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| Marti
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| Countries traveled: | 51 |
| US States Traveled: | 31 | |
| Essential item: | Hand Sanitizer |
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Place
Australia & New Zealand
Australia
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Style Free Spirit | Budget $$$ Comfortable |
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Sunbathing & avoiding cockroaches
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Overall Rating (5 awesome - 1 terrible): 5 |
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| | | GENERAL | Program/company I traveled with:
When I was on a Work/Holiday visa I organized it through CIEE | Travel Information:
Friends & Local Papers | Live or Visit
first time - 5 months, then 4 years and various other trips. | | | | HIGHLIGHTS | Major Activity:
| One thing you cannot miss:
Byron Bay | One thing you should avoid:
cockroaches, but that is impossible as they fly and are everywhere. | I wish someone had told me:
That there are a ton of critters. You really need a high tollerance for big bugs. | Suggested visiting time:
Three weeks to actually see a few highlights, but you could pick two spots for a two-week trip. | | | | ACTIVITIES | Next time:
BYRON BAY – It used to be the hippies’ spot on the beach. Now it’s become invaded by yuppies, but it is SOOOOOO worth going to. Do not miss it.
GOLD COAST – Surfer’s Paradise
SUNSHINE COAST – (Stop at Steve Irwin’s Zoo on the way out from Brisbane). This was my favorite area to enjoy the beach.
BUNDABERG – Sugar Cane and beautiful low-key beaches. Also, don't miss the Bundaberg rum factory.
AIRLIE BEACH and the WHITSUNDAYS – Airlie is best place for backpackers and a great place to see the Great Barrier Reef!!
CAIRNS – every backpacker seems to go here. It’s a ton of fun. Daintry rainforest (good tea) and the Reef.
DARWIN is amazing – Kakadu National Park – take a backpacker’s adventure tour.
ALICE SPRINGS and AIRES ROCK – The red desert is unbelievable. take a backpacker’s adventure tour
MARGARET RIVER (below PERTH) – mind-blowing beaches and amazing wines
MELBOURNE – I have many mates there, so let me know when you are going. It’s the music capital of Australia. It’s more like NY then Sydney.
SYDNEY - my favorite city. Read my seperate travel rec.
ADELAIDE - many churches. Go for the Adelaide fringe festival. Outside Adelaide has great shiraz wineries. Barossa Valley and Claire Valley. Also go to Hunter Valley near Sydney, Yarra Valley near Melbourne, and Margaret River near Perth.
| | | | SHOPPING | To buy:
I really like the hand-carved wooden goods. | | | | ACCOMODATION | Hotels/hostels/accom:
Hostels, with mates, or on the side of the road. Things are very relaxed down there!
Near Cairnes in a small town called Mosman we stayed at a very upscale place in the rainforrest. | | | | FOOD | To try:
TimTams - they are the BEST cookie. Also, Anzac bickies, minties, cheery ripes. | | | | NIGHTLIFE | Local Activity/Cultural Experience:
Try and find a B&S party - Bachelor & Spinster party. You are given a cup with a string to go around your neck. There are buckets of alcohol and you just drink and party until you literally drop.
Australia also has amazing summer music festivals - Big Day Out, Livid. | | | | GETTING AROUND | Local transport:
If you are backpacking take Oz Experience. They go up and down the coast and drop you off at hostels along the way. Great way to meet people.
If you are spending up, fly Virigin Blue. It has it's own party going on. | My Route:
Flew in from NY - 19 hours with a one-hour stop in LA. Australia is not near anything. | | | | SAFETY | Safety Tips:
Australia is very safe...although if you've heard about some of the murders of backpackers over the years then you might feel differently! | | | | OTHER TRAVELERS |
They are tons of travelers in Australia. You can tap into the circuit at Bondi, Coogee, Byron Bay, Surfer's Paradise, Airlie Beach, Cairnes, Darwin, Alice Springs. |
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Three essentials for India:
GET YOUR VISA ORGANIZED AHEAD OF TIME. The Embassy wait can be brutal!
A-Z of Adventure Travel Insurance from World Nomads as you will probably get "Delhi Belly."
Hostelworld was a great help for finding cheap, but decent accommodation in India!
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