Australia or Europe?
 

I am an 18 year old Canadian, and i just cannot make a decision on where to travel this summer. I have family and friends in both Europe and Australia, both have offered to show me around, house me etc. I have never been to Oz, but i have also only really seen the U.K. in Europe. I cannot make a decision, hopefully some fellow travellers can help me out??

Cheers!

If cost is not a problem then I think I would opt for Europe if you have the opportunity to go now.

Dear rollin,

I think it depends very much on whether your trip includes travel by yourself. Like you say your friends and rellies will show you around. Do you have plans do to other stuff by yourself?

If you do, then it comes down to what you would like to see; and what interests you. And how much money you have; and how adventurous you are.

Are you into cities and architecture and the arts? Or are you more into hiking/tramping, outdoor activities.

Of course Europe has great opps for the outdoor stuff - but it is a big place - 27 countries at last count. And of course, Australia has plenty in the way of arts/museums/history stuff.

But Australia's history stuff is very particular to Australia. A whole new area of kmowledge to discover. I suspect an 18 year old might not yet have tuned into that.

So .. if you want outdoors - snorkelling, walking, adventure stuff come to Australia. If you want cafes, shopping, city stuff go to Europe.

You should also be aware that travelling independently on a budget is very easy in Australia. It's all set up for you - brilliant infrastucture - buses, hostels, backpacker tours. And thousands of people do it every year.

Not quite so easy or cheap in Europe.

It's funny that this same question posted on the European thread prompted lots of responses voting for Australia.

Remembering that if you come to Australia it will be our winter and though no where near as cold as Canada the weather can be somewhat dodgy particularly in our southern states.

Also - I think Europe would be very different to Canada and from a cultural point of view quite an educational and interesting experience - whereas I think Australia with it's wide open spaces, same language and similar culture would be more familiar and less challenging - although our scenery is beautiful and the activities and tours you could do are very exciting.

Of course European tourist destinations can be zoos in the summer with everyone off work and school added to a huge influx of overseas visitors. And Jun-Aug is not by any standards a bad time to visit Australia. Roughly 1/2 of the country is tropical or sub-tropical and, with the exception of parts of Tasmania and the mountains of the southeast, no part of the country experiences winter weather anything like the mildest of a Canadian winter. In fact, in many respects, Jun-Aug is the best time to visit Australia's north and outback: highs in the mid-upper 20's centigrade, clear skies and coolish nights.

Definitely Europe. So much to see there and every country different. Easy to travel from one country to another and now it's all the same currency.

Germany has almost as many castles along the Rhine as Australia has flies. Need I say more.

It's a tough call, but I think given your age I would go to Australia. It is a better destination for a longer trip, which you most likely won't be able to take once you have a job and 2 weeks annual vacation (assuming Canadian vacation works like American vacation, perhaps you will have more than that).

It is easier to visit Europe for 7-14 days at a time. I have visited Sydney on a 9-day vacation from the US (for a wedding) and while I'd do it again, it was much more "work" travelling than it was hopping over to western Europe for 9 days (which I have done a few times).

Good luck with your decision!

Liz