17 useful apps for backpackers!
When you are out travelling, it's important to know the best places to eat and where to sleep and most important, how to find wherever you are going! Here we've listed the 17 best and most helpful travel Apps that make you a real travel pro "down under", with Australia's best backpacker apps!
- Rome 2 Rio, Free
A door to door travel app, that helps you find every kind of transportation from A to B in the fastest, easiest and cheapest way.
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/rome2rio-rail-air-road-sea/id569793256?mt=8
- Sydney Australia Official Guide, Free
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/sydney-australia-official/id575072873?mt=8
The best app if you want to explore Sydney. Here you find attractions, shopping, food and nightlife, there's also a lot of local tips and seasonal information.
- Webjet, Free
With this app you can book your flight, accommodation and car hire all at once. Now you don't have to search through the whole internet for hours!
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/webjet/id361122959mt=8
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=au.com.webjet&hl=en
- Kayak, Free
Another wicked good flight and hotel search app. For free. And it can even send you push messages when a deal comes along that is in your price range!
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/kayak-flights-hotels-cars/id305204535?mt=8
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kayak.android&hl=en
- Zomato, Free
The ultimate Foodie app, you will never have a disappointing meal again! Find out what everyone else thinks, read reviews, see the menu, and check out loads of photos from every restaurant in town!
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/zomato-food-restaurant-finder/id434613896?mt=8
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.application.zomato&hl=en
- Tripadvisor, Free
The crowned-king of travel review sites, this will keep you from accidentally booking into that dirty and horrible hostel that was such a good price... Be prepared with tripadvisor!
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/tripadvisor-hotels-flights/id284876795?mt=8
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tripadvisor.tripadvisor&hl=en
- Townske, Free
Live like a local everywhere you go with Townske, featuring "best of" lists made by locals all over the country. Be in the know!
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/townske-stunning-city-guides/id1018136179?mt=8
- Couch Surfing, Free
If everything is overbooked, or if you are just on a tight budget, this app is your new best friend. The app connects you to friendly people's couches, and let's you leave and read reviews too (so you don't end up at some creep's home...).
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/couchsurfing-travel-app/id525642917?mt=8
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.couchsurfing.mobile.android&hl=en
- Google Translate, Free
Always good to have Google Translate if you're stuck with the language and just don't get what people mean or write sometimes!
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/google-translate/id414706506?mt=8
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.translate&hl=en
- XE Currency App, Free
Not the most fun app ever, but very useful and simple, and a must-have for currency conversion.
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/xe-currency/id315241195?mt=8
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.xe.currency&hl=en
- Yelp, Free
Best app to find reviews on everything. Very useful if you don't know the city so much and don't want to end up with a bad haircut and a burger at Hungry Jacks ;)
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/en/app/yelp/id284910350?mt=8
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.yelp.android&hl=en
- Uber, Free
This driver service offers you a much cheaper ride than the regular taxi, and a much more slick mobile experience! You just make an account with all your details, then you can track a car, book and also pay with the app. So simple and cheap to get where you want in the city!
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/uber/id368677368?mt=8
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ubercab&hl=en
- NextThere, Free
Shows exactly when the bus or train is at the stop in real-time, so you don't have to waste your time standing around and waiting.
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/nextthere/id870393074?mt=8
- Sunscreen, $2.99
Even if you want a good tan, it's good to know how much it's gonna damage your skin. This app shows exactly how strong the sun is and if you need to watch out to not get burned by it. Very useful app, especially here in Australia (there's a hole in the ozone, don't you know??)
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/sunscreen-uv-index-protect/id687082193?mt=8
- AirBnb, Free
One of the best apps to find places to stay on your trip. People put up their homes, apartments, and rooms for you to stay in or rent, and you can find everything from a small and cheap apartment to a big castle (literally!).
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/en/app/airbnb/id401626263?mt=8
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.airbnb.android&hl=en
- National Public Toilet Map, Free
If you're out in the city and need to visit the toilet, this amazing app helps you find every public toilet close to you. A real pant-saver sometimes!
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/national-public-toilet-map/id323279108?mt=8
- Wifi finder, Free
This app will help you track down every WiFi hotspot in town. Enough said.
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/twc-wifi-finder/id492768487?mt=8
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.timewarnercable.wififinder&hl=en
Do you know any other must-have apps? Add them in the comments!
10 amazing & free things to do in Sydney
Sydney is one of the world's most expensive cities, and if you are traveling on a tight budget and still want to experience as much as possible, you can actually do amazing things for free. Below we have listed 10 amazing things you can do in Sydney that are completely free-of-charge!
1. Royal Botanic Gardens
Located in central Sydney, east of the Opera House and Macquarie Street, you find this oasis of beautiful gardening, walking trails and wildlife. If you walk out to the point of "Mrs Macquarie's Chair", you have an amazing view of the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. Just walk around, maybe have a picnic, and spend some time enjoying this beautiful place in Sydney, especially because it's free!
