Aussie Alone?? Am I Crazy?!

hey guys!

big hello here from the canada!
anyway, impulsively being sick of the weather in vancouver canada i booked a trip to backpack all the east coast of australia. over the course of three months (sept-dec) im planning to touch base in brisbane, cairns, sydney, new castle, the great barrier reef, gold coast, etc.

just wondering... AM I CRAZY??? please share any advice you have! as excited as i am, im REALLY nervous travelling alone. i have never stayed in a hostel before, never travelled alone, never left home for so long. any tips? hotspots to visit? best places to meet ppl (i will meet ppl...... right? =( )? must sees??

THANKS IN ADVANCE!!

leon

Your definitely not crazzzzy you are making the best decision ever!!!!
Im off in september aswell iv been travelling before but not for so long and never alone - so many ppl have told
me you will meet so many ppl in the same situation as you there just no way you will really be alone!! im nervous its only natural but i just kee thinking about the experience im goin - probably life changin.

Im leaving on the 23rd september arriving in mel 23:30pm 24th stayin in Coffee Palace. The first 4 days im doing an OZ started pack bit like an orientation thing help meet ppl etc so it myt be an idea 4 you to try that (booked with STA £233 sorry dont no price in $).

Tips: dont take too much stuff you will buy stuff out there and its so annoying lugging a heavy backpack around
take good shoes for walkin in, and a rain coat.

Iv been told the best thing to do money wise is open a Aussie bank account (commonwealth meant to be good). book your first few nights accommodation and then just go with the flow when your there you may meet ppl you want to travel with and you dont want to restrict yourself!

kool well hope thats some help
good luck with plans
Emma

awwwww the coffee palace im only 1 block from there lol

I'm away to Oz on September 23rd, flying into Sydney! Going for the year! I'm also going it alone, first time I've done anything like this!

Like other people have said, there will be loads of people in the same situation, so you will meet loads of people.

Its only natural that you are nervous about it, I'm the same. Better to try it rather than living a life of what if...

Hey Leon.
Forget going to Newcastle. Nothing much there but a suburban style industrial town. Much better places not far from there though.
Hunter Valley for wine, Barrington Tops for wilderness, just North of Newcastle for beaches, just west of Sydney for the Blue Mountains. And plenty of warm weather!
Like other poeple have said: plenty of people to meet up with during your travels. And we Aussies are a friendly bunch
Cheers,
Keith

Yup, we take heaps of backpackers and are known to be very friendly. I live in Sydney, and there's heaps of backpackers around the CBD area close to all the major tourist attractions. We're also really safe (unless you look for trouble in the usual rowdy spots etc).

I've also been to the Great Barrier Reef- the city Cairns itself is a bit of a hole (pardon me but it's the truth) but it's the base to set off on the cruises around the Reef so you have to get there to see the amazing reefs we have (and they are absolutely AMAZING).

The Gold Coast off Brisbane is also very nice to sunbake and relax, and Melbourne is also nice. The Hunter Valley in NSW is also a must if you're into wine.

If you're the adventurous, back-packing, nature-loving type, you might want to check out Mount Gambier; I hear it's pretty popular with eco-tourists. Lots of craters, caves, sinkholes... and of course there's the dormant volcano which the place is named after, Mount Gambier, and the Blue Lake. There's also the wineries in Coonawarra if you're into wine. A friend who's been recommends staying at the Jubilee Motor Inn; it's near most of the local attractions so it's an ideal base if you wish to explore the area, he says. Hope this helps and gives you options.

Hey, i've just decied to go it alone too, was planning on staying and working in Sydney but think heading north to the warm and travelling back down will def be more fun that hanging out here trying to get job! I'm nervous too, wasn't sure whether to book a bus or not but reading reviews and talking to people makes me think i'm better to just get there and see who i meet and what i fancy doing! Scary tho! Just compiling list of places i may like to stop...lots of good ideas on here, anymore...keep em coming! So many ppl do it....sure will be cool, hoping to just find good hostel when i land in Cairns to get me started...if anyone knows of any good ones pls let me know...

Hey, if you guys are going to be in sydney over new years, theres a load of us (11 so far i think) meeting up. We are staying at Lane Cove camping, the guy from the campsite is on here too. If you guys want to know the craic, check out the sticky for * New Years Gathering In Sydney For TP Members * and you will get the gist, if you want to know more about what we are going to get upto just ask. Let us know if you want to join, we have a group reservation over two campsites so can accomodate a few more people if your up for it! =)

kimiii x

Hey!!

I often read these boards but dont post much but i came out here alone on March 23rd and it wasw the best thing i ever did!!

I love it, i came to play rugby league so i found it pretty easy to settle and meet people but i have also driven to SA,Victoria,n Queensland alone and always met random people and partied with them!!

Whats this about a NYE party in Syd?