If the idea of staying stuck to a beach towel fills you with dread, then head Down Under for an action packed break. Australia is ideal for adventurous girls and adrenaline junkies – home to some of the most dramatic landscapes in the world, there’s extreme sports aplenty and natural wonders like the Great Barrier Reef to explore.

But what if you can’t find any willing travel buddies and end up travelling alone? Don’t fret, Australia is one of the easiest places to travel alone as a woman. The sheer number of backpackers and solo travelers in the country make solo travel easy and a lot of fun– the locals are generally friendly, the cities aren’t particularly unsafe, and it’s easy to meet other travellers in hostels across the country.

But if you’re a girl setting out alone on an Aussie adventure, here are some tips to keep you healthy and happy on the road:


Go Extreme

Australia is a haven for friendly extreme sports, and you can go nuts, but remember a few safety tips first. Go easy if it’s your first time, and learn with a fully trained instructor - you don’t want to get injured and ruin your trip! Even if you have dabbled before, make sure you have the right equipment and are within easy access/contact of other people in case anything goes wrong.

Cairns is great for thrill-seekers, with bungee jumping, white-water rafting and sky-diving on offer. The Four Mile Beach near the city is renowned for kite-surfing, and for scuba-diving, the Great Barrier Reef is just around the corner. If you’re staying in Brisbane, try The Bungee Bullet – the best bungee jumping on the Sunshine Coast.

Mingle

Traveling solo can be lonely at times, especially if you are knackered from endless sightseeing or activities. Luckily sports breaks or tours are an easy way to meet other travelers – whether you are learning a new sport in a group, or end up sitting next to someone on a coach trip, strike up a conversation – they’ll probably be just as grateful for the company as you are!

When travelling, you’ve always got ready-made conversation topics– your sport of choice, what you got up to last night, where you’ve been, and where you want to go! By making friends on the road, you’ll might even find a future travel buddy, or find out about some new and exciting activity you’ve simple got to try out!

Choose Rooms Wisely

You might think of a bed as somewhere to crash after a hectic day outdoors, but your accommodation can really make a difference if you’re travelling alone. We can’t recommend hostels enough – not only are they the cheapest option, they are also super social, with endless opportunities to make friends, organized events and activities for when you can’t face going it alone, and friendly staff that can give you loads of advice, or get discounted tour and activity tickets.

Australia’s thriving backpacker scene means the hostels here are far more than crowded dorms – most have cool extras like bars, travel stores selling excursions and surf lessons, and loads of social space for relaxing at the end of the day.

If you’re worried about privacy and safety, you can even opt for private rooms, or look out for private lockers in shared dorms.
Our favourites have female only floors, or girly features like ‘sanctuaries’ and free beauty products for a bit of pampering on the road. Whether you’re looking for a woman friendly Perth hostel, or want to check out the facilities and location before you go, we recommend looking around online on hostel booking sites like www.hostelbookers.com, for reviews from other travelers.

Getting Around

Australia is certainly safer than some places in the world if you’re a single girl, but you’ll still need to be careful if you’re travelling around alone. Make sure you choose accommodation in a safe, well-lit location, so you can get home easily after dark. Buddy up with someone in your hostel, and tell people if you are going out alone.

Use your instincts when it comes to personal safety – hitchhiking across the Outback may seem like an amazing idea, but do you really want to be trapped in a truck with a complete stranger? Get around using Greyhound buses instead, and don’t think you’re a wuss if you go on organised trips to more remote areas – it’s still an adventure!

Speak Up

Tell people where you are going, even if it is just someone at your hostel– especially if you are trying out a new sport. There’s nothing worse than injuring yourself and not being able to get help. By speaking to someone in the know, you might also be able to get a list of the best places to go for sports, or companies to train with – better still, your hostel might organise lessons or activity trips if their own!

Hit the Surf

Australia is obviously, amazing for surfing, and you can’t beat the crashing waves on Bondi and Manly beach. But however much you want to ride the waves, never go surfing alone, or on a rough beach if there is no lifeguard around. If the signs tell you the water is too rough or riddled with jellyfish – listen up!

Be At One With Nature

But be careful. There are countless horror stories of girls getting lost in the outback or the bush, but these are usually down to backpackers not letting people know where they are going, bringing the right equipment, or even thinking about their own personal safety.

Prepare before you go off into the wilderness – let people know where you are headed, read up on the area, bring maps, go with someone, and stick to marked trails or National Parks where you can be found. Even the most experienced hikers will stick to the beaten path to stay safe. Oh and if you come across any animals or wildlife that look dangerous, now is NOT the time to cuddle up – back away!

www.ExplorerGirls.com / Hostelbookers.com