The best part about travelling is seeing new things, and travelling to different countries gives you opportunities to see new wildlife that you simply cannot see anywhere else.
No trip to Australia is complete without spotting some unique Aussie wildlife and preferably in the wild as you can’t beat the thrill of seeing a wild animal!
If you are travelling to Australia you probably have a vague idea, or a detailed list, of what you’d like to see and do. I’d argue there definitely needs to be some animal encounters on there to get the full Aussie experience. Here are my 10 top Aussie animals to look out for: –
1. Kangaroo
Not just a feature on the Australian Government logo, but found pretty much everywhere in rural parts of Australia.
2. Koala
Easily found in a zoo, keep your eyes peeled up in the trees as you travel around and you might spot a koala. They very rarely move around so can be quite hard to spot!
3. Quokka
Residents of Rottnest Island just off Perth, these adorable little things are worth the ferry ride there.
4. Saltwater Crocodile
Best seen from a safe place and not when you are in the water! Found in the North of Australia.
5. Wallaby
Not to be confused with their larger cousins the kangaroo.
feeding rock wallabies
6. Tasmanian Devil
Noisy little creatures found down in Tasmania.
7. Whale Sharks
Residents in Ningloo Reef up the West Coast of Australia.
swimming with whale sharks
8. Dingo
This wild dog can be hard to spot but is known to be on Fraser Island
9. Wombat
They are so cuddly! Often found in the Blue Mountains or Cradle Mountain, Tasmania.
10. Kookaburra
From the same family as the kingfisher, these beautiful birds take up residence in a tree and survey the land for prey.
There are a lot more animals to see but start the above are probably the most iconic and the ones people will ask you about when they hear you’ve been to Australia!
Stock up on food known for it’s vitamins and nutrition
First thing to do is make sure you fuel your body with what it needs to help you recover so think anything with vitamin c and zinc – fruit, fruit juice, vegetables etc
Raid the pharmacy section in the supermarket
If you don’t have anything on you, hit a supermarket as soon as you can. Most roadhouses will have the basics too, it will just be a bit pricey.
I’d recommend travelling with some basic vitamins, cold remedies, muscle rubs and pain killers anyway, as you never quite know when you’ll become under the weather and it could be in the middle of no where!!
Tell those you are travelling with
Definitely let those you are travelling with know and don’t feel you have to keep up with them but take time out if you need it and chose easier activities or walking routes.
If you are travelling solo, strike up a conversation with others staying in your accommodation, or even the staff where you are staying, as you never know what they may have in their first aid kits that could help.
Stop and rest
When you are ill your energy often plummets. It’s really easy to keep going when you are travelling and power through so you don’t miss out on anything or because you have a trip already planned. This can potentially knock back your recovery and it might be wise just to stop and relax in one place for a bit so you can rest up and let your body heal, allowing you to hit the road with more energy and probably more enjoyment!
Use Medicare and go to a bulk billing doctor
If you are from the UK, and some other countries (check the Aussie government website), you can sign up for medicare which gives you free appointments with the doctor. I would definitely recommend making this a priority when you arrive in Australia and before you set off travelling around the country. If you do go, make sure you go to a bulk billing doctor which you’ll be able to find on Google, otherwise you could be charged.
I’ve been on the road a while and over time have added and thrown things out of my day bag. As you know, when you are carrying your whole world on your back while backpacking around, space and weight are of a premium! In this post I wanted to touch on what I now regularly take in my day bag in the hope that it helps you decide what to buy, pack and find a way to squish into your pack. I am also keen to hear what you guys have discovered are travelling essentials.
1. Bags in Bags!
So as well as the nearly obligatory pack-able shopper bag you need these days, I have also taken to making sure I have a waterproof dry bag in my day pack which I can put all my valuable electronic items in. This not only keeps them safe but is also a great carry case if I just want to take those with me and leave the backpack behind – brilliant on group travel tour buses when you are constantly nipping off the bus to take photos or buy snacks at the roadhouse and don’t need all your stuff, just the essentials.
2. Water Bottle
A re-useable water bottle is a must and I have attached a caribener to mine so that I can secure it to my bag.
3. Traveler’s Handy Kit
So I now regularly carry a small kit of essentials and handy items that literally get me through the day and I’d be stuck without them. In this small bag I carry: –
Tissues
Small pack of baby wipes
Hand sanitizer
Lip balm
Hand cream
Plasters
Pain killers
Nail file (for the ladies!)
Anti-allergy pills
4. Electronics
We can’t really live without them now. I always have my phone, phone charger and power bank as a staple.
On top of that I have my camera and Go Pro and SD cards, plus their power cables so I can charge up from my power bank as needed.
Plus, for the long bus journeys, I have a kindle. I also now buy my guidebooks as ebooks to save on space and weight!
5. Items to make you comfy in any climate
Being protected and comfortable in any climate is key to enjoying travel. In my pack I always have everything I need for the sun – always important in Australia – which includes sunnies, sunscreen, hat and an umbrella (good for shade as well as keeping you dry in rain). I also have bug spray and a long sleeved top in case it gets chilly or I feel myself burning and need to protect my skin from the sun.
