Australia is a land of rich and diverse history; indeed, its indigenous cultures represent some of the oldest continuous human cultures in global history, a fact which should never be overlooked when considering the country’s past.  It was not until the late 18^th century, however, that Europeans finally became aware of and eventually settled Australia (from the Latin australis, meaning “southern”).  To be specific, it was the first transoceanic voyage of Captain James Cook—whose name is a staple in Australia due to his prominence in its history—that brought white settlers to the continent in 1770, indelibly altering the course of history for all the native inhabitants as well as for the many settlers that would arrive over the following decades and centuries to turn this into one of the most diverse and independent-minded destinations on the face of the earth.

James Cook’s ship, the HMS Endeavour, made landfall for the first time on the Australian southeastern coastline at what became known as Botany Bay (named so after botanists on board collected spectacular specimens in the area), on April 29, 1770.  Nonetheless, it would be many more years until any European settlers actually laid down roots in Australia.  Only in 1788, with the arrival of Captain Arthur Phillip and the First Fleet would a permanent settlement be created intended to function as a remote penal colony for the most undesirable subjects in the British Empire.  It was in this same year that Sydney, by now considered the country’s most emblematic city, was founded.

As the purpose of the British settlement in Australia was to create a penal colony that furthermore was entirely self-sufficient, the task at hand for the new settlers was enormously difficult, and just as British settlers in North America had experienced hard times so too did Phillip and his entourage.  The fact that the settlers lacked sufficient knowledge of the surrounding ecosystem, were inexperienced in tasks such as carpentry and farming (not typical skills among convicts), and had to wait for two years for the next round of supplies to arrive from Britain all compounded the challenges besetting the group.  Yet, as a testament to the hardiness of the incipient Australian nation, they pulled through and went on to expand and thrive and create new settlements which would eventually constitute separate British colonies.

New South Wales was the first of these, and chunks of it were subsequently rendered into distinct colonies: South Australia was formed in 1836, followed by Victoria in 1851 and Queensland in 1859.  Unlike New South Wales before them, these were never intended to be penal colonies, although some of them did include such penal sites within their territory.  These were years of adventure and strife, growth and competition in many senses, not only between the white settlers and the aboriginal nations, but also between vying white settlers themselves who competed to claim power and make a name for themselves.

Over the course of the 19^th century, transportation of convicts gradually dropped until finally ceasing completely and the modern identity of the Australian country and nation was forged.  Enormous social changes took place, spurred by events such as the various gold rushes that began in the 1850s.  By the very beginning of the 20^th century, the colonial era was brought to its end with the creation of the Commonwealth of Australia as a federation of all the existing governments on the island, opening a new chapter in Australia’s history—this time, as its very own country.

It’s not a secret that Australia is a strange, strange country. In order to give you a little taste of their strangeness have I compiled a list of the 7 humorous fun facts about Australia!

1. “Jedi” is an official religion in Australia. In 2007 more than 70 000 Australians declared themselves of members of the Jedi order!

2. The first European Settlers in Australia drank more alcohol per person than any other country In the world! It should be mentioned that a big portion of the settlers were Irish seamen…

3. The 27. Prime minister of Australia and the longest serving Prime minister for the Australian Labor Party Bill Hawke; was best known for his drinking capability. Hawke sat a new world speed record In beer drinking, by finishing a yard glass (aprox 1,2 liters) of beer in 11 seconds!

4. The Average Australian will consume 7000 liters of beer and 165 000 eggs in his or her lifetime.

5. Probably Australias least proud world record; More than 80% of their adult population gambles. In New South Wales they have over 100 000 “Pokies” which is more per capita than any other place in the world, including Las Vegas. On another note, the number of car accidents caused by “Beach Pokies” is constantly increasing and becomming a national problem! (Editor: The research for the latest statement has only been developed in the writers head and should be used with caution!)

6. Melbourne, previously capital of Australia, and generally recognized as the most popular city in Australia; was originally named Batmania. When first settled in 1835, the region was named after one of its first settlers, John Batman.

7. In Queensland they host a yearly event called “Toad day out”. Its focus is to reduce the population of the Cane Toad by …. Killing it. Toads are captured to be humanly destroyed, and prizes are awarded to the children that find the biggest toads and the schools which capture the biggest amount of toads!

This shouldn’t come as a surprise: Australia is a huge country. After all, it’s the only nation in the world that takes up a whole continent. When planning your backpacking trip in Oz, you need to take this into account. Wherever your itinerary takes you, there are varying options for transportation. From journeys down the East Coast to expeditions into the heart of the Outback, choosing the right method of getting there (and back) can make or break your trip. Here are some of the ways to get around Australia, with appropriate itineraries.

