lines in major cities originate in the central business district and flow out to the suburbs and beyond.
Safety tips
Generally speaking Australia is a very safe country for travellers, with a fairly low crime rate and almost non-existent gun issues, the most common crime amongst travellers is petty theft.
Take normal precautions when walking around cities and avoid dark scary alleys at night time!
Language
The spoken and written language is English, or at least a version of it! If you’ve ever heard Australian slang before you would question if it really is or not.
Best time to Visit Australia
The summer months run from December to February with average daily temperatures sitting at 25 degrees Celcius. Of course there is a lot of variation to that with temperatures reaching 40C +, or below 20C.
It also happens to be the busiest time of the year to visit Australia as school holidays run from mid December to end of January
Cost of living
Generally speaking it is very expensive to live in Australia, and travellers should expect to pay anywhere from $50-$100 a day on 3 meals in most major cities. That being said it costs nothing to visit the beach and lounge all day.
Geography
There are 6 states and 2 territories in Australia, with Canberra being the capital. Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane, Hobart and Darwin being the capital of all the other states.
Health Care and Travel Insurance
Australia has one of the best health care systems in the world, seriously! Citizens enjoy free access to public health care, and travellers from certain countries are entitled to this under the Healthcare Reciprocal.
You can check if your country is on the benefit list here.
If you’re not covered under the agreement, we strongly recommend purchasing Travel Insurance when you visit Australia.
Home to the most amount of top 10 venemous snakes in the world, a sprinkling of spiders drop bears (just kidding), you don’t want to risk serious medical illness or trauma and be out of pocket a house deposits worth!
Thats why we trust World Nomads Insurance, with a wide range of coverage at the best price on the insurance market, we do not pack our bags without it.
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Top 5 Travel Experiences in Australia
The lucky part about exploring Australia is that because it’s so vast and diverse, with ever changing landscapes and climates the top travel experiences are all so different from each other and unique in their own way.
With so many things to see and do in Australia we’ve curated the Top 5 most popular activities in Australia.
Go Snorkelling/Diving
It goes without saying that snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef is a one of a kind adventure situated on the north east coast of mainland Australia in the tropical north of Queensland.
Whether you choose to snorkel, go scuba diving or simply admire the reef from the boat, this 2300km stretch of biologically diverse marine ecosystem is home to thousands of species of fish, turtles, sharks and colourful coral reef.
Visit Uluru
The cultural heart of Australia and known to postcards worldwide, this gigantic sandstone rock formation in the Northern territory attracts thousands of tourists from across the globe and has to be included in your Australia travel itinerary.
Roughly 550 million years old and sitting within Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park, Alice Springs is the closest town to the red centre some 450km away.
It’s of great spiritual importance to the local Indigenous people of Australia and one of the best ways to explore the red centre is by seeing it from above, or doing one of the hikes around the base.
Sydney Opera House
Sydney is the capital city of New South Wales on Australias eastern coast where the architecturally impressive multi-venue performing arts centre sits in the canals of the south pacific ocean within the Sydney CBD.
Every New Years Eve the world watches the firework display from the Opera House overlooking Sydney harbour bridge which you can also climb.
While you’re in Sydney why not surf at Bondi Beach, walk up the Sydney Harbour Bridge, sail across the harbour, party in Kings Cross or explore the other beaches like Coogee, manly or Bronte Beach.
Get your Sydney Opera admission ticket below
Go on a road trip, anywhere!
Okay so we’re getting a little vague here, but WHY we included this in the top 5 best experiences in Australia is that you can choose any city or town, get yourself a rental car and hit the road to anywhere!
Australia offers some of the best road trips in the world like the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, the Flinders Ranges in South Australia or go inland to central Australia.
Island hop the Whitsundays
When travelling in Australia there are few places that akin to the Whitsunday islands, a group of 74 island off the central coast of Queensland (mostly uninhabited) where the perfect winds allow for world class sailing.
Sail the Whitsunday islands
Other things to do in Australia
When planning a trip to Australia make sure you consider the following places as these are some incredible bucket-list activities found nowhere else in the world.
Explore Ningaloo Reef
Almost one third of the entire Australian continent is western Australia where an abundance of marine wildlife awaits you at every corner.
The perfect place to go diving along the Coral Coast and swim with Whale sharks, Manta rays, Humpback whales and the largest fringing coral reef anywhere in the country.
