Just come back from Oz, I travelled by myself and visited Canberra, Darwin, Katherine, Alice Springs, Ayres Rock/Olga's, Adelaide, Broken Hill, Sydney
My advice:-
1) Where you can don't book and pay for anything in the UK, as the exchange rate is fantastic for us brits .43p to $1.
2) I used my credit cards and cashpoint cards freely no problem even in the Ayres Rock resort.
2) Go to a telstra shop and buy a SIM card there (take your passport), you can pay for a special rate for calling overseas. The vodaphone that she gave me did not work in the outback.
3) Travelling on the cheap you can use Greyhound Busses as they seem to be quite regular and you can get to see loads of the outback they may have passes for touring Oz (investigate before you go)
4) Travelling in Style - The Gahn Train from Darwin to Alice Springs - Adelaide (Gold Class), I upgraded and this was great for singles it's worth paying the extra as you get your own cabin and the staff are great , alternatively Red Class is just as good but you do not have a sleeper (a rail pass exists for this)
4) Darwin - See Tiwi Islands and Kakadu National park (recommended by travellers)
5) Katherine - Gahn whistlestop tour - Helecopter Ride fantastic.
6) Alice Springs - See Telegraph Station, Anzac Memorial, great base shop at Woolworths food outlett as very cheap. Also many facilities for backpackers here. Loved the place, you can also arrange tours from here I went via AAT Kings and they were very good
7) Ayres Rock Resort - AAT Kings Tours you must do Olga Sunsett and BBQ as they show you the stars at the end well worth the money. Ayres Rock sunrise tour was good but beware loads of walking. Also by a big hat with a brim and a fly net for your face. The resort has a town shopping centre which is well setup but expensive i.e. Walkers Crisps $3. Also consider Kings Canyon.
8) Adelaide - Lovely Architecture and history, great shopping (better than Sydney) stayed in Mercure hotel very central with own cleaining facilities. Also great base for Barossa Valley etc.
9) Ocean drive - Don't bother you are wasting your money, the best bits are 12 kms out of Melbourne anyway.
10) Kangaroo Island - Well recommended by other tourists.
11) Broken Hill - Don't bother depressing mining place
12) Adelaide - Sydney - Indian Pacific Train great but track very bumpy.
13) Sydney - Recommended Tower Revolving Restaurant great views, Bondi Beach Icebergs - Crabbe Cafe lovely coffee with Views staff great, Bronte Beach - Jenny's cafe great, Sydney Zoo - see the Koala's, Shopping - Westin Bondi Junction.
14) Canberra - Flew there with Virgin Blue see the War memorial it's spectacular
15) Hunter Valley - Worth it if you have time.
Did all this in 2wks!
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