First Time Backpacker - Australia

Hi - when you say 'next summer' I assume you mean your summer, is that so? How long do you intend to stay in Oz? Do you intend to work here?
For visas go to website "http://www.australia.gov.au/help-and-contact/faqs/visas-and-immigration" where you apply online,you will see there are different types of visas depending if you want to work or not.

In the backpack I recommend the following, no doubt others can add to this list. Re cloths I carry 3 of things, i.e. 3 shirts, 3 pairs of socks i.e. one pair wearing, one in the wash, one ready to wear. Portable clothes line, torch, small medical kit usually just band aids, betadine and tee-tree oil. Always carry a number of zip lock glad bags (sandwich size) a towel.

Oz is full of accommodation ranging from 5 star hotels to hostel dormitories to AIrbnb - all depends on your budget and where you are.

hope this is of some help - I'm sure others can add.

The website onebag.com is a good place to read about what and how to pack. Although it seems long-winded and complicated (for a site that recommends efficient packing) they have a useful packing list here:
http://www.onebag.com/checklist.html

You look pretty young in your photo, so I'm guessing you're a teen or just out of your teens. What you want to do is travel around by backpacker bus and staying in hostels.

Do some research on here - all the answers you need are already here. Search for packing lists in the Interests Forums (Gear).

As for what to do, I'd suggest you go with the flow - you will be able to organise everything at your hostel, most likely.

Dale - you are going to a very touristy/backpacker part of the world. Millions of people will be backpacking around Australia at the time that you are so you will meet plenty of them. Do your research now and you'll have a great time - read up your lonely planet guidebook as it has all of the information that you need.

Perhaps I'm judging you wrong, perhaps you do want to meet Australians. If so, please let me know and I'll suggest some things to do.

Any pa king list you consider, come back and get it tweaked. Some I find incliude stuff not really necessary,

At this stage I think you have to think seriously about how much money you will have for the trip and therefore how long you can stay here. Australia is one of the most expensive places in the world. People often suggest a minimum budget of $100 AUD per day, staying in a shared dorm room, eating cheaply, not drinking too much and not doing too many expensive activities.
Then you have to budget for flights and travel insurance.
Worrying about how many t-shirts, socks and underpants to bring is a fair way down the list at this stage.

Travel light - it is a personal thing but go for light trousers with zip off legs, a pair of decent jeans, solid walking boots (already broken in), better shoes, a have decent shirt with buttons, t-shirts, a hooded fleece, underwear/socks (obvs), board shorts, flip-flops/thongs and that will cover most of your clothing needs. If you must take elecrtonics go for a light bottom of the line small tablet.

It is possible to survive on about AUD100 a day or a bit less.

You've got a lot of cities there but recommending anything without knowing your interests is difficult. Thre are a million small towns in Oz that might be worth visiting. And don't say I'm interested in everything. You haven't included Tasmania and Hobart, you might want to consider that.

Get yourself a guide book is another recommendation I'd make. I know it is old school but still. I usually use LP.

Australian Working Holiday Visa (as a UK citizen) 18 to under 31, this is the only one that is easy to get, $$/GBP, which will allow you to work in any area in Australia, coming during our spring and thus ready to work summer picking fruits or bar work, would be my tip.

www.border.gov.au

You will see a lot of companies (private) that will add on a lot of "services" for a fixed fee, on top of the actual Australian government visa fee, this is just pure profit to those companies.
A lot of things, you can do yourself, for free or for low cost.
Eg, a lot of banks will charge you $3/$4/$5 a month for a fee to have an account with them.
If you go with Bunac, or another company, they might put you to any bank, but they will never say, NAB will have an account free of monthly fees.
NAB does have one that has no monthly fees, for real.
Choice of super fund, google what super is, you can choose, but some companies might put you to one they get a favourable % back fee.
Australian Super is one I am with, no limit on what industry is allowed. Low fees, and not for profit.
Backpacker hostels would be the one I would aim for at first.
Then you might choose share housing later on.

well for what its worth I spent 6 months per year over 6 years backpacking solo around Australia. as for books only used libaray saw no point in lugging them around joined yha hostel assoc. and purchased the train backpacker passes. Great Southern railway check and buy them online even join YHA hostel assoc, online. as for for funds, check with your bank , to see if your bank debit card will work in Australia. best you always book your bed ahead just to be safe. personaly I never even bothered with lap tops or cell phones had rinky dink digital camera. but have hundreds of pics of trips. hostels have pcs to rent.