Domestic Travel Within Australia: How to Be a Tourist in Your Own Country

By travelling within your own country, you enjoy the advantages of two different things at the same time: ease of travelling and discovering new sights and sounds. You can spend a wonderful vacation with your family and friends. Travelling doesn’t necessarily mean going away to exotic places and experiencing foreign cultures. More often than not, the best places are closer to home and under the radar. There’s plenty to see and do here in Australia, so don’t hesitate to explore your own backyard as you can find an escape from your hectic schedule, rebooting your mind and body. Other than helping the economy, the most obvious impact is on your wallet.

Make sure your next trip is stress-free and enjoyable with these handy tips.

Begin With a Staycation

A staycation is a vacation model for students and low-budget travellers, but it can be a concept larger audiences can adopt. There’s much within miles of your home you haven’t seen, so there’s always more to discover; being a tourist in your own country can definitely be fun. Your country is your motherland. Still, you’re unaware of the history and cultures of your own country, so a domestic trip is a fantastic way to learn about your background. It will broaden your horizons. Regardless of where you live, find a local hotel and take a break for the weekend. The only thing standing between you and your staycation is an out-of-office reply.

Fly To Cover Australia’s Long Distances in A Short Time

Since the pandemic, more of us are walking, cycling, or scooting around. If you’re visiting a rural town such as Exmouth or Stanley, hop on your bike and take in the scenery. Australia is the sixth largest country in the world, even if it has the smallest continental land mass. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that it takes a long time to travel from one end of the country to the country to the other – there’s way too much ground to cover on a short trip. Flying will help you travel between Australia’s iconic destinations. You can book flight deals from Sydney to anywhere. If possible, reserve your parking spot right after booking your tickets. This way, you can find the best deals at a Sydney airport car park.

Limited competition among airlines translates into the fact that flights are very expensive, but there are smaller airlines serving underrated destinations. If you’re travelling from Sydney to Perth, you’ll have to dig deep into your pockets unless you book early, so obviously, don’t wait until the last minute. Of course, you’ll want to be careful not to buy too early. Tempting as it may be to book tickets when the prices drop, you can save more money by booking 70 days before your trip. It may be a good idea to think about airport parking; by turning up on the day, you won’t have the same choice of parking facilities. Parkos.com.au allows you to compare and book airport parking, displaying up-to-date pricing and availability information.

Be Aware of Changing Time Zones

Australia is divided into three separate time zones: Australian Eastern Standard Time, Australian Central Standard Time, and Australian Western Standard Time. Daylight saving time is observed in New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia, Norfolk Island, and the Australia Capital Territory. Your body needs time to adjust to every hour of each time zone, and the more time zones you cross, the stronger the jet lag effects. The idea is you must double-check each time zone before you head out. The last thing you want is to miss a flight or organise an airport transfer at the wrong time.

Travelling disrupts the natural circadian rhythm, so if you suffer greatly from jet lag, it’s recommended to take a westerly route. Westward travel is counterproductive. To reduce the impact of jet lag, try to get more sleep for two to three days before you leave. Melatonin can also help you adjust your circadian rhythm. For shorter trips, the best way to deal with jet lag is to pull through until you get back home. Three days or less isn’t enough time to adjust, so why should you bother? You may arrive at your destination feeling tired, but do your best to stay awake until it’s bedtime in your new time zone.

Flex Your Photography Muscles

Images don’t age or warp. If you’re looking to improve your photography skills, Australia is one of the best places on earth to master photography. You can capture shots that can’t be found anywhere else in the world, such as sapphire seas, red rocks sculpted by winds, and kaleidoscope coral reefs. Nevertheless, with a wealth of beauty waiting to be discovered, where should you start? Here are some ideas:

• Twelve Apostles, Victoria – The Twelve Apostles change from a tannish yellow shade that resembles the colour of sand on a beach to a dark and foreboding colour in the shadow. The gigantic rocks are close to the mainland, but you can take a helicopter tour for a bird-eye perspective.
• Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Northern Territory – Recognised as Australia’s most natural icon, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park seems to rise directly from the desert landscape. For thousands of years, the plains accommodated tribal festivals, a tradition that’s still kept alive.
• Surfer’s Paradise Beach, Queensland – Riding a wave is a way of life for many locals, so hire boards and surf lessons are available; once you get back home, any gains will disappear. The ideal conditions for more experienced surfers are on the outer bar with moderate winds. If you’re not into surfing, enjoy a fine dining experience at one of the beachside restaurants, with menus that showcase the produce of the region (kingfish tartare, wood-fired pig buns, etc.).

Final Thoughts

All in all, exploring your own country will heighten your knowledge, make you appreciate your heritage, and let you discover things you had no clue about. The more you travel locally, the more money can be injected into the domestic tourist market, helping support regional communities. Do you still need convincing?