So what are the key things you need to know and should you start booking your flights?!

Australia Reopens 1st Dec 2021!

In a press conference on 21st Nov 2021, Prime Minister Scott Morrison outlined the next steps on Australia border policy as the country hit a 85% vaccination rate – which included the news travellers all over the world had been waiting for – Australia will be reopening for tourism!

Time To Start Planning!

With travel opening up, nows the perfect time to start planning your working holiday visa in Australia and our team are here to help you out.

Check out our huge range of trips, tours and packages – including our ever popular Melbourne Working Holiday Package and Sydney Working Holiday Visa Package, both of which include everything you need to kickstart your time down under!

We look forward to welcoming to Australia soon!

The post Australia Reopens 1st Dec 2021! appeared first on RTW Backpackers.

But these 10 stops should definitely feature in your Kiwi adventure – from epic beach spots to adrenaline filled towns…

10 Of The Best Places To Visit In New Zealand

North Island

Cape Reinga

Lets kick things off with a trip to the most Northern part of New Zealand – Cape Reinga. Not only is the trip up a beautiful drive, with lots of awesome pit stops en-route, but Cape Reinga itself is filled with stunning natural beauty.

And of course you’ll need to get that perfect selfie in front of the lighthouse overlooking the Cape before driving down the beach highway!

Raglan

If you’re looking for beach vibes and more importantly surfing, then Raglan is going to be high up on your list of best places to visit in New Zealand.

About 3 hours drive South of Auckland, Raglan is a small, sleepy surfing town – but the waves here have a big reputation. Score pumping Manu Bay and it’ll be some of the best waves of your life!

Wellington

The capital of New Zealand is also known as the windy city – but there’s plenty going on in Wellington besides the gusty breezes!

Take a cable car up to the scenic view points, get involved in the bustling nightlife or visit the famous Te Papa Museum.

Tongariro National Park

New Zealand is famed for its natural beauty and Tongariro National Park is up the amongst the best places to visit in New Zealand to soak it up.

Make sure you have your hiking gear at the ready and do one of New Zealands most popular day hikes across the Tongariro Alpine Crossing – which is well worth the early start.

Hahei

Get your spade at the ready for a trip to Hahei and the famous Hot Water Beach! At low tide you can head down onto the sand and dig your own natural hot tub – as the holes on the beach fill up with water heated by the arwas geo-thermal activitity.

Careful though – it can get pretty toasty, so get ready for a dip in the ocean to cool down.

A greta overnight stop, Hahei is also a great base for a Cathedral Cove kayaking tour – the perfect way to take in this epic coastline and visit one of New Zealand many famous movie locations.

South Island

Queenstown

Now when it comes to the title of the best places to visit in New Zealand, we’re going to say that Queenstown is one of the front runners for the title! Not only does Queenstown have some gorgeous alpine backdrops and the expansive beauty of the Queenstown Lake – but it’s also the adrenaline capital of NZ.

Bungy jumping, gorge swings, skydiving, skiing and white water rafting are all on offer in Queenstown and it’s certainly one of the stops you’ll want an extended stay in!

Kaikoura

Hands up who loves dolphins! Well if you do (and seriously who doesn’t?!) then a stop in Kaikoura is a must. This town is famous for dolphin and whale watching tours – well you can easily find yourself surrounded by a super pod of over 300 dolphins!

If you’re super lucky sperm whales and orcas also frequent the area too – so keep your eyes peeled.

For the best experience the dolphin swim tour is well worth bracing the cold waters – so have your GoPro ready to capture it all.

Milford Sound

As well as being one fo the best places to visit in New Zealand, a day trip to Milford Sound or even and overnight adventure always sits amongst the list of best tours to do in New Zealand too.

Home to cascading waterfalls, wild seals and some of the most breathtaking natural beauty has to offer – this is another stop that everyone will love.

Franz Josef

One of the best ways to appreciate the snow capped beauty of New Zealand is to get right in amongst it – and Franz Josef is the spot to head for that. The Glacier Hiking tours here are one of the top things to do in New Zealand and combined with a helicopter flight up to the icy landscape it’s two bucket list items in one!

