Australia

Explore Nature

Take your pick for an outdoor adventure. Hot vast desert or cool blue ocean. Lush rainforests or mountain hiking. You name it and Australia probably has it!

Indulge

Whilst food typically associated with Australia (meat pies, sausages and fish & chips) aren’t very gourmet, you can still find excellent food due to Australia being very multicultural.

Art, Culture and Gardens

Get your art fix in Australia at major galleries, smaller art spaces or seeking out the street art (popular in Melbourne and emerging in Adelaide). Enjoy the performing arts scene and then top it off with a picnic in one of the many gardens.

Enjoy the cities

The capital city of each state are very different. Melbourne (VIC) and Sydney (NSW) are known for being bigger and trendier. Adelaide (SA) is sleepy but really lovable, people forget about Hobart (TAS) but it is really charming. Perth (WA) is the beautiful one that demands you empty your pockets of all money and valuables and give them to her before you can enter. Darwin (NT) and Brisbane (QLD) are comfortable and under-appreciated. And lets be honest, no-one really goes out their way to visit Canberra (ACT), but it does make a great stop if you are travelling through.

Australian History

Australia has a dark history with respect to treatment of Indigenous Australians who first lived on this land. You can learn about Indigenous culture in many ways (information centres, tours, cultural experiences) and should research this for the destinations you wish to visit.

Tips and bartering

Tipping is not common in Australia, and many Australians don’t want tipping to become commonplace. Restaurants may have a tip jar on the counter if you want to leave a tip and this money usually goes to paying for a social function for everyone to enjoy, or spilt evenly between staff, rather than going to an individual. Should you barter or haggle in Australia? No! You might be able to get a small discount from markets etc if you are buying multiple products, but in general haggling hard will just make you look like a tight-arse (good Aussie saying for someone who is tight with money!).

Wildlife

The wildlife in Australia can be seriously cute and cuddly but please don’t touch wild animals! In some areas the animals have become very friendly and almost tame. By all means admire them and take some great photos, but give them space.

Plastic

Most states have banned lightweight plastic bags,  but you will still find thicker plastic bags being used. Many retailers have been awesome at moving to paper bags or just refusing to give out bags completely – but it is still best to try and bring re-usable bags. Wonderfully, many farmers market refuse to give out bags and you must bring your own – or you will walk out with fresh produce balancing precariously in your arms!

Water

Australia can have some harsh droughts which impact different areas so please be mindful of conditions in the area you visit and try and limit your water consumption.

Prices for accommodation increase (easily double) during peak period and School Holidays so avoid these times. Excellent deals can be found for longer stays outside the peak period, or mid-week stays.

Grab a basket or shopping bag, head to a local market and stock up on fresh produce! Find accommodation with a kitchen and cook-up a feast!