2. Walk over Harbour Bridge
If your budget is not big enough to have a go at the Harbour Bridge Climb, you can always walk across it yourself. From the bridge, you have a fantastic view of the Sydney skyline, coastline, and the (always impressive) Opera House. Once across, you will have the chance to explore Sydney's northern areas like Kirribilli, Lavender Bay and Mahones Point (Hint: there's good, cheap restaurants on Sydney's northside).
3. The Beaches
To visit Sydney's beaches is simply a must; this city has some of the best beaches in the world. You have several different beaches to choose from within a reasonable distance, the most known ones being Bondi Beach, Bronte Beach and Coogee Beach. Bondi and Coogee are larger beaches where you have the best chance to go surfing, while Bronte is a smaller beach with a stunning saltwater pool perfect for a swim. Another beach to visit is Manly Beach, and make your way up the northern beaches like Shelly Beach (go snorkeling!) and Palm Beach. To get to Manly, the easiest way is to go by the ferry; a good day to do that is on Sundays, when it only costs around $2.50, and the view from the ferry is worth the trip!
4. Museums
Learn about Australia's History, Archaeology and Religion by visiting some of Sydney's free museums. Here are 4 of them:
- Museum of contemporary art - is Australia's leading museum dedicated to exhibiting, interpreting and collecting contemporary art from across Australia and around the world. Read more here: www.mca.com.au/
- Nicholson Museum (Archaeology). Read more here: www.sydney.edu.au/museums/collections/nicholson.shtml
- The Rocks Discovery Museum (History). Read more here: http://www.therocks.com/things-to-do/the-rocks-discovery-museum/
- The Australian National Maritime Museum (Maritime) Read more here: http://www.anmm.gov.au/
5. Walk to Observatory Hill Park
To take a walk up to Observatory Hill Park doesn't make you disappointed. On the contrary, it might send you into ecstasy! Here you have a stunning view of the Harbour Bridge, with Luna Park, Lavender Bay and Kirribilli in the background. The park is perfect for a picnic and just sit and enjoy the view, you don't get a view like this everyday!
6. Walk the Sydney Beach Walks
Sydney has many fantastic walks, one of the best being along the eastern beaches. This most famous promenade is the Bondi to Coogee walk, which takes about 2 hours depending on pace, and during the walk you will pass Tamarama Beach, Clovelly Beach and Bronte Beach. So, for no cost at all, you get an incredible walk by Sydney's finest beaches with spectacular views, cliffs and pounding waves! (Hint: the Manly to Spit Bridge walk is also a must-do)
7. The Markets
On the weekends in Sydney there are loads of markets, offering colourful and creative products of various kinds. It is completely free to enter these markets and, even if you do not shop, it is a really fun experience to see all the beautiful things and also to meet some of the coolest locals. You might just make a new friend!
Here are 5 great markets:
- The Rocks Markets - Open Friday 9am - 3pm (food market) and Sat-Sun 10am - 5pm. To read more about it: www.therocks.com
- Glebe Market - Open every Sat 10am-4pm. Probably the hippest market in Sydney with around 200 stalls that offers cool vintage clothes, jewelry, books and so much more. Read more here: www.glebemarkets.com.au
- Paddington Market - Open every Sat 10am -4pm. This is a community based market with a lot of handmade art, jewelry and crafts. Great place to support the local entrepreneurs. Read more here: www.paddingtonmarkets.com.au
- Bondi Markets - Open Sun 10am - 4pm. A lovely beachfront market with hand made jewellery, designer clothing, arts, crafts, retro furniture, vintage clothes and so much more. Read more about it here: www.bondimarkets.com.au
- Kirribilli Markets - Open once a month, Sun 8:30am - 3pm. This market has a vibrant atmosphere with good vintage clothes, great live music and international food. Read more here: www.thekirribillicentre.org/market-dates/
8. Festivals and Events
Sydney is a city with some of the best festivals and events in the world, and many of them are totally free! Here are 3 of the coolest events you can go to anywhere, at any price:
- Vivid Sydney transforms the city into a wonderland of 'light art' sculptures, innovative light installations and grand-scale projections for all to enjoy. It's amazing, and entirely free! Read more here, we promise you don't want to miss this one: http://www.vividsydney.com/
- Mardi Gras - The annual gay parade (and party) on Oxford Street, and one of the biggest gay festivals in the world! Read more here: www.mardigras.org.au
- Outdoor Cinemas - All around Sydney, and especially around summer, there are many great outdoor cinemas to enjoy, and some are free. To read more about them: www.au.timeout.com/sydney/film/features/13918/sydneys-best-outdoor-cinema-seasons
9. Visit St Mary's Cathedral
This church is found in the centre of Sydney, perched just east of Hyde Park. It is Sydney's largest and oldest church by far, and totally worth a visit. You can go to one of the masses, or just go take some pictures of the beautiful building and architecture.
10. Visit Luna Park
There's no entry fee to this magical amusement park just across the Harbour Bridge to the north. If you are looking for a fun night with a killer view, you should absolutely visit Luna Park! If you really want to take one of the rides, it only costs $10, so still a totally budget friendly thing to do.