Big land-mass continent with lots of nature, exactly a cultural mix between England and America.
What comes to mind is 1st-world new modern country with lots of nature. Clean, new, big spaces, big buildings. Culturally feels very American (New England vibe), accent is kind of like a surfer/country version of the British accent. As an American, I find Australians to be an exact mix of British and American. In how they talk, how they live, and how they party.
It’s a big country (78% the land size of America) but actually very small population (25 million compared to 330 million). So not that many big cities. Ethnically, Australia is very white…the biggest ethnic minorities are Asian at 1% (although will feel like more in Sydney and Melbourne).
Most people (especially from Europe or Latin America) who want to immigrate to Australia are for these reasons:
- Good standing of living. Strong currency for working.
- Clean, modern.
- Has lots of nature and beaches. Which for Europeans is considered special, and for Latin Americans reminds them of home (many don’t want a place without a beach).
- To learn and practice English. And also to get an education in another country.
General tips for traveling in Australia:
- Most cities are on Eastern side.
- Country parts are considered north, as in similar to America’s “south”.
- Australia’s most unique features are the nature. Go here to see nature.
- Other unique feature is that American-ish culture. That new England in coastal country vibe.
- Best scuba diving – is found in northeast.
- I think Australian nightlife pales in comparison to other places in Europe or Latin America. You’ll have fun…but it’s not as carefree and easy-going. Things close earlier, places don’t let you go in and out or arrive late (hard to hop), can be picky with dress code in Sydney.
- Addresses list the unit number first. For example…2/310 Street Name, City. (The 2 means apartment number, and 310 means building number).
- Scuba dive spots – Whitsundays (recommended by Magdi & Mona),
As an American, I didn’t find Australia to be very special. It feels very much like America, probably the most similar country to America (even more than Canada). Both of them are New England colonies in sunny coastal giant continent. Lots of nature. Like if you took only coastal parts of United States and turned it into an entire country, that’s kind of what Australia is. Maybe at some point if their population grows, they’ll move inwards like United States did but I doubt it.
Perhaps I’d recommend Australia as a place for people who want super safe travel, or Latin Americans (they love Australia’s clean safe vibe), or for strictly outdoor adventuring. But outside of that, I don’t find it to be a good country for backpackers. Things are too spread apart, and it still takes time to get anywhere despite the public transportation being pretty good. It’s also expensive, which makes it not a hot spot for travelers on a budget. Asia just nearby is a much better bang for the buck and arguably much more adventure in terms of new experiences.
Miscellaneous tips:
- Wear sunblock – you absolutely need it since Australia’s ozone layer is so thin and tons of UV radiation gets through. Otherwise, you’ll get damaged skin (burned, aged, wrinkling) and even skin cancer in no time. Don’t mess around!
- Rideshare apps – Uber, DiDi, Ola, InDriver. Also some taxi apps too like 13cabs.
- Food delivery apps – Menulog, Ubereats, Just Eat.
Safety tips:
- Australia is really safe. Maybe some parts of Sydney or Melbourne could get dodgy but you really have almost nothing to worry about.
Customs:
- dsf
Australian cities (* = recommended, ** = must see):
- Sydney** – usually first stop and main portal to Australia for visitors.
- Newcastle – small and chill. Nice to live but not much for tourists. 1 day probably feels enough. Is rapidly developing to something much nicer and cooler. Expect this place to boom in a few years.
- Byron Bay** – everyone absolutely recommends this as a must-see destination in Australia.
- Melbourne* – probably considered Australia’s coolest and hippest city. Smaller, charmier, more arts & culture. Just doesn’t have Sydney’s beaches. So choose what you prefer…beach (and hot sunny weather) or better everything else.
- Brisbane
- Gold Coast – long considered “the Miami of Australia”.
- Perth* – has Rottnest Island where the quokkas are.
- Adelaide
- Cairns
- Whitsunday Islands – best for scuba
- Hobart (Tasmania) – Super beautiful and definitely worth a visit. Even if you can only go for 2 days.
You can see Sydney and Melbourne both within a week. To hit all main spots in the country and have time for outdoor activities (Australia’s main unique highlight IMO), you’ll need a month. Also everyone recommends to visit New Zealand if you’re already out this way.
Nearby countries:
- New Zealand – definite must-go. Many people say it’s so soooooo beautiful (in terms of nature and countrysides). 5-7 days would be super short but doable, everyone recommends a solid 2 weeks to really appreciate its range.
- Singapore – futuristic, modern city, man-made, expensive.
- Indonesia – more of nature’s beauty, and cheaper.
- Papua New Guinea – I hear it’s really not safe and living standards/conditions are poor. Nice people and interesting place for off-the-beaten-track. But not recommended for the inexperienced or average “tourist traveler”. Solo females beware.
FYI: if you’re flying to Vietnam, I know the check-in lines are pretty long. I’d recommend getting there 3 hours before your flight.
Unfiltered notes:
- What some guy on Quora said:
- Why would you come to Australia to visit big cities?
- They are hardly any different from big cities anywhere else in the western world.
- Go bush. Go to Darwin, Kakadu, Katherine, Alice Springs, Uluru, Flinders Ranges. They are uniquely Australian.
- Best beaches in Australia