Wander further north and visit Exmouth for its white sand pristine beaches, Coral Bay, Monkey Mia and Shark Bay for stand up paddle boarding on the west coast.
Make sure you head out to Lucky Bay in Cape Le Grand national park on the southern coast of western Australia to sun bath with Kangaroos.
Take a selfie with Quokkas on Rottnest island
Head to the capital city of Perth for free walking tours of the city, a must do when you visit Australia before heading out to Rottnest Island off of the Coral Bay coast to meet the only Australian animal that will smile for a photo.
Take the 25 minute Rottnest Island ferry to experience this one of a kind wildlife encounter and combine it with an all day bike rental for $114AUD from Get Your Guide.
Search for Pearls in Broome
The rich waters of Roebuck Bay in Western Australia is known as the largest pearling port in the world, having begun operations in the 1880’s, by the turn of the century there were in excess of 300 ships (known as luggers) involved in the pearling trade.
Although business declined at the end of WW2, you can still learn about the rich history of pearling by joining a pearl farm tour for $145AUD
Hike the oldest rainforest in the world- Daintree Rainforest
Older than the Amazon rainforest, the Daintree rainforest sits in tropical north Queensland.
Sir David Attenborough described this place as the most extraordinary place on earth, celebrating its 180 millionth birthday.
Be sure to give yourself enough time to join a full day 4WD tour from Cairns.
Explore the Northern Territory
Abundant in wildlife like saltwater crocodiles, explore the region by taking a Kakadu wilderness escape tour whilst staying in eco-friendly sustainable accommodation.
Just north of Cairns and Port Douglas this place should be high on your Australian itinerary.
Learn to surf on the Gold Coast
The reason you visit Australia- let’s be real here, is to learn how to tackle world class waves, and the Gold Coast in Queensland makes for a great day trip.
Why not try a 2 hour surf lesson at Broadbeach on one of Australia’s most beautiful beaches, just remember to stay between the red and yellow flags.
See turtles hatch in Bundaberg
Is there anything more cuter than baby turtles hatching on a beach? Why not see for yourself and experience the largest concentration of nesting Loggerhead turtles anywhere in the south pacific.
Bundaberg is the place to go which is conveniently close to Hervey Bay, Fraser island and the southern Great barrier reef islands of Great Keppel, Heron Island and Lady Musgrave Island.
Venture off the coast and visit Lady Musgrave island from Bundaberg.
Stroll down the Southbank of Brisbane
Brisbane may not be the ultimate Australian city that comes to mind when booking an Australian vacation but it’s very handy as a major city stop between Sydney and tropical north Queensland.
Stroll the city streets for a local pub meal or check into one of the many hostels before making your way north.
Camp out in the Blue Mountains
A short 2 hour train ride from Sydney is the epic Blue Mountains, getting its name from the blue haze that sweeps across the limestone formations when Eucalyptus vapours mix with water in the air.
Take a scenic luxury trip to the Blue mountains from Sydney
Katoomba falls is one of the many waterfalls of the region where you can stay for the night in the town.
The three sisters are a popular natural tourist destination best viewed from Echo point lookout at sunrise or sunset, or take an eco friendly guided walking tour with Aboriginal Blue Mountains walkabout.
Spend a week in Lord Howe island
A 2 hour flight off the coast, Lord Howe Island is a tiny island that only ever welcomes 400 visitors at a time, because it’s so small! Beach hop or bird watch, this part of New South Wales will blow your mind.
Climb Mount Kosciuszko
At over 2200 metres tall Mount Kosciuszko is mainland Australia’s highest mountain situated in the ACT (Australian Capital Territory) that you have to try on your way from Melbourne to Sydney.
Navigate through the Australian outback
Synonymous with thoughts of Australia, the aussie outback is an incredible display of what harshness and raw beauty of our land. Head to Australia’s northern territory to explore the land still inhabited and revered by Indigenous Australians on a scenic flight.
Beautiful national parks such as Kakadu national park, Karajini and Litchfield national park as well as the Kimberley region in western Australia. Find local waterholes to spend an evening whilst admiring the sunset.
Train in luxury across the continent
The Ghan train runs between Adelaide and Darwin through both western Australia and the northern territory as one of the worlds finest great train rides.
The full length journey will take 4 days across 2979km of rich history and landscape operating April to October, but it’s not cheap!
