Author	Message
Hannah Maton Member	# Posted: 15 Feb 2010 23:17:21 · Edited by: Hannah Maton Hi Guys I’m a 23 year old female planning to travel alone to Aus in September 2010. This is the first time I've travelled anywhere (apart from a few 2 week holidays in Europe which isn't really travelling haha). I'm currently looking into the best route to take in Aus and things to see and do while I'm there. I've got the working holiday visa so have lots of time to fit lots in. I'm a bit worried as I'm travelling on my own, so does anyone have any tips on travelling alone and is it easy to meet people? I mainly know I want to spend new years in Sydney and was wondering if anyone else has spent new years there? Any tips of things to take, places to go etc would be really appreciated. Thanks Hannah

Azerus85 Member South Australia	# Posted: 2 Mar 2010 13:24:20 Hi there. I'm an Aussie and live in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia. I've travelled around the whole country, both as a child with my parents (we were/are 4WDers), and on my own with friends as an adult (currently 24). Australia is so diverse, so let me some a few states up for you, and you can ask me more about each state that interests you: New South Wales (NSW) - the home of the Sydney Opera House, and one of our busiest cities, yet also contains some beautiful outback areas. Sydney has some pretty wild nightlife, great sights to see, but the people in general feel more rushed than anywhere else. As an overseas traveller it should be on your list, but as a resident i have no personal interest in visiting the place again. Queensland (QLD) - Named the sunshine state, for a reason. Beaches beaches beaches, tropical climate, and some really remote outback areas. Brisbane is pretty laid back, the Gold Coast is the party area, and the Sunshine Coast is just beautiful. Hervey Bay (the key to Fraser Island) is worth a trip. I actually was born in Brisbane, and grew up in Hervey Bay. Try to get to Fraser Island, if you can. Also try to include Cairns on the itenary - rainforest on one side, tropical beach on the other. Northern Territory (NT) - The home of Uluru (or Ayers Rock, before it was renamed). Alice Springs is a party town, but is getting pretty rough - the "locals" are definately an eye opener, and prey on tourists, and are quite violent when drunk, but the place is worth a visit. Darwin should feature prominently on your list, a beach city, so laid back and relaxing, i spent 18 months living there, and loved every minute. The Mindall Beach Markets are great - a truly multi-cultural experience. Western Australia (WA) - So big, and once again, really laid back. I haven't spent much time there, but have visited a few times. Broome and Cable Beach are meant to be pretty spectacular, and a 4WD tour through "The Kimberlies" offers the adventure of a lifetime. Perth is pretty diverse, with a lot of Pacific immigrants giving it a unique vibe that creates some interesting nightlife. South Australia (SA) - Often overlooked, there's still a fair bit to do here. A trip to Kangaroo Island is quite enjoyable, but just visiting the wine regions, and the Adelaide Hills makes it worth while. There are a lot of historic churches, if that's your thing, but the nightlife isn't the busiest. Victoria (VIC) - Most people think of Victoria as "Melbourne", and while the busy city is the capital of the state, the mountains are the thing not to be missed here. Waterfalls, rocky country, and sometimes a bit of snow, it's a great countryside to behold. Australian Capital Territory (ACT) - Worth it just for a trip to our Parliament Houses (new and old), they are magnificent. The other place you must go in this state is Thredbo, aka Blue Cow Mountains, and you've gotta do it in snow season. Tasmania (TAS) - if you can get here, definately do it. I haven't yet, but my parents went not long ago, and just to see Port Arthur (the old convict settlement) can take up days alone. This tiny island has so much to see, and has sight seeing for everyone. That about sums it up. If you'd like to know more about each state, let me know which in particular, and i'll give you some more information. I;d recommend at least three full months to get a glimpse of each state, or a year to really explore the country. We spent 4 years on the road with a 4WD and Caravan, and still haven't seen a lot of what this country has to offer. Acta Non Verba
Nicole5 Member	# Posted: 31 Mar 2010 03:06:29 Hey Hannah, I am a 25 yr old female and travelling alone to Aus in sept as well. I am a little nervous as it is my first time backpacking or really travelling. Have you decided where you are going to be starting your trip yet? I was planning on flying into Cairns and working my way down the east coast...maybe we can chat... Nicole
Rachael101 Member United Kingdom (Great Britain)	# Posted: 2 Apr 2010 17:42:58 ahh Australia is the PERFECT first backpacking experience!! I went backpacking for the first time by myself 2 years ago, 19, 20th birthday in Darwin! Anyway.. never be nervous about meeting people out there. Backpacker scene in Australia is amazing! I know what you guys mean when you say you're not sure where to start though, as i had no clue. But from talking to people when i got there me and another paired up and came up with a plan. Starting in Sydney it was June, so about 25c. Not the greatest of Aussie weather obviously being winter. Anyway we went straight to Perth in WA. Perth is a lovely place. Great backpacker scene called NorthBridge, i wont recomment to stay in the YHA in Northbridge.. the staff are pretty snobby, but get in Northbridge.. i stayed in the barracks, the old swan barracks, good location cool place cool people! Northbridge is the place to be for backpackers!! Then the other half is where u got all your shops and nice places to eat and lots of vineyard tours to do up the river etc. (get a lonely planet guide and find out more!!). After 2 months in Perth we went to Peterpans (which is the backpackers paradise in Oz, its a cybercafe but its where you go to find out all your tours or even if u just want advice on planning a trip or even if u have no clue, the people there can help u!, and if u go enough u get free internet use too!! we even got free sleeping bags when we booked our tour). Anyway, in WA we booked a tour to go all through the bush up to Broome (half way up the west coast) and that included 5 nights there before conintuing up through the