Operation rebellion research #1:

• 
  
  Decide on either Australia, or New Zealand. (Most probably Aussie)
• 
  
  Go on a backpacking trip for a month
• 
  
  Get a job at some farm, prefably animal! to earn our living expenses
• 
  
  Call steph's aunt if we fail
• 
  
  Not call steph's aunt and just randomly find our way through Australia
• 
  
  That's the real fun isn't it, getting lost, just with you friends
• 
  
  No compass no hostel, no food, just friends
• 
  
  Go horse riding
• 
  
  Hitchhike and try not to get kidnapped
• 
  
  Just loosen our hair, have fun and forget about all our worries.

** Coastal backpacking is likely to be much easier than inland backpacking. So for easier experience, backpack Queensland down to Victoria; or you can divert across to Adelaide in South Australia, or catch the boat down to Tasmania. Indeed, Tasmania is one neat package in and of itself for visiting if wished.

** Australia does not have a brilliant train system between places. This is just great, really. I'm still taking the horse.

** Buses in Australia are frequent and reliable and cost-effective. However, they are cramped when you consider that many of the journeys will take 10s and 20s of hours to get anywhere... Most come equipped with movies and other distractions for passengers such as stops for refreshments. Intrepid and strong backpackers won't mind the long rides but if you tire easily and don't sleep well sitting up, long bus rides around Australia are not desirable.

** We can check the noticeboars at backpacking hostels to find other backpackers so that we can all go together and hire a car or something. Prolly pool resources together to hire a car or even purchase a cheap one and travel together and cover the cost of fuel etc. Great for leaving the heavy backpacks in the boot too!
 
** Cycling. (i told you guys it's a possible option!) But it's very restricted because some of the highways are dangerous for cyclists and many of the freeways ban cyclists.


Stay in backpacker hostels and other budget accommodation. There are plenty of both, including Formula 1 hotels etc. The hostel network is good and pretty much everywhere and you will get a lot of information from these places about activities to share with others and about other places to visit. Contact the organizations for details on special deals etc.

Take care of yourself. Australia is a relatively safe country to backpack in. Be aware though of a few things:

** Hitchhiking. (AHHAH.) It's pretty much illegal or frowned upon. There have been some terrible cases of tourists not returning from a hitchhike in the middle of nowhere, so do it at your own risk. (Gen, you and your brilliant idea)

** Ask locals about safety after dark. Some areas are typically unsafe due to drunken escapades, so avoid areas that have a lot of pubs and clubs, for example, in urban areas. Most places are pretty much safe to go after dark and women can usually travel alone, provided you take the proper and usual precautions.

** Beasties. Australian beasties are a little unforgiving. There are venomous snakes, venomous spiders, crocodiles, jellyfish, stinging fish, blue ring octopus, sharks etc. Read up on the hazards and be aware of how to avoid them. Even the cute animals bite (koalas, wombats) and kangaroos can kill with one swift kick if it is a large and aggressive male. (Don't tell me to seduce the kangaroo, shan i know what you're thinking k)
 
Take care when hiking. Many backpackers go hiking as much as discovering urban and regional areas. In Australia this presents some special challenges for consideration:


** Avoid the beasties. See the step above for an overview. In particular, consider your clothing. Sandals are not good hiking gear for the Australian bush. Wear covered boots (SEE, THEY SAY WEAR BOOTS) and, if possible, long pants or gaiters. If you are attacked by a snake (the usual problem is not seeing one and treading on it), then the boots and gaiters/pants give protection. It is also very wise to be an alert hiker who looks ahead on the trail to see any sunbaking snakes. They're not waiting there to attack you; they're enjoying the sun. Glibly avoid them and make vibrations with heavy walking to warn them of your approach.

** Sunburn. Australia is a sunburnt land with one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. Slip, slop, slap is the local vernacular, meaning slip on long-sleeved clothing, slop on a hat and slap on sunscreen. And keep out of the sun when it is fiercest between 11 and 3. (I hate this)

** Water and dehydration. It is easy to die of thirst in Australia if you get lost and have no water. Always carry water, no matter how hot it is and how heavy that water feels. You will never regret it and rarely will a hiker return from an Australian hike with a full water bottle.

** Always know where you are going and take maps. Leave instructions at register booths if trails have them. And take warm clothing for mountain hikes. Not all of Australia has blistering heat and the cold can kill you on Australian mountains just as it can anywhere in the world if you get caught in an unexpected storm. (HAH, Gen, how come your information seems to be all wrong?)

** Be careful wherever you hike. Sometimes Australia's weathered down rocks can be deceptive in their "ease of climbing" and people get careless and take silly risks. A fall from a rock can kill no matter how much smaller the rock seems than your rocks back home.

** Never camp in creek or river beds. Flash floods can occur without warning, even during what might seem to be a drought.

Be sun aware. As discussed in the step above, the sun is fierce over Australia. Always wear a hat, prefer long sleeved and long legged clothing if you are walking or travelling in the sun for any length of time and wear sunscreen. Avoid sunbaking for hours on end. You will be sun roasted and turn out as red as a lobster. Avoid being out in the sun between 11 and 3 during summer for any extended activity unless you have proper cover.
 
Backpacks, backpacking equipment and other outdoor and travel supplies are sold all over Australia, so you won't have any problems refilling broken, lost, or used-up items at good prices.

Always have travel insurance. Australia has a good medical system with free health services in hospitals for emergencies but doctors visits cost money and rebates are only available to those in the Medicare system, which is for Australians and reciprocal countries such as New Zealand and the UK. Even then, the rules can be complicated. And you should be covered for theft, accidents etc. (We totally forgot about insurance, didn't we)

Beware bushfires if hiking or driving through prone areas. These are fierce, fast and merciless when they start. Always read the news before setting out during bushfire season (whenever it is really dry, but especially summer time with the increased heat). Driving through bushfire smoke is disorienting and frightening. If you are caught in the fire, stay with your car, crouch down low and try and cover yourself until the fire passes and then get out. People have died getting caught this way, however, so it is best to avoid such situations by planning ahead. (GREAT, THATS THE BEST NEWS I'VE HEARD)

Labels: Operation Rebellion.