If you choose to get off in Alice Springs you should consider hiking the Larapinta trail also, one of the best hikes in Australia.
Discover Melbourne laneways and coffee culture
Spend days traversing the maze of alleys and laneways of the central business district of Melbourne, taking the train to the iconic Flinders street station and immersing yourself in the world renowned coffee culture.
We love a good espresso, why not try a Melbourne Magic!
A scenic boat cruise on the Yarra river is the best way to see the Melbourne city highlights.
Tasmania’s Wineglass bay
Freycinet national park on Tasmania’s east coast is home to Wineglass Bay (for obvious reason) where you can hike to the best vantage point overlooking the Tasman Sea.
Take the ferry from Melbourne to Tasmania, see the sights in Hobart but be warned, Tasmania looks small but it’s a very big state.
Take a wine tour
None better than the wineries of South Australia, explore world famous vineyards in Barossa valley, McLaren vale, or the Hunter Valley in New South Wales.
Margaret River in western Australia is another fantastic option here, better yet book a wine tour bus and save yourself from driving!
Skydive for the best veiws
No travel to Australia is complete without seeing it from the sky above- and this skydiving tour in Rottnest Island or the Great Barrier Reef is the ultimate way to see the country in all its glory.
Suggested Australia Travel Itinerary
The 6th largest country in the world with the 6th largest coastline can take A LONG TIME to travel around which is why we’ve created multiple itineraries and road trip suggestions to help you plan.
By far, the east coast receives the majority of Australian tourism as it is the most densely populated region so if you plan on staying for two weeks it’s best to pick one area and stay there, unless you have more than a month!
2 week Australia travel itinerary highlights
If you choose to explore the east coast there are a number of options and very helpful tips we personally recommend.
One month travelling Australia
This is the best amount of time to visit Australia because you wont feel so rushed and if you find somewhere you love you can choose to stay longer and still cover enough ground.
Keep in mind your mode of transport will dictate how many days you stay in one place, obviously flying between cities is quicker but a lot more expensive.
The above table is your best resource for a rough planning idea however if you stay in one state for the whole month then consider adding these to your travels..
Combine WA and South Australia
You can choose to fly direct from Adelaide airport to Perth for just over 3 hours with Virgin Australia, or drive the longest straight road in the country, the Nullarbor plain.
Victoria Itinerary + Far North Queensland itinerary
Hit all the main spots in Victoria and add on this far north itinerary to your trip.
More than one month travel Australia highlights
If you’re staying longer than a month you will need a pre-approved visa before flying into the country. Locals tend to stick to one state and explore a certain region, other will take 6 months to a year to do “The Lap” of the country.
This whole itinerary will take on average 60 days to complete not allowing for travel days as per any itinerary here.
Dive deeper into some of the above cities with our in-depth travel guides.
Victoria:
South Australia:
Western Australia:
Australia Travel Tips
To build trust with you, our reader..one half of this dynamic duo was born and raised in Melbourne, so when we share our top tips for travelling to Australia you know it’s coming from a very reliable source!
We’ve collated a number of topics to set you up for success the next time you plan a trip to Australia.
Best time to visit Australia
The summer months of Australia run historically from December to February, however many places like Far north Queensland often describe the seasons as the ‘dry and wet seasons’.
Average temperatures in summer range anywhere from 20°C to 30°C, (68°F to 90°F) and mostly dry conditions.
In far north Queensland however, when the rest of the country experiences dry weather, the tropical systems bring lots of rain with an average of 2000m of rainfall expected through summer with generally more humid conditions.
Northern Australia summer months also bring about the ‘Jellyfish season’, where large masses of different varieties of Box Jellyfish flood the warm, tropical waters of Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef.
Renting a lycra/stinger suit before diving or snorkelling is strongly advised and the Cairns tourism board to an excellent job of circumnavigating this as it is also the best time of year to go scuba/diving the GBR.
NB: at 2 am on the first Sunday of October, Australia winds the clock forward one hour, giving you an extra hour of sunlight to hang on the beach and party. It then ends on the first Sunday in April where we wind the clock back again one hour.
Travelling in Australia suggested budgets
Australia is a very expensive country to live and travel in, which is why we suggest having a half decent budget sorted before you land.
The cost of living is one of the highest in the world, and at the time of writing, (post covid) its very expensive. However there are ways to travel on a budget and not miss out on things you’d like to do.
