Australian Accommodation

Camping

To avoid the dull standard of hotel accommodation and make the most of the Australian wild world, many tourists go on itinerant camping.

Wild camping (understand outside the sites provided for this) is prohibited. It is also quite badly perceived by the population and punished by a fine whose amount varies but usually exceeds the price of a hotel night: $ 200 in the parks of Western Australia, and way more in the very ‘attractive’ areas (up to $3300 in NSW, for example). It is therefore necessary to anticipate and identify authorized and suitable sites. It’s not easy with a tent: some sites are devoid of sanitary facilities, others are reserved for Self Contained vehicles (in other words to the many vans and camper vans), others are just rest areas a few tens of meters from the road.

The private campsites that welcome the tents are much better equipped and located, but in return for a substantial price – often between $15 and $50 for one person on a place without electricity.

An interesting intermediary is camping in national parks. The cost is usually lower (less than $7 in Queensland, around $20 – $25 in New South Wales, but up to nearly $50 in the center). The sites can be booked on the Internet (for some it is also necessary to book well in advance):

1. WikiCamps is the only application that requests a mandatory mayment after a few days of discovery. It justifies its 8 € because it is far the most complete. It is not so much the number of its points of interest (nearly 47,000) that matters, but their correct description that allows to filter finely to find for example only campsites far from the road, with toilets and that tolerate tents. Photos, comments and price statements made by users keep the application up to date.
   But the most valuable, in my opinion, is the ability to store the maps offline, to find the point of interest without having network coverage. Provided you have plenty of space on your phone: more than 1.2GB.
2. CamperMate is an application developed by the New Zealand company CamperMate and also distributed by two motorhome rental companies (Travellers Autobarn and Shapceships rentals). It has a very detailed filter system, but the description of the campsites is not perfect. For example, it’s surprising that none of Sydney’s campsites have a nearby restaurant or cell phone. It indicates the sites that are licensed for several chains, and differentiates between standard campsites,
   those at low cost and those free. The community can post comments, add sites, or request changes. The comments are less numerous than on WikiCamps, but the application compensates for this by also integrating the reviews of Tripadvisor. Note: only CamperMate allows you to store the cards on the phone for offline
   consultation.
3. With nearly 8000 points of interest only in campsites, Aircamp offers a smaller catalog than WikiCamps. The display of maps is slightly slower and its filters a little less numerous.
   Unable to store a card to work off the network, however it is possible to manage several lists of favorites provided you register.
4. Full Range Camping (FRC) exists in a free version, but you have to go through the paid version significantly more expensive ($45) to be able to use the maps offline. More than 8200 points of interest are referenced, and even if only a maximum of 200 points are displayed at a time, the application is not fast and, when the phone’s memory is well filled,
   sometimes crashes. The filters are fewer than on my first two choices, and the absence of an icon makes them less user-friendly. It is possible to note points of interest and leave comments, but they are too few to be useful.
5. Campstay is a slow application that requires sharing your location to work. It is mainly intended to find bungalows, which it allows to book easily. But there are few other australian accomodation solutions and the filter system offers few options.
6. There is another app, Hipcamp, which I do not recommend because it is not downloadable from the France. On the other hand, it exists as a web application. It offers 3328 campsites in Australia. They are rather residents who rent a piece of their land – rather well located – for a few tens of euros.
7. To finish with an application to avoid: CampBuddy. Improved ergonomics, very basic information and basemaps are no longer displayed.

Couch surfing

The interest in couch surfing is to meet the inhabitant by occupying one of the free rooms of his accommodation. The cost is ridiculous: the couchsurfing site now charges US$1.99 per month, but people who share their home do so for free (it’s still okay not to arrive empty-handed).

Wwoofing

The term wwoofing derives from World-Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms. Organic farms need manpower to weed, aerate the soil, clean … However, labour costs are high, especially in Australia. To control costs, the Australian farmer offers voluntary interventions on his farm (38 hours maximum per week), in compensation for accommodation and food. A site facilitates the connection. If you spend a week in one place, it’s a great way to discover a country, its practices (including agriculture) and its citizens.

Hotels, motels, and equivalents

In the category of cheap Australian professional accommodation, you can find youth hostels like everywhere in the city, especially in dormitories. More unusual, in some villages pubs offer rooms, above the bar, like our old cabarets.

A notch more expensive, bungalows are available in campsites. They are also found in some roadhouses, isolated, which look more like the relays of our ancestors than simple gas stations.

Bed and breakfasts and hotels complete the offer, as here on the Great Ocean Road. Australian accomodation is however globally known for its high costs, so this last option will take a big place in your budget.