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At any time when we meet new vacationers who’re considering of exploring Down Below, we at all times get requested the identical factor; what are some necessary issues to know earlier than going to Australia? In fact, being Australian, we’re used to listening to this query and have our solutions nicely ready.
You want to know concerning the dimension of the nation, how the web sucks, what meals it’s best to attempt (trace, it’s not kangaroo), and tips on how to defend your self in opposition to our lethal animals.
As Australians, we have been so used to rising with these items, that it wasn’t till we moved away that we realized there are loads of issues to find out about Australia for worldwide vacationers in the event that they wish to see the perfect of our nation.
So we determined to place this information collectively that will help you profit from a journey Down Below. Enable us to be your information to exploring Australia and train you all the things we find out about our beginning nation.
Issues To Know About Australia Earlier than You Go
Under are among the necessary issues we really feel vacationers ought to pay attention to earlier than they make a journey to Aus.
Simply so the next will not be all details, there are a couple of passionate opinions thrown in, too!
1. Australia Has A Huge and Various Panorama
Australia is two-thirds desert and is the driest inhabited continent on Earth. It’s additionally the smallest, lowest and flattest continent. It’s the sixth largest nation on the planet.
It makes for a tremendous web site to see – there’s nowhere else on the planet fairly just like the Australian outback or the untamed great thing about Tasmania, for instance.
We don’t have what most individuals name mountains, which signifies our ancientness. Our highest peak is Mount Kosciuszko within the Snowy Mountains, which surprisingly sufficient, can be some of the harmful to climb as a result of folks aren’t ready for the icy situations. (We will put our palms as much as that! We needed to flip again.)
For the unknowing traveler, it may be a shock to expertise simply how huge Australia’s landscapes are and the way difficult they will typically be to cross.
When exploring Australia, notably on a highway journey (which is one of the best ways to get across the nation), that you must be sure you are at all times topped up with gasoline and have a plan in case you get caught or stranded.
Ensure you pack a spare tire and you understand how to alter it!
Driving distances are lengthy and empty, however look intently and also you’ll see loads of life. We’ve got an entire information on driving suggestions in Australia that will help you put together for these huge distances.
2. Australia’s Wildlife is So Distinctive
When folks consider Australia, they’re usually considering of the animals. It’s world recognized that Australia has distinctive wildlife – koalas, kangaroos, Tasmanian Devils, Dingos, Wombats, Wallabies, Echidnas, and Kookaburras are just some native animals to Australia that I can consider straight off the bat.
Of the over 800 species we’ve, about 300 gained’t be discovered wherever else on the planet.
Most of those animals are used to people and pose no risk, however we even have salt water crocodiles, contemporary water crocodiles, and sharks of assorted species. To not point out 172 species of snake, by which solely 20 species are venomous snakes (together with the world’s most venomous snake, the taipan), and 10,000 species of spiders (solely 2 species can kill you – these are higher odds).
Now this isn’t meant to place you off, however you do must be aware of them when out and about exploring, particularly in case you go to pure areas and nationwide parks.
We’ve got an entire information to Australia’s harmful animals in case you want some additional perception into tips on how to take care of them.
Not all animals are scary although, some are actually distinctive. Many of the world’s marsupials are present in Australia. Kangaroos are macropods (big-footed marsupials) and there are round 60 species of macropods. You’ll get to fulfill loads of them while you highway journey round Australia, particularly in Carnarvon Gorge.
Sadly, many launched pests have worn out a lot of our native animals. The Bilby is probably the most endangered. You may go to the Bilby Centre in Charleville to study extra and assist assist programmes to assist them thrive once more.
The curlew hen just isn’t solely charming to have a look at, however at evening makes this eerie cackling sound like a ghost.
I grew to adore it after a couple of days.
In case you stand below the Norfolk pines on the seaside at Burleigh or Mooloolaba at twilight you gained’t hear the particular person subsequent to you speaking as a result of cacophony of the lorikeets (there are most likely many different seaside cities which might be the identical).
Enjoyable reality: Kangaroos and emus can’t stroll backwards which is why they’re on our coat of arms. Right here’s the place you possibly can see wild kangaroos in Australia.
3. Australia Has A Lot of Historical past
Like America, most individuals assume Australia is a rustic that lacks historical past. It’s true that it was colonized by the Dutch and British in 1606, and that is when the nation started to industrialize and also you see remnants of colonialism everywhere in the nation.
