Time needed to travel: At least 2-3 months
There are more than 20 million people living in this huge country. There is so much to see and so much to do that it is hard to tell you where to start. A lot of backpackers only travel the east coast of Australia starting from Melbourne, and then going up to the coast to Cairns or vise versa. I personally have not had the chance to experience the west coast of Australia, but if you can make it 
to Perth and the upper northwest territories you will not regret it. Australia has become more expensive to travel through since the decline in the dollar. You will soon find out that a lot of travelers from the United Kingdom and Europe have "gone down under" on a one year work visa.
Australia features unbelievable natural beauty! I would say that the most famous natural wonder in Australia is Ayers Rock. This rock is located in the middle of the outback which you can reach by going to Alice Springs. Australia also features the Great Barrier Reef which is a UNESCO Heritage site. The reef could be the best place to go snorkeling or scuba diving in the world! For more information on Australian sites please click here.
Believe it or not there are not kangaroos and koalas all over the place. If you do get out of the 
major cities along the Great Ocean Road or other parts of Australia there are places where you can see them in their natural habitats. It is pretty cool to see a Koala hanging out in a tree or Kangaroos staring you down before they take off. If you don't see any animals while traveling then you can head to the world famous Australian Zoo. They will show you all the wildlife that you are looking for!
Australia features some of the best surfing in the world. Up and down the east coast you will be able to surf at different locations. One of the most famous places to surf in the world is Bells Beach, 
which is located along the Great Ocean Road right outside of Melbourne. Some other good places to check out if you are looking to surf is Bondi Beach, in Sydney, or Byron Bay. If you have never surfed before then you will have plenty of opportunities to try. The best way to learn how to surf is to sign up for a surf school that will teach you how to surf, take you to different locations to surf, and allow you to meet other travelers. Surfing is a way of life in Australia!
Two of the biggest holidays in Australia come during the summer (Nov- Feb)! Australia Day is on January 26th. On this day you will be able to find a lot of parties for people celebrating Australia's independence from Britain. If you are in Perth, you will be able to witness the Lotterywest Skyworks (fireworks), that is supposed to be the biggest show in Australia. The other big holiday is the Melbourne Cup which is the 2nd weekend in November annually. This horse race is the biggest race of the year in Australia. All over the country people watch this race and throw parties.
Australia is an expensive country to travel through. You will want to make sure that you realize this and budget in your trip that you will be spending more money per day during your time here.
The most popular ways to travel through Australia:
Camper Vans/cars
The most popular way to travel through Australia is by car. The country is so big that by traveling by car you are able to see and do the little things that Australia has to offer. A lot of travelers will fly into Sydney, and then look into buying a car/camper van. The camper van offers travelers a place to stay instead of paying for a hostel every night. Up and down the east coast of Australia there are places to park your camper van for the night(s). These places will charge you a little bit of money just to use the showers/kitchens/bathrooms. Traveling by car is a good way to really get to know your friends you are traveling with or the new companions you just met.
If you are traveling by yourself you can still do this option. In almost every hostel up and down the east coast you are able to post a sign on a bulletin board. You post a sign asking to join up with other travelers or to rent a car with another traveler(s). Most travelers are very friendly and want to travel with new people!
Bus
There is two options when choosing to travel through Australia in a bus. The first option is called the Oz Experience. This bus allows you to hop on and off up and down the east coast of Australia. There are a lot of different packages that are fit to meet your needs as a traveler. There is a pass that allows you to tour just the east coast or you can buy a different pass that allows you to travel all of Australia. This experience is usually used by travelers with the ages of 18-35, but it is available to any travels.
The other option of using the bus is just using public transport. The bus system up and down the east coast is very easy to use. The buses are very clean and almost always on time. The bus drivers are pretty strict on having nothing to eat or drink on the buses, but just like any other bus if you hide your snacks you can bring them on. You can take a regular bus anywhere in the country. For more information regarding timetables and options click here.
Group tours
All throughout the east coast of Australia there is something new to see. There are a lot of travel company's that put together group tours for 7-15 people to see sites. This is a great option for
travelers who are by them self or for other people to see and meet new people. The group tours are very popular for the following destinations in Australia: The Great Ocean Road, Surfing Camp (from Sydney to Byron Bay), Frasier Island, and the Whitsundays just to name a few.
When you check into your hostel there will be information on group tours. You can book your reservations to be on these trips through your hostel or visit your local tour office. The biggest tour operator in Australia is Peter Pans Adventure Travel. They will have all the information on these group trips. They will also give you discounts on different packages if you use them!
Plane
It is possible to travel Australia by flying from destination to destination. There is so much distance to cover from city to city that this will save you time. The major airline in Australia is Quantas. This airline does offer promotions from time to time allowing you to save some money for buying multiple flights at one time. I would only suggest this option if you do not have that much time to spend in Australia. By flying, you miss out on new relationships that you would make by traveling on the ground, spend more money for traveling from city to city, and missing out on seeing the beautiful countryside!
Popular destinations in Australia: Melbourne, Sydney, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Byron Bay, Airlie Beach, Cairns, Port Douglas, Alice Springs, Perth, Frasier Island, Great Barrier Reef
