Why I love Solo Travel in Australia
On a separate section of this website I have written why I love travelling solo in Australia and what makes Australia a wonderful destination for female solo travelers.
While I have been receiving a few mails from women asking me about more details of my solo travel experience in Australia I have decided to add this post so as to answer some of your questions and share with you my travel experience in Australia.
What I like most when I travel solo in Australia
There are many things that make Australia to my favorite spot of the world, and yes you have guessed, the fact that I can travel the way I like most, i.e. to travel solo! The true unconditioned freedom I can feel everywhere, this is the most valuable reward I can get whilst travelling alone around Australia.
These are 3 key factors for me when travelling alone in Australia: safety, accommodation, transportation. Let's have a closer look at them individually :
- Safety for women travelling solo around Australia
This is the factor that plays a primary role when I travel solo. I personally must feel comfortable when I am on the road for a long time. I would not never travel solo in a country where my personal safety is constantly put at risk. Australia is according to my personal experience the country no. 1 for travel safety. And this is priceless! I will never forget that night while I was travelling on a Greyhound bus from Merimbula to Lakes Entrance on the south east coast of Australia. It was in the middle of the night, when the bus driver dropped me off in front of the hostel on the highway. Since it was the only way for me to visit Lakes Entrance, the hostel owners offered to leave the keys of my room in a special hidden place, so as to allow me to access my room. I felt naturally comfortable with that offer, but when I think about it, I am not so sure whether I would have "naturally" accepted that offer in another country...even in the country I grew up!
- Accommodation for women travelling solo around Australia
Yes let's face it: if you love to travel solo, you are bound to spend more money on accommodation, not rarely I have heard: solo travel is expensive! There is some truth in it. Everywhere in the world you will be hit by the heavy room surcharge for occupying a double room on your own. And as a matter of fact very few hotels run single rooms. Thanks to the variety of accommodation available in Australia it makes it much easier for solo travellers. In most B&B as well as in the australian hostels there are single and twins rooms available. Hostels have female dorms, which are difficult to be found in Europe, for instance. My favorite accommmodation are definitely hostels. I love the Australian Hostels, for many reasons: the great facilities, the activities and the social opportunities they offer. Moreover if you choose to stay in a hostel and are at your first solo travel experience you will never feel "alone": there are many ways to make friends, either for dinner or if you want to look for a travel companion and share a piece of your australian adventure with.
-
Transportation for women travelling alone around Australia
The best way to see much of Australia is definitely driving: by car or by campervan,
This is where it may come to a little downside when you travel solo in Australia. I did experience it this way for the simple reason that I personally do not like driving on my own. I do not feel comfortable to seat in the car and drive for long distances, and that's the way it is in Australia, I find it pretty boring and cannot enjoy the journey much, so my tip to you unless you really do not mind driving on your own, I would recommend choosing an alternative way of transport like the bus or the train. The bus and train network in Australia is good, the only little disadvantage is that buses usually ride long distances during the night.
I have travelled a few long rides in the outback as well as on the coastal areas and found it okay. I would use the plane within Australia only on long distances which do not offer anything interesting to see or if you are on a tight schedule. But if you want to go with self driving you can always look for a travel companion to share your ride with. In most hostels you can find notice boards with lots of posts about car lift offers. Or you can try in travel forums in internet. Or look for a car hire pool.
What do you need to travel solo Australia ?
During my trips in Australia I met many women travelling solo but also a few women who would have loved to do so, but somehow could not get it going. To my greatest surprise the youngest women were the more interested but also the more unsecure about solo travel. And the major reason was fear: the fear of feeling alone, the fear of not enjoying it, probably the fear of fear!
I remember meeting a young girl in a hostel in Tasmania. She looked unhappy and discouraged, when I asked her what was wrong she said, I am tired, I've ust arrived from Darwin to visit Tasmania, and then I asked wether she was travelling on her own, she said no, I have a travel companion but we do no know each other and we are not gettig on well so.... I would love to travel like you do but I am afraid of it....I cannot find the courage....
How to overcome fear of travelling solo Australia ?
My tip to you: It's quite normal to feel the fear at the beginning, and you definitely need a strong will to overcome it. If you think of travelling on your own, but cannot find the courage, make a test at home first, start with a short trip in your local area or in a city you like, where you feel more comfortable, or fly overseas to visit a friend. Take short day trips on your own and some other with people. If you are in Australia alternate a short tour on your own with other day tours in a small group or with a companion. This way you can see how you feel, how you make progress and adjust to your natural solo travel rhythm. Be open and interact with people, this is the best part of solo travel in Australia. Let oher people naturally approach you and be open to relate to others. Be open to life and first and foremost be open to yourself.
If you are a woman and would like to share your solo travel experience in Australia with us, send us an email, we would love to read your story and other women would love to learn from your thrilling solo travel story in Australia.
For more insightful posts about Female Solo Travel in Australia click on the links below.
Are you looking for HELP WITH YOUR AUSTRALIA TRIP PLANNING? I can help you create a personlized travel itinerary that suits your travel style and needs, as well as save lots of money on your trip and enjoy Australia like a local . Click HERE to learn more about my RockyTravel Consulting Service.
Thoughts and Tips for Travelling Alone in Australia
Travelling Alone abord the GHAN across Australia
Travelling Alone and Falling in Love with Australia
The essential guide for women travelling solo in Australia
Pros and Cons of hostel life in Australia
Happy Solo Travel in Australia!
Michela
