Australia is full of amazing experiences for solo travellers and has long been a favourite destination for backpackers, students taking gap years and first-time solo travellers. From big cities to the great outdoors, you can find the perfect way to plan your solo travel while here in Australia with our comprehensive guide.
Is Australia safe for solo travellers
Australia is a very safe country for solo travellers, including female solo travellers and those backpacking Australia alone. The country has robust and easy-to-navigate tourism and transport infrastructures with plenty of excellent destinations for both experienced and beginner solo travellers. Of course, you should always practise due diligence when it comes to keeping your belongings safe and weighing the risks of any activities (and remember, the emergency number in Australia is 000). One risk to bear in mind if you’re travelling in summer is bushfires, which can occur during heat waves. So make sure you keep an eye on local warnings and follow any advice about when to evacuate an area.
Tips for solo travelling in Australia
Australian solo travel is super easy, but there are a few things to keep in mind to make sure your trip runs as smoothly as possible.
What to bring
The exact guidelines for what you should bring will change depending on where and when you’re going, but there are a few standard things to keep in mind that are particularly good to have. Solid walking shoes are crucial no matter what time of year you’re travelling, and if you’re buying a pair specifically for your trip, make sure you spend some time breaking them in before you leave to help avoid blisters.
Swimwear is crucial for summer travel, and you should remember that the southern beaches are often still a bit chilly, even during summer when the sun isn’t shining bright, so if you can fit a wetsuit, you might appreciate it. Sunscreen and mosquito repellent are two summer essentials that you can easily find at supermarkets and chemists in Australia. However, it’s helpful to have one of each on hand before you go; that way, you only need to worry about stocking up while you’re there.
When to go
While much of the southeastern parts of the country roughly follow traditional seasons, elsewhere in the northern parts of Australia, there are two main seasons: wet and dry. The wet season lasts between roughly December and March and the dry season lasts between roughly May and October. You’ll most likely prefer visiting the southern parts of the country between October and March (with the hottest temperatures usually occurring in February and March). If you want to travel around the whole country, then October is a great month to choose as it overlaps with spring in the south of the country and the dry season in the north.
Booking in advance
Booking accommodation and any activities you’ve got your heart set on in advance can help you save money and ensure your trip runs smoothly. It’s a good idea to build at least a loose itinerary about which cities you want to visit and when, so that you can start to get a sense of what sort of budget you’ll need, even if you don’t book right away.
But, of course, Australia is a country full of surprises, and if you’re travelling on your own, there’s a good chance you don’t want to be too tied down to one plan or itinerary. So, if spontaneity is important to you, try to build flexibility into your schedule by booking accommodation with flexible cancellation policies and not planning your days so much that you don’t have room to make changes or add things.
Get to know the public transport
Australia has a robust public transportation system, particularly in its major cities, which is super useful for solo travellers who want to get around without taxis or rideshare apps. Many capital cities have smartcard ticket systems for trains, buses and trams and sometimes these are the only way to pay, so make sure you know where to get one when you arrive (for example, you can buy Sydney’s Opal Cards as soon as you arrive at the airport). Greyhound buses are a great way to move around the country, to major cities and more rural areas, particularly along the east coast. You can get a Greyhound Hop On Hop Off Pass that gives you flexibility.
Consider group activities
Solo travel is an amazing experience where you get to enjoy your adventure on your terms, but you might also be looking to socialise and get to know some fellow travellers. That’s when Australian tours for singles can be a great idea. In major cities like Sydney and Melbourne, you can often find free group tours run by local volunteers. You can also consider group activities like classes or workshops, such as surfing classes in Sydney or scuba diving tours in the Great Barrier Reef.
Where to go and what to do
Australia is jam-packed with fantastic, tourist-friendly locations that are amazing to explore as a solo traveller. We’ve listed just a few below, but it’s by no means an exhaustive list. Check out our guide to The Best Places to Visit in Australia to get even more inspiration for where to go and what to do.
