I was thinking about traveling around Australia for a year?

I want to spend the time moving from one town to the next paying my way with articles and miscellaneous things I submit to a variety of publications (I am a freelance journalist).


I want to spend the time moving from one town to the next paying my way with articles and miscellaneous things I submit to a variety of publications (I am a freelance journalist).

Basically, I was wondering if anyone could tell me some of the best towns in the country to start my travel, as I am currently in Sydney, and what your advice would be on staying in hotels / motels or caravan parks?

Country pubs are clean and inexpensive to stay in and you get to meet the locals which should be a good source of material for your articles. Motels are the same everywhere and you need to go somewhere else to meet the locals. Caravan parks are fine if you have a nice warm, dry caravan but I wouldn't want to be in a tent in southern Australia at the moment.

While you are in Sydney, spend a day at TAFE and get yourself a Responsible Service of Alcohol certificate. If you are going to stay in pubs, you might find the occasional job going that will add to your income while waiting for cheques from publishers. You need an RSA to work in a pub.

If you haven't done so already, read "Down Under" by Bill Bryson. There are lots of ideas there.

Many country towns have a race meeting each year which is worth attending. The Birdsville races, first weekend in September, are famous around the world but there are many others. For instance the Tabulam Picnic Races in northern NSW the Saturday after the Melbourne Cup in November is going from strength to strength. You should find lots of stories at functions like this and from the locals and other people attending.

Are you a U.S. citizen/ if so australia only grants tourist visas for 90 days...and if you plan to sell your articles in australia you will need a work visa. It would be wise to be sure you can obtain the proper visa to do what you want to do before making other plans. If you are a US. citizen, you can go to the first website below to read the brief description of requirements to go to Australia...just use the alphabetical list of countries. Then go to the 2nd website to read visa info on the Australian Embassy website. Good luck in your research.

Head north as its too cold down south just now. BRRRR. go to Harrington (on the coast from Taree). Lots of places to rent but make sure to stay near the entrance to the river in Harrington itself and not the new estate. Crowdy Head is the nearest surf beach.
Stay in Tourist (caravan parks) Parks in an ensuite cabin. It is fully self contained and reasonably cheap. Shower & toilet are in the cabin.
My favourite places are:
Coffs harbour
Byron Bay
Ballina
Mullumbimby
Nimbin (old hippie colony!)
Surfers Paradise (in Qld)
Hervey Bay - whale watching & Fraser Island
Yeppoon
Rockhampton
and so on
Down south I like
The Great Ocean Rd - Victorian coastal drive
& PhillIp Island

Katoomba & Jenolan Caves. NSW are good as well.

Good luck - wish I could go too!

check out these websites:

http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/brochures/brochures_1229.html#p

and

www.australia.com

Hope this helps...

there are so many fantastic towns in oz , and plenty of backpacker places as well probably the cheapest way of traveling. oh an hope you have fun in our lovely place