Visit the "Hostelling International USA" (HI) website. Purchase a membership to get cheap accommodations and join a network of backpackers.
Find out about Australian youth hostels at "YHA Australia." Keep in mind that youth hostels are often full of people who love to stay up late and party; it can get loud sometimes.
Reserve safe and reliable accommodations in Australia. This is a huge country with harsh and isolated terrain in the outback or countryside. Cities, such as Melbourne and Sydney, are major metropolitan areas much like the bigger cities in the U.S. Distances between the metropolises are tremendous; getting stuck out somewhere could mean no one's around for hundreds of miles.
Avoid booking accomodations on-the-fly, especially during peak summer months, December and January. Confirm reservations and have a backup plan. Hostels get completely booked during peak seasons and so do many hotels, especially for popular destinations.
Take care when camping. Go with well known and safe camping sites suggested by reliable sources. Avoid camping alone or in isolated areas.
Visit websites like the "Backpack Around Australia" site for information and travel advice. Visit "Backpack Australia" to learn all about the country. On the site, discover what you'll need to backpack Australia by accessing "Backpacking Gear & Equipment."
Know your transportation options. Contact Qantas Airlines or Air New Zealand for air pass information (which allows you numerous stopovers). Get a hold of "Rail Australia" to find out about rail passes to backpack Australia, such as "Austrail Flexi Pass" or "Backtracker Pass."
Be aware that using a bus pass or driving a rental car or camper van are travel options; both are better for shorter journeys or day trips. Taking the bus or a car across Australia will take a lot of time since the continent is huge; it takes roughly 10 to 12 hours just to drive between Melbourne and Sydney.
Make an itinerary. Determine what's most important and list destinations and dates in detail on your itinerary. Let people at home know where you'll be and when.
Enjoy Australia's outdoor adventures and activities. Snorkel or dive at the Great Barrier Reef; hike through rainforests; ski or snowboard in Victoria, New South Wales or Tasmania; ride camels in the outback; climb and camp out at Uluru/Ayers Rock and surf beautiful Aussie coasts.
If you also want to enjoy city life listen to new alternative bands; visit cool dance clubs; shop at exclusive stores; drink authentic Greek or Italian style coffees; see amazing art in museums; attend the opera or famous plays and dine at fashionable restaurants in Melbourne, Sydney and other Australian cities.