Squeeze through awe inspiring ice caves and tunnels before heading back down to the towns geo-thermal pools to warm up.

Wanaka

Just across the mountain range from Queenstown, Wanaka is a place to kick back and relax. The sprawling lake that forms the centre of the town has it’s own world famous Insta spot too – in the form of “that Wanaka Tree”.

But when you’re not hashtaging the towns attractions, take a relaxing hike or use it as a base for an epic ski trip during the winter season.

Which stop is top of your best places to visit in New Zealand?

Anywhere else you’d add to the list?

The post 10 Of The Best Places To Visit In New Zealand appeared first on RTW Backpackers.

It’s hard to comprehend the size and impact of these fires – but an area twice the size of Belgium is currently ablaze!

They’ve also created a plume of smoke wider than Europe which has even turned glaciers and mountains in neighbouring New Zealand brown with ash fallout…and they’re 2,000km away

Honestly the Australia PM Scott Morrison has been pretty slow with handling this national disaster (or even admitting there is a problem!) so Australia needs all the help it can get. Heck even Aussie celeb Celeste Barber has raised more cash than the government has pledged!

The easiest way you can help out with the Australia bushfire is to donate to some of the incredible organisations helping on the ground, including wildlife rescue services, the Red Cross and of course the true heroes of it all – the Rural Fire Service.

And if you cant afford to donate give this post a share on Facebook or your social media and help spread the word! Actually do that if you donate too!

Australia Bushfire – How Can You Help? Main Donation Links

Whether you want to help the people, the wildlife or both – here are some of the best official donation links for Australia bushfire appeals so you can make a difference no matter where you are in the world.

I know it’s a pain finding links on Instagram and stuff as the captions aren’t clickable but here are some of the best organisations you can donate to right now.

And of course if you know of any other awesome organisations who are on the ground helping and raising funds add them into the comments!

1. Bushfire Disaster Fund

https://www.communityenterprisefoundation.com.au/make-a-donation/bushfire-disaster-appeal/

2. Redcross Disaster Relief

https://www.redcross.org.au/campaigns/disaster-relief-and-recovery-new-years-eve

3. Salvation Army Disaster Appeal:

https://www.salvationarmy.org.au/donate/make-a-donation/donate-online/?appeal=disasterappeal

4. CFA/VIC Rural Fire Service

https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/about/supporting-cfa#donate-cash

5. Wildlife Victoria

https://www.wildlifevictoria.org.au/donate/donate-to-wildlife-victoria

6. NSW Rural Fire Service

https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/volunteer/support-your-local-brigade

7. Port Macquarie Koala Hospital

https://www.koalahospital.org.au/act-now/donate

8. Australia Travel Industry Redcross Fundraiser

https://fundraise.redcross.org.au/fundraisers/AustralianTravelIndustrysBushfireReliefFund/fundraise-for-disaster-relief-and-recovery?ref=ch_1FxQ4SApob8C59ODudYx51IC

Scary Facts About The Bushfires

• Over 500 millions animals lost
• Including an estimates 1 in 3 koalas
• Over 14 million acres burned
• Including over 3.5 millions acres in New South Wales
• 24 confirmed deaths
• More than 1400 homes lost
• Thousands of people evacuated and now homeless across NSW and VIC
• 48.9 degree – some of the record high temperatures contributed to the fires

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Guardian Australia (@guardianaustralia) on Nov 8, 2019 at 9:45pm PST

Know of any other awesome organisations who need help?

Chuck the links in the comments and I’ll add them in

The post Australia Bushfire – How Can You Help? Donation Links appeared first on RTW Backpackers.

From water slides to goon filled drinking games here are our favourite Whitsundays party boats so you can crack a cold one in paradise and enjoy the chaos!

The Best Whitsunday Tour Party Boats!

1.  Atlantic Clipper

The infamous Atlantic Clipper is THE whitsunday party boat and has been providing heaps of fun for backpackers for years and is one of the most popular Whitsunday tours out there.

At 34 metres long the Atlantic Clipper boats an on board spa, spacious lounge and bar area and even a water slide – it’s safe to say it has everything you need for an epic Whitsundays party boat experience!