Nonetheless, Australia additionally has a protracted, indigenous inhabitants, who STILL use conventional practices that date again for 1000’s of years.
You may see historic rock artwork, find out about Aboriginal tradition and the ethos that has pushed these communities for generations. Aboriginal tradition is all about connection to their communities, to the land, to nature.
It’s a type of historic historical past that’s lengthy gone for many elements of the world, however nonetheless sings true in Aus. Australia is house to the oldest dwelling civilisation on the planet – pay attention intently they’ve a lot to show us.
Australia additionally as soon as had dinosaurs, volcanoes, and an important inland sea, which you’ll be able to see remnants of within the Northern Territories.
4. Australians Are Not Normally Political
Australian persons are among the most laid-back, pleasant and simple going folks on the planet. We’re not large on politics (usually) and have a tendency to not become involved with it.
Our flesh pressers aren’t price remembering and we beg that you simply don’t attempt.
You’ve received low odds of remembering our Prime Minister as they kick one another out on a regular basis.
In case you assume I’m joking, docs and nurses needed to cease asking the query “Who’s our Prime Minister?” for cognitive consciousness as a result of nobody might work it out! True story.
And, there was that one time we misplaced a chief minister. Yep. On 17 December 1967, Harold Holt, our seventeenth prime minister of Australia, went for a swim within the sea close to his house in Portsea, Victoria and by no means returned.
5. Credit score Playing cards Might Not At all times Work
Carry some money in your pockets – playing cards aren’t at all times accepted and can usually carry a surcharge if they’re, particularly American Categorical.
6. Home Flights Are Not Low cost
Australia is so enormous that you’ll seemingly have to take a couple of home flights to get round, however sadly they aren’t low-cost.
It’s not simply the worth that’s loopy about flying domestically, however the flight occasions! To journey from East to West, it takes 5 hours to fly the space, and a number of other hundred {dollars}.
Jetstar can have Friday Frenzy gross sales and Virgin Australia have Joyful Hour gross sales typically, so signal as much as their newsletters and test their web sites repeatedly for cheaper offers.
7. Be Cautious Touring in The Prime Finish
The Prime Finish of Australia is certainly one of our favourite locations within the nation. It’s the place you’ll discover Kakadu Nationwide Park, the most important nationwide park in Australia, and our favourite seaside within the nation – Cable Seashore.
That being mentioned, it’s best to know that crocs inhabit the complete Prime Finish of the nation. Do they freak you out as a lot as me? (meaning don’t swim within the rivers!)
In reality, when visiting the Prime Finish, I might be cautious round any physique of water. Listed below are some extra suggestions for touring the Prime Finish of Australia.
8. Australia’s Nature Is Unimaginable
I can’t even start to explain the character in Australia, it’s simply unimaginable! Australia is house to the oldest rainforest on the planet, The Daintree Rainforest – 130 million years of breathtaking magnificence. Simply hearken to the traditional knowledge of the bushes. A tree huggers Utopia.
Kakadu Nationwide Park and Uluru are timeless, non secular wonders that aren’t solely deeply linked to the aboriginal communities, however are so stunning and so distinctive. Keep awhile, discover deeply, and take up their historic knowledge.
Most of Australia’s unique natural world can’t be discovered wherever else on the planet. The cane toad is disgusting and can’t be stopped with its mission to destroy our native natural world.
Solely the extremely smart crows have found out a strategy to kill and eat them with out poisoning themselves. They choose them up and drop them in entrance of automobiles, which opens them up in a method that makes them fit for human consumption. Or so we heard round an Outback campfire.
Wattle is our nationwide flower and has a definite odor. At any time when I get a whiff of it within the bush, I really feel like I’ve returned house.
The gum tree is the lifeblood of our nation and varieties an enormous a part of our id. The sight and odor of them defines Australian life and signifies house for me.
I can’t assist however hug them regularly. Eucalypt bushes gentle themselves on fireplace, which helps the land regenerate. I like seeing a blackened gum tree coated in inexperienced, fluffy new progress. Essentially the most stunning gum bushes I’ve seen are within the Barossa Valley.
Enjoyable reality: The sight of the blue haze from the eucalyptus oil arising from the bush within the mountain ranges west of Sydney gave the Blue Mountains their title.
9. Australia’s Seashores and Islands Are Pure Paradise
Australia has greater than 10,000 seashores and over 8,000 islands. Western Australia has ridiculously stunning seashores.
You’ll assume the colors within the photographs you’ve seen can’t be true and have to be photoshopped. It’s the true deal peeps.
