roam.
east coast runs, red-centre detours, hostels worth the bunk, dive spots.
Adelaide & South Australia: Wine, Wildlife & the Festival State
Australia's most underrated state has world-class wine 45 minutes from the city, an island crawling with sea lions and roos, and more festivals per capita than anywhere else. Here's the backpacker's South Australia.
Brisbane & the Gold Coast: A Backpacker's Guide to Southeast Queensland
Sun-drenched beaches, screaming theme park rides, a river city that actually has its act together and nightlife that runs til sunrise. Here's how to do Brisbane and the Gold Coast on a backpacker budget.
Cairns, the Daintree & Cape Tribulation: Reef Meets Rainforest
The one place on Earth where two World Heritage sites collide on the same beach. Here's how backpackers do Cairns, the Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation without blowing the whole budget.
Perth & Western Australia: Quokkas, Wine & the Best Beaches You've Never Heard Of
It's the most isolated city on the planet, and that's exactly why it rules. Quokka selfies on Rottnest, world-class wine in Margaret River and beaches with nobody on them. Here's the backpacker's WA.
Magnetic Island: Wild Koalas & a Cheap Tropical Base
Wild koalas, WWII forts, easy snorkelling and a laid-back vibe — 'Maggie' is the cheap tropical island base backpackers sleep on.
Blue Mountains from Sydney: Three Sisters & Bushwalks
Eucalyptus haze, clifftop lookouts and bushwalks straight off the train — the easiest big-nature day trip from Sydney.
Sunshine Coast & Noosa: Beaches, Bushwalks & Hinterland Markets
Noosa National Park, world-class surf breaks, koala-dotted hinterland and the legendary Eumundi markets. Here's how to do the Sunshine Coast on a backpacker budget.
The Kimberley: Australia's Last Great 4WD Frontier
The Gibb River Road, the beehive domes of the Bungle Bungles and gorges you swim in alone. The Kimberley is the most remote, rewarding road trip in Australia — but only in the dry.
Perth to Darwin: The Ultimate West Coast Road Trip
The East Coast gets all the hype, but the Perth-to-Darwin run up the WA coast and into the NT is the wildest, emptiest, most jaw-dropping drive in Australia. Here's how to do it.
Sailing the Whitsundays: Whitehaven Beach & the Reef
Swirling white sand, warm turquoise water and a night under the stars on the deck — the Whitsundays are peak backpacker bucket-list.
Darwin & the Top End: Kakadu, Litchfield & Crocs
Plunge pools, ancient rock art and saltwater crocs the size of a kayak — the Top End is Australia at its wildest.
Phillip Island: Penguins, Surf & Wildlife Near Melbourne
The nightly Penguin Parade, fur seals, surf beaches and koalas — Phillip Island is the easiest big day (or overnight) trip from Melbourne. Here's how to do it on a budget.
Tasmania in 10 Days: The Ultimate Island Loop
Wild coastlines, weird art and the cleanest air on Earth — Tassie is the road trip everyone underrates.
K'gari (Fraser Island): The World's Largest Sand Island
Tag-along 4WD convoys, a freshwater lake so clear it glows, and dingoes on the beach — K'gari is the east coast at its most surreal.
The Best Caravan and Road-Trip Itineraries in NSW
From the surf coast to the Snowy Mountains to the red dirt out west, New South Wales packs more road-trip variety than any other state. Here's where to point the van.
Margaret River: Surf, Wine and Karri Forests in WA's South-West
World-class surf breaks, cellar doors that don't judge your backpacker budget, and caves under towering karri trees. Margaret River is Western Australia's best long weekend.
The Red Centre: Uluru, Kata Tjuta & Kings Canyon in 10 Days
Australia's beating heart — ancient rock, desert sunrises and the kind of silence you can hear.
The Grampians: Pinnacle Hikes, Rock Art & Roo-Filled Lookouts
Victoria's best hiking country — the Pinnacle, Wonderland, waterfalls, ancient Aboriginal rock art and kangaroos on the lawn at Halls Gap. Here's the backpacker's guide to the Grampians.
Snorkelling and Diving the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns & Airlie
How to get on the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns or Airlie Beach — picking a tour, what it costs, reef safety and how to do it without trashing the reef.
Melbourne for Backpackers: Laneways, Coffee and Cheap Thrills
The backpacker's Melbourne — hidden laneways, the best coffee on the planet, free live music, easy day trips and where to crash.
Perth to Broome: The West Coast Road Trip
Red dirt, whale sharks and empty highways — Australia's road less travelled, end to end.
Sydney for Backpackers: The No-Nonsense City Guide
Beaches, free stuff, the best neighbourhoods, getting around on the cheap and where to actually stay in Sydney on a backpacker budget.
Buying a Van or 4WD in Australia: The Backpacker's Survival Guide
Renting eats your savings alive. Here's how to buy your own van or 4WD on a working holiday visa, what to check before you hand over cash, and how to sell it for a profit when you leave.
Kangaroo Island: South Australia's Wildlife Wonderland
Sea lions on the beach, koalas in the gum trees and rock formations that look like alien art. Here's how to do Kangaroo Island on a backpacker budget.
Melbourne to Adelaide: The Great Ocean Road, Self-Drive
The full coastal run from Melbourne to Adelaide — Twelve Apostles, Bells Beach, the Otways and the best surf towns to pull over for.
Canberra: Australia's Capital Is a Better Stopover Than You Think
Free national museums, a Parliament you can walk on top of, and a flower festival that takes over the city. Canberra is the easy, cheap break between Sydney and Melbourne.
Sydney to Melbourne the Coastal Way: Skip the Boring Hume
Everyone takes the Hume Highway and sees nothing but trucks and roadhouses. Take the coast instead and you get clifftop drives, white-sand bays, whales and the wild Gippsland coast.
The Snowy Mountains: Australia's Roof, Summer & Winter
Summit mainland Australia's highest peak in summer or carve up the snow at Thredbo and Perisher in winter. Here's the backpacker's guide to Kosciuszko National Park.
Campervans from $1/Day: The Relocation Trick
How to drive a campervan across Australia for almost nothing — relocation deals, the catch, and when to just rent or buy.
Byron Bay: The Complete Backpacker Guide
Surf, sunrise at the lighthouse, markets and the best hostels — how to do Byron right without going broke.
Sydney to Cairns: The Definitive East Coast Road Trip
The classic 2,400km run up the east coast — every stop worth making, how long to give it, and what it costs.