Bethany94

I'll keep in contact on here and let you know! Would be nice to meet up with some people on here :-)

Thought I would reply on this thread. I plan to do all the East Coast. I don't have a plan set in stone yet but I think I will go to Sydney first!

Hi Brandon, I'm 21 this year, also from England but I am not travelling til the end of the year ...unfortunate for me! Sounds amazing, you'll have such a good time. I'm in the same situation, I have travelled but never backpacked although I am looking forward to the experience. I hope someone with plenty of backpacking exp replies as I would love to hear about some advice on travel too. Beth

Hi Lostat25? Sorry I can not address you with a name! Wow I'm pretty envious you're going next Sunday! I would love to go now but I got some saving to do yet. Feel the fear and do it anyway, you'll not look back and regret it! 3 of my friends have been (1 still currently in Sydney) the 2 friends who are home want to go again and my friend who is still in Aus... he absolutely loves it and has not regretted a minute! Good luck and have lots of fun. Beth

Yeah it was £850! It was a good experience, but pretty expensive and not my style of travel. Yeah I know a guy in Sydney so I thought it was a good idea to go there first. Sounds amazing. You'll have a great time :-) Beth

Hey, I just wanted to add a bit of input to this post as I can relate! At school I had no confidence as I was badly bullied and suffered terrible social anxiety. I could not get out of my comfort zone but here I am wanting to travel Aus... Alone! My confidence built when I left school at 16 and went to work (it came with age also, 21 this year!) my first job was in a big retail store and I was exposed to all types of people. I believe exposing yourself is the only way you will build confidence. Feel the fear and do it anyway! You can not live your life to the full with this attitude, you have the typical cup half empty syndrome. Have you ever heard the song Suncreen by Baz Luhrmann? I think this quote will apply to you ' Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum ' ... Sorry if I sound like I'm grilling you but I wish when I felt the way I did (similar to your situation) I wish someone gave me a grill on life. I do think you are doubting yourself far too much, give yourself a bit more credit! You acknowledge you can be shy and you struggle to socialize and it is not like you want to be this way. That is a great step in itself. I think we all worry, I'm very confident in myself but I'm still nervous about meeting new people. Even the most confident people worry about stuff like this as Stacey said to me. I think when you expose youself, being shy will fade away. One day at a time, forcing youself to interact will not work. Start off small, get to know a handful of people and gradually build confidence :-) Beth

Yeah, it was pretty quick paced! It was a good taster of Europe but not my cup of tea. I'm sure you'll save up in time. That sounds like a good plan. Perth had never really crossed my mind. Does it have a lot to offer? I want to do all the East of Aus. Beth

Hi Stacey, Thanks! Yeah sure, I was thinking hostels would be my best option to meet new people. I'm fairly confident and love meeting new people but I still feel nervous. I would like to start in Sydney. I also hear Adelaide is cool? but I'm happy to go anywhere to be honest! I did a Contiki of Europe and I thought I might do a Contiki in Aus if I liked it but I didn't. It was far too organised and I like an adventure rather than an itinery, not that I'm going to just rock up. I mean I will plan out roughly but I'd rather not have anything set in stone! Have you been to Aus yourself or are you going? I briefly read some of your comments but there was so many pages on this forum I skimmed ha :-) Beth

Hey everyone :-) I am new to the forum! I am 20 years old from England, turning 21 this year and I hope to travel Aus Nov/Dec this year or Jan 2016 latest! I am going to apply for a 1 year visa. I am a little nervous as I will be a solo traveller so it would be nice to meet some friends before I go to meet up with over in Aus! If anyone is looking for someone to travel reply and I will give you my facebook deets! Thanks, Beth Beth

Hey Diego, I personally have never been to Aus but I have a friend living in Aus! He is also an engineer. I got loads of information from him as I hope to travel Aus myself at the end of this year. 1) Yes it is possible to save! You just have to be smart with money. The minimum wage is high in Aus along with the high cost if living to match so if you're sensible you will save money. 2) Either! Ask yourself this... Would you rather be in a big city meeting lots of new friends though? and also lots more to do! I know I would. 3) I found loads of sites on google but I hear it is pretty easy to get a job if you approach employers which I will be doing. 4) Yes as I said, my friend is an engineer and he works as one over in Aus earning $28 an hour. Hope I helped! Beth