Swerve Europe: Here Are the Best Aussie Destinations for Backpackers

While you might be tempted to head overseas, Australia's got some great places to offer closer to home.

This post is presented in partnership with YHA. Student Edge members, get 20% off 40+ hostels around the country with YHA!

As we pass another 'end of financial year' (EOFY) and ideally a serious tax return, most students start to consider planning some holidays with their extra funds.

Now, we all know most people want to head straight overseas for their vacays, but what if our EOFY gifts aren't so generous?

Europe? Buh-bye. South East Asia? Maybe next year. The USA? Forgeddabout it.

The great thing is, we live in Australia, one of the biggest and most varied countries in the world, with so much to discover.

That's why we're suggesting a staycation.

Hear us out. You won't need a passport, you won't need to fly for more than five hours and you'll already know the language. Plus, the stress of backpacking is halved because there's always a handy hostel not far from most places.

Read More:

What You Need to Know Before Booking a Hostel in Australia

So, instead of giving you a list of international hotspots, we've rounded up some great destinations around Australia suited to all travel types. The best part? They're barely an effort to get to.

I want juicy landscapes and adventure!

Forget Iceland, head for Tasmania.

While your mate's trip to Iceland might look like it's been lifted straight out of an expensive postcard, Australia has its very own grammable lands in Tasmania.

There are lavender fields, large rainforests and, of course, the wombat-filled Cradle Mountain and surrounding areas. The Lonely Planet even considers the Overland Track, a 65-kilometre walking track that runs through the national park, one of the best in the world.

And if you don't have time for a week-long hike but still want a taste of that #adventure life, you could easily make a day trip out of Mount Wellington, just a 30-minute drive from Hobart.

Tropical weather sounds great right about now!

Bali's nice, but there's also North Queensland.

When someone thinks "tropical holiday" in Australia, we automatically tend to think of Bali or Thailand. While those destinations are great for sun and experiencing new cultures, we have some of our own in very own backyard.

Cairns and Port Douglas are perfect lazy staycations if all you want to do is lie on an isolated beach somewhere and soak in all that sun. If you want to take the road less travelled, Queensland is not in short supply for picturesque beach breaks.

To sweeten the deal, depending where you're flying from, it should even take half the time it takes to get to South East Asia.

I've never seen the Australian Outback!

Before you see the Mojave Desert, check out Australia's own desertlands. 

Maybe tropical sweating is less your style and you'd prefer that skin-cracking dry heat right about now. You're in luck because if you've ever seen a satellite map of Australia, you'll probably notice that more than half of it is an earthy-red colour.

That's because Australia's centre (and even most of Western Australia) is very arid and characterised by orange-y, red sand and rocks. If you've watched any US movie and dreamed of one day visiting their unique desertscapes, why not give Australia's outback a go first?

Gimme snow!

Snowy Mountains is your go-to.

If you're one of those people who thrives in winter, why not embrace it in all its glory? Instead of a gruelling 30-hour flight to the French Alps (quelle horreur!), why not head on over to Australia's very own alpine region, the Snowy Mountains. You can carve up some snow by skiing or snowboarding or maybe you'd like to have a go at alpine hiking, then warm yourself up with some hot beverages in a toasty cabin.

Either way you do it, it's a much more affordable trip than just ducking over to Europe for a sneaky ski.

C’est la vie, mates!

I'd like a city trip, sir!

Meet Australia's most liveable city, Melbourne.

Maybe what you're feeling is a big city trip, but those return tickets to the USA or Europe are going to set you back more than a grand. Why not just duck to Melbourne, which is constantly being lauded as one of the world's most liveable cities with its mostly temperate weather and grid-like city?

You've got culture and the arts, you've got some grand buildings like Flinders Street Station and you've got the love-em-or-hate-em trams.

Unlike Australia's other big smokes, like Sydney and Brisbane, Melbourne is set up in a very organised grid. This means getting around is a breeze and you're less likely to face the pure frustration of a messy and disruptive transport system.

From converted railway carriages to prisons to fairy yurts, YHA Australia has hostels just as unique as you! Student Edge members get 20% off 40+ hostels around the country with YHA!

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