Car: One popular transportation alternative is the purchase of a used car. There is an entire market for travelers to choose from, with backpackers departing Australia selling in major cities like Sydney, Perth, and Melbourne. This is really only a viable option if you plan on using the vehicle for at least a few months, because registration and insurance fees are relatively high. Have a mechanic inspect the vehicle before buying, especially for an older car.

Bus: Greyhound Australia frequently runs great deals that attract many backpackers. One example is the All Australian Explorer Pass, which allows the purchaser to travel through the entire country over the course of an entire year. Hop on and hop off at your leisure, spending as much or as little time as you want in each destination. Other passes are available as well along the East Coast, as well as the interior.

Plane: If you’re on a tight schedule, flying is probably your best bet for getting around Australia. There’s simply no other way to see different parts of the country as efficiently. For example, a bus ride from Cairns to Sydney would take over two days (and that’s without stopping in all of the wonderful places along the way). A flight, on the other hand, takes just over three hours. Consider purchasing a flight for the way up, and then bussing the way back down.

Rail: Travel by train isn’t as popular as it once was, but for some people, it’s the only way to go. Perhaps the most popular route is the Indian Pacific, which travels from Sydney through Adelaide to Perth over the course of three nights. Regarded as one of the premier journeys by train in the world, it doesn’t come cheap; expect to pay upwards of 1,000 dollars per ticket, and even more for a sleeper car.

Camper Van: The classic image of seven dudes piling out of a camper van is one that’s synonymous with the Australian backpacking experience. A self-contained camper van can save you money by offering accommodation, transportation, and cooking space in one compact package, but you better be very good friends with your fellow travelers. After a month or two cooped up inside, you’re likely to have a whole new perspective.

Backpacking in Australia is bound to be an adventure no matter how you get around. Research each of the options listed above, and make a decision based on your budget, needs, and timeframe. For more information, read up on our Backpack Australia Guides

Welcome to Backpack Australia! This is a site built by backpackers to guide both young and old backpackers on their great journey in our favorite country; Australia!  Backpacking Australia is a wonderful opportunity to experience some of the World’s greatest nature and scenery, while only wearing thongs and a bathing shorts. If you are now thinking: “Did he just say that I would be walking around in a thong?” check out our Australian Dictionary for “thongs”!

Backpacking in Australia doesn’t necessarily require any planning, but you will save yourself for a lot of unnecessary trouble if you do some minor research and planning before you leave home. What are the top spots that you just have to visit? Where can you best learn to surf? How do you get a visum to enter the country and how the **** is it possible to drive on the wrong side of the road? Use the information available on this site and you will find answer to all of these questions! Start off with our guide on Backpacking in Australia!

Best of luck on your travels from all of us in the Backpack Australia Travel Writer Team! If you have any questions or comments, don’t hesitate to email us at: mail@backpackaustralia.net

Our Guide on Backpacking Australia:

Backpacking around Australia is not done in a day. For that to be said, it isn’t done in a week either. Australia is actually so big that you would have a hard time visiting all of it in a life time. So to be sure that you won’t miss out on the best places, we have created a guide that will help you stitch together your personal dream journey! Be sure to check out our Backpack Australia guide here.

Australia Attractions:

Australia is a huge country filled from top to bottom with stunning nature and exciting attractions. Diving the Great Barrier Reef, driving a 4-wheeler over the beaches of Fraser Island and partying from dusk to dawn in backpacker paradise Byron Bay is just a few examples of what Australia has to offer.  Check our list over Australias Top Ten Attractions.

Five Australian slang words for the beach:

• Thongs – Cheap rubber backless sandals. (No, not the ones that go up your ass…)

• Bluey – Bluebottle jellyfish (If you hear someone shout this.. GET THE HELL OUT OF THE WATER)

• White pointers – Topless (female) sunbathers.

• Nipper – Young surf lifesaver.

• Shark biscuit : somebody new to surfing

Five Australian Slang words for the Pub:

• Piss – Beer. Hence “hit the piss”

• Stubby, a 375ml. beer bottle.

• Longneck, a 750ml. beer bottle.

• Roadie – a beer you buy to take away with you.

• Goon – Extremelly cheap and equally horrible wine.

