Exploring Australia: A Travel Guide For First-Timers
AUSTRALIA
My family have always been fairly avid travellers. My kids have had a passport literally since birth and we always believed the best time to travel was while they were young. It is a great way for children to learn about life and the best way to spend time with them. I have chosen to write about Australia as my first blog under my travel topics. It may very well have been one of my most memorable trips. At the time that I ventured to Australia, I was still married and was early into my third pregnancy. We had always made it a point to travel as much as we could with our daughters before they hit grade school and started to become more grounded with obligations in schoolwork and sport commitments. We felt that it was a great experience for them to see the world, and well…we also loved to travel.
My husband at the time was great at coordinating the accommodation parts and best places to see on the trips. We had four to five weeks set aside to explore the outback of Australia and had planned to drive all the way along its east coast. We landed in Sydney and took a charter plane directly to Brisbane, one of the larger cities in Australia, where we would begin our trip.
Brisbane has a population of roughly 2.3 million people. It is a very popular tourist destination and has a fairly nature-based activity orientation to it. The Enoggera Reservoir is often where people spend time hiking and kayaking. Brisbane River is also a popular spot for kayaking, and there are beautiful parks throughout the city that are must sees. (Botanic Gardens, Roma Park, Victoria Park).
There are various areas to scuba dive near Brisbane and the surrounding areas as well. One area that we did stop to have a look was at Surfers Paradise, which was on our way along the Gold Coasts. Some of the most impressive surfers I had seen were surfing the extreme waves found there. Some national parks nearby would include: Springbrook and Glasshouse Mountains. There was a lot of hiking to be done in these parks.
Fraser Island is also a must see that is close by to Brisbane. It is in fact a World Heritage-listed island. It is the only known place on earth where rainforest grows on sand dunes, consists of over half of the world’s perched freshwater dune lakes, and has a massive dunes that soar taller than the Sydney Opera House.
There are trains and buses available for public transportation and a lovely coast to walk along. The best part about Brisbane is that it is so close to some of the most sought out beaches in Australia. The Sunshine Coast, Noosa, and The Gold Coast. All of which we visited while on our holiday.
- The Sunshine Coast: This area is known for their white sandy beaches and beautiful waters. It is a very laidback lifestyle. It sits within lush rainforests and Heritage national parks. There are many villages within the Sunshine Coast to choose from. It provides a lot of restaurant options, fresh local seafood, and many wineries and breweries.
- Noosa: This is a resort area located on the southern Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. It is known for its surfing, cafés, and boutiques. Noosa National Park is home to koalas around Tea Tree Bay. It is also home to the Australia Zoo. This is where we got to connect with the kangaroos.
- The Great Barrier Reef is also off the east coast of Queensland. It contains the world’s largest collection of coral reefs, with 400 types of coral, 1,500 species of fish, and 4,000 types of mollusc. The prime time to visit this area is said to be May and October, when the water temperatures are pleasant to swim in.
• The Gold Coast: This area is known for its more lively social scene and nightlife. It is also known for its long sandy  beaches, surfing, shopping, and theme parks such as Dreamworld, Sea World, and Wet’n’Wild. It is also known as one of the cheaper places to live in Australia.
Tragic flooding in Queensland Australia.   The weather is generally sunny in Brisbane, with the odd couple of months of rainy days. Unfortunately, when we were visiting, it was during the 2010-2011 tragic floods that had hit Queensland. This flooding was a natural disaster that affected the three eastern states of Australia. Luckily, our trip was planned in such a way that we only had to experience some of the tragedy. We did have one close call at a small café we were eating at for lunch. The rain was pouring down in sheets and our daughters had not quite finished their meals. We kept an eye on our rental car and noticed that the rain had been rising at a significant level on the road. Within two to three minutes, it was last call on lunch. The rain had made its way to a level of just under a centimetre below the door-line to the car. If we would have waited another few seconds, we would have flooded the vehicle by just opening our doors. Off we went.
We were incredibly fortunate with the planning of our trip. On an other occasion, we had toured around Byron Bay for a couple of days, planning to carryon to Burleigh Head the following day. These two towns were both along the Gold Coast. On the particular day that we were heading out, they had called for the torrential rain to begin in Byron Bay. We immediately packed up and started down the coast. An hour and a half into our road trip, my youngest daughter started to panic and cry uncontrollably in the back seat. We had forgotten her favorite doll named Squiggle, in Byron Bay.
This doll was her lifeline. Therefore, was ours as well. We immediately had to turn around and make our way back to the hotel in Byron Bay, where the flooding had began, for this essential possession. As we pulled into the hotel, the parking lot had already been filled with water. We grabbed the doll and ran. But, upon arrival to our next location, all was clear. Luck was on our side that day, it seemed we were simply dodging the storm from place to place.
As we made our way up the coast, we found many little rural areas sprinkled throughout. There were beautiful beaches to explore with wonderful spots to stop for lunches. I particularly recall having the best veggie burgers on the beaches at these little huts. Everything would be hand made from scratch. Delicious sandwiches, burgers, salads, french fries, and gelato for dessert. The food was incredible. When that wasn’t enough, we could always find a spot for a snow cone somewhere along the beach for a treat.
We had met some wonderful Australians in Canada before making our way to Australia and had planned to meet with them on our trip. It had been a long time since we had seen them and it just so happened that they were vacationing at their ocean property in Mooloolaba, along the Sunshine Coast while we were in Noosa. We decided it would be a great time to visit them. Mooloolaba was a very quaint little suburb surrounded by a few shopping centres. It had wonderful parks, pools, beaches, restaurants, and was very family oriented. It was also home to a Zoo, Aussie World, and Sea Life Mooloolaba. There you could explore many species from the tiniest lizards to the Giant Japanese Spider Crab.
