On the Road: Australia

At this point I wanted to share with you my experiences I had on our great adventure through Australia. I hope these will help you plan your trip a little bit.

Long story short: It was AMAZING! A road trip in Australia is an unforgettable adventure!

So here are some of my reasons why such a road trip is worthwhile:

• experience the feeling of boundless freedom (and take it home with you)
• Australia's versatility offers unlimited possibilities of adventure
• finally taking the opportunity to create a real road trip mixtape and listen to yourself over and over again
• a warm shower and own kitchen to appreciate again
• to experience the powerful and unpredictable nature
• be infected by the friendliness of the Australians
• experience the fascinating animal kingdom live
• endless coasts and many beaches

But Australia also has its disadvantages. A road trip isn't exactly cheap here. A solid rideable base for a longer stay as well as the fuel for the numerous miles should not be underestimated.
In order to save money and get the best out of the trip, you should think about it before the start. Travelling with more than one person is recommended so that the costs can be spread over several wallets.

Where and when? -a bad plan is better than no plan

Ask yourself the following questions:

• Where exactly will my journey lead me?
• What do I want to see?
• How much time do I plan for the trip and activities?

Afterwards you can plan a rough route for yourself - spontaneous ideas can still be implemented and the route can be adjusted accordingly. Always remember that Australia is huge. It doesn't make much sense to spend 80% of the time in the car, just to get to as many places as possible and then not have time to stay in them.
In three weeks we left about 1900 miles behind us and spent days driving.
The following should be noted: During the high season it is possible that the campsites in the national parks are fully booked. We sometimes had to adapt our route to suit this, or we had to switch to a caravan park.

These were our stations:

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Sydney - Jarvis Bay - Canberra - Jindabyne - Melbourne - Great Owtway NP - Phillip Island - Wilson's Promontory NP - Mallacoota - Jarvis Bay - Blue Mountains NP - Sydney

Should I rent or buy a car?

It depends! If you plan to stay in Australia for more than two months and mainly want to travel by car, it is worth buying a car. However, it is necessary to allow additional time for the purchase and sale of the car. You also have to take care of insurance etc. and be aware of the risk of a total loss. I have seen some youtuber to get some real problems.

If you want to avoid the risk and travel "carefree", you should rent a car. A detailed research including price comparison is no less important. There are large differences between the numerous rental companys. Basically,"You get what you pay for!"
For example, we opted for TSA travelservice and made very good experiences: good value for money, German-speaking, super nice team and solid cars.

Which car would I recommend?

It depends again:

• number of persons
• camping, hostel/hotel stays, a combination?
• financial resources

The different solutions also all have their advantages and disadvantages. We were three people and had a camping bus with space for 4-5 people (Mighty NZ Camper). It was very comfortable. However, before each departure you have to safely stow away your sleeping place, luggage and interior.

Motorway tolls?

Driving on so-called toll roads is subject to a fee. The fee is usually no more than five euros, but you have to register the car by phone or online and pay by credit card. Whoever rents a car should not have any problems with this, because the rental company usually take care of this topic.
We were able to avoid most toll roads. If necessary you can pay the fees within 48 hours.

Where to sleep?

Wild camping is officially prohibited in Australia. But where no plaintiff there is no judge ;)
In cities like Melbourne or Sydney we found a cheap hostel including parking for the camper. Booking. com or Airbnb is recommended.
The following app is a MUST wikicamps. Nearly all free camping sites are located here and provide information about facilities, location and special features.

Also the camp site guide Camp 9 - or older - is quite good. In addition to a road map of the entire country, Camp 9 lists almost 4000 campsites under 20 dollars per night.

(Klick and buy on amazon.com)

You can usually camp cheaply in national parks. Please refer to the official website:

• http://www.visitvictoria.com/Things-to-do/Outdoor-activities/Camping
• http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/camping-and-accommodation
  etc.

What else should I tell you?

Especially for those who are traveling to Australia for the first time or to another far away unknown country, it is important to relax and not worry about every little thing in advance. Personally, I know the problem well and sometimes I miss the calmness and serenity during my travels. In childhood you could enjoy your holiday in a different way, where the parents took care of everything and cushioned all possible dangers and complications.
Australians are incredibly friendly and helpful. Feel free to look for the contact, because that is also part of it! We have already been able to make contacts in the plane.
I am going to write about the individual stages and highlights of our trip soon. Look forward to great pictures and stories and more tips! It is good for me to write down the journey in writing and indulge in memories. It is also great to deal with Steemit at the same time. I can advise anyone.

Feel free to ask me questions or leave a comment. I will be happy to help you!

See you soon.......