It has a max capacity of 53 across 21 cabins and is frequently fully booked out, so if you fancy jumping on the Clipper we’d suggest getting it locked kin early to avoid missing out.

And of course if you want a break from partying you can soak up the beautiful surroundings, explore the coral reef and there’s even scuba diving available on board too.

Departs: Tues, Wed and Sat

Click here for more info and to book

2. Spank Me

Surely you can tell by the name that this is going to be a super fun Whitsundays tour?!

This 82 foot max yacht is certainly filled with party boat fun in full sailing style!

With a max capacity of 27 guests and strictly 18-35 you’ll deinfitely have some goon fuelled fun on Spank Me as well as enjoy everything the Whitsundays has to offer.

Slightly more mellow than the Atlantic Clipper it’s the perfect option for those who want to party but also explore the Whitsundays too

Departs: Wed, Fri, Sun

Click here for more info and to book

3. New Horizon

The sister ship of the Atlantic Clipper, New Horizon is another one of our most popular Whitsunday tours and is most definitely a party boat!

With up to 32 backpackers on board she’s one of the only party boats to boats A/C cabins – which on a hangover in the Aussie heat is certainly welcome!

Complete with SUPs and even. diving board (greta fun for making your friends walk the plank in true pirate style!) New Horizon packs in heaps of fun whilst still ticking off the Whitsundays must do destinations.

Departs: Mon, Thurs, Sat

Click here for more info and to book

4. Avatar

If you want a super stylish Whitsunday tour then joining the party boat Avatar is what you need to do!

The only tour offering trimaran in the Whitsundays, Avatar offer plenty of space on the netting to kick back with some cold beers with your newly found backpacker buddies.

With up to 26 guests on board you’ll sail around the Whitsundays in style as it’s also one of the fastest vessels in the Whitsundays too – allowing you to hit up spots other overnight tours can’t reach.

Departs: Tues, Thurs and Sat

Click here for more info and to book

Check out our full range of Whitsunday Tours here

The post The Best Whitsunday Tour Party Boats! appeared first on RTW Backpackers.

The worlds largest sand island is one of the best adventures between Sydney and Cairns – where you can visit dense rainforest, hike along sprawling sand dunes, swim in crystal clear lakes and of course drive along the beach!

So if you’re busy planning your Fraser Island tour here’s 7 handy things to know, before you go…

7 Things You Need To Know Before Your Fraser Island Tour

You Can Drive A 4×4

One of our favourite experiences about Fraser Island is the opportunity to drive a 4×4 during your Fraser Island tour!

Admittedly not every trip offer this – all our favourite like Pippies, Dingos and Nomads Fraser do -but if you’re over 21, with a valid international license you’ll get the opportunity to cruise along beach highways and through more challenging rainforest tracks during your trip which is heaps of fun.

But Not On The Day Trips

Unfortunately though if you only have the time or budget for a day trip you wont get this chance – as these are done with 4×4 tour buses.

The Local Name For The Island Is K’Gari

Fraser Island has long been home to Aboriginals who have lived off the land and natural resources for thousands of years.

And because of that there’s heaps of incredible history, culture and dreamtime stories to learn during your trip. 

If you really want to discover more about the real K’Gari we highly recommend checking out the Dropbear Adventures Tour where you’re knowledgable guides will teach you more about this side of the island.

Camping Is The Most Fun Option

Seriously, if you’re looking of the most fun Fraser Island tour then the camping options are our teams favourite option!

I mean how many times do you have the opportunity to camp on the worlds largest sand island and gaze at the stars from the door of your tent!

Embrace the adventure and check out Pippies, Dingos or Dropbear for some camping goodness

…But You Can Do A Dorm If You Prefer!

If you want a more comfortable nights sleep there are also dorm options too – with Nomads Fraser Island being the most popular as it still offers the opportunity to drive the 4×4. 

In fact Nomads offer both a dorm and camping option on the same trip so you wont miss out on any of the fun!

You Can Leave Your Luggage At The Start Destination

Pretty much all hostels in Rainbow Beach, Noosa or Hervey Bay offer luggage lock up facilities for those heading out to Fraser Island.

This means you can slim your stuff down to a small weekend bag and not have to lug it all around the island!

