Q. hey so a friend and i are planning on going to ausie for 6 months in march. Is it possible to pitch a tent on beaches like bondi beach or fraser island? Is it easy for backpackers without vehicles to get to places like that? and how much does it cost per night. Thanks!
Answer
You can pitch a tent on a few very out of the way beaches, but Bondi and most other places definitely don't qualify as out of the way.
Tents are OK on the northern part of Fraser Island but it's virtually impossible to get there going via 4WD. The southern part of Fraser isn't very nice at all and it's a long and difficult hike to get to the northern part and you'd be dodging heavy traffic on the beach the whole way. The beach running from just above Noosa Heads to Double Island Point (just south of Fraser Island) is beautiful and tents are OK there, but getting there is a problem though it is possible. Make sure you enquire about camping permits etc or the rangers will get you.
The EPA website has info about National Park and State Forest camp grounds in Queensland:
http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/parks_and_forests/find_a_park_or_forest/
Other states will have similar sites.
You'll find cheap camping grounds all along the coast both privately run and in National Parks and which range from about $10 per night for 2 people with a tent and no vehicle.
I'm an American who has dreamed about visiting Australia, what are the best sights and places to go to?
Sci Fi Fan
(Australians only please) I think you have a beautiful country, truly one of the most unique places on earth. Would love to see it with my own eyes soon. The way some countries in the rest of the world feel about Americans I'm afraid to go anywhere else. But there does not seem to be as many complaints about us from down there.
Answer
Don't worry. With most of us, whenever we rip off another country, its all in the spirit of fun-especially where sport is involved.
Of the places in Australia to go, if you aren't a regular to skiing, its the start of snow season in the Blue Mountains.
Definitely go to Sydney-lots to see and do there, including the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Centrepoint Tower etc. Plenty of shops too.
Melbourne is another great place to go. The temperature shouldn't bother you too much-our winters aren't as cold as yours. Again, lots of tourism there.
Going even further South, Tasmania has a lot of natural beauty, with magnificent forests and rivers, as well as some historic value if you're into that. Port Arthur is definitely worth seeing if you are.
Back up North, Queensland is a fantastic place. Brisbane is a lot like Sydney, maybe not as great but still fantastic. Loads less traffic, but Queenslanders may not agree =P All along the coast are some great beaches! Before I forget, bring a pair of boardies and sunscreen-you'll need it unless its Winter when you come (which is like, now. Come in 6 Months and you'll die without sunscreen and a hat) Maybe half-way up the coast of QLD, maybe a bit further, is the largest coral reef in the world - the Great Barrier Reef. If you come any time after say, October, check this out. Absolutely breathtaking if you go on a good day. Still pretty good if the weather isn't as planned, but try and coincide it with a day with a good forecast.
If you plan to go up North, see Cairns and Townsville. They are both great places that will help you with both the above (GBR) and below (Islands).
As well as beaches, there are plenty of islands. Fraser Island is a popular 4WDing destination, make sure you go at low tide if you plan on doing that. Plenty of wildlife there. Of course, that isn't the only island. Up top there are the many islands, with great communities too! The Aboriginals are really friendly, I met a guy from Horn Island and from what I've heard its great up there. If you're into meeting people from different cultures, head up there, just North of the mainland peninsula. Another island that has a good reputation is Lord Howe island, but I don't know much about it. A Google search would give you loads of information though.
Just about anywhere in Australia there is bushland. If you're into camping, you're at the right place. We have great sites up here. From beaches to backyards, from the bush to the coast, you can camp just about anywhere.
Back near Brisbane you have the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. Both have brilliant beaches and the Gold Coast in particular some great tourist destinations and theme parks.
Note: Gold Coast is a city, Sunshine Coast is an actual coast
[SORRY, CAN ONLY HAVE 10 LINKS, JUST ADD THE WWW STUFF IN FRONT OF THE FOLLOWING 2 LINKS]
goldcoast.com.au/
tourismsunshinecoast.com.au/
I'm sorry, I couldn't tell you much about Darwin, but in the Northern Territory there are some great natural features. Kakadu National Park is on the World Heritage List, and for good reason. It has some of, if not the most wildlife diversity in Australia!
If you do decided to visit the Northern Territory, there is one place you MUST go. Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park (Ayers Rock/Uluru). Here is a picture of it:
Uluru:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/31/58973269_8473229393.jpg
Kata Tjuta:
http://travellingboard.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/kata-2d20tjuta-2d20-2d28the-2d20olgas-2d29-2d20at-2d20sunset-2d2c-2d20uluru-2d2dkata-2d20tjuta-2d20national-2d20park-2d2c-2d20australia-2d21-2dsmall2.jpg
Kata Tjuta isn't as heard of, but is still worth the visit.
Stay the night at Ayers Rock Resort. It offers a pretty good view, is close by and it is worth seeing Ayers Rock at both dusk and dawn. As you saw in the photo, it has a great illusion of changing colour.
http://www.ayersrockresort.com.au/
Further South, in South Australia, around halfway between Uluru and Adelaide, is Coober Pedy, the opal mining capital of the world. Good idea to have a stop here, it makes a nice change from the seemingly neverending highway. Pretty interesting stuff here.
Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, is renowned for wine. Go to a vineyard there and try some wine tasting. Sadly I can't tell you much more, but I'm sure that, once again Google can supply you with the needed information.
Back over in New South Wales, the Hunter Valley also has some great vineyards. Admittedly, there aren't as many tourist attractions here, but if you have the time it can be worth the look around. Newcastle is know as the 'capital' of the Hunter Valley. Some good beaches, Nobbys Lighthouse is an attraction, but sadly, you can't go up to it anymore. You can still walk along the breakwater though.
http://www.lighthouse.net.au/lights/NSW/Nobbys%20Head/Nobby%20Head%20af%201.jpg
I'm a bit biased, as I live in Newcastle, but its a great place to live. N
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