Kangaroos And Kookaburras: Affordable Outdoor Travel Adventure In Australia

Hi everyone, we are doing something a little different today. You already know that we love keeping fit while travelling, hence the Traveller’s Fitness Bible and the Yoga Band Set.

Since one of our main writers live in Australia, we thought it would be pretty good to have a guest post about Australia. Today we have Zack Spring from Travel Fit, who is going to write about Australia. Enjoy!

What do you think about when you hear the word “Australia?” It’s a word that has a strong association with the outdoors, spending time in nature, and enjoying some of the world’s most beautiful wildlife scenery. It puts you in mind of kangaroos, koala bears, great white sharks, and the kookaburra (a type of bird). And the unique, beautiful nature and wildlife helps to explains why so many Americans enjoy going to Australia. With so much pristine wilderness and exotic fauna, it’s easy to be drawn to the outdoors.

But if you’re thinking about taking an Australian adventure, you want to be mindful of your budget and start planning as early as possible. Stay in a 4-star hotel and you’ll burn through your travel budget very quickly—and the only wildlife you’ll probably see will be on the telly. If you’re looking for a true Australian adventure—think hiking, backpacking, and camping—then definitely consider ways to save money because even on a wilderness adventure, you can quickly deplete your resources if you’re not careful.

One: Camping

Camping may be the best (affordable) way to experience the natural beauty of Australia. The country has campsites all over the place. Some are free, some charge a minimal fee, and others are higher priced and require an advance reservation. If this is the way you want to go, do plenty of research on places you can pitch a tent and set up a barbecue legally (you can’t unroll your sleeping bag just anywhere). 

A Caravan or campervan make excellent alternatives to roughing it in a tent if you’re not into the whole pitching it and taking it down the next morning thing. Many sites will let you spread out for just $20, while others jump to $40 or higher but offer more amenities, such as power and swimming pools. If you’re an avowed backpacker, there’s just no substitute for sleeping under the stars and using your own equipment. Be sure to do some online homework before you go to make sure you’ve got the best possible gear for your dollar.

Two: Hostels

For outdoors persons determined to avoid costly hotel bills and experience a sense of the outdoor life, Australia’s hostels are abundant, alive, and well. A shared dorm room will run you from $20 to $45 per night, though the closer you get to the hot spots and cities, the more you’ll pay for a hostel stay. Consider getting a YHA membership, which offers a 10 percent discount per stay.

Not all hostels look like the hippie commune from Easy Rider. Some have bars, swimming pools, full kitchens, and other conveniences and amenities. Some cater to people looking to do a little partying, others are more family oriented, while others are more upscale. If money’s especially tight, look for hostels that will allow you to stay for free in exchange for doing a little cleaning or maintenance work around the place—a nice way of giving back and saving money. Find the hostel that’s right for you by searching Hostelworld or Hostelz.com.

Three: Hotels

Whether or not you decide to go the hotel route depends a lot on what you intend to do during your time in Australia. Spending $300 a night in a Sydney hotel will keep you nice and comfortable, but would seem to be at odds with a down-and-dirty, “look-at-that-Dingo” Australian wildlife experience. There are budget hotels that’ll keep you down at around $100 a night, but be sure to check with sites like Booking.com to get the best deals.

Four: Preparation at Home

Before you even start thinking about where you’ll stay or what you’ll do while you’re on another continent, be sure to spend some time taking care of things at home. With a little advance preparation, you may even be able to make a little money while you’re away to put towards your trip.

Sites like AirBnB, VRBO, and Homad will let you rent out your home to others, which can be a good way to make a few bucks while you’re not using the place. As an added bonus, you won’t have to worry as much about leaving your home empty while you’re on vacation. If you don’t go this route to make money, you can at least save money on late fees and energy costs while you’re gone by prepaying your bills and turning your air down.

A travel adventure vacation is just better when you’re, well, traveling. Staying on the go means being mobile, and for that, camping and outdoor or convenient and cheap accommodations are best. Besides, with a small population, there’s not a whole lot of competition in Australia, which means you pay top Australian dollar for a lot of travel-related services. You’ve waited and saved for this trip—why not make the most of it?

Once again, thanks to Zack Spring from Travel Fit, who is coming up with a new book soon. It will be perfect to read together with the Traveller’s Fitness Bible or the Yoga Band Set. Be sure to check them out!

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