 Australia - A Short Guide
Sun, sea, sand and adventure are the essence of a backpacker’s experience in Australia. It is superbly geared up for its huge low-budget tourism industry and making the most out of backpacking couldn’t get any easier or more enjoyable.
The most popular backpacker's trail, treks from Sydney up the sun-drenched and beautiful coastline of the Gold Coast and Queensland to the sub-tropical rainforests of Cape Tribulation.
A traveler is never short of adventure and popular activities include sailing, scuba diving, white water rafting, surfing, horse riding, skydiving and 4x4ing on Fraser Island, the world’s largest sand island.
The major cities are very friendly, modern and cosmopolitan with vibrant nightlife - or for a taster of wilderness head ‘outback’ for breath taking scenery, bouncing wildlife and, of course, the magnificent Ayers Rock.
Travel on coaches is cheap and simple with large companies such as Greyhound running between all major destinations. Alternatively, more sociable and activity based trips can be taken with Oz-Experience who offer accommodation and activity deals and place a strong emphasis on partying hard with your fellow passengers.
Internal flight prices are getting more and more competitive with major operators such as Quantas and Virgin Blue waging price wars.
Accommodation in hostels is cheap, safe and readily available. There is a spontaneous, upbeat attitude amongst the backpacking community in Australia, and you will be guaranteed to make so many friends you can hardly remember their names.
There are so many backpackers over there that the only danger is missing out on making any Australian friends!
Guide to places
Brisbane
Recommended things to do and places to go
* Culture @ South Bank
o Performing Arts Complex
o Musical Conservatoire
o Queensland Museum
o Queensland Art Gallery
o Contemporary Art @ the Powerhouse
o Simply Relaxing - South Bank, with its beach, beautifully-landscaped gardens, buskers and boutiques, is the most eclectically aesthetically-pleasing place I've ever whiled away an arvo or five
* Sport
o Rugby League: Brisbane Broncos @ Suncorp Stadium
o Rugby Union: Aussie Internationals @ Suncorp Stadium
o Cricket: Aussie International tests and one-day matches @ the Gabba
o Aussie Rules: Brissy Lions @ the Gabba
* Shopping
o Designer/Dept Stores
o Queen Street Mall
o Markets - for Londoners missing Camden and Borough
o South Bank
o Riverside
o Fortitude Valley
* Eating-out
o Upmarket - Park Road (Milton), Racecourse Road (Eagle Farm), Riverside (CBD)
o Al Fresco - West End, just south of the river
o Chinatown - Fortitude Valley - with more Japanese, Korean and Malaysian dishes than de facto Chinese
o Ultra-modern chic - the Story Bridge & the Spark Bar, Restaurant II, Lab Bar
* Along the Coast
o Caloundra
o Fraser Island
o Novotel Twin Waters Resort - feed the fish and bucket-mouthed pelicans at their lagoon
o Underwater World - don't waste your money going all the way up to Cairns where you can't control the weather (especially during Aussie winters) up at Sea Level, go here instead! You HAVE to see the breathtaking Seal Show and go on the Virtual Dolphin ride!
o Australia Zoo - home to Steve and Terri Irwin, crocodile hunter and cool chick respectively Go in the early afternoon so you catch their interactive presentations!
o Moreton Island National Park
o Tangalooma Wild Dolphin Resort
o Tangalooma Desert
o Moreton Bay - tennis, sailing and scuba!
o The Gold Coast
Recommended hostels/places to stay
There's a pretty wide range of places to stay, with the most popular being apartment-style flats, but the main things to make sure you're getting are a/c(!) and a balcony. Virtually every place with a balcony has a stunning view - make the most of them. So here's where to stay in the centre of town:
* If you've got the money
o Stamford Plaza - delightfully decadent with amazing panoramic views; even if you don't stay here, you MUST wander into the awe-inspiring foyer, avec camera
o Conrad Treasury - with in-house casino
o Brisbane Hilton - typical Hilton, very well located, very posh, very expensive
o Lennons Hotel - central to everything, like the Hilton, but a 4-star
* Backpackers' best friends
o Explorer's Inn
o George Williams
o Lots of Brissy City YHA places
o Palace Backpackers | 
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