Country Information

Every state has a selection of hotels run by well-known and established international chains. More authentic accommodation can be found outside the cities. The highways out of the state cities are lined with good quality motels offering self-contained family units, and often an in-house restaurant service.

Grading: Hotels and motels in Australia are graded from 1 to 5 stars by the Australian Automobile Clubs. In most cases, different rooms will be offered at different rates depending on their size, aspect or facilities; this is particularly true of seafront hotels. In general, hotels in cities cost more than their rural counterparts. Some hotels are graded with an additional open or hollow star. This indicates a slightly higher grade of facilities than the normal facilities for its classification.

Serviced apartments and self-contained flats are available at main tourist resorts, especially along the east coast. Some cities, such as Brisbane, have a high concentration of good-value self-catering accommodation. Some hotels have self-catering apartments. Holiday units and apartments are classified according to a 5-star system, with criteria comparable to those for hotels and motels above.

Bed and breakfast in private homes is available throughout Australia, and numbers are on the rise. One of the major attractions of this type of accommodation is the range of properties available. Bed & breakfasts can be in rambling country manors, boutique urban mansions, restored miners' cottages or colonial buildings in all their faded Victorian glory. Friday to Sunday nights are normally more expensive.

Many less-accessible areas have accommodation on farmsteads and outback stations, from guest houses on the huge sheep stations to basic staff quarters on smaller arable farms, giving an insight into an alternative aspect of Australian life.

These offer drinks, meals and simple but comfortable accommodation for travellers. Many were built during prosperous eras (such as goldrushes) and so are fine buildings, frequently heritage-listed. Pubs tend to be easy to find and advance reservations are not always necessary. However, standards may vary according to the type of pub and its location.

University colleges and halls of residence offer inexpensive accommodation for both students and non-students during the holiday periods (June to July and late November to late February).

Camping tours cover most of the country, especially the wilder areas. Participants generally join a group under an experienced guide team and everyone helps with cooking, washing, etc. All equipment and transport is supplied; some also provide portable showers. More rugged tours with Land Rovers are available offering limited facilities. Campsite information is available from visitor information centres. Camping is available in caravan parks, campsites and national parks. It is illegal to camp in undesignated areas.

Found throughout the country, but there are greater concentrations near cities and densely populated areas. Only YHA hostels meet Hostelling International standards. Facilities are generally a high standard, and visitors are advised to get a Hostelling International card in their country of residence, although cards are available at the larger YHAs in Australia. Some private backpacker hostels have upmarket budget facilities including ensuites, and even women-only floors.

Australian Hotels Association
24 Brisbane Avenue, Barton, ACT 2600, Australia
Tel: (2) 6273 4007.
Website: www.aha.org.au

Bed & Breakfast, Farmstay and Accommodation Australia Ltd
PO Box 422, Eltham, VIC 3095, Australia
Tel: (03) 9431 5417.
Website: www.australianbedandbreakfast.com.au

Australian Youth Hostel Association
Level 3/10 Mallet St Camperdown 2050, NSW 1450, Australia
Tel: (2) 9565 1699.
Website: www.yha.com.au

Nomads
Tel: (2) 9299 7710.
Website: www.nomadsworld.com

Basebackpackers
234 Sussex Street Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
Tel: (02) 8268 6000.
Website: www.basebackpackers.com