Just take the essentials (inc a jumper for the evening in the winter months) and embrace the island vibes!

Most Tours Are BYO

Most Fraser Island tours are BYO – which is ideal for backpackers looking to save some money on bar tabs whilst still having heaps of fun!

The overnight camping trips are great for an awesome fireside party, so bring along some cold beers or a couple of boxed of goon to get things started!

…or have a few in the back of the 4×4 if you’re not driving that day!

The main exception to this rule is the Nomads Fraser Island tour, which has a licensed bar on site.

Is Fraser Island on your Aussie bucket list?

What are you most stoked about?

Popular Fraser Island Tours

AUD $195

Fraser Island Day Trip With Discovery Group (From Noosa)

Jump aboard one of our brand new purpose built "Warrior" 4WD Vehicles and experience a great value tour of World

1 Day

Noosa

AUD $509

Dingos Fraser Island Tour (Camping)

3 days of camping fun and cruising around Fraser Island in a 4WD!

3 Days

Rainbow Beach

Featured

From AUD $549

Nomads Fraser Island Tour (Hostel Style) - 3 Day Option

Join one of the best Fraser Island tours for 3 days of cruising around Fraser Island in a 4WD with

3 Days

Noosa

AUD $569

Fraser Island Tour With Pippies Fraser Island (Camping)

3 days of cruising around Fraser Island in a 4WD!

3 Days

Rainbow Beach

The post 7 Things You Need To Know Before Your Fraser Island Tour appeared first on RTW Backpackers.

No worries though – we run through the main factors you’ll need to keep in mind to decide which Australia plan will be the best option…

Sydney to Cairns or Carins To Sydney? The Best Way To Travel East Coast Australia

Best Spots to Visit On The East Coast

First off lets put everything into perspective. The Sydney to Cairns route is over 2,900km so you’ve got a lot of distance to cover! If you want to tick off the main stops these are our personal favourites;

• Sydney
• Yamba
• Byron Bay
• Gold Coast
• Brisbane
• Noosa
• Rainbow Beach – including access to Fraser Island
• Airlie Beach – including access to the Whitsunday Islands
• Magnetic Island
• Mission Beach
• Cairns
• Cape Tribulation

…and if you want to do the whole thing Melbourne is a great addition too!

The Time Of Year

The time of year you’re heading to Australia is something you should definitely something you should keep in mind when travelling to Australia – as believe it or not Australia does actually have a winter season!

And weather in Sydney and Melbourne can vary A LOT during the winter – yes, Australia can get cold and rainy! In fact winter weather in Melbourne can be as low as 6 degrees with frosty night times!

Summer = December to February

Autumn = March to May

Winter = June to August

Spring = September and November

November to April also marks the monsoon season in Queensland (with the northern part of it being the most affected) so also take this into account when planning your route too. Chances are you’re going to hit some rainy season up towards Cairns – but perhaps start there and move south towards the better weather, or spend more time between Sydney and Rainbow Beach.

Key Events

Another starting point for planning your trip are any key events you want to hit up on the way – such as Xmas and New Year in Sydney, Bluesfest in Byron Bay or the Australian Open in Melbourne.

As we’ve said before, Australia is HUGE place and unless you’re looking at getting internal flights these events could dictate where you’ll need to start!

For example if you land in Australia 10th December and want to do Sydney for xmas you wont want to be starting in Cairns, you simply wont have enough time to travel down the coast without rushing through it heaps!

Onward Travel

I know we’re trying to help you figure out Australia right now, but it’s also worth keeping in mind your onwards travel plans too!

If you’re flying internationally sometimes finishing in Sydney works out better for flight routes and prices, or for stops like New Zealand flying out of Cairns is really easy to do.

It’s not a huge deciding factor but certainly something to keep in mind.

Again – you can use internal flights to connect the dots in your travel plans, but make sure you price everything up as well so you know all your options!

The Best Way To Travel

Along with everything else you also need to keep in mind how you’re going to be travelling too! Greyhound Passes are the most popular, but you’ll need to know which way around you’re going for the point to point passes (so don’t change your mind!) whereas the WHIMit Passes dont have any restriction on route (only length of time) so you can mix things up with those!

