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Australia is a massive country, and in some places there are large distances between towns and 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 long it will take you to get from A to B, the best route to take, making sure you have enough petrol and where the next petrol station is & all that good stuff.
ALWAYS HAVE A BACKUP. Google is amazing, we know that 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 and spare a thought for all the travellers before you who didn’t have google maps!
Make sure you check Australian driving laws. Most states and territories allow international drivers to use their current overseas licence however if yours isn’t in English then you’ll have to get an approved translation.
Read up on the rules of the road, speed limits
Check and see if you need to pay any tolls on your journey, you can get an electronic tag that will save you time and money!
Road conditions in Oz change constantly, one minute you’re cruising down a highway the next you’re avoiding kangaroo’s on a dirt road. (Seriously though be careful at night! They’re attracted to the headlights!)
Do’s & Don’ts of travelling Oz!
DO:
- Tell people where you’re going and when you’re expecting to arrive there!
- Share the load of driving if you have other people who can take the wheel!
- Take breaks! Many motorways have inlets that you can pull over and have a rest.
- They recommend you take a break every two hours.
- Stay hydrated! Make sure you stock up on lots of water to bring with you in the car.
- Double & triple check your spare tyres.
- Going to the outback? GPS coordinates are super useful & maybe consider renting a satellite phone for areas with ZERO cell service.
- Again, be careful about wildlife! Kangaroos especially will jump in front of cars and cause serious accidents.
- If your car or van does break down in a remote area, stay inside! It provides you with shelter and is safer. Also, it’s so much 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, never push yourself because it’s not just your life on the line.
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. That’s why we wanted to give you some tips and tricks for staying safe while travelling.
1. Always choose a hostel with security features. For example a hostel that’s 24 hours, that needs keys to access the rooms/ common areas and even keys or a code to enter the front door.
2. Always check reviews for the places your considering, if you use trip advisor you can even ask the reviewer specific questions relating to their experiences.
3. Don’t forget a padlock, it seems super simple but not all hostels will provide the locks you need to lock your lockers. It’s better to be prepared than to leave valuables lying around.
4. Make sure you room door actually locks and if it doesn’t tell the reception staff straight away so they can fix it.
5. Make copies of all your documents, like visa info, photograph ID etc. & always save a digital copy.
6. Don’t carry too much cash, credit cards are a safer option as you have the power to stop all transitions and block the card if it’s stolen.
7. Trust your gut, if you’re not comfortable in the room you’ve been given speak to reception and see how they can help.