Where to stay in Melbourne: I have a post on where to stay in Melbourne. But my parents have stayed at the Atlantis – great location, good price and comfortable beds. I also recently stayed at Space Hotel, which has dorms and private rooms. The central hostel is fantastic and has a rooftop deck, lounge and gym. I’ll be back on return visits to Melbourne for sure. Read more: Where to eat in Melbourne, free things to do and general things to do, where to take the best photos and other day trips to check out. Magnetic Island This may be a surprise entry, but I had to include Magnetic Island on this list of solo weekend getaways in Australia.
Located a 20-minute ferry ride from my hometown, Townsville, this is where my parents live. It’s one of the best solo travel destinations in Australia because it’s made for tourists. With public buses and two great hostels located in different bays, Magnetic Island is one of the best places to visit in Australia if you’re travelling alone. On Magnetic Island, I recommend doing the Forts Walk, seeing the sunset at Horseshoe Bay, feeding the rock wallabies at Geoffrey Bay and swimming at Alma Bay. You can get to Townsville by flying or taking the Greyhound bus from two other destinations on this list: Cairns and Airlie Beach. The bus even drops you directly at the ferry terminal – now that’s convenience ??. Where to stay on Magnetic Island: Bungalow Bay or Base are the two hostels I mentioned.
Bungalow Bay is probably my favourite though, purely because it’s located in Horseshoe Bay. Read more: Things to do on Magnetic Island and where to find koalas (I share my secret spot). Sydney Ah, Melbourne’s rival and Australia’s biggest city. Sydney is another one of Australia’s best solo travel destinations. Although I think Melbourne has more things to do, Sydney does have the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and Bondi Beach. However, I found that it takes longer to get places in Sydney when using public transport, so be prepared. You can get the bus to Bondi and do the Bondi to Bronte Walk. Then you can hop on the train to Instagram’s favourite place: The Grounds of Alexandria. Where to stay in Sydney: Can we talk about the epic views from both Bondi Backpackers and Sydney Harbour YHA?
They’re also top-rated on Hostelworld, which is what matters most to me. Read more: Fun things to do in Sydney As you’ll see with these places to visit in Australia, I only recommend hostels for solo travellers. Read this post for my top hostel tips and check out this post for great ways to meet people when travelling alone. Hobart I know Hobart isn’t the first place you think of visiting on a solo weekend getaway in Australia. But if you have the time, it’s a short flight from Melbourne and a totally different city. It’s home to beautiful architecture, Australia’s most unique museum and some delicious food. I recommend visiting Mount Wellington, getting up close to Aussie animals at Bonorong Sanctuary and wandering around Salamanca.
Where to stay in Hobart: I stayed at The Pickled Frog and wouldn’t recommend anywhere else. They offer free day trips to both MONA and Mount Wellington, and the hostel is conveniently located in the CBD. Read more: A visit to Mount Wellington, top things to do and where to eat in Hobart. Cairns So Cairns is located a five-hour drive north of Townsville (the two cities have been frenemies forever). Thanks to its essential hyperlink proximity to the Great Barrier Reef, it’s the fourth most-visited destination in Australia. Because it’s such a tourist hotspot, Cairns is also one of the best places to visit in Australia when travelling solo. The city centre is compact and easily walkable, and there are plenty of tours available. Top attractions near Cairns include Port Douglas, Daintree Rainforest, Mossman Gorge, Kuranda and Fitzroy Island.
Here’s how to spend a day in Melbourne’s CBD
Hey Emma, there are mountain ranges close to Melbourne that sound more like what you are looking for. Melbourne does have great parks but that is about it.
Thanks so much for reading, Karen. I am so keen to make Singapore the next country – I will definitely check out your blog for tips too!
It’s known as Britain’s answer to Salem, thanks to being home to The Museum of Witchcraft and Magic. But we also can’t overlook medieval-era Boscastle Harbour, the view from Willapark and Cornish cream tea from the Harbour Light Tea Garden. Nearby you’ll also find Tintagel Castle, St Nectan’s Glen and the village of Crackington Haven. My cottage pick: Harbour Light is the definition of charming. With river views, a bright interior and a Greek-inspired courtyard, Harbour Light ticks all the boxes. Newquay Another one of the most popular places to stay in Cornwall on a short break is undoubtedly the seaside town of Newquay. Home to nearly seven miles of sandy beaches, popular destinations include Crantock, Westgate Bay and Fistral Beaches. Newquay is overflowing with family-friend attractions too, including Blue Reef Aquarium, Newquay Zoo and Lappa Valley Steam Railway.
If you’re also carrying heavier bags, don’t take them with you like us. There are lockers available next to Foxy’s Bar. Be very careful doing this hike in the wet season as well, as I can see it being both extremely hot and difficult to navigate following heavy rain. For more hiking information, visit the Fitzroy Island National Park website. Snorkel around the fringing coral reef One of the most popular things to do on Fitzroy Island is to go snorkelling around its fringing reef. There’s a coral reef located metres from the island’s shoreline at Welcome Bay, so you don’t have to go far to see coral and a plethora of tropical fish. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a friendly turtle. To hire equipment, head to the Fitzroy Island Sports Hub at the resort.
Here are all of my hostelling tips for solo travellers, plus the travel essentials I pack for every trip. Sydney Harbour YHA Sydney Harbour YHA is the only hostel and budget accommodation option in the city’s historic The Rocks district. Its main drawcard is its rooftop terrace, which offers stunning views across Sydney Harbour. But wait, there’s morebining state-of-the-art facilities with a unique heritage experience, Sydney Harbour YHA is also home to a large self-catering kitchen, spacious communal areas (plural), daily activities and ensuite rooms only. Plus, my sources tell me The Australian Heritage Hotel next door has an extensive beer list. Sydney Harbour YHA is one of the best Sydney hostels if you want a unique accommodation experience and prefer to be steps from the Harbour Bridge and Opera House.
For more info, check out The Pod Sydney on Hostelworld here
I didn’t know what to expect in Belfast as I’d previously heard mixed reviews, but I highly recommend visiting if you’re travelling alone in Europe and the UK.
