Extend Your Stay In Australia After World Youth Day
Many pilgrims have come to the Land Down Under for World Youth Day. But the trouble is that the time spent is just not long enough. They have not had time to see the many wonderful attractions in Australia. There has been no time to go and see other places in Australia that they may have heard about and be interested in. The trouble is that staying longer will cost more and most people are on a budget. So what is the answer?
Staying in Australia longer need not cost a great deal. Cheaper accommodation can be found by looking up classified ads in the newspaper or by using online classifieds Many people are offering accommodation at reasonable rates for pilgrims. The accommodation can range from a room to a corner in the living room. You might think that a corner is not your choice, but what if it was free? This would allow you to stay for a great deal longer and see a lot of Australia that you would never get the chance to see otherwise.
Sleeping on the sofa in someone’s home is called couch surfing. Many people are interested in couch surfing because it gives them the opportunity to experience another culture in a way they would never be able to do when staying in rented accommodation or a room in a hotel. You may wonder why people would be willing to let a stranger sleep on their sofa. Well, it works both ways. When they want to visit another country without the cost of accommodation, they will do the same thing. In this way many friendships are formed that tend to last for years. Couch surfing is becoming more popular as costs increase.
If couch surfing is not for you, then there are other options for short-term rental. Caravan parks abound in Australia and they cost far less than hotels. A tent site in a caravan park is even cheaper than the caravan, but you need to have your own tent and sleeping bag. New ones are not necessary. Used camping gear can be picked up quite cheaply from Gumtree or other classified sites, or by watching the classifieds in the newspaper.
So you’ve decided to see what you can do about staying for longer, but how do you get around? Either you must limit yourself to one city, or pay the costs of travelling. Public transport may suit some people, but it is very limiting. In some cases, train stations are not close to the central part of the city, so you need to get a bus or taxi. And if you have much luggage it is not easy to carry it on and off buses and trains.
If you truly want to see as much of Australia as possible, then how about buying a cheap second hand car through the classifieds? This will give you the freedom to travel when and where you like. And you can sell the car before you leave, so recovering some, if not all, of your costs. Buying a cheap car is not without its risks, of course. You don’t want to break down in the middle of nowhere, so make sure you get the car checked out by a good mechanic before you buy it.
If driving a second-hand car is not your scene, you could buy a used bicycle and go on a cycling trip. This is a great way to get fit - you need only go at a slow pace to start with. Make sure you have a chain and padlock to secure your bike during those times when it is necessary to leave it. There are many ways to stay in Australia for longer without breaking the budget, so why not try some of them? It’s the chance of a lifetime.
