A Local Guide to Successful Solo Travel in Australia (2025)

Are you wondering if Solo travel in Australia is a good idea? Well, Australia is safe and easy to get around, with friendly locals and a mild climate all year round. It’s a great destination for solo female travellers and, if it’s your first solo trip, I think you’ll have a great time travelling alone in Australia.

Australia offers a wide variety of travel experiences with bustling cities, stunning beaches and beautiful wilderness areas to explore.

I’m an Australian who loves solo travel and I often travel alone. I’ve enjoyed many solo trips around Australia and had some amazing experiences. I’m sharing my tips for solo travel in Australia to help you plan an unforgettable trip down under.

Find the best places to go, how to get there, when to go, where to stay and lots more…

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Is Solo Travelling Popular in Australia?

Yes, Solo travelling in Australia is becoming more and more popular. Australia ranks in the top 10 destinations in the world for people travelling alone.

The gorgeous beaches, cosmopolitan cities and laidback culture attract millions of visitors each year. Add to that stunning landscapes, unique wildlife, the ancient indigenous culture, and it’s no wonder Australia is such a popular destination.

Are you new to solo travel? These 30 tips for women travelling solo will help you to have a safe and successful trip when you travel to Australia alone.

Why Solo Travel in Australia?

Solo travel in Australia is easy and getting around the country is uncomplicated. The locals are friendly, they speak English and Australia has a good public transport network and many services for tourists.

Australia’s popularity as a tourist destination is growing and there were more than 7 million visitors last year. Australians enjoy a high standard of living and there are options for luxury, mid-range and budget travel.

While I find solo travel in Australia more expensive than in Asia, if you’re spending US dollars, Euros or British Pounds the exchange rate is very favourable. Backpackers love Australia and many choose to work while they travel. Some end up staying longer than they planned and others never leave.

There are so many reasons to solo travel in Australia. Here are just a few:

1. Australia’s cosmopolitan cities offer art, history and culture. There’s a lively cafe scene and a relaxed surf and beach vibe in the coastal towns and cities.

2. Australia has stunning natural landscapes with pristine beaches, majestic mountains, waterfalls, forests, red deserts and wide-open skies.

3. Australia’s unique wildlife delights people of all ages. Kangaroos, koalas, wombats, platypus, echidna, crocodiles and endangered Tasmanian Devils are just a few of Australia’s wild animals and you can see them in their natural habitat or a zoo.

4. Australia has a rich Indigenous culture that’s more than 50,000 years old. When you solo travel in Australia you’ll discover the Dreamtime, bush tucker and an ancient culture that honours the land.

Is Australia Safe for Solo Female Travellers?

Yes, Australia is safe for solo female travellers. Solo travel in Australia is safer than in many other countries. Australia consistently ranks high on the Positive Peace Index and is one of the safest places in the world to visit and live. The crime rate is low and the political system is stable.

As a woman alone I’ve travelled all over the country and stayed in hotels, hostels and campsites without incident. But I recommend taking the usual safety precautions to ensure you stay safe and avoid trouble when travelling alone in Australia.

For me, safety is the most important consideration and unfortunately nowhere is completely safe.

Safety Tips for Solo Travel to Australia

Below are some safety tips that I recommend for women travelling alone in Australia. These are things that I do when I’m away on my own:

• Always hide or lock up your valuables

• Don’t leave your bags unattended.

• Be careful if you’re out alone at night and don’t walk alone in unlit areas. Australia is generally a very safe place to visit but petty theft and muggings do happen occasionally.

• Protect yourself from the strong Australian sun by wearing sunscreen, a sun hat and sunglasses. I use Factor 50+ when I’m out all day and reapply regularly.

• At the beach, always swim between the flags on patrolled beaches. Watch out for strong currents and rips as they can be dangerous. Unfortunately, unwary tourists drown every year on Australia’s beaches.

• Call 000 in an emergency for the Police, fire brigade or ambulance

• Stay safe from dangerous stingers and crocodiles in northern Australia. Don’t swim in rivers estuaries, deep pools, or mangrove shores and observe safety signs near crocodile habitats.

Best Places for Solo Travel in Australia

There are so many great places to travel alone in Australia finding the best is a hard call. But a great place to begin travelling solo in Australia is on the east coast in Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane.

