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Australia was the first country I have ever backpacked to and also my first ever solo trip. It has been an amazing trip (a year actually) and if it wasn’t for my trip to Australia I would have not been doing what I was doing the past couple of years.
While we can all agree that Australia itself is pretty expensive and for most of us quite expensive to even get there in the first place, I’m sure we can all agree that it is also an amazing place to visit. Here are all the reasons why I believe Australia is perfect for first-time solo travellers!
1. Australia is incredibly safe
I have always felt extremely safe in Australia. And I was there for almost an entire year. I have once slept on a bench outside of a closed airport, hitchhiked around the tablelands and walked trough the outback by myself in the middle of the night and always felt safe. So if safety is something that you are worried about on your first solo trip, you definitely don’t have to worry about it when going to Australia.
2. There are a lot of activities
There is a lot to do in the country. From visiting the Opera House in Sydney, surfing in Byron Bay or walking through the outback. You can skydive over the beach, scuba dive the Great Barrier Reef or sail around the Whitsunday islands. There is no way you can ever get bored in Australia or run out of things to do!
3. The wildlife is amazing
Do I even have to mention that? Like don’t you want to see kangaroos or wombats roaming around in the wild? While you might encounter some big scary spiders at some point during your time in Australia you will also get to see some cute kangaroos in the wild which is definitely worth it.
4. People are super friendly
I have barely ever met unfriendly Australians. They have always been really eager to help if you were to encounter any troubles along the way. However, if you are backpacking and staying in hostels you won’t actually meet a whole bunch of Australians if we’re being honest.
Also read: 29 things to know about work and travel in Australia
5. It’s easy to get around the country
While Australia is huge, it is still easy to make your way around the country (it might take a couple of days). Especially on the East coast there are Greyhound busses that regularly go up and down the coast. For longer distances you can also easily fly between destinations. If you rather travel along the West coast or through the outback then that might be a whole other story though!
6. Lots of great hostels
Because there are so many backpackers in the country there are also a lot of hostels around. And some of them are pretty great! In Cairns up in the North for example you can find hostels with pools and hostels in Sydney with their own club next door. A lot of hostels also have their own travel desks so that you can book tours directly at the hostel.
7. There are lots of solo travellers
I have met a lot more solo travellers in Australia than in other country. As a solo traveller myself I always find it easiest to connect with other fellow solo travellers than with people that are travelling in groups. Therefore, some hostels feel a lot more social (at least that was my perception).
8. It is super diverse
Because it is such a massive country you will also find a bunch of different landscapes, climates and environments. From beaches and tropical rainforests to big cities and mountains or the impressive outback. Whatever you prefer, you will find a place that you will like, if not all of them!
9. People stay longer in one place
Because Australia is not cheap, a lot of people will travel on a working holiday visa in order to be able to work to cover their costs. That means that people will stay in one place for longer, either working or spending time looking for a job. That also means that it is easier to make friends that you will most likely see for a longer period of time. That is great of course because it gives you a bit more consistency and you won’t have to make new friends every other day.
10. A lot of Wwoofing opportunities
There are a lot of farms and due to its incredible backpacking culture also a lot of opportunities to help out and to get to know how life is like living on one of these farms. While there is paid farm work of course there is also a network called WWOOF which stands for “Willing Workers on Organic Farms.”
If you sign up for the network and pay a yearly fee you can get access to a bunch of farms that are looking for volunteers. There you will be provided with food and accommodation in exchange for some work.
Some farms require longer stays whereas at others you can just stay for a couple of days or a week. It is a great opportunity because you are often part of the family for a little bit and you get to connect with some locals and learn about Australia.
And here were my reasons why Australia is the perfect place for first-time solo travellers! What was your first destination you have travelled to solo?
Let me know in the comments x
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