Australia is incredible and admittedly my favorite country in the world. During my trips there, I had no choice but to fall in love with the diverse landscape that ranges from the 25,000 km long coastline with its picturesque beaches to the red deserts in the Red Center.
As an outdoor nation with a seemingly endless number of incredible National Parks, it is the perfect destination for everyone who loves exploring the outdoors. After all, the landscape is very diverse and offers everything from climbing in gorges to multi-day hikes and more. With animals like the world’s happiest animal the quokka, koalas, kangaroos, and the platypus, Australia has a unique fauna and flora.
With the famous Great Barrier Reef in the east and the Ningaloo Reef in the west, Australia also has incredible marine diversity. It is thereby a diver’s dream and one of the places to go in the world if you want to see whales, whale sharks, great whites, and manta rays.
Additionally, you can explore the big, vibrant cities like Sydney, Perth, and Melbourne, and relax in smaller towns like Broome. Every single one of them is unique and has its own charm: be it the coffee culture of Melbourne or the surfer town charm of Byron Bay.
Aside from being a country of great distances and epic road trips, it is also a country with a long and rich history. After all, the Aboriginal culture dates back 60.000 years and is closely connected with the essence of the country. Take the time to learn about the Dreamtime stories, the Rainbow Serpent, and marvel at Aboriginal art.
I lived in Australia when I first moved abroad and return there whenever I can. After all, I keep adding new experiences to my Australia bucket list. It is safe to say that this country holds a very special place in my heart.
Places to see in Australia
Must-Sees & Experiences
Great Ocean Road
Ningaloo Reef
Great Barrier Reef
The Ghan (Darwin to Adelaide)
Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park
Kakadu National Park
Kalbarri National Park
Blue Mountains National Park
Things to know before you visit Australia
Language
Australia does not have an official language, but it does consider English its national language. After all, it is the only language that 72% of all people living in the country speak at home.
Australian English is a standard dialect and the Australian slang adds an additional note to it. At times, this can lead to short moments of confusion.
At the time of the first European settlement, there were 250 Indigenous languages. Today, there are only 100 of them left if you include Creoles (hybrid languages). Sadly only around 50 of them have more than 150 speakers, and there is a steady decline. So take the time to learn about one of these languages while in Australia.
Currency
The currency is the Australian Dollar. In May 2021 the exchange rate was as follows: 1 AUD equals 0.64 EUR, 0.77 USD, or 0.56 GBP. Therefore 1 EUR = 1.56 AUD, 1 USD = 1.30 AUD and 1 GBP = 1.79 AUD.
Credit Cards & ATMs
In Australia, you can use credit cards at 90% of all shops and businesses. On the East Coast, ATMs can be found everywhere, while there are fewer on the West Coast.
Plugs
Type I (Voltage 230V; Frequency 50Hz)
Visa
Unless you are a citizen of Australia or New Zealand, you need a visa to enter Australia. In order to obtain said visa, you have to create an account on the Australian immigration website. Use the visa finder to explore your visa options and to find the one that is best for you.
I love a sunburnt country,
– Dorothea Mackelle
A land of sweeping plains,
Of ragged mountain ranges,
Of droughts and flooding rains.
I love her far horizons,
I love her jewel-sea,
Her beauty and her terror
The wide brown land for me!
With its rugged beauty, Australia reawakened my wanderlust and stole my heart. As such, this poem perfectly captures how I feel about the country (despite it not being perfect).
Safety
Australia has a very low crime rate and is one of the safest countries in the world. Therefore, is the perfect destination for solo female travelers.
Theft is not a big issue except in Sydney and Melbourne. Those who live in Australia tend to simply leave their stuff at the beach when they go for a swim. A practice that you will quickly get used to.
The only things to fear are natural hazards and some animals. After all, some of the most poisonous animals in the world live in the country and you’ll find sharks and box jellyfish in the water. Therefore, it is important to inform yourself of necessary precautions and to heed warning signs.
Always bring enough water and inform others if you plan to explore unpopulated areas. Keep your UV exposure in mind and do not forget to apply reef-safe sunscreen.
When to visit Australia
The best time to visit Australia depends on your plans within the country. As the seasons are opposite to those in the Northern Hemisphere, the summer months are from December to February.
When planning a trip to Australia, it is important to take a look at the local weather as there are vast differences. Additionally, it is always a good idea to look up the time of semester breaks, as prices tend to rise drastically.
While there are some exceptions, it is generally best to explore the northern half of the country and the red center in winter, while the rest of the country is especially amazing during the summer months.
Read More: The Best Time to visit Australia
Things to do in Australia
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