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Australia is well-known to be unique and thrilling, with its outside life-style, lovely seashores, and pleasant multi-cultural society, however there are some things about Australia that aren’t so favorable.
We’ve talked quite a bit about all the nice issues that Australia has to supply, and we’re very pleased to be upfront about our house nation too! There are various execs and cons of visiting any vacation spot, and Australia isn’t any exception.
We imagine that each traveler ought to know what they’re stepping into and must be knowledgeable of issues they may wish to know earlier than you go, so we’ve pulled collectively our greatest and worst issues about Australia so you may go along with a transparent concept of what to anticipate!
The Better of Australia: What are the professionals?
Ever the optimists, let’s start with the professionals of visiting Australia. These are the constructive issues you may count on in your journey down underneath.
Seashores
It’s actually arduous to beat an Aussie seashore. I can safely say that, as I’ve skilled so a lot of them around the globe. Australia actually does have the world’s finest seashores.
As the largest island nation, it has over 10,000 seashores to discover.
The vast majority of these are pure, unspoilt and wild or in sheltered coves, the sand glows white or golden, the water is evident, and the surf is normally pumping.
Even town seashores are fairly rattling lovely.
Outback
There’s nowhere just like the Outback. It’s barren, it’s gigantic, it’s crimson rock formations are not like anyplace else on this planet.
Uluru is probably one of many world’s most well-known points of interest, and it’s seeped in historic aboriginal tradition.
What makes the outback so particular is just not solely its distinctive panorama, however the historic cultures who lived right here.
Numerous Landscapes
Australia’s lovely landscapes are as various and totally different as they get. You will discover tropical jungles on the East Coast, pristine islands surrounding the Nice Barrier Reef, white sand seashores, wetlands, desert landscapes, snow-capped mountains and extra.
No matter you’re in search of, yow will discover it in Australia. The one draw back is the large distance it’s important to journey between totally different landscapes, but it surely’s a privilege to witness all of the number of nature spots throughout the nation.
Marsupials
They’re cute, furry and cuddly – properly not likely, most of them do pack a punch. A koala is a vicious fighter if provoked, kangaroos are identified to field, wombats provides you with nasty bites and also you by no means wish to mess with a Tazzy Satan.
Australia is thought for its marsupials; we’re the one nation on this planet that has them (count on for some wallabies and possums in New Zealand).
Fortunate for you, you’ll have ample alternative to see them at our many wildlife parks. You gained’t have as a lot within the wild, though sighting kangaroos is fairly simple.
Nice Local weather
What makes Australia distinctive is you can have a cold and hot local weather occurring on the similar time, relying on which space of Australia you’re in.
It may be a powdery wonderland in Victoria, and a tropical wonderland on the Gold Coast, on the similar time.
I typically really feel that touring throughout Australia is like visiting a distinct planet.
Outside Way of life
Because of our local weather, Australia has a really energetic outside life-style. Any likelihood we are able to get, Aussies are exterior having fun with the solar.
Whether or not it’s sport, hanging on the seashore, eating and ingesting exterior, having barbecues and picnics, or simply out strolling or operating, there are loads to issues to maintain you occupied within the Nice Outdoor.
Simply don’t neglect your hat and sunscreen.
Aussie Slang
I really like Australian slang. It’s our solely little language, which is a lot enjoyable to talk when these round you haven’t a clue what you’re saying. Energy to the Aussie English audio system.
An American buddy of ours usually spoke of how she would sit, as us Aussies would discuss, utterly bewildered to what we have been saying, and it’s not simply due to our accents.
She knew we have been talking English, however couldn’t make any sense out of it.
We shorten our phrases, we add issues to them, and we communicate in rhyming slang, which turns on a regular basis conversations into riddles.
We find it irresistible.
Though, I do admire this may occasionally trigger a language barrier between non-native English audio system. However don’t fear, Aussie’s are very pleasant and pleased to assist guests who usually are not assured English audio system.
Aboriginal Tradition
The oldest residing civilization on this planet, you can’t come to Australia with out spending time attending to know this superb tradition and studying about its tangible historical past.
They lived a nomadic life off the earth for 50,000 years earlier than white individuals got here alongside, with out ever experiencing illness such because the widespread chilly.
They maintain so many secrets and techniques about life that we may all study from.
In addition to having aboriginal tradition, we even have a lot of colonial cultural tourism preserved too. You will see many elderly monuments, centuries-old buildings, and small museums in any city or metropolis.
Australia does rather well to keep up its historical past, protect the legacy of its individuals, and preserve traditions alive.