Whitehaven Seashore is world well-known for being the cleanest seaside on the planet, and Hyams Seashore in Jervis Bay has really gained the Guinness World Report for having the whitest sand on Earth. And Rottnest Island has beautiful seaside after seaside, greatest seen on a motorbike trip.
The Nice Barrier Reef is the planet’s largest dwelling construction. You’ll marvel if it should reside as much as its hype. It does.
10. Australia Has Superb Meals (And Espresso)
Australia just isn’t wanting glorious meals. Most of Australia’s produce has been grown within the nation, permitting you to eat uncooked, natural fruit and greens, and clear and protected produce that hasn’t traveled far to get to your dinner plate.
The fertile soil and huge quantities of area means Australia can produce A LOT of meals, and has among the world’s greatest edible oils and honey on the planet. It’s estimated that 60% of the world’s natural farmland is in Australia.
Australia additionally has the BEST espresso on the planet, and you will discover among the BEST damper and billy tea experiences in Queensland – it’s a factor right here!
One other distinctive level on meals in Australia – the standard homeowners of our land have been capable of take many toxic vegetation and put it via a course of – typically taking many days – to make it edible.
How the hell did they even know what to do and the way have been the style testers? In case you get an opportunity, make sure you expertise as many Indigenous excursions so you possibly can find out about these meals processes. You might be amazed and humbled.
Oh and Vegemite is a critical love for Australians. We nonetheless adore it!
11. Small Cities in Australia Ought to Not Be Averted
The small cities of Australia are what give it the popularity of being a hospitable and welcoming place. There’s nothing fairly just like the small city communities you meet while you get off the crushed path.
Queensland Outback is the place you’ll discover many experiences and tales that hook up with Australian folklore and tradition.
Some small cities we love are Longreach, the founding house of Qantas, and Winton, the birthplace of Waltzing Matilda – simply to call a couple of. I additionally assume it has Australia’s friendliest folks.
There’s a ridiculous quantity of wonderful adventures available down gravel and sandy roads solely accessible to 4WD’s.
Shiny in Victoria and Broome in Western Australia re two of our favourite small cities in Australia.
12. Australian’s Are Pleasant and Relaxed Individuals
If there’s one factor I’m proud to say about my beginning nation, is that its persons are among the nicest on the planet.
Australians are laid-back, pleasant, and type. It might be right down to the truth that greater than 80 % of Australians reside inside 100 kilometres of the coast, and the ocean air instills a layer of calmness in folks.
In case you thought the browsing tradition was a fantasy about Australia, you’d be mistaken. Seashore life is necessary to us and surf lifeguards are revered.
Additionally, you possibly can be a local English speaker, however have a dialog with an Australian and don’t have any clue what they’re saying.
When visiting Australia, you’re going to wish to pay attention fastidiously when having dialog with Aussies. They have an inclination to shorten most phrases, have vibrant slang phrases, and love to make use of loads of rhyming slang.
13. Australia’s Local weather Is Various
Being within the Southern Hemisphere, we’ve our summer time and winter seasons backwards to these within the Northern Hemisphere, which implies scorching Christmases and chilly Julys.
That being mentioned, the local weather might be vastly completely different relying on the place you’re in Australia. It could actually get chilly in Australia, and it’s even snowed on Christmas Day in some elements of Tasmania, which is Australia’s summer season.
Perth and The Prime Finish, in addition to Northern Queensland, are well-known for having year-round heat climate, however don’t assume it’s best to go away your jackets at house in case you plan to go to in the course of the winter season.
It’d shock you to know this, but it surely snows in Queensland! Get out of city. Are you able to consider it? Bunya Mountains is the place you’ll discover this uncommon expertise.
14. There’s Extra To The Outback Than Desert
You haven’t skilled Australia till you’ve been to the Outback. A few of our cattle stations, largely positioned within the Outback areas, are larger than some European international locations. In reality, there’s a Dingo Fence that’s longer than The Nice Wall of China!
The farmers want helicopters to spherical up the inventory!
The Outback is not only desert. It’s desert, but it surely additionally has an insane quantity of water, stunning gorges, and waterfalls that pepper the dusty crimson floor with lush inexperienced bushes.
The College of the Air was created in order that youngsters on distant cattle stations might nonetheless study and attend college. You is likely to be considering that distance training sprung off after COVID, but it surely’s been practiced in these distant lands for a few years.
