This is the final part in our essential backpacker guide to Australia. If you have followed our advice up to now, you should be well on your way to a fantastic time. Here we will give you some more tips to help you get the most out of your tour around this wonderful country. These are expert tips based on the experience of those travellers who have gone before you.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Trip to Australia
Here are a few ideas about how you can get the most out of your trip to Australia:
- One of the things that you are going to need to be careful about is the sun. Most of us are going to be travelling from places like the UK where as soon as the temperature rises above freezing we rip our clothes off and lie on a sun chair. We are not used to sunny weather, and this can get us into real trouble. Unless you want to be burned to a crisp within your first few days, you are going to need to be careful. Cover up as much as possible and add SPF 30+ sun cream – apply this regularly throughout the day if you are going to be outside all the time.
- If you go to the beaches in Australia then you need to familiarise yourself with the warning system in regards to safe areas to swim. There are some very dangerous rip tides, and there are places you will want to avoid because of sharks. The safest parts of the beach are marked as being between red and yellow flags.
- If you are going to be travelling in remote Australia in a hired or bought vehicle, you are going to need something with four-wheel drive. It is also going to be vital that you have some type of GPS system on board because it is so easy to get lost out there. Of course, you will also need to make sure that your vehicle is road worthy.
- If you intend to go hiking, you should acquaint yourself with the possible dangers – this would include things like poisonous animals and plants.
- If you follow the news from Australia, you will probably already have heard about the real dangers of bush fires in this part of the world. In order to stay safe you will want to keep a check on the news to make sure there is going to be no bush fires in the areas you intend to travel. It is also vital that you follow the instructions in parks and other venues for lighting fires.
- If you plan to go camping you should check all your equipment before you go – this is particularly important if you are going to be renting this equipment from somebody else and taking it with you. If you are staying far from a town with a tent that you cannot construct, this could mean a very uncomfortable night for you.