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Original poster

Grandson wants to go backpacking around Australia. 19 any advice please

37 replies

Whatmonth · 25/12/2023 20:29

Him and 3 mates are saving up to travel for a year next October.
The ages are 20, 19, 19 and nearly 19 when it will be time to go.

OP posts:
BaleOfHay · 25/12/2023 20:36

Make sure they have travel insurance!

user1494050295 · 25/12/2023 20:41

As above and also local contacts you can rely on if help needed.

softsummerrain · 25/12/2023 20:43

Encourage him as much as you can! It will be an amazing experience for him.

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sleepsuitbag · 25/12/2023 20:43

BaleOfHay · 25/12/2023 20:36

Make sure they have travel insurance!

They can get medical care there reciprocal

silverspoonspoon · 25/12/2023 20:44

make sure if they’re using hostels to check reviews thoroughly first - can totally vary your experience while travelling if you book a fun tourism hostel vs one aimed at local labourers

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 25/12/2023 20:46

Travel insurance. Plus, it will cost a lot more than they think. Plan and research before hand where they want to go etc.

Neitheronethingnortheother · 25/12/2023 20:57

Encourage him not to take too much

You need a lot less than you think and carrying a lot of stuff gets boring fast

SirSamVimesCityWatch · 25/12/2023 21:05

Tell him to have fun.

What else would he need from his grandparent?

I went at 18, on my own, with some saved up money and a copy of the Australia Lonely Planet. It was easy. Even easier now you have the whole internet in your pocket.

Pollyannamex · 25/12/2023 21:06

It’s a well worn backpacking trail. He will be fine!

Rocknrollstar · 25/12/2023 21:20

Travel insurance, guide book and condoms

Farmageddon · 25/12/2023 21:40

Honestly OP he'll be fine - I went backpacking in New Zealand on my own a few weeks after my 20th birthday. I loved it so much I stayed the extra year. I met lots of cool, interesting people and had a blast. He's going with friends so that's definitely easier.
Communication is so much easier now - he can Whatsapp people at home everyday. When I was travelling I used to have to find those phone cards where you rang a number, dialled in a code and then it told you how many minutes you had left... Most of the hostels had internet but it was dial up and I didn't have a mobile phone with me at the time.

MaggieFS · 25/12/2023 21:41

Have thorough travel insurance. Don't take any drugs. Use condoms. Have an amazing time.

Sunshineismyfavourite · 25/12/2023 21:46

My son travelled the world a few years ago and he also went to Australia. He booked up his first week with a specialist backpacker agency and he said it was the best thing - he went on his own. They met him and others at the airport, took them to the first hostel for the week, took them to the bank to get accounts, went on day trips, showed them the key sights of Sydney, referred them to a job agency to find work (he worked for 6 months in agriculture so he could get a 2nd year visa.) Also by doing this he met up with like minded people and went on to do further work and travels with them. Definitely worth looking at, depending on what he wants to do while he is out there.

herbygarden · 25/12/2023 21:48

Best time of my life! Whitsundays are a must!

Popetthetreehugger · 25/12/2023 21:51

Be careful of ‘ moon cakes ‘ it’s not the weed in the cake that’s a problem , it’s the eggs ! Chance they will have parasites in 🤢apart from that grim thought … have the best Time 😎

Original poster
Whatmonth · 25/12/2023 21:51

Thank you for your replies.
We are so excited for him and his mates.
He was telling us about these companies @Sunshineismyfavourite
as they have started to research as much as they can.

OP posts:
Livinginanotherworld · 25/12/2023 21:52

“Give him wings to fly and roots to come home”. In other words encourage him all you can, it’s an amazing opportunity and the best time to do it.

Rummikub · 25/12/2023 21:53

@Sunshineismyfavourite do you happen to know the name of the backpacker agency please as that sounds like a good intro to travels?. My dc1 wants to go and I’d like to suggest this as an option.

Mimilamore · 25/12/2023 21:57

October good time to go, he needs to be aware of just how vast the country is and maybe stick to a specific area as you can't pop anywhere! Local contact is good too just in case...fabulous, positive country but if he likes water make sure there is lake, beach, falls within reasonable distance... I craved water! Oh and be prepared for flies to be irritating out in the sticks but not near the coast.

Saggypants · 25/12/2023 22:03

sleepsuitbag · 25/12/2023 20:43

They can get medical care there reciprocal

Show quote history

Emergency only (i.e. hospital. But not the ambulance.). Everything else is paid for, including by the locals with some exceptions that won't apply to tourists.

mathanxiety · 25/12/2023 22:05

Will they be allowed to work their way around or just travel?
Cousins of mine bartended their way around Oz and had a blast

Saggypants · 25/12/2023 22:05

I would suggest avoiding the tropics over summer.

Ideally, start in the south in October, head north as things cool down in April.

Sunshineismyfavourite · 25/12/2023 22:05

@Rummikub Its called Intro Travel. I just had to scroll through a couple of years of his Fb to find out! https://www.facebook.com/IntroTravel
They do Aus and Asia and other places too I think. They were brilliant.

He went on the 10 night one I think. He also had a surfing lesson - I forgot about that! The staff were great there and he always had a contact throughout his travels there so as he was on his own it was good for him and for us back home worrying about him!

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/IntroTravel

Ifulikepinacoladas · 25/12/2023 22:08

Be prepared for them to love it too much to come home.
My nephew went in 2019....still there. And when he visits now and tells us about his life there, we can't blame him! But it's hard to have him go again...especially on my Dsis.
Am aiming to visit in a year or 2 if he's still there.

StartupRepair · 25/12/2023 22:09

Some of the farms, remote properties have really exploited young backpacking labourers. Tell him and his mates to really check conditions etc.