Backpacking Australia

With so many amazing places on offer across Australia – from the ancient rainforests and the world-famous Great Barrier Reef to the great red rock Uluru – it really is hard to know where to start your backpacking adventure in Oz.

Deciding is the best part of planning. If you’ve got some savings and a desire to explore, we can help send you in the right direction.

Here’s our guide to the best backpacking destinations Down Under. Make them a “must-see” on your itinerary.

Ayers Rock, Uluru – Northern Territory
Immerse yourself in the timeless landscape of one of the world's most beautiful natural wonders.

Daintree Rainforest – Far North Queensland
Don’t miss out on one of the most diverse and beautiful rainforests in the world

Kakadu National Park – Northern Territory
Kakadu is a dazzling spectacle of Mother Nature’s grandeur

Broome – Western Australia
Known as the pearl capital of the world, Broome is a unique and exotic town that is the gateway to the raw wilderness of Australia’s Kimberley region

Cradle Mountain, Tasmania
Cradle Mountain is the starting point for the world-famous Overland Track, a magnificent 5-day walk

Phillip Island, Victoria
Phillip Island offers backpackers a chance to walk on the wide side, with impressive surf beaches and rare wildlife

Byron Bay, NSW
Known as a hippie’s paradise, Byron Bay is a beach town with a difference.

Barossa Valley, South Australia
One of Australia’s most prized wine regions is the Barossa Valley

The Grampians, Victoria
There’s something quite magical about The Grampians – a spectacular national park of steep mountains

Coober Pedy, South Australia
They came from all over the world to strike it rich in the opal mines, but many eventually settled in Coober Pedy to make it one of the most multicultural towns in the world

At Backpacker Tours Australia we've made it easier to kayak with the dolphins in Byron Bay, make that didgeridoo in the Northern Territory, climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge & book backpacker hostel accommodation.
Our Tour directory is designed with you, the backpacker in mind. Rent a campervan, hire a bike or take an art tour in Melbourne. Dive in the Whitsundays or take a 4WD safari in Far North Queensland - it's all here (you can even fly fish in Tasmania if you wish).

We understand that you have a budget to stick to so we are committed to helping you save heaps of money on tours, activities and hires on your Australia travel.

The hostel accommodation directory provides you with direct contact to backpacker hostels Australia wide. It so easy...just make your enquiry and remember to quote your membership number to receive members discounted rates for bookings.
You can also contact Australian tour operators directly, using the tour & hire directory. Complete contact details are provided for all operators listed on the directory so that you can plan your holiday, your way.

Would you believe it if we told you that Australia is the single most amazing continent in the entire world? Well, here at Backpacking Australia we aim to prove it!

Australia’s Northern Territory is land to one of the most magnificent and untouched tropical areas in the world, 20% of the island of Tasmania is world heritage wilderness area, The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s single largest World Heritage Area covering 35 million hectares (which is bigger than the
entire area of Italy), archaeological and rock art sites in Kakadu date back to the Ice Age, a sea breeze known as "the Doctor" travels along the west coast of Australia in the summer and Australia is the world’s smallest continent. What does all of this mean? There is no better place for jam packed adventure or for self discovery than right here and if this isn’t proof enough – you better come see for yourself!
To start planning your backpacking trip to Australia we recommend Backpacker Tours Australia. Comprehensive backpacking and budget travel information with an online store.

If you looking for backpacking quick tips and travel guides you can download them here

We also recommend taking advantage of one of the better backpacker and budget travel insurance sites around. You can visit and get an online estimate for all of your travel insurance needs and its obligation free..... You don’t even need to talk to a real human unless you want.

Can you hear that? It’s the roar of the ocean waves; a 4WD grinding its way through the outback; the mystical sounds of twilight in the desert and a cacophony of birdsong in the rainforest. It’s the call of the wild, all the way from Australia.

Obviously if you’ve arrived at our website, you’re ready to pack your bags and hit the road. You’ve had enough of studying, the 9-5 grind and city smog. The promise of wide, open spaces and new friends in exotic places awaits you.

Time to find out what this country that bred Croc Hunter Steve Irwin, Olympic swimmer Ian Thorpe, and great actors like Nicole Kidman and Mel Gibson is all about, mate!

Backpacking in Australia Introduction

You're probably wondering where Australia gets its trademark name – Down Under? Well, according to the hit song by Men at Work, Australia is the “land down under, where women glow and men plunder.” But it wasn’t the famous pop ode to Oz that provided the nickname. Australia is often referred to as the land “Down Under because of its geographic location. The island nation lies between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, southeast of Asia and south of the equator.

From rainforest to reef Australian Backpacking

Undoubtedly, the sheer vastness and variety of Australia's natural beauty is its greatest attraction. The landscape ranges from sandy white foreshores to dense tropical rainforest and rocky deserts. With so many diverse environments, Australia is the only single country to make up a continent. No wonder so many backpackers want to explore it from rainforest to reef.

The face of a nation - Australia

Immigration in Australia has welcomed new Australians from all walks of life to make up its population of 20 million. With immigrants from the UK, Italy, Greece, South Africa, China, Vietnam and more, Australia has a truly cosmopolitan face.

The great sporting nation’s cultural diversity is a key part of its national identity. According to the 2001 Census, 23% of Australians were born overseas.
An additional 20% had at least one parent born overseas. And an impressive 200 languages are spoken across Australia, which makes it mighty difficult to carry that many language books.

Australia’s first land dwellers, the indigenous Aboriginals, are said to have roamed the big island for some 20,000 years. They carry on a rich tradition of dreamtime, with their stories and art relating to the landscape. According to Aboriginal belief, all life as it is today – human and animal – is part of a vast unchanging network of relationships, which can be traced to the spirit ancestors of the Dreamtime. Animals feature prominently in the legends, which are featured in Australia’s colourful indigenous art.

Beach, bush, BBQs and backpacking in Australia

From surf to snow to backpacking in Australia

Of course winter chills can also offer thrills and spills on the slopes. Popular Australian ski resorts include Mt Hotham, Falls Creek, Thredbo and Mount Buffalo. Young people are known to congregate on the great white for Spring Break style partying. Aussie ski bunnies like to warm up with cocktails and conversation at the many restaurants and nightclubs in the snow.

Australia's Natural wonders

And of course, let’s not forget The Great Barrier Reef, a coral wonderland, which draws snorkellers and scuba divers from all over the world. There are 2,800 stunning coral reefs to explore at this underwater Eden. Make it an aquatic adventure to remember by taking an underwater camera, and look out for the dugong and the large green turtle, which are threatened with extinction.

Australia's True diversity