Five Australian Slang words for nationalities:

• Kiwi: A new Zealander

• POHM or Pommie – Englishmen(Prisoner Of Her Majesty)

• Kangaroo – A person from Australia

• Sheepshagger : A more insulting slang for a New Zealander

• Islander – A person from Fiji, Tonga…

Five Australian Slang words for a Sunday:

• Barbie – barbecue

• Footy – Australian Rules football

• Arvo – afternoon

• Bog in : to attack food with enthusiasm

• Veg out : to relax in front of the TV (like a vegetable)

And last, but not forgotten……..

Five Australian Slang words for a fight:

• Dill: an idiot

• Dong – to hit or punch.

• Dipstick – a loser, idiot

• Wranger/Bluey – a person with red-hair (Used with caution!)

• Ambo – ambulance (In case you used the one above!)

Did you pick up a funny Australian Slang while Backpacking Australia? Pls tell us about it in the comment section!

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If you haven’t discovered already, Australia truly is a strange country. One of the biggest cult phenomena that have spread through the country like a plague is the Big Thing statues. The Big Thing phenomena are basically just a massive amount of large plastic statues of animals, fruits, or just daily life things. So while driving through the desert in Australia, you shouldn’t be shocked if a trout by the size of a boat suddenly appears on the side of the road.

Coffs harbour’s big banana:

It all started back in 1964 with the big banana in Coffs Harbour. John Landy, who owned a road side banana stall, wanted to build something spectacular that made passing traffic stop. An early day September day he came up with the brilliant idea of building the world’s biggest banana… On the twenty-second of December 1964 the Big Banana was finally finished, and has since then been a popular attraction on the road through Coffs Harbour.

In later years, the Big Banana has now grown even bigger. Being the host to a rollercoaster, an ice skating park, a water park and a café embarrassingly called “Going bananas café”, the Big banana can almost be called a small amusement park. While the rides & attractions might not be world-class, the place is surely worth visiting just to experience what a man’s dream of a big banana can do to a town. As they couldn’t have said it better themselves:

The Big Banana – It’s a whole bunch of fun

Meet Larry, The Big Red Lobster.

The big lobster, locally known as Larry, is located in the town of Kingston in South Australia. The man behind the lobster is Ian Backler, a local lobster fisherman. Back in 1979, Backler planned on building the lobster to draw attention to a visitor centre in Kingston. A local myth tells that Backler originally intented to build the lobster 12 feet or about 4 metres high. But the builder misinterpreted and built Larry 12 metres high, almost 3 times as big as intended.

Ian Backler and his companion Rob moyse ran the site for 15 years before they sold it on to a new owner. Nowadays the lobster has recently been laid out for sale. So if you have $550,000 australian dollar and a passion for lobsters, this might be your golden opportunity. If not, you might as well make Larry your next objective for a road trip!

Other popular Big Thing monuments:

The big golden guitar, located in Tamworth, New south Wales is a major attraction, especially during the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

The big oyster that appears to have teeth in form of panoramic glass windows, is located in Taree, New South Wales.

The big boxing crocodile is located in Humpty Doo in the Northern Territory.

What’s your favorite off Australia’s Big Things? Write a comment about it!

Backpacking Australia is a one in a lifetime journey that must be experienced! The only problem is that the place is unbelievable huge. There is so much to do and so much to see that you don’t even know where to start. To help you out, I’ve created a top ten list of my favorite Australia Attractions. Enjoy!

1. Dive and explore the mystical Great Barrier Reef

Diving the Great Barrier Reef is an experience of a lifetime. The reef is the world’s biggest structure made by living organisms and is also one of the “Seven natural wonders of the world”. Except for being astonishing huge, it’s also the home for thousands of species. Playful dolphins, lazy sea-turtles and nibbling reef sharks are just a few examples of the reef habitants.

The reef has lately been given a lot of attention from the “Best Job In The World” stunt from the Australian Government, where you could apply for the position as the reefs caretaker. Even though I can’t give you that job, I can still give you a great recommendation. Use the opportunity to get a PADI diving license. There are plenty of companies that will teach you the basics of diving, and diving with a license will give you more freedom and an even better experience.

2. Self-drive the biggest sand island in the world, Fraser Island

Fraser Island, the largest sand island in the world, is located along the southern coast of queensland. The island is a world heritage listed and a precious part of australias natural heritage. With unique attractions like dingos, ship wrecks and the “Champagne pools” is Fraser Island a one of a kind.

It’s also hostess to one of Australias biggest backpacker attractions, the 4-wheel self drive. Groups of 12-16 backpackers get stuffed in huge 4-wheel trucks and sent off to the island for a 2- or 3-day hike. Fill your backpack with warm clothes, mosquito spray, dingoprotection and loads of alcohol and join in on a big adventure.