Get to know Sydney
Sydney is one of Australia’s most popular cities, with iconic landmarks like the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. Consider heading to Bondi Beach, one of the world’s best surfing locations where you can ride the waves or relax on the beach (never surfed before? Bondi has plenty of surf schools where total beginners can learn the basics). Sydney also has a number of beautiful green spaces, like the Royal Botanic Garden and Lane Cove National Park. Foodies will love Sydney for its wide range of great eateries, boasting both authentic and innovative offerings from all around the world.
Explore Booderee National Park
Booderee is a beautiful national park on the Pacific Ocean, where lush forests meet soft sand beaches and clear blue water. Discover unique native wildlife and get stunning views from the dramatic cliffs that line the shores before spending the night at one of the park’s camping grounds. There are multiple beach options, including Murray’s and Whiting, some of which you can reach via scenic hikes. In addition, you should visit Booderee Botanic Gardens, the only Aboriginal-owned botanic garden in Australia.
Experience the best of Melbourne
Melbourne and its surrounding areas are a great way to begin solo travel in Australia, with delicious food, excellent coffee and plenty of fun experiences. You’ll find cosy laneway cafes, incredible street art and unique boutiques in the city. Melbourne is home to some excellent galleries and museums, including the National Gallery of Victoria, the Melbourne Museum and Scienceworks. St Kilda and Brighton are where you can find great beachside experiences and the Brighton Bathing Boxes are an adorable, picture-perfect sight.
Discover the Great Outdoors in and around Cairns
Cairns is one of Australia’s best locations for solo travellers who love to get outdoors and do lots of fun activities. Cairns makes an excellent base for two of Australia’s most incredible natural wonders: the Daintree Forest and the Great Barrier Reef. Take a river cruise through the Daintree and a diving tour of the Great Barrier Reef to see the region’s wildlife up close, including rare birds, goannas, manta rays and turtles. The Kuku Yalanji people have inhabited the Daintree forest region for at least 50,000 years, and you can get to know the area with a local Kuku Yalanji guide.
Swim with Dolphins and Seals at Baird Bay, South Australia
Here’s an utterly unforgettable experience you can have while travelling Australia alone: swimming with dolphins and sea lions. At Baird Bay on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula, you can get to know these gorgeous, totally wild sea creatures in their natural habitat. You can choose between non-swimming tours, where you stay on board (and mostly dry), and swimming tours, where you don a wetsuit and snorkelling gear to get up close and personal with the sea lions and dolphins. It’s a combined tour, so you don’t have to choose which animals to meet, and tours run from September to May. Make sure you book in advance, especially between December and February.
Where to stay in Australia
You’ll have plenty of options for places to stay when you’re travelling around Australia, with options to suit a range of budgets. We’ve listed some of the best hotels and hostels below but don’t forget that many areas have excellent camping grounds where you can sleep under the stars.
Hostels in Australia
Hostels are an excellent option for solo travellers as they provide both budget accommodation and a hub where you can meet up with fellow travellers (who are often likely to be solo travellers too). ‘Base’ is one of the most common hostel chains in the country, and their St Kilda location in Melbourne is particularly excellent; it’s close to the beach with a bar and barbecue. ‘Wake Up!’ in Sydney and ‘Gilligan’s Backpacker and Hostel Resort’ in Cairns are two excellent, slightly more upscale options that offer both dorm beds and private rooms. If you’re staying in any remotely popular tourist location in Australia, you’re sure to find a comfortable hostel where you can lay your head at night.
Hotels in Australia
If you have a bit more room in your budget for accommodation, you can find great hotels in any of Australia’s major cities with a range of prices on offer. For example, in Melbourne, the PARKROYAL is a high-quality option close to Melbourne Airport, and the Quincy Hotel provides comfortable luxury in the CBD. In Sydney, the Shangri-La is one of the best luxury hotels in Australia, while the Great Southern is an excellent, more budget-friendly option. You can find Great Southern hotels all throughout Australia.