Summer is also the most expensive time to visit, coinciding with school and university holidays, prices become VERY expensive.
The cost of flights, accommodation and activities also increase so if you’re looking for a cheaper time to travel Australia to save money then look at the shoulder seasons of October to December, or March to May when the crowds die down.
The Australian currency is the Australian dollar, represented in both gold and silver coins, and polymer (plastic) notes in 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 denominations.
Backpacker budget
You could live on a tight backpacker daily budget of roughly $100/day, including meals, accommodation and public transportation. Assuming you choose cheap city walking tours, spend your days at the beach and enjoy nature you could get away with this.
A standard drink in Australia costs $9AUD so add anywhere from 10-20 AUD to your daily budget.
Mid-range budget
On this budget of $200-$300AUD/day hotels and Air Bnb’s become more enjoyable, a few meals out ($15-20 AUD per meal) as well as some awesome day trips and cheap activities in and around the city or by the water like surfing or diving.
Luxury budget
The sky is the limit with this budget and you can really splurge on eating out for every meal, doing daily activities as well as stying in 4-5 star hotels. Choose to rent a car or a van to get between cities or out to the coast and enjoy road trip around the Australian cities.
Budget tips to make your money last
-Cook your meals in if you have a kitchen available
-Use public transport and walk to places, avoid taxis and use Uber if you need
-Purchase a pre-paid SIM card
-Find free wifi in public places like McDonalds, certain cafes will also offer free wifi
-Cut back on alcohol! Seems like poor advice but your hip pocket will thank you
-Bring a re-useable water bottle like this one from ‘That Eco Lifestyle‘
–WWOOF – An Australian program where you work on organic farms in exchange for free rooms and free board. It can make your stay last longer.
Getting in and around Australia
Not only is Australia huge its one of the largest, most isolated continents in the world and prices to fly into the country are often not cheap.
The single biggest advice is to not leave booking your flights to the last minute, instead doing your research well in advance to find the cheapest flights.
The cheapest and easiest way to travel in Australia is by hiring a car and doing self-drives around the states. It’s also the most convenient way to explore.
Flying
Companies like Virgin, Jetstar, Qantas, United and Delta all fly into all Australian international airports.
It helps if you put your web browser into Incognito mode, or purchase a VPN from NordVPN.
Airline companies track the IP address of your computer consistently offering higher rates every time you search, so it helps to keep your information safe and away from peering eyes.
Domestically, Jetstar, Scoot and Tiger airways are the most budget friendly companies to fly with, and they all offer seasonal promotions and discounted flights so keep an eye out.
NB: Post Covid, airline companies have raised the cost of airfares significantly worldwide so expect to pay a lot more for your flight than you would have pre 2020.
To find the cheapest flights all in one place we recommend going with Aviasales.com below
Prices for petrol, diesel and gas are currently high so its important to factor this in ma your travels and weigh this up against the freedom of self driving vs bus tours.
Lots of car rental places operate out of the international airports or close to which makes it easy when you first fly into the country.
Another great option is to hire a campervan and double down on both accommodation and transport.
We have used this option a couple of times and particularly for Australia road trips we find it the most incredible way to see the countryside.
Your initial outlay to hire the van is more expensive than a car, and may require more fuel than a car, but you will save on the cost of additional accommodation every time you stop in places.
Bus
All major Australian cities have an intricate network of public bus transportation in the city, as well as out to the outer city suburbs.
Melbourne city also has a unique tram network that runs around the central business district known as the ‘city circle tram loop’.
Greyhound Bus service is the most extensive and popular bus tour operator in the country, partnering other local bus companies to provide cheap, affordable and comfortable bus travel.
This is definitely the way to go when it comes to budget friendly travel in Australia, meaning you can save money to explore Australia more.
Uber/taxi
Yes, Uber definitely exists in Australia and next to catching a taxi is the most convenient way to get around in short bursts and trips.
Train
Public transportation in the form of trains is also another cheap, reliable and convenient way of getting around cities, as well as making your way out to more rural areas.
Some famous train routes in Australia are ‘The Ghan‘ which travels from Darwin to Adelaide through remote outback in luxury style.
The Indian pacific railway system is one of the worlds longest and oldest train network, running 4352km from the east coast in Sydney to Western Australia’s Perth, bypassing some of the most unique landmarks like Uluru, the Blue Mountains and the Nullabor plain.