3. Attend a surf camp and experience the surfing lifestyle first-handed.

Ever dreamed of riding the waves? Well, now is your chance. Surfing is huge in Australia. Not just as a sport, but also as a lifestyle. There is something special about the people that live and breed for surfing.  They have a natural ease and calm for life, that is hard to find elsewhere. And it’s almost impossible to understand it until you actually try it. The two seconds of glory while you stand on the board for the first time, with knees shaking like drumsticks will stay with you forever. Atleast long enough to recover from the wave that will hit you two seconds later.

If you ever imagined that surfing was easy, you were terribly wrong. Surfing is extremely hard, and can be a real pain in the ass. At least if you don’t know where and how to start. There is only one way to learn how to surf. Attend a Surf Camp. On a surf camp you will be instructed and teached how to surf as a beginner on a beginner surf board. They will actually in most cases get you up on the board during your first day of surfing! Take the opportunity to experience the surfing lifestyle first-handed. Attend a Surf Camp!

4. Drive the world-famous Great Ocean Road:

The Great Ocean Road is recognized as one of the world’s most scenic drives. The road follows the south-west coast of Victoria, from Torquay to just south of Geelong. The road was build after World War 1 by returned soldiers and was constructed as a memorial to those who died in the war. The road is surrounded by spectacular nature. Most famous are the mesmerizing twelve apostles.

The twelve apostles is an amazing collection of rock formations that follows the coast. The rocks have been carved by the fierce waves of the ocean over the last 20 million years.  Despite the name, it’s not actually 12 of them. The name was given in the mid 50s to attract tourists. The Great Ocean Road is truly a wonderful sight, and a must on a road trip around Australia.

5. Watch the incredible view of Sydney Opera House with the fantastic Harbour bridge in the background.

Sydney Opera House is widely recognized as the symbol of Australia. The Sydney Opera House is one of the most famous performing arts centres in the world. The main attraction is off course the unique design. The shellroof that no one thought was possible to construct was designed by the Danish architect Jørn utzon, who in 2003 received the “Pritzker price”, architectures highest honour.

While The Sydney Opera House is a well recognized symbol of Australia, the Harbour Bridge can very well be considered the symbol of Sydney. On major celebrations in Sydney history, like New Years Eve and the Sydney Olympic games, the bridge has always been the focal point. For the adventurous, it’s also possible to climb the bridge. BridgeClimb host daily climbs up to the bridges highest point. Each trip takes about 3.5 hours.

6. Visit the most talked-about zoo in the world; Australian Zoo!

Australia Zoo is the lifework of the passionate and wildly beloved crocodile hunter. Steve Irwin was except for being a mad, mad man, one of the greatest wildlife protectors of all time. We will never forget the tapes of him fighting the biggest crocodiles in the world with nothing but a huge smile on his face. “Oh crikey, that’s a biggie! “

Today the Australian zoo is still driven by the Irwin family. The Zoo is ultimate wildlife adventure where you can see wildlife animals in friendly environments. Take a stroll with the wild kangaroos, cuddle with the lazy koalas or watch the crocs while they are fed in the Croccoseum. Give Australia Zoo a visit!

7. Go hiking in the wonderful nature of Tasmania:

Tasmania, an island south of Australia, must surely be one of the most beautiful places on earth. The island including a few surrounding islands also form a state called Tasmania. The state is often promoted as the Natural state. Almost 37% of Tasmania is reserves, National parks and World heritage sites. The island is a perfect place for hiking, camping and canoeing in stunning surroundings.

Tasmania is also home to a fierce little fellow, mainly recognized as the cartoon character Taz, the Tasmanian devil. The devil is on the size of a small cute dog, but looks might deceive. The devil has earned his name, and is strongly build with a fierce temper. Attack on humans has been reported, but the devil normally eats everything from frogs to small kangaroos. Tasmania is the only place in theorld where you will be able to see this fascinating creature in the wild. Do you have the nerves?

8. Enjoy the alternativ lifestyle in Australia’s hippie town Nimbin.

The small hippie town a few miles out of byron bay is well worth a visit. Nimbin was just a sleepy little town until 1973, when a hippie festival the Aquarias festival was arranged in town. All good festivals have one thing in common; you wish it would never end. Well, in this case it didn’t. After the festival, a large amount of the participants decided to stay, and formed a traditional hippie town.