Sydney

Sydney is Australia’s largest and most scenic city and the perfect place to start a solo trip to Australia. There are many things to do in Sydney alone:

• Visit the famous Sydney Opera House,

• Cruise on the stunning Sydney Harbour under the Sydney Harbour Bridge

• DiscoverThe Rocks on foot, Australia’s oldest suburb

• Watch a stunning sunrise or sunset over beautiful Sydney Harbour

• Swim or surf at Bondi or Manly Beach

• Escape Sydney for a day or explore further afield in NSW

• Spend a day in the beautiful Blue Mountains and discover the incredible mountain scenery and lookout points on a day trip from Sydney.

Melbourne

Melbourne is Australia’s second-largest city and a good place to begin travelling solo in Australia. Melbourne has an attractive art and cultural scene and is popular with travellers working in Australia. I lived in Melbourne for 4 years and I’ve visited many times.

The best things to do in Melbourne are:

• Enjoy the vibrant art and music scene

• Hang out in cafes, experience the busy café culture and enjoy great coffee.

• Melbourne is also popular with sports fans. In Summer there’s the Australian Open Tennis, and cricket at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Winter is the footy season the Australian Football League (AFL) is popular.  

Head outside Melbourne to:

• Enjoy the stunning coastal scenery of the Twelve Apostles

• See the penguins on Phillip Island

• Explore the stunning coastline at Wilson’s Promontory

Brisbane

Safe, friendly, dynamic Brisbane is Australia’s 3^rd largest city and the gateway to the stunning beaches of the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. Some of the best things to do in Brisbane include:

• Exploring Brisbane city, the heritage buildings and lovely riverside parks on Free public transport

• Holding a koala at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

• Visiting Australia Zoo, watching a live crocodile show, and enjoying a close encounter with Australian wildlife like kangaroos and koalas. I had fun feeding a giraffe at Australia Zoo.

• Head to Surfers Paradise to enjoy the glitzy nightlife and relax on the beautiful beaches of the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast.

More Highlights of Travelling Solo in Australia

There are so many wonderful things to see and do in Australia. These are just a few highlights of travelling solo in Australia.

• Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge for the best views in town

• Swim, sunbathe and enjoy the laidback surf scene and celebrity spotting at famous Bondi Beach, Manly Beach and Byron Bay.

• Visiting Cairns and snorkelling on the UNESCO World Heritage Great Barrier Reef, relaxing on gorgeous Green Island or catching a ferry to stunning Fitzroy Island.

• Meeting wild koalas and wallabies on magical Magnetic Island.

• Take a crocodile cruise in the beautiful Daintree Rainforest and see man-eating crocodiles in their natural habitat.

• Sail in the gorgeous Whitsunday Islands for a taste of tropical paradise.

• Take a road trip from Sydney to Cairns and explore Australia’s stunning east coast

• Visit stunning Wineglass Bay in Tasmania, one of the world’s most beautiful beaches and explore the wilderness of Cradle Mountain in North Tasmania.

• Hike the epic Three Capes Track in Tasmania, the perfect multi-day walk for solo female travellers

• Uncover Australia’s colonial history at UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Sydney, Hobart and Port Arthur.

• Discover the Dreaming and Australian Aboriginal Culture throughout Australia.

• Uluru & Kata Tjuta in Australia’s Red Centre

• Take a crocodile cruise and swim at stunning waterfalls in Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory

• Discover Perth and beautiful Western Australia

• Snorkel or swim with whale sharks on Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia

Where to Stay in Australia

If you’re wondering where to stay in Australia, most travellers head to Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane when they first arrive and there are many options for accommodation for all budgets.

Where to stay in Sydney

The best areas to stay in Sydney are close to the CBD but for first-timers, head to the Rocks in the oldest part of the city to enjoy stunning harbour views and a central location.

Budget:  Sydney Harbour YHA is in a fabulous location in The Rocks near Circular Quay with numerous public transport options and a rooftop terrace with a stunning harbour view. The hostel is built over an archeological site called “The Big Dig” and it’s just a short walk to Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Opera House and the Botanical Gardens.

Mid-Range: The Rendezvous Hotel has an upmarket location at the Rocks. The rooms are clean and comfortable and there’s a gym and a pool.

