Australia has a lot to offer for any traveler. Americans often see Australia as a wild and deadly country. These beliefs are not unwarranted, but they are often grossly exaggerated. I decided to ignore the stereotypes and experience Australia for myself. Keep reading to find out the ten things I love about Australia.

1. I love the beaches in Australia

Australia is an island nation and continent, so they have an endless supply of beaches. When you visit Australia, you will find most of the cities located along the coast. The city locations mean you will almost always be close to a beach. Lists containing the top beaches in the world often include many of the beaches in Australia. These beaches can satisfy nearly every beach lover.

2. I love the Asian food options

I feel like Asian food is not as good in the United States. Most of the Asian places I can remember are the Asian buffets and some of the takeaway places with those odd boxes. These places are enjoyable, but they have nothing on the restaurants in Australia. You can walk through the central part of pretty much any town in Australia and find almost any kind of Asian food you could imagine.

3. I love Australia’s nature

The nature in Australia is stunning. In the south, they have amazing cliffs along the coast and mountains. These mountains even have ski slopes in the winter. The east coast has beaches everywhere, and surfers love them. You can also find The Great Barrier Reef on the northern half of the east coast. The north has waterfalls and rainforests everywhere. Most of them, you can reach a trailhead with a car and then take a short walk to your destination. The red center is spectacular, unique rock formations and red everywhere. Uluru really is an incredible sight to behold. The west coast I have not seen yet, but people told me that it is the best place to go for nature lovers.

4. I love the music in Australia

Australia has some fantastic music. All of the big cities have local artists with incredible talent. Some of them play on the street and draw huge crowds. Others pick up gigs at local bars with high turnouts. Some artists, especially among Aboriginals, play the didgeridoo. If you have never heard a didgeridoo before, then do yourself a favor and listen to one in the below video.

5. I love the wine options

Wine is a prevalent alcohol option in Australia. Many of the southern states have beautiful land that is perfect for wineries. These wineries provide an abundance of wine for all of Australia at a very affordable price. Depending on your tastes, you can usually find many wines to your liking. The most popular option among backpackers is something called “goon.” Goon is boxed wine. Backpackers typically pick up the 4- or 5-liter boxes of goon. They will usually pregame with goon before going for a night out.

6. I love that tipping is not required

For Americans, tipping is not an option. Not tipping someone in America is like slapping them in the face and saying they don’t deserve decent pay. In Australia, employers of the hospitality industry pay employees a standard minimum wage that does not require tips to survive. Of course, if someone gives you excellent service, they will happily accept any tip you give them.

7. I love experiencing seasons differently

The seasons in Australia are opposite to the seasons in America. Different seasons can be a bad thing for some people, but there are some advantages. Christmas happens during summer in Australia. That means you can spend Christmas Day having a BBQ on the beach, and many Aussies do just that. Backpackers spending a year in Australia often find themselves chasing the seasons. During the winter, they will head north where cold weather is less extreme. In the summer months, they will head south to enjoy the beautiful beaches.

8. I love how easy it is to find a hostel

Australia has hostels in every city and many towns. The United States has a minimal selection of hostels, choosing to have hotels and motels instead. Hotels are great for people on vacation with a budget. Hotels are terrible for backpackers traveling around on a tiny budget. Hostels are a much better option for backpackers since you pay for a bed in a room instead of an entire room. The hostel options make Australia a much more comfortable place to travel around for anyone on a tight budget.

9. I love the weather in Australia

Most people see Australia as an extremely dry and hot place. This belief is true for part of the year in parts of Australia. But a lot of Australia is not this way. Summer is the wet season in the northern area, so it does get hot but not really dry. Wintertime is the dry season but way cooler. During winter, the southern states will often see freezing temperatures (0°C and 32°F). There is a lot to love about the weather in Australia, and if you plan your trip right, you can continuously experience fantastic weather.

10. I love the people in Australia

The people in Australia are unique. The Aboriginals are an old human race that has a deep connection to the land of Australia. Outsiders are not allowed to learn most of their history and beliefs. The rest of the Australians came to Australia from other countries. Most Australians are friendly as long as you are not disrespectful. Unfortunately, some backpackers were rude in the past and created a bit of a bad reputation for all backpackers. As with all stereotypes, this is a bit unfair. I have met some backpackers that drive me crazy. However, the vast majority of backpackers are incredible people that will help you to have a fantastic trip.