Both of these options are fairly expensive and luxurious so expect to pay anywhere from $3-4000AUD.
Australia trip planning
Entry requirements for visiting Australia
With some of the strictest borders in the world, having a visa before entering Australia is a requirement for all travellers (except for New Zealand citizens).
Many countries around the world have an agreement with the Australian government that they do not require a visa to enter, but must obtain an Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601) that usually grants stays up to 3 months at a time.
Check the approved ETA countries here.
If you want to stay longer in Australia, then the Tourism Stream (Subclass 600) can grant you more than 3 months stay, pending eligibility criteria and applicable fees.
Find out from this link here which visa is right for you.
Currently the Australian border is open post covid-19 pandemic, though there may be a number of health requirements to meet before boarding, check with your local airline.
Tipping culture
Thankfully the minimum wage in Australia is high enough that a liveable wage is achievable and tipping culture does not exist. Unless your service was fantastic, there is no expectation you tip your hospitality staff.
Safety travel tips
Overall Australia is a very safe country operating in a democratic society without political tyranny or civil unrest.
Solo Backpackers and couples need not fear walking the streets alone, but there are some simple guidelines to observe, and they don’t all revolve around people!
– Don’t walk dark streets alone at night, if you do make sure someone knows where you are.
-The sun in Australia can be brutal, check the UV radiation and always wear sunscreen and make sure to swim between the red and yellow flags at beaches that are patrolled
-Snakes and spiders are a real thing and they are venemous. Make sure you are prepared when out hiking
-Distances between places are longer than you think, plan ahead.
-We drive on the left hand side of the road and give way to the right.
-Be wary of animals crossing the road, be patient and avoid driving at night.
-Drinking and driving is illegal and you must stick to a Blood Alcohol Concentration of 0.05% or below
-The legal drinking, gambling and driving age is 18 years old
Apps and Technology
Technology has come along way in changing how we travel and we’ve found these apps to be the most supportive when it comes to travel in Australia.
–xCurrency – a great app that lets you convert your own currency into whatever else you’d like
–Uber– the most convenient way to get around major Australian cities to avoid taxi fares
–NordVPN– a cheap and secure way to browse the internet with top notch security wherever you go
–BeachSafe – know the best beach to visit nearest to you, including hazards, rips and surf reports
–WikiCamps – A fantastic app that lets you find free camp spots, drinking water, dump points and points of interest
–Campermate – similar to Wikicamps but also New Zealand’s hottest free camps, paid camps and attractions
-FindMY – whilst this is an inherit app to iphones, make sure it is ON incase your phone goes missing.
Technology
-Baggage etags -I’m sure you’ve seen instagram stories of this before, but having air tags, or similar location trackers that helps you find luggage or items from flights, buses or general travel can save you big time!
Australian Medical system
Home to the most amount of top 10 venemous snakes in the world, a sprinkling of spiders and drop bears (just kidding), you don’t want to risk serious medical illness or trauma and be out of pocket a house deposits worth!
We have one of the best health care systems in the world, and the good news is that if you’re from one of the countries listed here Australia has a Reciprocal agreement whereby the cost of medically necessary care is covered at no expense to you.
If you’re not from these countries then we still personally recommend taking our travel insurance.
We we trust World Nomads Insurance, with a wide range of coverage at the best price on the insurance market, we do not pack our bags without it.
Australia Packing list
The weather here can vary greatly depending on which region you choose to visit at which time of the year so use this as a rough guide to packing your bags
-swim suit (s)
-flip flops
-closed toe shoes
-hiking boots
-t-shirts
-shorts
-jeans
-hiking shorts and shirts
-collared shirt (some club requirements)
-beach towel
-rain jacket
-thick + thin socks
Miscellaneous
-camera
-phone
-laptop + charger
-gopro
-broad brimmed hat
-sunglasses
-mosquito repellent
-sunscreen
-Power bank/travel adaptor with Type 1 plug
Places to stay in Australia
With a range of accommodation options to fit different budgets, one of the best Australia travel tips is to really consider the range of options available to you.
Everything from hostels, air bnb’s, bed and breakfasts, camp grounds and 5 star luxury hotels the prices here can vary from
The benefit to staying in hostels is that your accommodation costs less than $50/night, with access in most places to a kitchen, cleaning facilities and the central location of hostels, meaning you have more money to spend on activities and extend your trip.
Hostels
A great way to make your Australia travels last as long as possible, this is by far the cheapest way to travel.
