How to beg, borrow and steal* your way around Australia when all you have in your pocket is a collection of receipts and an old toothpick...

*Just to clarify- I don’t condone pick-pocketing, it’s just a good phrase.

Watch out for these cheeky chappys...

1. Hitchhike- in case you hadn’t guessed I’m quite a fan… Tips for hitchhiking in Australia
2. Make use of free campsites- you could pay $30 to stay in a crowded caravan park with a load of screaming kids OR you could pitch up in a nice, quiet spot by the beach for free. Admittedly some of the places we camped weren’t exactly designated spots, but if you are organised you could locate the legitimate ones on the internet, by asking in tourist offices or download the app ‘wiki camps’.
3. So that’s your travel and accommodation sorted, what else do you need? I’m afraid I haven’t found a way of getting free food on the road yet (although you could probably get quite a bit of meat off that dead wombat we saw), but the cheapest food we found in Australia came from Aldi. $2.50 for a bottle of wine?! You can't go wrong.
4. Don’t buy water! Even small towns often have a tap somewhere or just ask in a café if you haven’t got that many bottles to fill up.      NOTE: If you can only find a stupid vertical drinking fountain it’s best to fill up a larger container/cup and decant, rather than go through the frustration we did trying to aim the jet towards a tiny bottle entrance without getting soaked.
5. Beach towns have showers- they are cold, but it's better than smelling like a tramp when you get in someone's car. If you can’t find an outside shower then it’s probably worth paying to use a swimming pool (maybe shower before you get in…).
6. There are free BBQs everywhere in public parks. If you don’t have your own stove, then these are a great way to get a hot meal.
7. Minimise your time in the big cities. It’s very hard to camp, get a lift and they generally gobble up your budget much faster than when you're out in the sticks.
   
8. Don’t pay to see koalas, kangarooos etc. It’s kind of cheating and if you spend enough time outside you’ll come across them naturally. NOTE: For guaranteed sightings-kangaroos and koala
9. Don’t smoke, or if you must then buy your cigarettes abroad. One packet costs around the same as a night in a hostel!
10. If you have an early flight, just sleep in the airport! ...unless you're leaving from Avignon as apparently they throw you out.  Check if it's possible to sleep in your airport here -http://www.sleepinginairports.net/

Sorry, I just couldn't resist another koala photo.

AND some other things you could try if you had a little more time than we did...

1. Couch surfing
2. Working- possibly picking fruit. We heard it pays quite well.
3. Volunteering- have a look on the website 'workaway' for opportunities with free food and lodging. 

You might also like... 

Beg, Borrow and Steal your way out of Athens during a riot.

or...

Hitchhiking Sydney to Melbourne.

or maybe even...

Hitchhiking in Australia- some Feathery tips.

Caqalai- my favourite place on Earth....

If you’re visiting Fiji on a budget, but want to escape the well-trodden, island-hopping backpacker trail, Caqalai (pronounced thang-a-lay) is a perfect alternative. This tiny island, situated just below Ovalau, has the relaxed feel of a tropical paradise without the hype.

I discovered the island by pure chance. Unorganised as ever, I was flicking through a Lonely Planet in a bookshop in Auckland the day before I flew out, when I first spotted the paragraph on Caqalai. I choose my destinations with a combination of budget and isolation in mind and this island fitted my specifications. Although the Yasawas are the most accessible option as they are only a ferry ride away from Fiji’s international airport in Nadi, there was something intriguing about the tiny dots on the map which required a little more effort to discover. In my opinion, including your journey as part of the excitement is the difference between a holiday and travelling. In order to reach Caqalai, assuming you’re coming from Nadi, you must first head for Suva - Fiji’s colonial capital - where it’s best to stay for a night before taking two buses, firstly to Nausori and then another one from Nausori to Waldalice Bridge. The boat ride from there is an experience in itself; hold on to your hats!


During my week long stay, I spent the majority of my time face down, exploring the coral reef which thrives a few meters offshore. The nearby Snake Island is accessible at low tide, and my general plan for the day was to walk over there while the rocks were exposed, taking care to avoid stepping on the hundreds of brittle stars, and spend the next couple of hours snorkeling my way back to Caqalai. Through these adventures I spotted reef sharks, a turtle, stingrays, thousands of fish and a couple of the rather menacing looking stripy sea snakes which give the smaller island its name. On reflection, I encountered a wider variety of marine life around Caqalai than I saw on the Great Barrier Reef, and all without the direction of an over-enthusiastic guide or accompaniment of a dozen other snorkelers.

                  

This banded sea krait has some of the world's most toxic venom, ten times more deadly than that of a rattle snake, but apparently they aren't aggressive and only have very small mouths (too small to latch on to anything other than your finger or toe). This news was encouraging up until this snake started swimming directly towards my face, at which point I forgot all the logic and fled in panic as fast as my trainer clad feet could propel me.


They're still quite beautiful, but I'd rather observe one from a distance.

Reference- Aquarium of Pacific learning center

However, even if you aren't such a keen underwater explorer, it’s still hard not to fall in love with an island which has a sandy circumference that can be wandered around in 15 minutes. Accommodation is basic, with outside bathroom facilities and dodgy electricity, but this is reflected in the price and what more does a budget traveller need? Evenings can be spent sampling a variety of Fijian food, often including the locals’ catch of the day, partaking in their favourite kava ceremony or sitting around a fire on the beach watching them dance and sing. You will gain respect from the locals if you can swallow your whole bowl of kava in one, but be warned - it tastes like earth and numbs your mouth and even part of your brain if you have too much.

Caqalai fulfilled all my expectations of a Pacific island escape: lovely people, a stunning underwater world and the feeling that you are the luckiest person alive. So if you’re heading for Fiji, take some time to enjoy my favourite dot on the map, unless of course you fancy discovering one of your own.


What's your favourite place on Earth? Have you found it yet?

























You might also like- Ten photos that remind me why I have to go back to Portugal...

I first wrote this article for Exploration-Online...
http://www.exploration-online.co.uk/article.php?id=526