6. Snacks
You can’t head out on the road without any snacks! As you are never quite sure when the next stop will be and what will be there, I have found having my own supply of snacks and keeping them topped up is vital. I tend to go down the road of some unhealthy sweet stuff like chocolate and some healthy energising food like almonds and fruit. Pick whatever suits you.
When you don’t know the country or area it can be really hard to figure out where to stay and what type of accommodation to go for.
For me, it is always a tug of war between cost and location and I have to admit that I tend to balance out budget hostels with something a little more luxurious now and again so tend to look at quite a wide variety of places.
Here are my tips for choosing accommodation: –
Budget
First and foremost, ask yourself what your budget is and then search within that.
Secondly, I love the map function on Airbnb and Booking.com that allows you to see the prices of everything around the area you are looking at. Definitely check this out to get a bit of price comparison as some areas are just more expensive than others and some months are more expensive than others, so relating it to the ‘competition’ is a really helpful gauge.
Check the neighborhood
Any place I am considering I hop straight on Google maps to check the following:-
Street view – what does it actually look like now compare to the marketing photos on the website I’m looking at
Distance – how far is it to the key sites I want to go to
What’s around – general browse of what is around in terms of shops, supermarkets, landmarks and sights
What experience are you looking for
I always check in with myself and just see what vibe I am after. Sometimes it’s city center dirt cheap and practical, other times its beach side with a spa bath.
I would definitely say don’t be afraid to go for variety and see how you’re feeling. If you can splash out now and again it’s worth it and can really improve your experience and memories of a place.
It’s also really important to think about how you are going to use the space. If you are planning on being out all the time then just a bed or room is probably fine. If you want chill time or to self-cater then you are probably looking for apartments or chalets.
Check the reviews
Always always check the reviews or seek recommendations. reviews are great to get up to date feedback on the place you are looking at and especially useful if you are concerned about light or noise as these are often what people comment on in the reviews.
Do be slightly cautious when reading reviews though as some can just be too old to be relevant any more and some could just be from very picky people!
You know when you arrive somewhere new and you literally have no clue where anything is, I love that feeling. I also hate it! The thrill of seeing new things gets me every time but I also hate feeling like I stick out and have some neon flashing sign above my head that just says tourist right here.
As I have traveled I have realised that over time I have begun to compile what is basically a checklist of things to do when I arrive somewhere new which helps me to feel like a local, get to know my way around and feel grounded in a new place as quickly as possible. Every time I land somewhere new, domestic or abroad, I tend to do all of the below (depending on how long I am staying) and it really helps me get a feel and understanding for the place.
I am sure we all hate that lost feeling so I thought it would be a good idea to share my list and hopefully it will help some others when they travel too.
Tip 1: Explore by Foot
The best way to get your bearing and quickly is to wander the streets. I usually start with the immediate neighborhood to where I am staying, just walking around looking for the nearest supermarket, transport stops, restaurants and cafes to get a feel for the place.
Most cities now have free walking tours or if you hop online you can find recommended walking routes. These are a brilliant way to see some main sites as efficiently as possible.
Tip 2: Find a local cafe to sit and watch the world go by in
Enjoying an iced coffee in the cafe in Kings Park, Perth
I am a BIG coffee lover so finding a decent coffee shop is pretty much number one or two on my list if things to do in a new place. However, I have included it here not just because everyone needs a decent cup of coffee in their life, but because sitting in a cafe and just soaking up the atmosphere and watching people come and go gives you a great insight into local culture and is relaxing too. Take a book with you and properly commit to some time in a cafe, you’ll not regret it.
Tip 3: Visit the supermarket
I always go to the supermarket pretty much on my first day in arriving in a new place. Normally it’s because I need some food and supermarkets are a cheap way to get this, but it’s also a great way to see what kind of food is on offer and get an idea of the cost of things, useful to know when hitting up the restaurants later in the trip.
Tip 4: Visit a cultural site
Whether you are a history buff or not, visiting a museum, art gallery, public building or historic site is a gateway into understanding a bit more about the place you are in and its people. When you understand a bit more about a place’s past you can appreciate its present all the more, and have a shared understanding of history with the people around you.
Tip 5: Hop on public transport
Opt out of the tourist bus and hop on the local transport. You get to see areas of the city you wouldn’t otherwise and can see the locals going about their daily lives. It’s also often cheaper!
Tip 6: Pop to a local market
Sunset Market, Perth
Local markets are a great way to sample local food and pick up the perfect souvenir that isn’t a tacky plastic mass produced item but something locally made and meaningful. They are also a great place for a cheap eat while still having a big choice of food to pick from.
Tip 7: Ask a local (or your accommodation or guidebook) for tips on where to eat
Brilliantly authentic middle eastern cafe on Pier Street, Perth
Where the locals go is either cheaper or more delicious or both. When faced with a whole array of places to eat and no clue what is good, you can check out the reviews and TripAdvisor top eats, or simply ask a local for a recommendation. This will most likely take you somewhere you wouldn’t have otherwise known about and even get you trying new cuisines which is arguably one of the best parts of travelling!
