The culture of FNQ (Far North Queensland), that can be seen in cities like Kuranda and Cairns, has been molded by the mixture of the culture of the typical “Steve Erwin” Australian, Aboriginal Australians whose culture dates back thousands of years, and the Asian cultures that have made there way to FNQ.  This crossing of cultures creates a truly unique experience in FNQ, leaving you with more food to try and people to meet than you could possible experience in one trip.

Even though there are countless things to see in the cities of FNQ, be sure to plan trips out into the bush to see the true beauty of down under, its wildlife.  Just a short hike out of most cities in FNQ put me right in the middle of some of the most dense and beautiful rainforest I had ever since.  Countless tropical birds would fly overhead as I made my way past waterfalls and through thick mangroves where I saw some of the most unique and dangerous animals on the planet, like the huge salt water crocodile and the strange looking cassowary.  If you aren’t looking to meet salt water crocodiles face to face in the wild, there are zoos up and down the coast where you can lay out in the sun with some kangaroos and hold a fluffy Koala.

Finally, I couldn’t miss hopping on a boat and going to see the Great Barrier Reef.  The Great Barrier Reef is one of the wonders of the world for a good reason, it is the most beautiful place I have ever had the pleasure of diving and snorkeling.  After spending 4 days on the reef and seeing countless of fish, sharks and turtles, I left with a new appreciation for the ocean.  I highly recommend spending some time out on the Great Barrier Reef on any trip to Australia, you won’t regret it.

Planning trips to places like FNQ may seem a little overwhelming for new backpacker, but there is an easy way to plan a cheap trip where you can see all the best spots your destination has to offer.  A sure way to find these exciting things to do is by using adventure tour comparisons like the one at FindTheBest.  Even if you aren’t planning on signing up for a trip, the descriptions of the most tours will allow you to plan a trip for yourself were you can visit all the stops of the tour, without paying the steep tour prices.

Travel clubs can offer the best of both worlds when it comes to traveling. They combine the best parts of traveling solo and planning your own trip with the benefits of group travel. Now I know what you’re thinking: “group travel is an overpriced tour on a bus with 50 other vacationers stuck in tourist trap after tourist trap”. That was what I thought before I started planning adventures for our travel clubs since most big tour operators put together cookie cutter itineraries that tend to suck away the culture, adventure, and reality of a destination. I knew there was a better way.

The answer was to create a community of like minded people that share a few common interests: Travel, Photography, Adventure, & Culture.  What I do is plan trips like I would if I was traveling solo but for our clubs. I keep them small (10-15 people max), affordable, and unique. The keys to a great adventure are simple: you want to maximize your time doing the best things possible and spend the least amount of money doing it. The beauty of traveling with a group is you actually get to do this and save even more money than if you planned a trip on your own or went with a big tour.

How is this possible? By exploring with a group or travel club you are able to avoid costly fees that come with doing it on your own.  All hotels and large tour operators charge what they call “single supplement fees”. These costs are often double what you have to pay when traveling with a companion. But if you travel with a club or group of like minded individuals you can share rooms and cut your expenses in half!

One of the best parts of planning your own trip and traveling alone is the ability to meet more people and really immerse yourself in a countries culture. A lot of large group tours strip this crucial part of the experience away. With a travel club that limits the group size and plans unique adventures you get to have both. For example, if you love photography and are exploring the pyramids with a small group of photographers the overall trip can be more enriching than going it alone! Or, if you are single and have no one to go on an adventure with you could take a trip to the Big Island of Hawaii with other single travelers and make new friends at the same time. This way you not only get to immerse yourself in a countries culture and meet the locals, but meet people you would actually like to travel with again and again.

Last but not least is time. It can take a lot of time and energy to plan your own trip abroad. Traveling with a small group where the leader does all the heavy lifting & planning saves tons of time and energy. Not having to worry about where to go and what to do next can make the overall experience more exciting. You get to focus only on the good stuff: the adventure itself!

There are tons of these niche clubs and groups out there. You just gotta look for them. Skiing clubs, hiking clubs, foodie travel clubs, adventure groups, singles travel clubs, and so many more.

For travel lovers who like adventure and photography trips check out PhotoFly Travel Club. If you’re single and want to meet people while on an adventure (the best way really!) check out Singles by the Bay Travel Club for singles travel.