Campervans are also fixed with the route once you’ve reserved one and the prices do vary on length of time but also the route as well – so you may find out it’s much cheaper to go with a different starting point – and this may well have a huge impact on your decision.

Which Way Does Everyone Else Travel?

So do most people travel Cairns to Sydney or Sydney to Cairns?

Yes we deal with a lot of travellers plans and yes people do both routes.

We have to say though most people do tend to opt for the Sydney to Cairns option – which is usually because there are better flights into Australia via Sydney or even Melbourne.

However, dont let this put you off doing it the other way – you’ll still meet heaps of people and it may well work out the best option for you.

Again – the internal flight option is there if you price it all up and realise you need to start in Cairns, but flights into Sydney are heaps lower.

So What’s Best For YOU?

So there you have it – the main things that will help you decide whether to travel Sydney to Cairns or Cairns to Sydney during your Australia trip.

Ultimately though it’s totally down to you – and if you keep the above points in mind you’re not going to go wrong with either direction!

And if you’re still super stuck just chat to our Aussie experts and we’d be happy to help you plan your perfect trip.

…you can also fill out our Custom East Coast Package Deal form and we’ll piece everything together for you with some epic deals too!

Want Our Experts To Help You Out? Fill Out The Form Below!

Start Location *BrisbaneByron BayCairnsMelbourneSydney

Start Date *

Finish Location *BrisbaneByron BayCairnsMelbourneSydney

Finish Date *

Are Your Dates Flexible?

• Yes - my start date is flexible
• Yes - my trip length is flexible
• No

Tick all that apply

Number Of Travellers *

Type Of Traveller

• Solo Traveller
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What Destinations Would You Like Included?

• Melbourne
• Sydney
• Byron Bay
• Surfers Paradise/Gold Coast
• Brisbane
• Noosa
• Rainbow Beach
• Hervey Bay
• Agnes Water/1770
• Airlie Beach
• Magnetic Island
• Mission Beach
• Cairns

There are heaps of incredible destinations along the East Coast - select all that you want to explore and we'll fit them into your trip! And if you want to stop anywhere else let us know

PreviousNext

Which Fraser Island Tour Would You Prefer?

• Day Trip
• Overnight Camping
• Overnight Hostel

Discover the worlds largest sand island and cruise along beach highway and through tropical rainforests on Fraser Island

Which Whitsundays Tour Would You Prefer?

• Day Trip
• Overnight Boat (More Chilled/Relaxed)
• Overnight Boat (Party)

Relax on the stunning Whitehaven Beach, watch sunset over the ocean and even choose to sleep overnight on a boat!

Which Great Barrier Reef Tour Would You Prefer?

• Snorkel Day Trip
• Day Trip with Introductory Dive
• Day Trip with Certified Dive
• Overnight Dive Boat
• Open Water Dive Course (Min 4 Days)

One of the most stunning natural formations on the planet - go find Nemo, give scuba diving a go or even complete your full dive course

PreviousNext

Any Other Trips & Tours You'd Like To Include?

• Bungy Jumping (Cairns)
• Cairns Waterfall Tour
• Great Ocean Road (Melbourne)
• Kayaking
• Noosa Everglades Canoe
• Skydiving
• Surf Lesson
• Surf Camp (Spot X)
• Surf & Stay (Byron Bay)
• Barrier Reef Scenic Flight
• Whitsundays Scenic Flight
• Cape Tribulation Day Trip (Cairns)
• Blue Mountains (Sydney)
• Philip Island (Melbourne)

What other day trips and tours would you like to include in your package? If there's a trip not listed you want to do you can let us know further on in the form

PreviousNext

What Style Of Package Would You Like? *

• Day Trips & Tours Only
• Tours + Dorms
• Tours + Private Room Upgrade

If you're travelling for longer than 5 weeks (6 weeks if you're looking at Melbourne to Cairns) we recommend booking tours only as you get heaps more flexibility in your plans but still the benefits of a discounted package deal!

Budget (Per Person)

Let us know roughly how much budget you have to play with so we can pick the trips and tours which make the most of your money (we'll assume it's in $AUD!)

