• My home
• History of Australia
• Why backpack Australia?
• 8 incredible states and territories of Australia to conquer
• Australia Series Wrap

My home

G’Day Mate!!

I was born and bred on the glorious Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia and I must admit that I tend to take my own home city and even the wider country of Australia for granted. It really hadnt dawned on me until I started backpacking overseas and also from the inception of Backpacking Addictz what a sought after travel and backpacking destination is for many abroad. The Gold Coast is known as the tourism capital of Australia and is the largest city outside of all the capitals and is also the fasted growing city in Australia.

The beautiful Gold Coast is know for its world class beaches, surfing culture, naturals rain forests, waterfalls and rock pools, wild nightlife, large range of theme parks, holidays high rises and flashy boats and cars. For any young backpacker the Gold Coast is a definite must do on the hit list.

When I was young I was fortunate enough to travel with my father all over Australia with him whilst he was working, memories which I will never forget and which are quite rare amongst many young children. Since then I have traveled all over Australia to various destinations at different times.

I have come to realise that Australia truly is the ‘Lucky Country’ since it is generally speaking free from political persecutions, it is a relatively safe country and it offers some of the most remarkable geographical locations the world has seen. Australian people are generally friendly and very down to earth and relatively tolerant of visitors from abroad. Australia boasts the best beaches and coastlines in the world which our nation as a whole tries hard to preserve from environmental destruction. Our country is the smallest continent in the worls however it is the largest island in the world and with a population of approximately 22 million people Australia is a relatively unpopulated destination.

Australia is one of the more popular backpacking destinations and has so much to offer, and this is the main reason why I have decided to publish an 8 part series on backpacking around Australia. Each part of the series will focus on one of Australia’s 8 states and territories.

History of Australia

Aboriginal people
The Australian Aboriginies are the Indigenous people of Australia and have a long history on the continent dating back 50,000 years around the last Ice Age. It is said that they arrived here by boat from South East Asia. The Aboriginal people share a belief in timelessness which is a spiritual connection with the land often referred to as ‘Dreamtime’.

British settlement
In 1770 Captain James Cook discovered mainland Australia on the east coast specifically at the location of Botany Bay which is as we now know it on the southern coast line of Sydney. The new discovery of land was intended for the settlement of convicts which were to be transferred from Britains overflowing prisons to the undeveloped continent of Australia.

On 26 January 1788 the First Fleet arrived in Australia with 11 boats and 1,500 people many of which were convicts. Britains prison transportation system to Australia ended in 1868 and approximately 160,000 men and women were now residing in Australia as convicts.

Unfortunately, the Aboriginal people were displaced due to the British settlement and were under a new found threat of illness and death from the diseases and living practices of the new settlers.

Australia becomes a nation
On 1 January 1901 Australia became a federation and the inception of the Australia Constitution took place. Australia’s six states became a nation under a single constitution. Today Australia is home to people from more than 200 countries.

Australian Politics since the 1970s
Between 1983 and 1996, the Hawke–Keating Labor governments introduced a number of economic reforms, such as deregulating the banking system and floating the Australian dollar. In 1996 a Coalition Government led by John Howard won the general election and was re-elected in 1998, 2001 and 2004. The Liberal–National Coalition Government enacted several reforms, including changes in the taxation and industrial relations systems.

Australia Today

Australia today thrives economically and certainly holds its own amongst some of the worlds wealthiest western nation, especially considering its relatively small population figures. Our country is environmentally conscious, its structures and systems are modern and efficient and its tourism sector would easily rival that of many nations throughout the world.

It seems as though everyone want a bit of Australia.

Why backpack Australia?

 The predominant reason as to why Australia is such an attractive backpacking destination is due to its diverse range of exciting things to do. Whether you are interested in pristine beaches or preserved rainforrests, world class reef scuba diving or outback trekking, wild nightlife or delicious international foods, discovering incredible natural wonder or just kicking back with some friendly locals whilst cooking a shrimp on the BBQ – I believe Australia is one of the most diverse countries with so much to offer the curious backpacker.

Backpackers can easily transport themselves around Australia by buses, trains, motorcycles or even on foot by hitching a ride.

The only thing that you must be prepared for especially if you are coming from a lesser developed country is that Australian prices are comparative to many western countries. So please do not think you will be able to backpack around Australia for 3 months on the same budget as travelling South America or South East Asia for the same period of time. Obviously prices in and around the larger cities like Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaid and Perth are slightly higher than that of more isolated Australian towns.

8 Incredible States and Territories of Australia to conquer.

 QUEENSLAND:

• The Tropics and the Great Barrier Reef
• Whitsunday Region, Islands of the Great Barrier Reef & Mackay
• Outback (including Gulf & Western Downs)
• Central Queensland, Southern Barrier Reef & Bundaberg
• Sunshine Coast & Fraser Coast
• Brisbane & South East Queensland Country
• Gold Coast & Hinterland

NEW SOUTH WALES:

• Sydney
• Sydney Surrounds
• North Coast
• South Coast
• Snowy Mountains
• Heart of Country
• Outback
• Lord Howe Island

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY:

• Canberra
• Parliament
• Museums
• Capital Country
• Murrumbidgee Corridor
• Snowy Mountains

VICTORIA:

• Melbourne
• Yarra Valley & Dandenong Ranges
• Mornington Peninsula
• Daylesford & the Macedon Ranges
• Phillip Island
• The Great Ocean Road
• Goldfields
• Grampians
• High Country
• Gippsland
• The Murray

TASMANIA:

• Hobart and surrounds
• The East Coast
• Launceston, Tamar and the North
• The North West Coast
• The Western Wilderness

SOUTH AUSTRALIA:

• Adelaide Hills
• Barossa
• Clare Valley
• Eyre Peninsula
• McLaren Vale and Fluerieu Peninsula
• Flinders Ranges and Outback
• Kangaroo Island
• Limestone Coast
• Murray River
• York Peninsula

WESTERN AUSTRALIA:

• Perth
• The Coral Coast
• The Golden Outback
• The North West
• The South West

NORTHERN TERRITORY:

• Darwin
• Kakadu
• Katherine
• Alice Springs
• Uluru / Ayres Rock
• Kings Canyon
• Arnhem Land
• Litchfield
• Tenant Creek
• Australia’s North West

Australia Wrap

I urge all backpackers, independent travelers and others who are interested in coming on an informative journey with me through the whole of Australia. Over a period of several weeks I will publish an 8 part series on all of the States and Territories of the land “Down Under” or as many locals like to refer to it as the “Lucky Country”.

I look forward to informing and conversing with any backpackers out there who are highly interested in Australia as a backpacking destination.

I hope you enjoy!!

Josh Boorman

Editor-in-chief

Backpacking Addictz

admin@backpackingaddictz.com

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Twitter: @backpackaddictz

Backpacking Addictz is a website set up by backpackers for the use of backpackers. On this site you will find a lot of very valuable information surrounding different destinations around the world and tips and advice on budget travel and backpacking. You will also find an enthusiastic and insightful backpacking blog which is regularly updated with new posts and article.

Backpacking Addictz Backpacking Guides are a fantastic, cheap and easy way to get hold of a vast amount of backpacking information prior to setting off on your backpacking adventure.

 

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Joshua Boorman

Founder & Editor in Chief at Backpacking Addictz

Come with me on a journey with me to various destinations throughout the world. We discuss all things Backpacking, Lifestyle Design & Online Business to help you achieve new found freedom and create a life of meaningful fulfillment.

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