The 18 things Australian travellers are obsessed with

It used to be Whistler. Now, everyone is going skiing and snowboarding in Japan, mostly to Niseko in the north and Hakuba in the centre. Think of all your snow-obsessed friends – they've already been there, haven't they?

See also: 20 things that will shock first time visitors to Japan

Getting 'off the beaten track'

Most Australians begin their travelling lives as backpackers, which is probably why we all still carry around this competitive desire to go to places that no one else has been to yet in the name of adventure (and bragging rights). There's nothing an Australian likes more than being able to claim an "authentic" experience.

Bali

It's derided by many as a bogan-filled hellhole, and yet Bali is still insanely popular among Australians, who flock there for the cheap resorts, the cheap villas, the cheap food, the cheap beer… Oh and something about island paradise.

See also: 20 things that will surprise first-time visitors to Bali

Sneaking on extra hand luggage

This goes hand in hand with our love for budget airlines. Now that prices for checking luggage have been jacked up, you can always spy people trying to get on board with ridiculous amounts of hand luggage that they'll then attempt to squish into the overhead lockers and pretend it's not theirs.

See also: How to avoid paying for excess baggage fees

Taking a gap year

This was once the domain of the adventurous few. Now, however, a gap year is almost expected, and it doesn't have to be taken right after high school either. People are taking gap years after university, or in their mid-20s, or right after having babies, or even in their 40s and 50s, when they become "sabbaticals". It's never too late.

See also: Science proves that travel is the secret to happiness

Drinking

Some stereotypes are true, and the boozing Aussie traveller really does exist. Pretty much everywhere.

See also: What we need to learn from Europe about drinking

Avoiding other Australians

The funny thing about Australian travellers is that they're always trying to avoid other Australian travellers. It's as if you can't have an authentic travel experience until you're completely separated from all your countrymen. That is, until it's time for…

See also: Aussie travellers: What are we really like?

Oktoberfest

One of the few times of the year and places in the world where Australians will happily surround themselves with other Australians as they invade the Hofbrau tent and live up to the boozy stereotype. Oktoberfest has become a rite of passage.

See also: World's largest beer festival: Oktoberfest 2015 photo gallery

Finding a decent cup of coffee

Everyone else's coffee sucks. All we want is a decent flat white when we're travelling, and it's impossible to find. French coffee? Terrible. Chinese coffee? Blergh. English coffee? Don't even get us started. And the list goes on.

See also: Top 10 best coffees around the world

Thongs

You can spot an Australian traveller from a mile away, thanks to their slavish dedication to the humble Havaianas. You might be in Milan, where it's about four degrees and raining, but the Aussies will still be sporting rubber thongs. And possibly board shorts.

See also: Common travel mistakes and how to avoid them

Explaining the difference between Australia and New Zealand

One is a small island nation that happens to be freakishly good at rugby, and freakishly bad at pronouncing vowels. The other is a large island nation that has kangaroos and blokes in cork hats. Why is that so hard to understand?

See also: World's most powerful passports for 2016

Cruising

Whether it's cheapo party cruises, fancy island-hoppers, European river cruises, or hardcore South American expeditions, Australians love a cruise. Love it. It's the fastest growing sector of the market, and shows no sign of slowing down.

See also: Cruise ship addicts: Meet the people who can't stop cruising

Finding the best local food

We're spoiled at home. We know the difference between northern Thai food and southern, because there are restaurants here that specialise in each cuisine. We can get great Cantonese food here. We can eat amazing, authentic Italian. In fact we can get good food from just about anywhere, which makes Australians fairly knowledgeable – and picky – eaters when we travel.

See also: The best country in the world for food

Selfies

We're no more obsessed than anyone else. But still – it's out of control.

Seeing a maximum of three churches or temples

When I used to work on bus tours in Europe, I'd find that most of the Antipodean passengers would be super-excited about seeing old churches… for about an hour. After that, the care factor was exactly zero. That seems to go for temples in Asia as well. One is great, two is pretty cool, three is nice, four is boring.

See also: How to beat temple fatigue

Coming home

One of Australian travellers' favourite topics of conversation is, weirdly, Australia. More specifically, whether or not they're excited about going home to it. The general consensus seems to be yes.

See also: 10 lessons you'll learn living overseas

What do you think Australian travellers are obsessed with?

Email: b.groundwater@fairfaxmedia.com.au

Instagram: instagram.com/bengroundwater

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