Deep Oz
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4 Rental Ideas for Backpackers in Oz
With so much ground to cover in a country as vast and varied as Australia, you'll want to pack a lot in to your trip. Make sure your dollars stretch as far as they can by ditching the bland, overpriced hotels in favour of budget-friendly options.
Cheap hostels
Hostels are the default option for many budget travellers in Australia and it's not hard to see why. Nowadays, many hostels rival cheap hotels for amenities, service and cleanliness. They offer value, relatively consistent levels of comfort and of course, a sense of community. And if you really don't fancy bunking with a bunch of strangers for a few nights remember that most will have private rooms.
Of course they're not just for the young, despite the association that stems from the term 'Youth Hostels.' These days you're likely to come across a wide cross section of people representing all ages, nationalities and walks of life. Remember that many destinations get mobbed during high season, so it pays to book ahead and ensure there's a bed waiting for you at the end of a long day's hike.
Short term rentals
However, if you're planning on staying for an extended period of time in the same place, and why not consider short term rentals instead? You could get yourself a flat or terraced house by yourself for the price of a cheap hotel. Alternatively, you might be able to move into a flat share, also on a short-term basis to fill in for one of the flatmates. And for those on ultra-tight budgets, couch surfing could be right for you. As well as saving you some travel dollars, it's also a great way of getting some "insider knowledge" from local hosts.
You'll find a great range of budget accommodation on Gumtree Australia, from flat shares to couchsurfing. Visit their Short Term Real Estate section in your chosen city to get started. You can hone your search down to specific areas by using the map view or the distance slider. Putting together your own shortlist is a doddle too - click on the little star beside each ad to add it to your watchlist.
Lodges & Hideaways
If you're after something a little more reclusive and unique, consider getting back to nature with a stay in an ecolodge or hideaway. You can find a good range of cabins and lodges offered as either bed and breakfast or self catering. These are often built by the owners themselves to be in keeping with the stunning natural environment surrounding them, deep within rainforest just a stone's throw from some of Australia's unbeatable wildlife or with a great beach front location. Have a look at some of the places on offer on sites like TakeABreak.com.au or BABS.com.auto get a feel for what you can find.
Campervans
If you can drive, have a strong sense of adventure and can happily live without all mod cons, then why not give the good old Australian tradition of campervaning a go? You can hire vehicles from around AUD 360 a week and can park pretty much anywhere you like unless specifically prohibited, giving you total freedom to roam the country at will. Most come equipped with a kitchenette with refrigerator and grill. Larger models may also come with water heaters, a toilet and shower.
About the Author
This article was written by Jools Stone, journalist and travel blogger, on behalf of Gumtree Australia. Gumtree lists thousands of property ads, from short term backpacker accomodation to holiday rentals and real estate for sale in Sydney, rental properties in Melbourne, Tasmania and other Australian capital cities.
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