What Not To Do When You Visit Australia

Five Things You Should Not Do In Austraila:

If your next solo adventure is in the land of Kangaroos and Koala babies then lucky you. Australia is a wonderful country with a fascinating history, diverse cultures and…unique food. To ensure your trip is enjoyable and filled with nothing but happy memories use these mix of silly/serious tips to do your trip right.

Don’t Underestimate The Heat

That Australian heat is no joke and I say this as a Floridian. The fiery pits of hell seem like a frozen tundra in comparison to that heat. I ended up a dehydrated, sick, damp, moaning mess on the couch in my Alice Springs hostel because I decided to go for a walk in 102°F (39C) weather. The heat will defeat even those with the highest tolerance, trust me. So carry water (lots of it), wear light, breathable clothes and slap on some sunscreen.

Don’t Ask For Oil and Vinegar On Your Subway Sub

So apparently, that’s like, not a thing there. When I innocently asked for my sub to be doused in liquidly goodness the server said, “We don’t have any. Wait…are you American?”

Me: “Uh…yes.”

Server: “I knew it! You guys are always asking for oil and vinegar but we don’t have that in Australian Subways.”

I expressed my condolences over that injustice and walked away with my less-than-perfect sub. So to save you from a rude awakening you should know now that you cannot get oil and vinegar in their Subways.

Don’t Cry When You Book Your Flight

Australia is expensive. The food is expensive. Transport is expensive. Breathing is expensive. And sadly, the cost of domestic flights is no different. My round-trip flight from South Korea to Sydney with a total flight time of 28 hrs cost only 60 dollars (USD) more than my 2 hrs 20 mins, one-way flight from Cairns to Alice Springs. Let that sink in.

If you’re planning a trip to Australia, and you definitely should, be sure to plan your budget accordingly. Use this travel budget planning guide to get you on the right track.

Don’t Climb Uluru

The traditional Aboriginal owners of the land ask that people do not climb Uluru. Uluru is a sacred, spiritual place in Anangu culture. The Anangu see it as their responsibility to teach and protect those who visit Uluru so the last thing they want is for a guest to be hurt climbing Uluru. In October of 2019, climbing Uluru will be prohibited for all guests but until then please respect the wishes of Uluru’s traditional owners.

Instead of the climb, visitors can join in on the Uluru and Kata Tjuta walks and learn of all the different plants, animals and landmarks of particular cultural significance. You can also visit the culture center and view the beautiful works of Aboriginal art and ceramics. You have the chance to learn the history of the people and how they thrived in a land that is near-desert. Visitors don’t need to huff, puff and heave themselves up Uluru to have a unique experience in this land. Your time out there can be a great opportunity for you to learn more about the history of this magnificent place and the people who call it home.

Don’t Treat People Like Tourist Attractions

While on my tour of Uluru, we were headed to Mutitjulu Waterhole and we could hear the sounds of people swimming and having a good time in the water. Before we got to the watering hole the guide made it a point to stop, gather us together and tell us very clearly to take our pictures of the amazing sights, not the people. People are not tourist attractions.

This may just be me but I wouldn’t be too pleased if strangers ran up to me, shoved their cameras phones in my face and then ran off to tell their friends how they witnessed a black woman in her natural habitat. Not only is it uncomfortable to have random people snapping pictures of you, it’s also not very cool to treat them as though they are a part of your tour package.

If you meet someone, chat with them and ask them if they would be willing to take a picture with you that would a more courteous way to go about it, but please don’t just start clicking away, pointing, or even worse, touching people without their permission. When we travel our goal should be to learn from all the unique and diverse people around us, not to upset them.

Don’t Forget To Enjoy Yourself

So those are my tips for what not to do when adventuring in Austrailia. Australia is one of the best places for solo female travel because it is such a safe place and there is so much to do everywhere and every day. I hope you have a great time there and get a chance to learn about all the cultures and people that made Australia what it is today.

Happy Travels!