The well known main street has sadly been heavily glorified for tourism over the years, with shops like “Bringabong” and “Happy High Herbs”. But the old atmosphere isn’t all gone. You can still enjoy the hippie lifestyle in the nearby hostels and buy magic cookies from the old lady on the corner. The town is easily accible by daily bus rides from Byron bay.

9. Experience the fantastic atmosphere at an Australian football match.

Watching sports in Australia is a huge event. Australians are nutters for sports, we are talking about a country that can fill up a cricket stadium with 90,000 people! Yes, Cricket! It doesn’t really matter if they kick the ball, throw the ball, toss the ball or just watch it. As long as it’s a sport, Australians will love it. And with an active beer service on the stadium, Australian sport watched live is as good as it gets. So if you’re going to see an Australian sport, why not watch their own sport, the Australian Football league?

Australian Football League or AFL is like no other sport. It’s a combination of rugby, football and American football played on a huge cricket field. The only comparison to American football is probably the roughness of the game, but in Australia they don’t wear protection. And when you add the rule that it’s not even possible to get a red card, you know you are in for a real treat. AFL is as Australian as it gets. Do not miss out on this!

10. Go on a safari in Kakadu National park:

Kakadu National park is Australia’s most famous national park. Located in the Northern Territory, and sized almost 1/2 of Switzerland, Kakadu is surely a magnificent sight. Dominated by wetlands, the park features great natural beauty and sweeping landscapes. The park is also very important to aboriginal people, and many communities still occupy the area.

Going on an adventure safari is a great way to see the national park. Local guides take you out on a 4-wheel drive on the wildest tracks you can imagine. Watch them while they catch reptiles and feed wild crocodiles in real Crocodile Dundee style. In fact, most of the Crocodile Dundee movie was filmed in this area. Buy an outback hat and join in on the adventures in Kakadu National park.

Why should you travel to Australia, the old prison island thousands of miles from anywhere else? Being equally dangerous and deserted, Australia is indeed a very, very strange country. We are talking about the world leading country in venomous spiders, hungry sharks, and deadly snakes. In fact, of the ten most dangerous snakes in the world, Australia has the lot. So why would you travel to such an horrific place?

The answer is simple; Australia is a backpacker paradise. Dive the Great Barrier Reef, experience the surfer lifestyle and survive a night out in Byron bay. Australia has everything a backpacker could ever look for. The hostels are packed with a vibrant atmosphere and likeminded backpackers year-around.

Australian lifestyle:

Australia is often referred to as “The country of long weekends.” The relaxed and laidback Aussie way of living is a dream comes true for every backpacker. The only place in the world where ordering a Big Mac would take you about a half hour.

A country where people would not look twice if you got married in boardshorts or came to a business meeting in slippers. The people are actually so lazy that their spoken language makes “sms speech” look like an easy read.

“No worries mate, ill chuck a snag on the barbie!!”

Travel to unique destinations:

Australia is packed with spectacular wonders of nature that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. The mesmerizing colour of the Uluru’s rock, the breathtaking coastline of Great Ocean Road and the wondrous mysteries of The Great barrier reef are just a few of them. It might look astonishing on photos, but it can only be truelly experienced in real life, accompanied by thousands of japanese tourists.

ATTENTION: BEWARE OF THE WEIRDOES!

The mystical country down under is also home to quite a bunch of weirdoes. We are talking about the country that took the concept of Lassie and thought; “hmm, we could do the same with a kangaroo.” The greatest nut head of them all, Steve Irwin, is another Australian hero that has dominated the nature channels the last decade with his crocs and “Crikeys!” After his sudden and sadly passing in 2008, Steve Irwins passion and spirit can only truly be experienced in his lifework: The Australian Zoo. The zoo is still driven by his family, and has kept its atmosphere, unique to any other zoo in the world.

So how do I get down there?

When should I go?

Where should I go?

How much money do I need?

Should I travel with car or train?

Who should I travel with?

……

All of these questions are important, and need to be faced sooner or later, but guess what; NOT NOW! Planning a trip to Australia isn’t done over night, and the biggest mistake you can make is to start with the problems. When you travel around Australia, you will find there is one thing in common between all the overseas travelers. They all had a real desire to go there.

Before you can face the big tasks, you need to build up a desire to go there. Why do you want to travel there? Do you want to experience the lifestyle of surfers? Do you want to skydive 16,000 feet over Cairns beatiful coastline? Do you want to live like the cowboys on a farm miles from anywhere else?

Find something you are passionate about, get excited and everything else will come easy to you.

Follow us next week when we will give you all the information you need to plan and prepare your great journey down under!