No one wants to be stuck in the city in perfect summer weather like
we’ve been having. Days like these make me gaze out the window and think
of where I’d rather be. But these thoughts don’t have to be daydreams
only, and you don’t need to be rolling in money to get out of town for a
day.
Australia is a unique place when it comes to day trips. It’s not like
Europe, where a day trip can easily involve another country.
We can’t just hitch a train to New Zealand and be back in a couple of hours.
But there are some benefits to being an island and largely
uninhabited- namely, that getting away from it all is very easy. After
all, the Blue Mountains are a day trip from Sydney, the Great Ocean
Road is a drive away from Melbourne, Phillip Island a short jaunt from
Adelaide and the Daintree readily accessible from Cairns.
There is so much to do and see in Australia, and lots of activities you can do cheaply.
No need to day trip to another country, day trip to another world
Australian’s, by and large, live near the coast. We are also blessed
with coastal waters that are unparalleled. With a couple of hours
driving and some snorkeling gear, most of us could have a day spent
under the sea for the price of petrol and a picnic lunch. Good guides
online as to where’s best to snorkel in Australia are here and at DiveOZ.
Go bush
Australia is pretty uninhabited, with 2.6 people per square
kilometer. That means there’s lots of space for us and our adventures.
Growing up in the Blue Mountains, the bush isn’t so much a daytrip away
as it is right on my doorstep. Pull out your good walking shoes, drink
bottle and hat and get out there. The peak body Bushwalking Australia
is a portal for organisations across Australia, and can provide
information about where to head in various areas. A cool guide to a
variety of tracks is here.
Road trip
Remember when you used to just jump in a car and drive? Day trips
don’t need to be about lots of activities crammed into a day. How about
you just jump in a car and head to a scenic spot with a packed lunch?
Turn the radio up, roll the windows down and enjoy a bit of open road.
Great road trips can be mapped here.
Get some history
Australia is pocketed by cute, quaint, or blast from the past kind of
towns and usually they are well within reach. Get some history, and
visit an old courthouse, park, or pub. Usually entry is free or pocket
change. A great guide to one near you is here.
We all want to get away from it all, and with a train fare and a
homemade sandwich, it’s pretty easy to do so cheaply. It’s not about the
planning; it’s about getting a bit of adventure into your everyday.
It’s about jumping in the car and heading to the place you’ve always
said you’ll visit. There’s a long weekend heading our way, how about
spending it in the elsewhere?
What are your favorite cheap day trips and day trip activities?
Are you planning any for the future long weekends?
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