In reality, it’s how we educated Kalyra once we travelled across the nation. You may go to many College of the Air locations within the Outback to study extra about how they educate their pupils.
And let’s not overlook the Royal Flying Medical doctors!! How might we overlook after the unimaginable expertise we had with them.
The Royal Flying Medical doctors are a service supplied by the federal government to assist these in distant areas get medical help. They fly out to go to you and can fly you to hospitals in case you want it. They’re wonderful and rely quite a bit on donations so assist out in case you can.
15. Australian Wine Is Some Of The Finest
Australia helped revolutionise wine making world wide as a result of they didn’t have traditions to stick to.
Creativity allowed Australian wine makers to develop as top-of-the-line wine producers on the planet.
There are 60 designated wine areas in Australia, however our favourites are Margaret River, Barossa Valley, and Mudgee.
16. Australia is Costly
Australia is pricey, there’s little question about it. Every part from lodging to automobile hires to eating out, will price you near the identical as Europe or North America.
That being mentioned, there are methods to maintain prices down. We’ve got another useful guides on the price of journey in Australia and tips on how to journey Australia on a funds that will help you persist with your funds.
17. Don’t Feed The Birds
Feeding the birds in Australia is a harmful factor. I can’t stroll round Round Quay in Sydney consuming with out being swooped on by a seagull.
Don’t feed the birds. Allow them to eat fish!
18. Aussies Love Sports activities
Australia is a large sporting nation. Contemplating our low inhabitants, it rocks it on a world scale. The preferred sports activities in Australia are cricket, soccer (additionally Australian Guidelines Soccer), rugby and tennis.
A number of the greatest athletes in these fields come from Australia.
And let’s not overlook our surfers! Put an Aussie professional surfer in any browsing competitors world wide, and they’re assured to make the highest spots.
19. The Web Is Horrible
You may assume that as a result of Australia is so nicely developed that commodities corresponding to robust WiFi are a given, however you’d be mistaken. For some purpose, web in Australia is hideously gradual, and costly.
The explanation for it’s because apparently, when the Nationwide Broadband Community was first carried out, they used outdated copper wire.
Using outdated tech means it may solely deal with a lot velocity, which has resulted in the entire nation receiving under common web velocity. Nice.
Issues We Realized on Our Australian Street Journey
A lot of the details and opinions we’ve expressed to this point have come from our expertise of rising up and dwelling in Australia, however we additionally spent 18 months highway tripping round Australia and explored a lot of our personal yard, and so we’ve discovered a couple of issues about touring in our personal nation too.
Under are some issues we discovered on our travels in Australia. This isn’t all skilled by us, we’ve additionally included some issues discovered by different folks we’ve met on the highway and shared their experiences so we didn’t make the identical errors.
The very best useful resource you’ve gotten as a traveler, is one other traveler, as they are saying!
You may learn extra suggestions in our tips on how to journey round Australia on this information.
- When driving on dusty Outback roads, the recirculation air place must be used to keep away from mud getting into your automobile or for fast cooling of the inside.
- Excessive clearance means your automobile is increased off the bottom and is crucial for 4WD (sure I had no thought what this was earlier than this highway journey) and might be simply as necessary as 4WD.
- Leisure programs in automobiles save your sanity when travelling with children.
- Automobiles flying alongside gravel roads will fling up rocks that crack your windscreen.
- Replenish at each petrol station you drive previous within the Outback. It doesn’t matter how full your tank is or how a lot you assume you don’t want it, there might be giant distances between stations or they even shut at evening.
- Digging your self out of being caught in sand with the automobile makes you seem like Yahoo Critical and is usually a enjoyable story to share. (Simply be sure you take a photograph!)
- Seashore driving is critical however enjoyable. Know what you’re doing and revel in it.
- You need to deflate your tyres when driving on gentle sand so that they have a wider footprint.
- Fill up on meals and water when driving via the Outback. Street homes have horrible meals and it’s costly.
- Don’t take any contemporary produce over the border into WA or SA. It is going to be confiscated.
- Head nets can save your sanity in actually unhealthy fly areas.
- UGG boots are the perfect factor to pack in your highway journey across the nation (it does get cool in some locations – I’m you Victoria and Tassie)
Extra Journey Suggestions for Australia
In case you want extra inspiration about touring to Australia, then these different guides could also be helpful to you!
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Do you’ve gotten any enjoyable details (or opinions) to share about Australia? Something helpful you discovered in your highway journey down below? Tell us within the feedback.
Supply: Breaking Travel News