Luxury: The Four Seasons Hotel has one of the best locations in Sydney near Circular Quay. Guests love the service at this popular five-star hotel and the reviews are exceptional.

Where to stay in Melbourne

Budget: YHA Melbourne Central has a great location in the city centre and all the perks of a youth hostel.

Mid-Range: Courtyard Melbourne Flagstaff Gardens is a comfortable hotel just outside the CBD zone but minutes from the free trams and an easy walk to the city centre. Rooms are clean and cosy.

Just outside the city centre, the Richmond Hill Hotel has clean rooms in a heritage building. I enjoyed staying here in a cheaper room with a shared bathroom. Richmond is a Melbourne suburb known for outlet shopping, live music and street art. There are trams and trains to the city centre.

Luxury: The Ritz-Carlton is a 5-star luxury hotel with a fabulous central location that gets exceptional reviews.

Where to stay in Brisbane

Brisbane has a selection of accommodation options for all budgets and these are a few that may be of interest:

Budget: Brisbane City YHA is affordable, comfortable and friendly providing dormitory and private rooms close to the city.

Mid-Range: Soho Brisbane Hotel I enjoyed staying here! It’s good value and I loved the location next to the beautiful Roma Street Gardens and the train station. This hotel has parking and is just a short walk from the Queen Street Mall and the Brisbane River.

Luxury: The Treasury Brisbane is a luxury hotel in a beautiful heritage building. Located right in the centre of Brisbane beside the river, this hotel gets exceptional reviews. Staying here is on my wishlist!

How long do you need for Solo Travel in Australia?

Whether you visit Australia for a week or 2, for a few months or a year or more, Australia has much to offer solo travellers and you can plan your trip accordingly. On a shorter trip, you’ll need to maximise your time, fly between destinations and be selective about where you go.

There’s so much to see and do I suggest planning carefully and staying as long as you can so you can see and do as much as possible.  

Itineraries for Solo Travel in Australia

Here are some Itineraries for Solo Travel in Australia

The Perfect 4-Day Itinerary in Sydney

The Best 5-Day Cairns Itinerary

How to Spend 3 Days in Hobart Tasmania

10 Days in Tasmania – The Perfect Solo Road Trip

How to get around Australia Alone

When you travel to Australia alone you can get around the country by air, train bus, or by car. Ferries and trams are popular and convenient. Australia is well connected by a public transport network that makes getting around the country easy.  

Air

Because of the large distances between capital cities, travel by air is the quickest way to move from place to place. Air travel is affordable with the airlines QANTAS, Virgin and Jetstar for interstate travel and Rex flies regularly to regional areas.

Train

Regular train services connect Australian cities and regional areas. You can travel around Australia by train and there are some great Australian Train journeys to enjoy as a solo traveller in Australia.  

• The Ghan from Adelaide to Darwin is an epic Australian train trip through Australia’s red desert centre.

• The Indian Pacific runs from Perth to Sydney

• The Great Southern travels from Adelaide to Brisbane

• The Spirit of Queensland travels from Brisbane to Cairns.

TIP: Travelling overnight by bus or sleeper train on longer interstate journeys is safe for solo female travellers in Australia and it’s something I’ve done many times. With overnight travel, you can save money on accommodation but make sure you factor in travel time when you plan your trip.

Bus

Greyhound and Premier Coaches are a cheaper alternative for interstate travel and are popular with backpackers and budget travellers. If you’re travelling overland in Australia there are large distances to cover between destinations so expect to spend a lot of time sitting on a bus.

TIP: Bus companies like Greyhound offer discounted travel with a Greyhound travel pass for overseas visitors. Train passes are also available for overseas travellers on the east coast of Australia.

Car  

Taking a Solo Road Trip in Australia is an epic way to see the country. Australia has a wide variety of accommodations from campsites, hostels, motels, and hotels. I stayed in a combination of campsites, B&Bs and historic hotels on my solo road trip to Tasmania.

If you don’t have a car or a van you can always hire one for your road trip. If you’re travelling alone this will probably be quite expensive so it’s worth teaming up with other travellers and splitting the cost.

I love the flexibility of exploring in a car when I’m travelling alone in Australia. Driving into National Parks, chasing a sunrise or a sunset and sleeping out under the stars is a highlight of solo travel in Australia. When you’re camping, you’ll be closer to nature and you’re more likely to see native animals like kangaroos and wallabies.

