Backpacker Travel Insurance

Archive for the ‘Backpacking in Australia’ Category

It’s hard to limit a list of places to enjoy in Sydney Harbour to only five.  As one of the world’s great cities, and a huge range of accommodation options, Sydney has so much to offer the tourist that it is almost an impossible task.  Whether you want to rely on public transport, or if you have a rental car, most of the major tourist attractions are easily accessible either way.

Sydney Harbour itself covers a huge area and the shoreline covers thousands of kilometres.  Without wanting to rate any particular destination as being better than the other, let’s take a look at five places where you are certain to enjoy the delights of Sydney Harbour has to offer you.

• Taronga Park Zoo.  Located on the north shore of Sydney Harbour this world-famous zoo uses the harbour as a spectacular backdrop and viewing platform for hundreds of wild animals.  The zoo has an enviable reputation of providing world standard compatible environments for the many animals in its care.  You can spend a leisurely day here and not see the same display twice.

• Sydney Opera House.  One of the most famous architectural icons in the world, the Sydney Opera House has fast become the symbol of Sydney itself.  This spectacular building is perched on the edge of Sydney Harbour and marks the beginning of the CBD.  You can stand in awe or wander around the famous sails before popping inside to enjoy a concert.

• Sydney Harbour Bridge.  Before the construction of the Sydney Opera House, the Harbour Bridge was the symbol of Sydney and it still retains a fond place in many Sydneysiders hearts.  It’s simple design is a striking example of practicality and engineering.  Tourists can also enjoy the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb where you can safely climb to the top of the arch and enjoy the spectacular views over Sydney and the Harbour.

• Kings Cross.  Once a seedy street of strip joints and brothels, not to mention drug dealers, this area of Sydney along Darlinghurst Road is as famous as it is infamous.  Whilst the streets have been substantially cleaned up you should take care visiting the backstreets after dark.  But for sheer impact, there are few streets in the world that can evoke such a reaction as you will see on the faces of many tourists as they stroll down the street late at night.  Some tourists may find that safer to hire a rental car and go for a leisurely drive though!

• Watsons Bay.  Most Australian tourists visiting from other capital cities make a beeline for Watsons Bay to enjoy some fish and chips in a park overlooking Sydney Harbour with the city skyline in the background.  It is a famous and popular destination still.  Whether you drive or take a bus, or even a harbour ferry, you are sure to enjoy a day out in Watsons Bay.

So, there is a list of five must see destinations in and around Sydney Harbour.  If you are really ambitious and you have a hire car you can probably visit each of these in one day, but it is a far better plan to stagger the times over a few days and really enjoy yourself. You can even go one step better and book yourself into one of the many Sydney hotels located in the CBD and use that as your launching pad.

Sydney is maybe the most backpacker-friendly city in the world. It’s a big place with a lot to see, and they get a lot of backpackers, so there’s plenty of choices about where to stay, all over the city. All you need is some travel insurance, a good backpack and a good idea of how to have fun in Australia’s most fabulous city.

Sydney is a place where you really can get around. It’s a very big place, and there’s a lot to see. It has a great night life, too, so if you need to party, you’ve come to the right place.

Places to see and things to do

There are almost too many places to see. This is a very short list:

Sydney Harbor: Get yourself on the water, and see the harbor properly. Sydney lives partly on the harbor and the coast, and when you get on board a tall ship, a ferry, a jet ski or a power boat you’ll soon see why. This is huge fun, and there’s any number of places to go. The water is also a good way of getting around without getting tangled up in Sydney’s savage peak hour traffic. It’s comfortable, quick, and you get to see a lot of the city while traveling.

Sydney City: You can get absolutely lost in the great shopping. A walk down Pitt and George Streets will find a very strange assortment of interesting shops. This is a very cosmopolitan place, and you can find the latest from China in Chinatown at the bottom of the hill, as well as collector’s shops for old books, gamer’s shops, good coffee, and all in a simple 1km stroll from the centre of town.

Darling Harbor: Just over the road is Darling Harbor, which includes the stunning Chinese Garden, an authentic, Chinese-built, Feng Shui-based garden which is like a world of itself, right next to the big high rise apartments. Darling Harbor also includes the Maritime Museum, with ships you can get on board. It also has a ex-naval vessels, including a real submarine, and a range of tall ships including the James Craig, a famous sailing ship.

The Blue Mountains: The Blue Mountains were the old colony’s “impassable barrier”, and the reason for that will become apparent. This is still wild country, and they even found an ancient dinosaur era pine there recently, undiscovered for 200 years.

One place well worth seeing if you’re in the Springwood area is the Norman Lindsay Gallery. Australia’s most controversial, and most criticized by the so-called puritans, artist, and one its best loved, was also a sculptor. He lived in Springwood for years, and they’ve amassed a lot of his work at the gallery, and it’s spectacular.

Bondi Beach: Never mind the hype and upmarket buildings, Bondi is really a great beach, despite all the publicity, and it’s in the middle of the café zone. The food is good, the people are friendly, and you can check out one of Australia’s best beaches.

You can’t go wrong backpacking in Sydney. Just keep your visa up to date, and enjoy one of the world’s great destinations.

Straight from the Australian Governments website: If you can’t afford travel insurance then you can’t afford to travel!

“Insurance is essential

Regardless of how healthy and fit you are – if you cannot afford travel insurance, you cannot afford to travel.

We strongly recommend that before you depart you take out comprehensive travel insurance that will cover any overseas medical costs. When organising your insurance make sure your policy will cover you for the whole time you plan to be away and check what circumstances and activities are not included. If you plan to hike, take part in adventure activities or sport like scuba diving or parasailing, or ride motorcycles or bicycles while overseas, be upfront about your plans with your insurance provider. Confirm that your policy will cover you if you have an accident while doing these activities.

If you are planning to rely on the travel insurance provided by your credit card, you should, before travelling, obtain a written confirmation of what exactly the insurance will cover.”

A few hints and tips if you’re hitting Oz!

Emergencies
For serious emergencies requiring, ambulance, police or fire brigade, dial 000.

Legal drinking age
The legal age to consume alcohol in Australia is 18 and over.

Sun Protection
Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. The sun is very strong and it is recommended that you wear sun protection whenever in the sun.

Surf and water safety