Most are centrally located in major cities making ease of access to popular tourist attractions quite simple through use of public transportation.
A mix of both mixed gender dorms, private rooms and female only dorms, full amenities including tv’s, a bar, pool room & guest services, hostels can be the perfect backpacker budget accommodation.
Hotels
All the cities in Australia offer a selection of both budget motels as well as mid-range to luxury hotels and suites to sleep very comfortable in.
Travel to Australia can be as luxurious or as barebones as you like it to be, with hotel chains like Mecure, Sofitel or Swissotel all apart of the Accor hotel chain group across Australia and New Zealand.
They’re very nice but they’re also very expensive, however if travelling in style is up your alley then why not check out these great deals over at Booking.com
Camping and Caravan parks
Now if you want to go one further and really cut down costs on your trip to Australia then camping is the way to go.
A lot of caravan parks offer tent camping only options for as little as $15-$20/night with use of the water and showers.
Campervans are a very popular way to see Australia and save money, as you get to cook your own meals on site, or eat at restaurants if you wish.
Bed and Breakfasts
The original air bnb, you generally find bed and breakfasts in the outer regions of the city closer to both small and larger regional towns.
Traditionally offer a more intimate level of accommodation with breakfast cooked for you in the morning by your hosts.
They can often be slightly cheaper than air bnb’s and one of our top tips for Australia is to not shy away from these cute family run cottages as they often make for the comfiest of stays and offer quality travel advice for the region you’re visiting.
How to be a responsible traveller in Australia
This great land is not impervious to the effects of over tourism and plastic pollution, so being mindful of where you are and your footprint as a traveller and visitor is essential to both the economy and the environment.
Tip#1 – Don’t buy plastic bags. Substitute plastic bags for paper bags or cotton tote bags that can be reused over and over again.
Tip#2 – Avoid recycled water bottles, eventually they end up as landfill if not done properly. Purchase reusable bottles like this one here.
Tip#3 – Choose ethical activities. Any tour provider that lets you hold or touch animal are best kept away from and avoided. Instead choose certified, ethically minded tours that also give back to conservation.
Tip#4 – Buy local food from local growers. If possible and in budget, avoid the likes of Woolworths and Coles and support local Aussie farmers and shops that sell organic fruit and veg, or family run stores.
Best things to eat in Australia
Certain cities have a very multi-cultural background and hence the food scene matches each city, but innately we have a bunch of weird and wacky dishes that definitely don’t exist outside of the continent!
Vegemite is top of the list when it comes to acquired tastes; a salty, scrumptious spread that should be used lightly!
Smashed Avo– this is one of the most popular breakfast dishes in Australia, served at most cafes in the country. A smashing of avocado on toast with poached eggs sprinkled with dukkah
Kangaroo– Yes, unfortunately we cull and eat our national emblem but some restaurants serve up a tasty version of this gamey meat
Meat Pies– traditionally served up at football matches or local bakeries, we don’t personally eat meat pies as the meat inside is not often of the highest quality but feel free to try this Aussie pie
Staying connected in Australia
Compared to countries like Canada Australia has some of the cheapest mobile phone plan in the world and this also extends to their SIM card purchases.
A great way to stay connected on your Australia vacation is to bring your unlocked phone and purchase a SIM card from the airport that will have 4G WiFi capability.
Another option is to find free wifi from one of the local cafes or restaurants.
Sometimes you’ll have to buy a coffee or small snack to get the wifi password but then you get free wifi for often an hour at a time.
The other way thats less frequently used is to purchase a portable wifi device that you can get from a number of companies like Telstra, Optus or Vodafone.
Most plans start at around $20/month for 20GB of data and increases from there.
Best booking resources in Australia
One of the best Australia travel tips we can give you is to leave you with some of the most popular sites for travel planning that we personally use.
They consistently have the best deals on the market and cover your everyday essentials for travel to Australia and beyond.
Sky scanner – cheap and reliable website used to book flights all over the world often with handy cancellation policies.
Agoda – A super comprehensible that combines thousands of discounted accommodation options by city or place
Get Your Guide – The perfect website for on-selling the best activities from all over the world, which can be viewed by specific city or by activity. We use this resource a lot!
World Nomads Insurance – We never leave home without ensuring we’re financially safeguarding ourselves against the unforeseeable events when travelling in foreign countries.
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