Backpacker Bucket List: 10 Must-Do Experiences That Won’t Break the Bank
Australia is one of the best countries in the world to backpack. Whether it’s a gap (or golden gap) year, working holiday, or you’re simply heading down under for some much-deserved R&R, travellers on all budgets are sure to have a lengthy list of wants and desires.
Thankfully, many Aussie experiences won’t cost the earth – in fact, many can be achieved without spending a single dollar. Careful planning means you can divert your hard-earned cash to the must-do activities that need to be paid for (such as a tandem skydive or swimming with dolphins).
With that in mind, check out the following options that don’t require you to sell your soul to manage to afford…
- Take a hike: Hitting the trails isn’t just a classic Aussie experience – it doesn’t cost a penny. Iconic day walks include King’s Canyon, circumnavigating Uluru, the Grand Canyon in the Blue Mountains, the Bondi to Manly track, Tongue Point on Wilson’s Promontory, Heysen Trail Loop in Adelaide and the Valley of the Winds in Kata Tjuta.
- Ride a ferry in Sydney Harbour: You can’t say you’ve ‘done’ Sydney until you’ve ridden the ferry. These green and gold boats chug around the harbour from dawn to dusk, offering convenient transportation and a great way to see the Sydney skyline and Harbour Bridge from the water. Fares start from around $6 for a single trip.
- Discover the wonders of Kakadu: There are many paid-for budget-friendly options that will take you deep into the area. But in the dry season, you can join a free ranger-guided walks and cultural activities to understand more about the Indigenous Bininj and Mungguy people.
- Visit Kangaroo Island: While it doesn’t cost anything to visit the island, it’s well worth paying the moderate fee that will give you access to all the national parks and conservation areas on this wonderful island. It’s one of the best places to see some of the nation’s most famous wildlife in their natural habitat, such as koala, kangaroos, sealions and more.
- Take a wine-tasting trip on the Swan River: Perth’s Swan River region is one of Australia’s world-famous wine-making areas. There are many affordable boat trips that include food, wine-tasting options and – of course – the amazing scenery of this verdant region.
- Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef: Snorkelling is cheaper than diving – and you still get to experience the amazing diverse underwater flora and fauna of the planet’s most famous coral reef. Day trips that take you to outer reef platforms are some of the most affordable.
- Watch turtle hatchlings: The Mon Repos Conservation Park near Bundaberg in Queensland offers free daytime access and affordable guided night-time tours during the breeding season. Mid-January to early February you can experience the incredible sight of tiny turtles breaking free from their eggs and scuttling to the ocean. A truly priceless experience…
- Ride in a hot air balloon: Operators offer affordable tours in most of the well-worn backpacker trails. Some of the best places to sail up to lofty heights include the Yarra Valley VIC, Cairns QLD for a bird’s eye view of the Great Barrier Reef, Melbourne for an awesome city landscape and Alice Springs for an alternative view of the Red Centre and Outback.
- Go waterhole hopping in the Northern Territory: The region’s many pristine waterholes are the perfect place to cool off and experience Mother Nature at her finest. Be sure to take advice as to when and where this is safe to do though – as the NT is home to one of Australia’s most fearsome beasties, the saltwater crocodile.
- Skydive over paradise: Strap in for an adrenaline-pumping tandem leap from 15,000 ft over Rottnest Island – Western Australia’s jewel in the Indian Ocean. Surprisingly affordable, this truly bucket list experience is perfectly complemented with an overnight stay, a hike amongst the white sand dunes and snapping a selfie with one of the island’s most famous residents, the gorgeous quokka…
Skydive Geronimo is the only operator licensed to skydive this idyllic destination – and you’ll be pleasantly surprised by our skydiving package prices. And if anyone wants to grease your palm with a little travel money, we also offer a range of vouchers too.
Contact us for more information or easily reserve your spot by booking online.
Glenn is a successful Skydive Instructor who’s successfully turned his lifelong passion into an award-winning adventure tourism business. His love for the thrill of the jump began over three decades ago in Matamata, New Zealand. 20,000+ jumps later and with the highest Australian Chief Instructor / Instructor A ratings under his belt, he and his wife, Amy, dedicate their lives to running the Western Australian-based Skydive Geronimo, the only company licensed to provide tandem jumps over one of the pearls of the Indian Ocean, Rottnest Island.
Glenn works tirelessly in all aspects of the business – from student and instructor training through to equipment safety, PR, Australian Parachute Federation (APF) and Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) compliance and everything in between. He also delivers education sessions to local pilots about skydiving operations in Perth and the surrounding area.
