Become a true backpacker in Australia !
Essential to remember
To spend little and travel more in Australia : shared room flatshare (700-900 AUD/month), Aldi for groceries (-40 %), happy hour bars (-50 %), shared Wicked van, WWOOFing between 2 cities. Realistic budget : 1,500-2,000 AUD/month.
In this article, I will give you the most common practices to spend less and travel more ! All examples come from my personal experience during my first backpacking trip in Australia !
I don’t know about you but I left my Parisian life behind when I arrived in Australia. I was there to experiment as much as possible and have a different life. I regret nothing ! LIVE this backpacker experience too
  ;Some tips to become a true backpacker in Australia :
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Travel and make new friends !
One of the ways that allowed me to travel across Australia without a driver’s license was to carpool called “LIFT”. You will find lift announcements in hostels or on the website gumtree.com.au. You can find all kinds of people offering you lifts.
For example, I took a lift with 2 Norwegians and 1 German, another with a German woman, a Belgian and a Dutchman !
Did you know ?
Aldi arrived in Australia in 2001 and is now present in 5 states. The supermarket remains 30-40 % cheaper than Coles and Woolworths. Conservative Australians took 10 years to massively adopt it.
It’s a simple way to share transport costs, share a human adventure and get to know other people.
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Hitchhiking like a backpacker in Australia,
Hitchhiking in Australia is quite an easy practice, many people travel from state to state, have you heard of the “grey nomads”? These are retired Australians who sold their house and bought a caravan or mobile home to tour Australia over several years and if you don’t like older people, other backpackers can also give you a lift !
A friend of mine decided to hitchhike after her car broke down and she found a group that changed her trip ! Tested and approved, I did quite a bit of hitchhiking in Tasmania and other states !
My experience
During my 18 months WHV in Australia, I saved 30,000 AUD by applying this routine : flatshare 250 AUD/week, Aldi for groceries, BYO at restaurants, shared Wicked van with 3 for road trips. You live well without breaking the bank.
| Item | Savings |
|---|---|
| Aldi vs Coles | -40 % |
| Shared apartment vs studio | -60 % |
| BYO restaurant | -50 % on alcohol |
| Happy hour | -30 to 50 % |
| Bus vs flight | -30 to 50 % |
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Wild camping like a backpacker in Australia,
After hitchhiking, why not try wild camping? I have done wild camping during my trips along the west coast or going from Melbourne to Alice Springs. There is a guide called CAMP5, now maybe CAMP6, which lists all the free highway rest areas and camping spots!
Advantages
- Massive possible savings
- Healthy lifestyle (home cooking)
- Active backpacker community
- Discover local Australia
- Possibility to travel longer
Drawbacks
- Requires discipline
- Reduced comfort
- Limited social life at restaurants
- Sometimes boring routine
- Less Instagram “luxury”
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Enjoy the beaches like a backpacker!
Beaches are my favorite places in Australia, why, you ask? Most beaches have free barbecues! There are also paid barbecues in small outback towns! Very practical to enjoy the sun and also have a little beer! The barbecue is one of the essentials of Australian life!
One of the perks of beaches is that they have SHOWERS! After hitchhiking and wild camping, you feel a bit dirty after several days on the bus. Some showers are communal but not mixed!
The beach, the favorite place of travelers with the barbecue, the sun, the showers, and girls in swimsuits :D.
The classic trap to avoid
Don’t skimp on health insurance to “save money.” An appendicitis can cost you 25,000 AUD at the hospital. Medicare does not cover everything for WHVs. Budget 60 AUD/month for good insurance like Bupa or Allianz.
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Eating for free like a backpacker !
After accommodation and transport, here are some little tips for food shopping. Several options are possible, stores often throw away expired products (the same day) even though they are still good, try to recover these products a little before closing ! Go shopping after 8 p.m. or even 10 p.m., stores often display daily consumption products at 10 to 70% off or go around 11 a.m. just after the employee sticks the discount labels.
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Drink without moderation,
All backpackers called “travelers” drink “GOON” in Australia ! It’s a 4-liter box of wine, you can choose between red, white, or rosé wine ! It’s the cheapest drink in the store, 10-15 dollars for 4 liters ! The first time you drink it is a bit difficult but your wallet will thank you ! With 4 liters, you’ll see that it will last you a while !
Some additional resources if the topic interests you: Australia budget focus to lay the foundations, road trip by car for practical aspects, and West Coast budget to go further.
Follow other articles in the section: Australia blog
And why not you, what’s stopping you from doing the same? Enrich yourself and have new experiences!
How to save money in Australia?
Shared room with roommates, shopping at Aldi, BYO bars, public transport, 90% home cooking.
How much can you save on a WHV?
15,000 to 30,000 AUD over 1 year depending on the job and financial discipline.
Should you buy a van?
Yes if you do long road trips. 5,000-12,000 AUD investment, resellable at the end of the stay.
