Today I’m sharing some things to know before backpacking in Australia. Like many people, the thought of spending a year travelling in Australia has always appealed to me. A friend recently got back, and she told me the things she learnt during her year over there, so I thought I’d share her wisdom here. So keep reading to find out what you need to know before travelling in Australia.
Stuff to do Before Backpacking in Australia
I think most people have dreamed of travelling at one point or another in their lifetime. My two best friends spent a year seeing the world when we were all 19, and one of my biggest regrets in life is not going with them. If you also dream of travelling in Australia, keep reading for tips to help you do just that!
Familiarise Yourself With Australian Rules Before Travelling in Australia
Before travelling anywhere, it’s important to familiarise yourself with the rules and customs of the country you’re visiting. An interesting thing I learnt from my friend is that if a tourist wins big when gambling in Australia, they don’t pay tax on it there, like you do in America. So don’t feel guilty about googling casino online Australia real money while you’re over there, for the chance to win some extra spends. Don’t forget to gamble responsibly though!
Apply for a Visa BEFORE you Book Anything
Before you book your tickets, it’s important to know you need a visa to visit Australia. Once it’s granted, you’ll have a full year to activate it, so it’s best to apply before you book everything else, just in case they reject your application.
If you’ll be in Australia for under 3 months, a tourist visa is fine. If you’re wanting to stay longer than that, you’ll need to apply for either a working holiday visa or a visitor visa, which can last for three, six or twelve months. Once your visa has been approved, you have 12 months to fly to Australia and use it.
You can’t get a job in Australia if you’re entering without a working holiday visa, and they currently cost AUD $635 (£336 gbp), and takes up to ten weeks to come back. Working holiday visas are only available to adults aged between 18 and 30 (or 18 to 35 in some cases), so if you’re over 35, no working holiday visa will be granted.
If you’re working remotely and paying tax in a different country, a visitor visa will be sufficient. (This is what my friend did). A visitor visa currently costs AUD $200 (£105 gbp), and usually takes a few days to be approved.
You will have to show your visa upon arrival in Australia, so make sure you apply in plenty of time. (They take anywhere between 1 day and 10 weeks to come back, so make sure you sort it in plenty of time)!
Book Accommodation in Advance
The best hostels tend to book up well in advance, so it’s important to work out your budget, your itinerary and try to book in advance wherever possible for the best value stays. My friend loved the fact that private rooms in hostels start from USD$40 per night, and dorms start from USD$16 per night. That’s £12.80 for a bed in a dorm or £30 for a private room in a dorm, per night!
If your budget is a little more than that, make sure you consider airbnb as well as hotels, as there’s plenty of great options. You can get a double bedroom in a beautiful house with shared kitchen and lounge facilities in Sydney for AUS$1040 (£551gbp) per month, which is perfect for a couple!
Final Thoughts on Travelling in Australia
My own personal bits of advice to anyone about to go travelling in Australia is to make sure you buy travel insurance as soon as you book your flights so that you’re covered from then onwards. And to also know that not all Australian beaches have shark nets, and not all beaches permit swimming, so it’s important you check before you hit the water!
So there you have it! You now know the three things my friend says you should know before backpacking in Australia. Whether you’re there for a month or a year, there’s so much to see and do. Let me know in the comments if you have any tips you’d like to share with others who are about to head off travelling in Australia for the first time.