Seafood and Mangoes
‘Mango time with Mummy‘ is one in all Kalyra and my favorite issues to do. Australian mangoes are scrumptious; I’ve by no means tasted a greater one anyplace else, even after I had them dropping on my tent all day lengthy in Malawi.
Because it has a tropical local weather, numerous Australia’s fruit is one thing to rave about.
With all that ocean on our shores, it’s no marvel that now we have an abundance of seafood to take pleasure in. There’s not a lot that distinguishes Aussie meals from different nations, however the seafood is certainly a stand out.
The prawns are huge, candy and engaging, the calamari comfortable and succulent and the barramundi contemporary and flaky.
You need oysters? we’ve acquired contemporary ones. You need contemporary and juicy balmain bugs, mud crabs, lobster, scampi, octopus? We’ve acquired these too!
It’s time I fired up the barbie and cooked a seafood feast.
Pleasant Folks
I don’t know if it’s as a result of Australians typically stay a cheerful life-style, or have the best steadiness between work and play, however you’ll discover that the majority Australians are extremely pleasant and heat.
Particularly in Tasmania and off-the-beaten-path locations. I believe the nicest individuals we met have been in Hobart in Tasmania, and I’m all the time so proud to name myself Australian every time I hear concerning the kindness and generosity of Aussie locals.
Superb wine
I might say Australia’s wine is among the finest on this planet for quite a lot of causes; for one factor, Australia has a cool and temperate local weather, which is not like anyplace else on this planet, which makes the wine-producing areas extremely fertile and wealthy.
The wines are typically crisper and fruitier than say a wine from France or South Africa, and they’re normally reasonably priced too.
If you’d like just a little romance in your vacation, visiting one of many wine areas, similar to Margaret River or The Barossa Valley is a good way to spend a couple of days with a liked one – and to share a glass of wine or two.
Caters to Completely different Journey Kinds
Whether or not you’re backpacking or travelling as a household or in search of luxurious journey, you can find Australia has one thing to supply all budgets and varieties of vacationers.
You may go for a Michelin-star, high quality eating meal in cosmopolitan cities, or you may camp underneath the celebs within the Outback.
You will discover dorm rooms in hostels, or yow will discover distinctive trip properties. Listed here are methods to seek out reasonably priced lodging in Australia.
There’s actually no sort of traveler who can not get by in Australia. It doesn’t matter what age group you journey with, be it with youngsters or grandparents, there’s something for everybody.
The Worst of Australia: What are the cons?
And now, the negatives of visiting Australia. Nowhere is ideal, so these are among the cons to an Aussie journey.
Web/Telecommunications
We’ve not been shy about expressing simply how irritated we’re each day by Australia’s web and telecommunications. They border on the sting of embarrassing.
I can’t imagine how dreadful it’s compared to different nations around the globe, particularly contemplating it’s fairly a rich first world nation. The web is sluggish and dear, and cell phone service is rarely dependable.
Telstra is the main participant on the subject of nationwide broadband networks and if you happen to intend on visiting areas exterior of the main cities then it’s important to go along with Telstra otherwise you simply gained’t get high quality service.
Telstra, after all, is the most costly and their customer support is ridiculously dangerous. They’re my most despised firm on this planet.
Optus are the subsequent greatest supplier and whereas their costs are cheaper, they supply worth and their customer support is healthier, their connection and repair attain is just not nice.
Excessive Value of Dwelling
There’s a cause why not only one, however two huge cities in Australia made the Prime 15 costliest locations to stay on this planet.
I’m shocked each day, not simply by the excessive value of the whole lot right here, however by the poor service and high quality that comes with it.
Australia is just not going to be a low-cost vacation spot to go to. You will have plan fastidiously to cut back your prices whereas travelling right here. Costs of abroad locations are less expensive, even Europe.
You don’t want some huge cash to journey Australia, we’re speaking a few bucks further, but it surely does add up.
Craig and I usually name it the Land of Taxes, Fines and Charges. In all places you flip there’s a new tax regulation being launched or a rule that can impose a high quality or a charge on you for one thing or one other.
Many Guidelines
My brother has all the time joked that quickly they are going to be fining us for farting in public in Australia. We’re not too far off it.
You may get fined for offensive swearing in public, in addition to fined for strolling and texting.
As a substitute of implementing applications that educate residents the best way to be accountable and productive members of society, the federal government believes that to regulate the lots extra guidelines should be launched.
Guidelines made for the minority of idiots who can’t act like grown-ups, which have an effect on the majority of accountable, arduous working individuals and so limiting their freedoms to take pleasure in their life.
