Fifteen backpackers from Wuhan celebrate the New Year abroad and tour Australia’s east coast by RV
16-day journey covers over 2,700 km — scenery all along the way, food and lodging too
A university teacher and backpacker nicknamed “Sunflower,” together with 14 other backpackers from Wuhan, rented three RVs to self-drive around Australia before and after this year’s Spring Festival. Over 16 days, they covered more than 2,700 kilometers, traveling from the southern city of Melbourne to the northern tourist city of Cairns, crossing Australia’s beautiful east coast. Yesterday, some of the backpackers from the self-drive group told reporters about their unique Spring Festival travel experience during the Year of the Dragon.
“Traveling by RV is completely different from joining a tour group. With tours, you only see the designated sights, but the real beauty lies along the way!” said “Refugee,” the activity organizer and an online user. “RV travel allows you to see scenery that traditional tours can’t offer and get a closer look at the daily lives of Australians.”
Total cost: 24,000 RMB per person for 18 days
Backpackers say it’s better value than a group tour
The total cost for the trip averaged 24,000 RMB per person among the 15 backpackers. This included about 10,000 RMB for flights, and around 14,000 RMB for RV rental, fuel, food, and other expenses. Though it was higher than the 15,000–20,000 RMB price tag for a 7-day Australian tour offered by domestic travel agencies, the backpackers felt it was well worth it.
The stunning sights along Australia’s east coast kept the group in high spirits throughout the 18-day trip. When it was time to leave, no one wanted to go home. The trip leader, “Refugee,” commented: “The itinerary was classic, and some places could have used more time for everyone to fully enjoy. I believe next time will be even better!”