Dana CullyThe 30th April marked my first ever day of solo-backpacking, and the day I arrived in Perth ALONE. So here’s everything I experienced and felt as a first-time solo-backpacker, and some helpful tips for arriving in a new country.
As I hugged my parents goodbye, I was hit by a wave of emotions. I wanted to cry, I wanted to laugh, I wanted to stop, and I wanted to go. It was a whirlwind of contracting emotions, a balance of nerves and excitement. Air New Zealand provided amazing service and restaurant-quality meals (even in economy!). It was probably the best airline food I’ve ever had, which eased my nerves a bit – food can solve everything. Some airlines don’t include food in their standard ticket, so ensure you check this. When traveling from Perth to New Zealand, this was very important, as they served both Lunch and Dinner which meant I didn’t have to worry about finding food straight away when I arrived.
After landing, Perth Airport was quite and easy to navigate. There are buses and trails that regularly go from the airport, most of them are free! If you’re relying on public transport for your trip, insure you check any specials on, or ask someone at the airport, they usually can help or direct you. This tip saved me a lot of money for my trip, as I got a free SmartRider card, which also meant that all public transport was free until the school term resumed. Without the SmartRider card, I would’ve paid regular prices.
After getting my free SmartRider, I caught the train and headed to my hostel. I didn’t have much planned for the first few days, other than my accommodation, so I made a rule to myself to say yes to as much as possible to make the most of my experience. As soon as I got there, I got told about free salsa lessons at the Mustang Bar, so dumped my bags and went! For me, this trip is learning about being spontaneous and meeting new people, so it was a great start to the trip. My first night in a hostel was full of even more surprises after getting woken up in the middle of the night for being in someone’s bed! Hostel nightmare! (I was told the wrong one was mine)
Checking into a Hostel
Many hostels have different rules, so insure you check them before you arrive. For example, I stayed at the Britannia on William, which required me to pay a $40 deposit, and provide a valid passport. The check-in and out times for this hostel were very flexible, but some are not so much, so make sure are arriving at the right time, or email the hostel if you are not. I also booked my accommodation through Expedia which was so much cheaper than other sites; I got two nights of accommodation at the Britannia on William for $80 total, and it was during peak season. Off peak it is about $25 a nights, whilst other booking companies are much more expensive.
Before you go
Before I left, I made sure to get content insurance (I nearly forgot, so don’t do the same!), and medical/travel if you need it. It’s best to take a photo of everything you’re bringing, especially your valuables, and send them to yourself on Messenger or another online drive, so ensure you still have access to them if you lose your phone. These photos act as proof of ownership if anything gets stolen. I would also recommend uploading all your phone photos to an online drive for the same reasons. Perth was fairly easy to pack for, but make sure you check all the weather options and pack accordingly. I have already learned that I packed way too much stuff, and if you’re backpacking, you’re probably going to wear the same few comfy things over and over again, instead of the better-looking but uncomfortable things.
Quick tip overview
- Get insurance and take photos of everything you’re bringing
- Upload phone photos to a drive
- Check if your plane ticket include food
- Get a local public transport card (SmartRider for Perth), and check current deals/specials
- Pre-check hostel check-in timeframe and rules. Do you need to provide ID and deposit?
- Be spontaneous, have fun, and ask if you need help!
Thanks for reading, check out all my other travel posts and fill out the contact form for any questions!
©DanaCully2025