The lunatics run the asylum.
Don’t consider getting into a pub with a hat in your head, ditch the rat’s tails (actually a very good rule) and preserve your shirt on at soccer video games…
Poor Buyer Service
If you’re American, or come from an ingrained service tradition, you’re actually going to note this.
You aren’t going to have wait workers showing at your desk each 5 minutes to replenish your water glass, examine that your meals are okay, or ask if you need anything.
The commonest criticism about Australia is the service.
In actual fact you may be sitting there for half an hour earlier than somebody even comes over to take your order. Don’t count on a smile or “come again subsequent time.” Then once more, you don’t must tip in Australia, so you may’t count on nice service if you happen to don’t tip, proper?
Lethal Animals
House to eight of the world’s most toxic snakes, the deadliest spider, cane toads, field jellyfish and conefish that may kill you inside minutes, shark crammed oceans, and crocs that lurk beneath the murky waters, Australia is the land of harmful wildlife which are out to kill you.
Simply be sure you do by your day in Oz projecting the vitality that you just imagine Australia to be the best nation on earth and they’ll depart you alone.
True.
Many individuals gained’t go to Australia as a result of they’re petrified of our lethal animals. Don’t be. I’ve hardly ever seen any of them. Alas although, they’re there, so err on the facet of warning and use your widespread sense.
As we wish to say in Australia “She’ll be proper, mate!”
Harsh Solar
There’s a cause why Australia has the very best variety of circumstances of pores and skin most cancers on this planet. The solar is brutal.
I’ve olive pores and skin so I don’t actually burn, aside from when I’m in Australia. Give me half an hour within the solar I’ll begin to redden. You may really feel the warmth searing your pores and skin.
Many vehicles have wool steering wheel covers. When you don’t and your automobile has been sitting within the solar for an hour, as quickly as you place your arms on the wheel they’ll sizzle. It makes driving close to inconceivable.
It doesn’t matter what nation you go to, there are going to be bests and worsts. All you want to do is be ready to beat the challenges of the worsts and focus on completely having fun with the perfect the nation has to supply.
Lengthy distances
Australia is the sixth largest nation on the planet, so you may count on lengthy distances when touring between cities. There’s a funds airline community that permits home travellers to fly between larger cities similar to Brisbane and Adelaide, however if you wish to journey to cities, you’re best choice is to hire a automobile and drive, and plan for a lot of multi-night adventures alongside the best way.
Bus journey is sweet for brief intercity hops, however Australia doesn’t actually do a lot in the best way of prepare journey. Probably the most well-known prepare journey is from Adelaide to Darwin through Alice Springs, which has turn out to be extra of a vacationer attraction than mode of transport.
The excellent news is that in cities, the general public system of transport is actually good and simple to get round.
Cities similar to Melbourne and Sydney have a tram system and a metro, permitting you to get round with ease.
Not near different nations
If you wish to journey from Australia to a different international nation, then you’ll need to journey far.
The closest nation to Australia is Papua New Guinea to the North, and New Zealand to the South.
It’s additionally a four-hour flight from Perth to Bali, however if you wish to go to different nations in Southeast Asia similar to Thailand or Malaysia, you’re taking a look at an 8-hour flight.
That is assuming you fly from Perth, which is closest to Asia. More often than not, flights from Thailand or the Center East fly into Sydney or Melbourne on the west coast.
Europe is so distant from Australia, as is East Africa, so not many Australians get to journey that distant. In the event that they do, it’s normally on prolonged journeys.
Basically, if you happen to journey to Australia, you want to spend a very long time in a single nation and should be proud of this.
Not simple to get visas
Visiting as a vacationer is simple. You do want a visa, however they aren’t arduous to get and the applying is simple sufficient.
However if you wish to go to on a Working Vacation Visa, then you want to put your software in properly prematurely and you want to leap by a couple of hoops to get it.
Residence visas usually are not simple to return by both. Take a look at these methods to work and journey Australia and finest job alternatives in Australia.
You may ski in Australia, but it surely’s not nice
I wager you didn’t know that you may ski in Australia? You may! BUT, the snow isn’t pretty much as good as numerous Europe resorts, but it surely’s ok for us Aussies!
The snow in Australia is unpredictable, which may make it arduous to plan a snowboarding or snowboarding vacation, as it could be icy or slushy.
Most Australian ski resorts are conscious that the snow won’t final and have snow machines in place to make it higher.
Such is the results of local weather change, I suppose!
To assist along with your Australian journey planning, use the next posts