Australia holiday myths: Untrue facts about holidaying at home

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This was published 7 years ago

Australia holiday myths: Untrue facts about holidaying at home

By Michael Gebicki
Updated
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Australia is too boring, too expensive to travel. Those are just some of the things Australians think of when it comes to an idea of a holiday at home, but are they fact or just fiction?

Here are five myths about holidaying at home.

"AUSTRALIA IS TOO BORING"

It's never too late to take an Aussie holiday.

It's never too late to take an Aussie holiday.Credit: iStock

The scenery, the food, the language, the culture of a place that you don't call home has the pulse-quickening excitement of the exotic. Senses get dulled by the familiar, and nothing beats being out of your comfort zone to wake them up. Stay there long enough and Vienna or Valparaiso would suffer the same fate.

"AUSTRALIAN SERVICE IS SECOND-RATE"

Compared to the US maybe but good service there generally hinges on the expectation of a generous tip. We might be a little casual but we're mostly friendly, we work hard and we try hard to please. Tried getting a waiter's attention in France or Italy?

"AUSTRALIA CAN WAIT UNTIL I'M RETIRED"

Better late than never, but youth has more options. Climbing St Mary's Peak in the Flinders Ranges, South Australia, and snorkelling with my young daughter while lemon sharks fed on schooling trevally metres away are just two special memories from my own Australian travels, and you probably won't be doing either in retirement.

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"AUSTRALIA IS TOO EXPENSIVE COMPARED TO ASIA"

Our minimum wage is high compared to the rest of the world, and designed so that every worker gets a decent day's pay. The downside is that eating out, a night in a hotel and travel all cost more than just about everywhere else.

"AUSTRALIA'S TRAINS ARE OUT OF THE DARK AGES COMPARED TO EUROPE"

Australia's minuscule population and the sheer distance between our major cities means we'd far rather hop on a plane and travel fast and cheap. Low demand means a lack of investment in long-distance rail infrastructure, which equals snail-paced travel and high prices.

See also: 20 things that will surprise first-time visitors to Australia
​See also:
Expert's guide to the best holidays in Australia

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