Australia is a massive country, and in some places there are large distances between towns, so it's important to be prepared before heading off on your adventures.
Here are a few things to remember:
- Plan everything before you leave! Make sure you find out how long it will take to get from A to B, the best route to take, and where the next petrol station is.
- Always have a backup. Google is amazing, but you can and should plan ahead for areas of no coverage, a dead battery, or plain and simple losing your phone. Have an actual map with you.
- Check Australian driving laws. Most states and territories allow international drivers to use their current overseas licence, but if yours isn't in English you'll need an approved translation.
- Read up on the rules of the road and speed limits.
- Check whether you need to pay any tolls on your journey, an electronic tag can save you time and money.
Road conditions change constantly, one minute you're cruising down a highway, the next you're avoiding kangaroos on a dirt road. Be careful at night, they're attracted to headlights!
Do's & don'ts of travelling Oz
Do:
- Tell people where you're going and when you're expecting to arrive.
- Share the load of driving if you have other people who can take the wheel.
- Take breaks, many motorways have inlets where you can pull over and rest. Take a break every two hours.
- Stay hydrated, stock up on water to bring in the car.
- Double and triple check your spare tyres.
- Going to the outback? GPS coordinates are useful, and consider renting a satellite phone for areas with zero cell service.
- Be careful about wildlife, kangaroos especially will jump in front of cars and cause serious accidents.
- If your car or van breaks down in a remote area, stay inside, it's safer and easier for roadside assistance to find you.
- Drive on the left!
Don't:
- Drive under the influence.
- Pick up hitchhikers.
- Use your phone when driving.
- Drive overnight where possible.
- Drive when you're sleepy, always pull over and take breaks.
Hostel safety
If it's your first time staying in a hostel the whole thought of it can be daunting, don't worry, we get it. Here are some tips for staying safe while travelling.
- Always choose a hostel with security features, for example one that's staffed 24 hours, needs keys to access rooms and common areas, and a code to enter the front door.
- Always check reviews for the places you're considering. On Tripadvisor you can even ask the reviewer specific questions about their experience.
- Don't forget a padlock, not all hostels provide locks for your lockers. It's better to be prepared than to leave valuables lying around.
- Make sure your room door actually locks, and if it doesn't, tell reception straight away so they can fix it.
- Make copies of all your documents, like visa info and photo ID, and always save a digital copy.
- Don't carry too much cash, credit cards are a safer option since you can stop transactions and block the card if it's stolen.
- Trust your gut. If you're not comfortable in the room you've been given, speak to reception and see how they can help.