PreviousNext

Would You Like To Include Transport?

• Greyhound Bus Pass (Recommended)
• Campervan Hire
• All good, I'll sort my own transport

If you'd like to add on a bus pass or campervan hire select from the above options

Any Other Requests?

Any other things you'd like us to include? Would you prefer to upgrade to smaller dorms/more chilled hostels? Or are you looking for party vibes? Let us know your preferences and bucket list items and we'll put it all together for you. Also if you've already got a trip quote let us know what it is and we'll happily beat it!

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What You Get

 A customised East Coast itinerary (which you can then customise even more!)

Honest, unbiased recommendations on the best trips and tours

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Support before and during your trip

Save loads of stress and we’ll take care of everything for you!

The post Sydney to Cairns or Cairns To Sydney? The Best Way To Travel East Coast Australia appeared first on RTW Backpackers.

The largest sand island in the world, situated just off the Queensland coast it’s one of the most stunning places you’ll get to visit.

But what makes Fraser Island so special and why should you add it to your Australia itinerary?

Well here’s 8 reasons Fraser Island should be on your bucket list…

8 Reasons Fraser Island Should Be On Your Bucket List

1. Lake Mackenzie

This is easily our favourite reason to visit Fraser Island – this rainfall fed, freshwater lake is surrounded by lush rainforest and even the drive to get here is stunning!

It’s the perfect place to cool off in the Aussie heat and the sand here is silicon rich – making it great for exfoliating your skin or even polishing up your jewellery!

2. Eli Creek

Kick back, relax and enjoy a slower pace of life floating down Eli Creek. This shallow, fresh water stream winds its way through the vegetation and spills out onto the beach. Grab an inflatable, maybe a cold beer and enjoy.

3. Beach Driving

If there’s one stand out reason that you should visit Fraser Island it’s to cruise along the beach highways! If you’re jumping on a Fraser Island 4×4 tag along tour you’ll get the chance to drive on the beach and through the rainforest – with your guide taking care of things like tidal times so you can just enjoy the ride.

4. Maheno Shipwreck

The iconic Maheno Shipwreck ran aground on Fraser Island in 1935 and the remains of it are still embedded in the sand today. It’s a great spot to explore, grab some pics and learn more about the history of this famous wreck.

5. Dingos

Fraser Island is home to the most pure population of Dingos in the world and they can be found all over the island, so keep an eye out for them. If you’re camping make sure you keep all your food locked up and in your t4ruck to avoid unwanted attention and if you do encounter them on foot stay calm!

6. Starscapes

With little in the way of light pollution on the island make sure you head outside at night and look up – you’ll be rewarded with some of the bets stars capes you’ll see anywhere in Australia, just remember to make a wish if you see a shooting star!

7. Champagne Pools

Another amazing place to cool off and escape the Queensland heat the famous Champagne Pools get their name from the bubbles created as waves crash over the rocks at high tide. Great for some GoPro selfies and the perfect spot to up your tan.

8. Indian Head Lookout

Take in the epic views across the coast of Fraser Island from Indian Head lookout. It’s only a short, easy stroll to the top so make sure you take the time to check it out. When the sea is calm keep an eye out for turtles, manta rays and sharks cruising below the cliffs.

Are you going to visit Fraser Island?

Figure out the best Fraser Island tour for you here!

Popular Fraser Island Tours

AUD $195

Fraser Island Day Trip With Discovery Group (From Noosa)

Jump aboard one of our brand new purpose built "Warrior" 4WD Vehicles and experience a great value tour of World

1 Day

Noosa

AUD $509

Dingos Fraser Island Tour (Camping)

3 days of camping fun and cruising around Fraser Island in a 4WD!

3 Days

Rainbow Beach

Featured

From AUD $549

Nomads Fraser Island Tour (Hostel Style) - 3 Day Option

Join one of the best Fraser Island tours for 3 days of cruising around Fraser Island in a 4WD with

3 Days

Noosa

AUD $569

Fraser Island Tour With Pippies Fraser Island (Camping)

3 days of cruising around Fraser Island in a 4WD!

3 Days

Rainbow Beach

The post 8 Epic Reasons To Visit Fraser Island appeared first on RTW Backpackers.

