Travel well in Australia: tips for your first trip

I get asked some version of the same question a lot. A friend lands in Brisbane or Sydney, clears customs, messages me from the arrivals hall and says something like: “Okay but what do I actually need to know?” So I started writing it all down. These are the tips I share with the people I care about when they come to visit. The real stuff, no fluff.

Australia is one of the most extraordinary places on the planet. It’s also enormous, occasionally expensive, and absolutely full of small things that will catch you completely off guard if nobody warned you. Consider this your warning.

Understand just how big this place is

True story. Australia is massive, and if you think you can conquer the whole thing in a week, you’re mad. I always have to break this news gently to friends who arrive with an itinerary that involves Sydney on Monday, the Great Barrier Reef on Wednesday and the Outback on Friday. It doesn’t work like that. Put it this way: it’s cheaper for me to fly to Bali than to Perth. That’s the size of this country.

If you’re planning a solo trip, you’re going to need to either tackle it one state or coast at a time to get the most out of each place, or visit for a decent stretch of time to do it justice. Pick a region and go deep rather than skimming the surface of everything. You’ll get so much more out of it.

Get your phone sorted before you leave the airport

When you land, your first instinct will be to grab your bags, clear customs and figure out where you’re going. The last thing you want is to be hunting around for a SIM card vendor or haemorrhaging money on international roaming fees.

The smartest thing I tell every overseas visitor is to sort their data before they board. An eSIM for Australia is hands down the easiest solution going around. There’s no physical card to buy, no queuing at the airport, no fumbling with a SIM ejector tool in the back of an Uber. You download the eSIM before you leave home, activate it when you land and you’re connected immediately. Yesim is a solid option, and if you use the code YESIMADS10 you’ll get a discount on your plan.

Mobile data in Australia is genuinely critical. This country is enormous. You will be navigating unfamiliar roads, finding accommodation, looking things up on the fly and relying on Google Maps constantly. Don’t leave yourself without it.

How to get around

Here’s a quick breakdown of how most visitors navigate Australia depending on what they’re doing:

1. Fly between major cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Cairns, Adelaide)
2. Hire a car for regional areas, coastal drives and road trips
3. Use rideshare (Uber is everywhere in the cities) for day-to-day movement
4. Book trains or buses for shorter regional runs if you’re not driving

For solo travellers especially, hiring a car unlocks an entirely different version of Australia. The road trip culture here is real, and some of the most beautiful parts of the country are simply not accessible any other way.

Yes, things can kill you. No, you probably won’t die.

Look, I’m not going to sugarcoat this. Twenty-one of the twenty-five most venomous snakes in the world call Australia home. We’ve also got sharks, crocodiles, spiders of all shapes and sizes, killer jellyfish so small you can’t even see them, dingoes, a few venomous fish, blue-ringed octopus and even a cone shell with a tiny creature inside that will absolutely ruin your day if you step on it. There are even giant birds in the rainforest that will mow you down if they feel like it. One time, some Australians actually waged a war against Emus and lost. We genuinely have no control over what goes on down here.

That said, a lot of us live here and we’re still fine, so how bad can it really be? The key is to pay attention to what the locals are doing, read any warning signs and do what they say. The bush, the beaches and the water are all incredible. Just respect them and you’ll be absolutely fine.

The sun is no joke

This isn’t Europe. There are rules. The sun in Australia is set to beast mode, meaning you will get sunburnt if you wander outside without protection. I can spot a freshly arrived tourist from a mile off because they’re glowing red by day two. Wear sunscreen, cover up, wear a hat and avoid being out in the full sun between roughly 11am and 2pm. Stay hydrated or you’ll be dealing with heatstroke, which is not a holiday experience anyone needs.

Swim between the flags, always

This one is genuinely important and I say it to every single person who visits. When you go to the beach, swim between the red and yellow flags and listen to the surf lifesavers. Full stop. Australians are largely raised at the beach. We know how to read a rip and survive one. Tourists often don’t and that’s not a criticism, it’s just a fact. Don’t be embarrassed about it. Just swim between the flags, take notice of any warning signs and do not swim at an unpatrolled beach. Please.

We’re sarcastic, and we swear a lot

Just so you know. “Bloody” isn’t a swear word here, it’s just casual emphasis. We’re a sarcastic bunch and we love to joke around, especially with tourists. Keep your wits about you or you’ll be eating spoonfuls of Vegemite and looking over your shoulder for drop bears. If someone calls you something that sounds deeply offensive, focus on their body language rather than the words. Chances are they’ve just handed you a top-class compliment. That’s how we work.

Things that genuinely surprise my overseas friends

No matter how well-travelled people are, a few things about Australia always catch them off guard:

• We do not tip here. It’s not expected, it’s not required and nobody will chase you. You’re fine.
• Shops and restaurants close earlier than you’d expect, especially in regional areas. Dinner at 5:30pm is a real thing in some towns.
• Flies in the bush are absolutely relentless in the warmer months. Insect repellent is not optional.
• We did not steal New Zealand’s pavlova or the flat white. Actually, let’s not get into that.
• Coffee here is genuinely world-class. Order a flat white, sit in the sun and take a moment.
• We do not ride kangaroos. I’ve been asked this so many times that I have to include it.

A note on a comparison: local SIM vs eSIM

If you’re weighing up options for staying connected in Australia, here’s the honest rundown:

Local SIM cards from Telstra, Optus or Vodafone give you access to solid local networks. The catch is you need to physically buy one after you land, which means time, queues, and sometimes a local address or passport for registration.

International roaming through your home carrier tends to be the most expensive option with the worst speeds. Fine for a day, painful for longer.

eSIM providers like Yesim sit in the sweet spot: easy to set up before you travel, competitive pricing, works on any eSIM-compatible device and you keep your home SIM active for calls while running data through the eSIM simultaneously. For most international solo travellers, it’s genuinely the cleanest solution.

FAQ

In how many countries does eSIM work?

Yesim’s eSIM works in over 200 countries and regions. If Australia is one stop on a longer international trip, the same app has you covered across the journey without needing a new provider each time.

How is Yesim different from other eSIM providers?

Yesim offers flexible data plans including daily, weekly and monthly options, works on both iOS and Android eSIM-compatible devices, and gives you a virtual phone number if you need one. The app is straightforward, and customer support is accessible if something goes wrong. Use YESIMADS10 for a discount on your first purchase.

Do I need to unlock my phone to use an eSIM?

Your device needs to be eSIM-compatible and carrier-unlocked. Most flagship phones from the last few years support eSIM, including iPhones from the XS onward and most recent Android flagships. Check your device settings before you travel.

Go and have the time of your life

Australia rewards curious, adventurous travellers who take their time and lean into the unexpected. The people are warm, the landscapes are extraordinary, and there is no shortage of things to do, eat, explore and experience. I’ve lived here my whole life and this place still surprises me regularly.

Sort the practical stuff early, get your data sorted with Yesim (YESIMADS10 for a discount), give yourself enough time to breathe it all in, and let the rest unfold. You’re going to love it here.