This sweet little wallaby came to visit my tent at Potato Point on the NSW South Coast.

Boat

Explore Australia’s stunning coastline by boat. Discover hidden coves, secluded beaches, rugged cliffs and special places that can only be reached by water. Throw in a line, catch a fish for dinner and see dolphins, whales and sea turtles in the wild.

How to Meet People

Staying in hostels is a great way to meet other travellers when you solo travel in Australia. Take a bed in a shared dormitory and hang out in the common areas like the lounge room, kitchen or pool and don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation with other travellers.

Hostels often have social activities you can join in. If you’re looking for a travel companion, check the hostel notice boards, Facebook pages or www.gumtree.com and you may find someone who wants to join you for all or part of your trip.

One of the best ways to meet up with other travellers is to book a tour for a day or more and travel with a group. It’s a great way to see the sights and find company when you are travelling alone.

There’s no need to be lonely as a solo traveller in Australia.

Is a Group Tour Right for You?

As an experienced solo traveller in Australia, I prefer to travel independently but for many solo female travellers, joining an organised group tour is a less stressful way to see the country.

If you’re travelling alone for the first time group travel might appeal to you. In a tour group, you’ll meet other solo travellers and you won’t be alone.

Solo travelling in a group is much easier than independent travel and you don’t have to plan the trip. An expert will look after all the details but you won’t have control of the itinerary either and there may be compromises.

Organised tours can be great but they also have the potential to be quite difficult if you don’t get on with everyone in the group.

You might want to join a tour for part or all of your trip if:

• you’re worried about being lonely
• you feel unsafe travelling alone to a certain destination
• you don’t want to plan all the details yourself
• you feel that travelling alone for the first time is a bit too overwhelming

If it’s your first time travelling alone in Australia the following companies offer tours that might suit you:

• Get Your Guide
• G Adventures
• Intrepid tours
• I’m Free walking tours

Do You Need to Book Ahead?

Yes, it’s important to book ahead if you’re travelling in the holiday season from November to February. Lots of people are travelling at Christmas, New Year and Easter in Australia and December and January are the summer school holidays.

It’s essential to book accommodation, travel and important tours in advance at these times and during any school holiday period.  At other times it’s easier to be spontaneous and flexible.

SIM Cards

Staying connected to friends and family is easy for solo travellers in Australia. Free wi-fi is available in hotels, cafes and restaurants but the best way to have reliable internet access is to buy a SIM card. Telstra and Optus are the main internet suppliers but there are many cheaper options available.

APPs for Solo Travel in Australia

These are my favourite apps for solo travel in Australia.

• WhatsApp – VOIP for talking and sending messages to friends and family without the costs of Roaming or international phone calls.

• The Google Maps App is invaluable for getting around by car, public transport or on foot.

• UBER – a reliable transport option across Australia and cheaper than taxis for getting around

• XE App for currency conversion and exchange rates

• Skybus App – for airport bus services in Melbourne and Hobart

• 13Cabs – for calling taxis in Sydney

More Tips for Travelling Solo in Australia

• Research your trip so you know where you’re going and how you’ll get there.

• Have a flexible travel plan

• Book ahead, especially if you’re travelling in the high season at easter or Christmas or during the school holidays

• If you’re staying in hostels, take advantage of hostel notice boards and group events.

• Use public transport. It’s a good way to get around and will save you money

• Tap water is safe to drink in Australia so bring a refillable water bottle and fill it up for free

• Smoking is banned in enclosed spaces like shopping centres, on public transport, & in restaurants.

• Buses are the cheapest way to travel around Australia but flights are often inexpensive and much faster for interstate travel.

• Expect to travel long distances between destinations and allow plenty of time for overland travel.

• Take out Travel Insurance before you leave so you can relax & enjoy your trip without worrying about something going wrong.

• Don’t hesitate to travel to Australia alone! You’re sure to have an amazing time!

When to Visit Australia Solo

Australia is known for its warm sunny weather and any time is a good time to visit. The climate varies around the country and the best time to visit depends on where you are going. Generally speaking, the summers are hot and the winters are mild.

The peak tourist season is the Australian winter from June to August. At this time, there are more tourists in Australia, prices rise with tours, hotels and accommodation at their most expensive.

