So, you’re thinking of travelling around ‘straya?
The land of shrimps on the barbie, Skippy the kangaroo, unlimited sunshine and home to some of the most livable cities in the world.
But before you rock up and try to order yourself a pint of Fosters – here are a few things you should know about travelling in Australia.
1. Australia is enormous
To put it into perspective, here are a few gob-smacking facts about how big Australia actually is.
- Australia is as wide as the distance between London and Moscow
- It is the 6th largest country in the world
- It’s the world’s largest island
- It takes 24 hours to drive from Melbourne to Brisbane, and Sydney to Perth is a five-hour flight.
- Here are 17 maps of Australia that will make your mind boggle.
2. Australia can be expensive
Depending on how strong the Australian dollar is against your currency, Australia can seem a little pricey. Food and drink from supermarkets is a little more expensive than back home, plus, accommodation and travelling will set you back more than a trip to South East Asia.
But don’t let this put you off. There are plenty of ways to enjoy Australia on a budget. Make the most of your trip Down Under by hiring a campervan (combining travel and accommodation costs), hitting the open road and seeing as many of the unique and diverse landscapes this great country has to offer, at your own pace.
3. You’ll drink the best coffee you’ve ever had
Australian’s love their coffee and take it pretty seriously. Local coffee shops are the only place to drink coffee; in fact you’ll hardly see any of the large coffee chains. Once you arrive in Australia, you’ll soon find that heading to your favourite coffee shop to pick up a ‘flat white’ becomes a daily ritual.
But, whatever you do, just don’t ask for directions to the nearest Starbucks.
4. The wildlife is something else
Australia is a country of extremes, and so is the wildlife.
It’s a country where crocodiles are snake food, tiny spiders can deliver a lethal bite and let’s not forget the jellyfish and sharks. Australia is home to some of the scariest and most dangerous animals on the planet, so you can be forgiven for being more than a little wary.
But on the flip side, they have koalas, kangaroos, possums and wombats – all of which are pretty awesome creatures. See, it’s not all bad!
5. Learn the lingo
Aussie slang is as diverse as Australia itself. After a couple of month you’ll be speaking ‘strayan like a local. To get you started, here are some top tips for local lingo:
- Thongs = flip flops
- Lollies = sweets
- Singlet = a vest top
- Bottle-o = Off License
- Budgie smugglers = tight speedo-style swimwear
- Chook = chicken
- Macca’s = McDonalds
- Bogan = chav
Oh and they love an abbreviation like avocado to ‘avo’ and afternoon to ‘arvo’…
6. No one drinks Fosters
If you try to order a Fosters Down Under, you’ll probably receive some funny looks. Despite the Fosters slogan of ‘drink Australian, think Australian’, you won’t actually ever see Fosters sold in pubs and for good reason: Fosters isactually brewed in the UK.
What is true though is that Aussies love an ice-cold beer, and the most popular beers sold here are Tooheys New, Victoria Bitter (VB), Carlton Draught and XXXX.
7. You may never want to go home
The simple fact of the matter is that once you arrive in Australia, there is a strong possibility you will love it so much that you may never want to leave.
With some of the worlds most unique and diverse landscapes, incredible wildlife, relaxed culture, cold beer, oh and let’s not forget the excellent coffee – don’t be surprised if you find yourself staying for longer than you planned.
If you are planning a trip to Australia, why not think about hiring or buying a campervan or car from Travellers Autobarn. Prices start from as little as $35 a day – view our full range online here. We have locations all across Australia including Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Cairns.
About the Author
Bastian Graf
Bastian is the Sales & Marketing Manager here at Travellers Autobarn. He holds a Master of Commerce in Marketing and International Business Management, and 20+ years experience in campervan hire, road trips and travel.