But with so many spots around the country, where should you base yourself?

Here, we recommend three of the best surf camp locations, plus a couple of extra options if you don’t have the time, or budget, for a full camp.

Surf Camp Australia – Where to Hit the Waves Down Under!

The surf camp advantage

It’s no secret that Australia is up there as one of the best places on earth to surf. But that’s the problem; it’s no secret. The masses of surfers upon surfers fighting for waves at the country’s most popular spots, take the word crowded to a whole new level.

You should definitely get in amongst it at least once on your trip (gotta tick surfing Bondi or Snapper Rocks off the bucket list, right?). But whether you’re heading to Australia to learn to surf, or to catch the best waves of your life, having a bit of local knowledge goes a lonnnng way.

That’s where surf camps come into their own; they eliminate the stress of wondering where to surf, or wasted time heading to the wrong places. You get the benefit of local knowledge from experienced surf coaches who will search out the best spots on the day based on crowds and surf conditions. Plus the added bonus that everything else is taken care of for you; just relax and throw yourself into surf life. Sweet!

Most camps will provide all meals and accommodation, as well as transport to and from the waves. Equipment can also be provided so you don’t have to worry about travelling with a board.

It doesn’t matter what level you’re at either. Whether you’re a total beginner or you’ve been shredding your whole life, a camp will make sure you get something to suit you, and give you the coaching that will push your surfing to the next level.

3 of the best surf camp locations in Australia

There are thousands of surf spots around the country, so where should you hit the waves? To help you narrow it down, here are three of our favourite surf camp locations, and the reasons why we love them:

Byron Bay

It’s been hailed as one of the best places on earth to live and surf. Famed for its stunning beaches, warm water, consistent waves, and buzzing nightlife, what really makes Bryon special for us, is its laid back vibe and epic choice of surf breaks.

Main Beach and Clarkes Beach are perfect for beginners, while more advanced surfers will love The Pass, one of the best surf spots in Australia, and nearby Lennox Point; the world famous point break.

Check out Mojosurf who offer a range of options starting from 2 days all inclusive, right through to multi-location camps where you can hit up several areas on the same trip.

Spot X

Set off the beaten track between Sydney and Byron Bay in one of the country’s most beautiful national marine parks, Spot X is dedicated to the surfer lifestyle. Its secluded location means that days in the sun and nights by the camp fire are the ultimate way to immerse yourself in the surf lifestyle.

What really sets it apart from other surf camp locations, is that the accommodation is right on the beachfront. Wake up to the sound of the ocean, roll out of bed, and hit the waves. Life doesn’t get much better.

Awesome waves and variety of breaks means that Spot X is perfect for both beginners and intermediate to advanced surfers.

Mojosurf include Spot X in their Sydney to Byron surf adventures. Options start from 5 days and are all inclusive.

Yamba

About an hour and a half south of Byron, you’ll find Yamba; another stunning, super-chilled Aussie beach town with heaps of awesome surf breaks.

What we love about surfing here is that it’s probably one of the least crowded spots on the East Coast. It’s also one of the areas where you’ll have the best chance of scoring a session with dolphins swimming through the lineup.

Surf Camp Down Under offer a 3 night surf and stay package which includes the essentials of accommodation and surf tuition.

Alternatives to a surf camp

Depending on your travel plans, and how your budget is looking, a surf camp may not be the right choice for you. Here are a couple of other options to get you enjoying some perfect Aussie waves, without having to figure it out alone.

Day trips

Take a full or half day trip with one of the local surf schools and hit the road to find the spot with the best conditions on the day. You’ll benefit from a coached session with an experienced, qualified instructor, plus all the equipment you need. Some even take a photographer along to capture the fun.

Check out Mojosurf and Stoked Surf School who both offer half day trips from Byron Bay including surf instruction and equipment.

Surf tours

If you are planning to travel up or down the East coast of Australia, a surf tour is a cost effective way of covering the ground, while enjoying the fun of a surf camp en-route.

Mojosurf run 5, 7 and 10 day camps that take you between Sydney and Byron in either direction, stopping at the famous Spot X along the way.

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