kimberlys bush camping through to NT ending in Darwin. Now..there are many ways to do this type of traveling. This, for one, is the most expensive, yet the most safest! But! I soon discovered that if you find your local global gossip (another cyber cafe all backpackers treasure in australia) you will see that every day backpackers go there to advertise car shares and organise traveling together etc, cheaper too! But i just found that on the tours you get to meet loooads of people, good fun, and the guides are great! But i will just say if you do choose to do a tour then pick adventure tours/western exposure because the guides are so much fun!! Bush camping around camp fires, all prices include hostels nation park fees food etc etc!! Others are cheaper but dont include many things, etc! Anyway.. anymore advice on that type of thing please ask, i know alot about it! and i can tell you loads about WA, just ask. Its truely beautiful. Skinny dipped in many billabongs on the tour lol, lots of nationalparks with gorges to explore.. sleeping under the stars in swags in the bush.. amazing! In Darwin as the guy before says is very laid back. And ladies.. the guys are GORGEOUS! and the ratio is about 12 guys to 1 girl.. so.. fun funfun lol. Darwin is literally just full of backpackers wnting sun sex and drinking games. Best backpacker club Darwin is 'the vic hotel' which is full of outrageous drinking games, amzing music and theme nights.. and dirty cheap alcohol! Must have spent 3 nights on 1 night off around this place! I ca recommend hostels there too (and anywhere i have mentioned!!). In Darwin there is the Darwin market too which is Friday and Sunday which is by the beach. everyone goes to watch the sunset on the beach (dont go in though, theres crocs!) and the market has loads of stalls and palm reading and live music etc. and all the aboriginies are dancing to it too, great atmosphere, and omg great food from literally anywhere u can imagine!! Loads of tours you can take from Darwin too. I took another (with Adventure Tours again) to Litchfield and Kakadu. But organise and find out about that stuff when u are there. Tours are sold everywhere. Just get the right one! Amazing national parks to see and lots of bush camping! Also in Darwin there is a jumping crocodile cruise where you go out ont he adelaide river and they hang meat over the edge of the boat and the crocs jump out the water to eat it.. its fucking scary, but amazing! (more details available from me if needed ). hmm what else. You can also, from Darwin choose to tour from there down the centre to uluru and alice springs then from there to the south. Then through victoria- Melbourne, then perhaps back to sydney then up the east coast to cairns? then from Cairns back to Darwin or the surrounding islands! But just, biggest advice, plan it around the weather. In the summer its unbearable on the top half of australia if you aren't used to it, its very high humidity. So i would recommend Darwin/Cairns and etc in their 'winter'.. say winter it was still 35c.. and come down to the second half in their summer, still very hot but not AS humid! ive missed out much detail, but i could go on cause it was the greatest experience of my life. I never stuck with one person when i did the whole thing, as i said, if you hostel it and do tours nd trips you will meet many backpackers and be extremely glad you went solo.
Grant Bradford Member Troon, Ayrshire,United Kingdom (Great Britain)	# Posted: 14 Apr 2010 14:02:47 Hey Hannah - Im a newbie too although done a few month long trips in Europe! Im heading to Sydney in November 2010 ! I have got a few ideas of how I was going to do it so would be happy to share my plans! Would also be cool to find out what your planning.
katieh85 Member United Kingdom (Great Britain)	# Posted: 19 Apr 2010 22:56:58 Hey Hannah, me and a friend are planning on going to New Zealand and Australia in September for 4 months. We are planning on starting in Cairns and working our way down the East coast - New Year in Sydney. We've heard that's the best way to do it as the weather gets really humid with monsoons in the North as you get further into Summer. We have booked flights to Alice Springs as one of the first things that we do but we're unsure about whether we need to book a trip to Ayers rock before we go or whether that's something we can do when we get there. We are planning on buying an Oz-Experience bus pass and working our way down the East coast as we heard that was one of the best ways to see things you wouldn't normally see and meet new people. We have some friends who went for a year and they used Greyhound buses and said they were fine - we thought that we'd try to make the most out of our traveling as we'll only have 3 months in Oz.
Nicole5 Member	# Posted: 20 Apr 2010 06:26:07 Hey Katie I am planning on headin to Oz in Sept, I was thinking of starting in cairns as well. I dont have as much planned as you do yet, but would like to chat and here what your plans and ideas are...my emails nici_5@hotmail.com or you can add me to Facebook! Nicole
karenmb84 Member	# Posted: 12 Jul 2010 22:36:55 Hey, Me and my bf are travelling to Oz in September too, aiming to be in Sydney for new year which seems popular!! we are startin in Cairns, as it works out best for the climate! Been trying to think about how much stuff to take and finding it quite hard to plan for 6 months!! we are hoping to meet loads of people whilst travelling. Im on facebook if anyone wants to discuss ideas and plans! (karen michelle broughton on fb) xx
steste Member Merseyside	# Posted: 16 Jul 2010 10:56:59 Hey Hannah! I'll be getting to Sydney in August some time and sort of plan on staying until new year. My sister was there last year and said it is a must to be there for NY!! After that I fancy going either Cairns back to Sydney or Sydney up the coast. Have you got any more plans yet? PS I'm travelling alone too stestexx
alseenvandijkje Member Australia	# Posted: 28 Jul 2010 00:46:06 Hi Hannah and Nicole, I'm a 25 yo dutch female, and at the moment staying at Geelong West (45 minutes drive from Melbourne) as an aupair and also plan to travel in Oz starting jan 2011. So if you're nearby, let's meet!! And we could travel together for al while: alseenvandijkje@hotmail.com C ya!
alseenvandijkje Member Australia	# Posted: 28 Jul 2010 00:48:44 Azerus, thnx for the information! Great..! Do you also meet with backpackers or do you only inform them? Cheers, Astrid