Australia’s East Coast has a temperate climate and you can visit all year round. In summer, temperatures soar and locals flock to the beach. The average summer temperatures in Sydney range from 18°C to 25°C (65°F – 77°F) but can reach 40°C (104°F). In winter the cooler weather sets in with Sydney’s average winter temperatures ranging from 8°C to 17°C (46°F – 63°F).

In winter there’s snow in the mountains and a ski season in Tasmania and the Snowy Mountains in NSW and Victoria.

My advice for solo travellers to Australia is to skip the hottest and the coldest months and visit Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth in the shoulder seasons from March to May and September to November. You’ll also skip the tourist crowds.

Brisbane and Cairns in Queensland are best in winter (June – August) as summer is the stinger season on the Great Barrier Reef and temperatures are hot and humid.

Hobart in Tasmania is best visited in summer from December to March when the weather is warmer.

Australia’s top end and far north Queensland have a tropical climate with 2 distinct seasons, wet and dry. During the wet season (November – April) some areas flood and are inaccessible.

So, the dry season (May – October) is the best time to visit Australia’s Great Barrier Reef in far north Queensland. The dry season is also the best time to visit Darwin and Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory.

Further inland, in semi-arid and desert areas, the cooler months are the best times to visit as the summers can be unbearably hot. But temperatures can plummet at night in desert areas so be prepared. Alice Springs has average top temperatures of 37°C (99°F) in January and lows of 4°C (39°F) in July.

Festivals

Australians love festivals and if you time your visit well you can join in the fun when you travel to Australia alone. These are some of the best festivals around the country.

The Festival of Sydney in January features music and art. There are lots of free performance events to celebrate summer in Sydney.

Sydney’s famous New Year’s Eve Fireworks light up the beautiful Sydney Harbour Bridge & Opera House. They’re quite spectacular and free so you can expect the open spaces around Sydney Harbour to be overflowing. Take a picnic rug and claim your spot along the harbour foreshore well in advance for the best view. Find out more about New Year’s Eve in Sydney.

Sydney lights up with the Vivid Festival each winter in May-June. A free laser show illuminates the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge and the city is buzzing with art installations and 3D light projections.

Trendy Byron Bay in northern New South Wales has a series of popular surf, music and arts festivals throughout the year.

The Melbourne Moomba Festival held in March is Australia’s largest Free community Festival with a series of fun, family-friendly events and attractions.

The Brisbane Festival in September is an Arts Festival with an exciting program of music, theatre, dance and more.

Enjoy the spectacle of the famous Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. On Boxing Day more than 50 yachts sail out of Sydney Harbour arriving in Hobart, Tasmania a few days later.

Around New Year’s Eve Hobart Tasmania is a great place to visit and bustling with celebrations. Join in the New Year’s Eve festivities on Hobart’s waterfront with a free Fireworks display and indulge yourself at the Taste of Tasmania Food & Wine Festival with stunning water views and awe-inspiring performances.

WomAdelaide is an annual 4-day festival of music art and dance held in March in Adelaide, South Australia.

Visas

A Visa is required for travel to Australia and if you’re thinking about working when you travel solo in Australia you need to apply for a work visa and have an occupation that’s needed in Australia. Young people aged between 18 and 30 can apply for a 12-month working holiday visa.

Where to stop over on the way to Australia

If you’re thinking that it’s a long way to Australia, don’t be put off by the distance because there are lots of great places to break a long-haul flight on the way down under.

You can easily stop over in the Middle East or South East Asia. Dubai is very popular for stopovers from Africa and Europe with lots of great things to do on a short stay.

South East Asia is safe for solo travellers, fascinating and relatively cheap to visit with Bangkok and Hong Kong popular places to stopover from the UK and Europe on the way to Australia.

And you can easily spend a few hours, a week or even a few months travelling solo in Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia or Myanmar.

FAQs

Final Thoughts – Solo Travel in Australia

Australia is an ideal destination for solo travellers and consistently ranks as one of the safest countries in the world for women. Travelling solo in Australia is popular and it’s a great way to see the country and experience the cosmopolitan cities, and the stunning scenery, and meet the friendly locals and the unique wildlife.

When you travel to Australia alone you can make new friends, and enjoy the laid-back surf scene, the beautiful beaches and the delicious fresh food.

I love to travel solo in Australia and I think you will too!

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