Our final destination was Sydney. Sydney is the capital city of New South Wales and is the most populous city in Australia. It is most famous for its beaches, yacht-studded harbour, and Opera House. Sydney is said to have as many as 100 beaches. It is known as a safe city, but one of the more expensive ones in Australia. Everyone hears talk of snakes and cockroaches scattered around Australia. Sydney is known to have a variety of  snakes living among them. It is said to be quite common to come into contact with one while simply walking or going about your daily activities. I must admit that I did not encounter a single snake during my stay in Australia. I did see the odd cockroach, but they truly had little impact on my trip.
The people of Australia were extremely welcoming. They were kind, warm, charismatic, and always willing to offer a recommendation. The culture was a little different in Australia. Service workers, such as waiters, waitresses, drivers, hairdressers, or anyone else that you would normally provide with a tip after a service was not subjected to this practice. In fact, at the beginning of our trip, we were tipping our servers, and before long were told that this was not an acceptable way of life in Australia. The wages paid to the staff in these industries were much higher to reflect the difference in this lack of tipping policy. It took a little getting used to, that’s for sure. The australian dollar currently amounts to 92 cents in Canadian currency. All of our credit cards were accepted with no issues.
The weather in Australia is quite different to ours in Canada. From November through February, daily highs are well above 25 degree Celsius. Even March stays quite warm. December and January tend to be over 26 degrees Celsius with a low of only around 20 degrees Celsius. April and May have an average daily high of 19 degrees Celsius, and June, July, into August tend to be the cooler months with lows of 9 and highs of 17 degrees Celsius.
Australia is a huge country/continent. It would require months to visit and get to know the entire scope of it. I feel very fortunate to have gotten to experience a small part of it. I will definitely go back one day and visit another part. I would love the opportunity to explore some more of northern Australia. For the southern hemisphere of Australia, Barossa Valley (north of Adelaide), and Melbourne. For western Australia, definitely Perth is on my list. And if I have the opportunity to return to Sydney, The Blue Mountains just outside of Sydney, and Bondi Beach would be on my wish list. There are so many other major cities in that beautiful tropics country to visit. It is a beautiful part of the world with so much to offer. I would love to hear what others have to say about their experiences in Australia. Please share!
How much does it cost to travel Australia?
The cost of traveling to Australia depends on several factors, including the length of your trip and the type of activities you plan to do. Generally speaking, a two-week trip to Australia will cost anywhere from $2,000-$4,000 per person depending on your travel style. This includes airfare, lodging, food, transportation costs, travel insurance and some activities. If you plan on doing more expensive activities such as scuba diving or going on safari trips, these costs should be factored into your budget as well. Additionally, if you want to visit multiple cities or stay for longer than two weeks, you should account for those extra costs in your budget. Ultimately, the best way to get an accurate estimate of the cost of traveling to Australia is to research what type of activities you would like to do and get quotes from travel companies or online resources that specialize in Australian travel packages.
Is it safe to travel alone or should I go with someone else?
The decision to travel alone or with someone else is a personal one that depends on your individual needs and preferences. If you are an experienced traveler and feel comfortable navigating unfamiliar places and situations, then traveling alone can be a great way to explore new places and meet new people. However, if you are not as confident in your ability to handle unexpected challenges that may arise while traveling, then it is probably safer to go with someone else who can provide additional support and assistance. Ultimately, the best way to decide if it is safe for you to travel alone or with someone else is to consider your particular situation, comfort level, and destination.
Where can you stay in Sydney and where can you stay on a budget in Melbourne and Brisbane?
In Sydney, there are a variety of accommodation options for visitors, ranging from hotels and resorts to vacation rentals and hostels. Popular areas for tourists to stay in Sydney include the city centre, Bondi Beach, Darling Harbour, and Manly Beach. For those looking to stay on a budget, some affordable accommodation options include the YHA Sydney Central Hostel, City Backpackers Hostel, and Wake Up! Sydney Central.
In Melbourne, popular areas for tourists to stay include the city centre, St Kilda Beach, Chapel Street, South Yarra and Fitzroy. Budget accommodation options in Melbourne include Urban Central Accommodation, Space Hotel Melbourne CBD and The Base Backpackers Melbourne.
In Brisbane, popular areas for tourists to stay include the city centre, Fortitude Valley, South Bank Parklands and Woolloongabba. Budget accommodation options in Brisbane include Nomads Brisbane Hostel, Travellers Oasis Backpackers Hotel & Resort and Spring Hill Mews Budget Accommodation.
Do Canadians need a visa to enter Australia?
Yes, Canadians need to obtain a visa in order to enter Australia. Depending on the purpose of travel, there are different types of visas available for Canadian citizens. For example, if you are travelling for business purposes, you may need to apply for a Business Skills or Short Stay Business Visa. If you plan to stay in Australia longer than three months, you will need to apply for a Temporary Work (Skilled) Visa. All visa applications must be submitted online via the Department of Home Affairs website. You may also need to provide evidence that you have sufficient funds and health insurance coverage before you can be granted a visa. For more information on applying for an Australian visa as a Canadian citizen, please visit the Department of Home Affairs website.
Ensure that you travel with the same passport used to apply for your Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). A health examination might be necessary to obtain certain visas.
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The weather was amazing in Australia. My kiddos could hardly stay out of the water. While sunscreen lotions were lathered all over all of us on a daily, what really kept us protected from the sun was spf clothing for children and spf clothing for adults.
Other practical items that came in handy while we were there were: baby swimmers diapers, sun hats for kids, bucket hats for adults, baseball caps for adults, water shoes, flip flops for kids, flip flops for adults, and backpacks.
