Australia is a massive country with approximately 7.7 million km2. Visiting the country and exploring it properly is not an easy task if you do not organise yourself and prioritise. We have a few tips for you to help you plan a road trip so you can get the most out of the experience and see as many Australia’s wonders as possible:

1) THE ROUTE

Do your research and decide what is the best available route for you considering your current location, the places you want to see, your budget and the time you have for your trip. The most common routes are:

▪    From Sydney – The Grand Pacific Drive
▪    From Melbourne – The Great Ocean Road
▪    From Alice Springs – The Red Centre Way
▪    From Adelaide – The Flinders Ranges and outback
▪    From Darwin – The Nature's Way
▪    From Cairns – The Great Barrier Reef Drive
▪    From Broome – The Gibb River Road
▪    From Hobart – The Great Eastern Drive
▪    From Perth – The Nullarbor

More info CLICK HERE.

2) THE CAR

There are different types of cars available to rent and choosing a car for your road trip is vital. It can make all the difference between an amazing or terrible experience. After choosing your route, check if you will be sticking to major highways and sealed roads, OR if you will take unsealed and remote roads. 
Another thing to consider is the budget, the number of people you are travelling with and the style of trip you want to do. 
The most common car types for a road trip are:

▪Station Wagons - affordable option, good for small groups

▪Campervans – a bit more expensive but offers more comfort, with kitchen, fridge, stove and beds. Good option for groups of 2 travelling for long periods of time

▪4WD - the most expensive option, but also the best for a road trip. Good for those that prefer to sleep in hotels or hostels

3) THE SAFETY

Driving around Australia can be dangerous, so ensure the car you are renting has insurance and road service, and that you have appropriate travel insurance as well.

Australia is also home to a diverse wildlife so be aware that collisions with kangaroos, koalas and other wild animals often occur, especially if you are driving at night.

For more road safety tips, CLICK HERE.

4) PACKING

Packing the essentials for your trip will help you survive challenges you may face on your way. Here is a short list of essentials you may want to consider:

▪Maps – do not rely on the mapping app on your mobile. Invest in a good GPS and always have a paper map. They seem obsolete but if you are stuck, they can save your life!

▪Water – ideally you should bring at least 3 – 4 litres per person per day with you

▪Food – non-perishable food for 2 days to keep you going should you break down

▪Clothes – focus on the essential items and have options for the cold and heat

▪Toiletries – they will be a godsend if you are travelling for days on end!

▪Medicine – band-aids, paracetamols , antiseptic cream, sunblock, insect repellent, and any medicine you take on a regular basis.

Having a safe and enjoyable road trip in Australia is all about planning ahead and preparing for the unexpected, but it is absolutely one of the most exciting and adventurous way to discover this beautiful country!

Find out more content like this in our section Discovering Australia.

Melbourne is the culinary capital of Australia and a popular destination for travellers world wide. Interns in Melbourne have the cooking pans of the city at their service, in a city of cuisine that’s as diverse as it is delicious!

Hu Tong Dumpling Bar

The most popular Chinese dumpling bar in town. The Peking duck dumplings, shao long bao and hot and sour soup are to die for.

 

 

Kong BBQ

A delicious assortment of Korean food on the go. Popular options include : Grilled edamame, wagyu beef with kimchi dumplings and the most popular, Korean fried chicken with lemon zest. 

 

 

Hakata Gensuke

Specialising in Japanese Ramen noodle soups, this place is rarely seen without a line. Mouth watering broths with an assortment of meat and fish that taste as good as they look.

 

 

Rice, Paper, Scissors

Melbourne’s best Asian fusion restaurant, offering dishes like BBQ pork neck and Thai ceviche at affordable prices!

 

 

 

Coda

A trendy basement restaurant, serving Vietnamese fusions plates like chilli spanner crab, Ha Noi style rice paper rolls and pork hock with coconut vinegar.

 

 

 

 

The grain store

Asparagus haloumi and potato gnocchi, or toasted carrot falafel with quinoa tabouleh? Whichever meal you choose on this menu is sure to be both delicious and nutritious!

 

 

 

 

Fat bob’s Gourmet burgers

Voted the best burger joint in Melbourne, its signature Bob burger with grass-fed beef pattie, beetroot, tomato, spanish onion, tasty cheese, bacon, pineapple and egg, can be washed down with a selection of locally brewed beers.

 

 

 

 

Los Amate’s Mexican Kitchen

A Traditional Mexican restaurant popular for all the right reasons. Simple done right! Soft, warm tortillas, mouth melting beef and sangria!

 

 

 

 

Movida’s

A very popular Spanish tapas restaurant which incorporates food creativity with top quality ingredients, like Western Plains Pork Belly, Eggplant Puree, Oyster Emulsion and Fermented Garlic.

 

 

 

 

Wonderbao

An Asian restaurant serving traditional Chinese buns (baos) with delicious meat and vegetable fillings, quick service and affordable prices.

Explore and enjoy!

Find out more content like this in our section Discovering Australia.

My name is Alice Feng. I am from Shanghai, China. I have educational background both in Australia and Europe for almost 2.5 years. My major is International Business. I have several internships in Asian Company.  In fact, I have international background; however, this is my first formal internship in a company in Australia and I still have some challenges.  But I am very thankful I can have this opportunity that I have experienced extreme culture difference in a western company as well as huge difference between a student in university and working adult.

I would like to share this experience that can provide other interns some suggestions. In the university, I must finish all assignments before the due date, however, in the working place, I should firstly solve the urgent ones, and it is ok to leave the routine ones to the next day.  And in Asian company I experienced I just need to follow supervisor’s step, finish the task the supervisor asks for. But here, I should take initiative to do the tasks and express my views on some decision. My supervisor and other colleagues always ask me “what do you think”?  When I was first asked this I felt scared, because I do not know whether my answer is good or not. But now, I realize no idea is bad, all ideas should be valued. Now I am braver to express my views. You will be regarded as a positive and enthusiastic intern if you take initiative to do something here.

It also can be seen during lunch time. During lunch time, I can take initiative to ask politely whether you can have lunch with colleagues instead of waiting colleagues to invite me.  In here, you can talk with your colleagues freely and there is no need to think whether I am just junior or senior, but in my previous internship experience, I feel that the definition of a good junior intern is that you just need to be quiet and do your tasks. If you are talkative, others would think it was impolite.  And the lunch time is flexible; you can choose one hour between 12pm-2pm, however in my previous experience, we should have lunch during fixed time.

One day I was sick but persistently went to work, because in my culture you are regarded as dedicated and hardworking employee/intern when you feel unwell but still go to work. However, my supervisor told me very seriously: “You should not come today.” The reason might be that I can not do the work very efficiently when I am sick. It is not good for me but also not good for the work.  And you can make mistakes during working and do not need to push yourself to get to the prefect when it is the first time which is different from student life. 

I am used to push myself to behave perfectly all the time. In the beginning of my internship, I was very sensitive to my supervisor’s comments and mood rather than focusing the work. My supervisor told me: Do not assume her a friend and I should assume her as a supervisor.  Dear Interns, the role of the supervisor is to train you and help you in the working place during the internship. And the aim of the internship is to make the foundations to the future career, not just making friends.  

After work, almost all my colleagues go to gym to have an exercise, now I also have the habit to go to Yoga class which I think this is the good way to balance work and life. For the overdue work, in China, it is too normal to work overtime (until 8pm, 9pm), but in Australia there is no such kind of culture. Working overtime means you are inefficient.

I am very happy to see the difference in Asian and western company as well as student and working life which can open my mind and know how to behave in my future career. 

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Find out more content like this in our section Discovering Australia.