You have decided to travel Australia and you are thinking about the places you will see, the things you will do, the food you might eat and the culture you will experience. Sounds wonderful, right! But there is also a scary side to travelling Australia and that is, no matter how hard you try, you are a tourist in Australia. And have you wondered how to not look like a tourist in Australia? Well I have many times and this is why, when I travel around Australia, I try to not look like a tourist because I feel I am safer. Let me explain.

This post isn’t written just for overseas tourists to Australia, us locals can look like a tourist at some time also, particularly as we travel Australia. From my first-hand experiences here are my top tips to help you to not look like a tourist in Australia. To be an invisible tourist in Australia or invisible holiday maker, if there is such a thing, when you travel Australia.

Why it’s not great to look like a tourist?

In reality, you can’t enjoy all you want to see and do on a holiday in Australia without looking like a tourist. No matter if you are a solo backpacker, a working holiday maker, travelling with your partner or friends or perhaps your family with kids, it’s not great to look like a stereotypical tourist. Here’s why.

• Your safety is at risk: Yep, unfortunately tourists can be targets for unsavoury types like robbers who know you will be carrying cash and other valuables on you. And they don’t care if you are hurt while they rob you. Sad, but true.
• You become a target for scammers: Unfortunately, when you obviously look like a tourist on holiday it can make you a target for scammers. Scammers have no hesitation in approaching tourists to offer them a great deal which they will never deliver.
• Can seem disrespectful: Standing out in the crowd, being loud and wearing inappropriate clothing shows you have not bothered to learn local customs and etiquette. This can look disrespectful to some locals.
• Different treatment: Dressing how you want and not respecting local customs can see you treated differently, usually negatively. And this can mean you will be treated differently in stores and restaurants where you can be ignored or charged more!

How Not to Look Like a Tourist in Oz

Read on for my best tips on how to avoid looking like a tourist in Australia.

1. Blend In by Dressing Appropriately

Trying to blend in is the biggest tip on not looking like a tourist in Australia I can give you. On saying this, it is hard to blend in when you have dark hair and skin in a country predominantly with fair skin and hair! But you know what, Australia is a very multicultural country. Yep, there are people from all over the world who have immigrated to Australia and call it home so don’t worry too much about the colour of your skin or hair. 

To truly blend in in Australia it is best to dress like the locals do. This does depend on the area you are visiting. Coastal beach towns have a more casual dress. Due to the heat many wear shorts and t-shirts or jeans and t-shirts. T-shirts can be a plain colour or have logos on them. Logos of where you work, surf brands, Australiana (animals and plants), your favourite band, football (AFL, NRL and A-League) team or cricket team.

Those who live and work in country areas and work on farms may wear jeans, boots such as Blundstones, t-shirts or long sleeve flannel shirts. And probably a hat for working outdoors.

And when it cools down, put on a hoodie or a jacket such as a NorthFace jacket. 

2. Get Rid Of The Printed Map

Thank goodness for travel map Apps. Gone now are the days where travellers would carry a paper map with them to find out where they were going. However, I have seen some people still using them to plan their day. My kids would say ‘this is how people got around in the olden days’! Yep. True. If you still use one (like I do sometimes because Information Centres will give me one to show me where the best places to visit in town are), study it before setting off. Keep it hidden until you actually need to use it. Looking like you know where you are going helps you to blend in. Unsavoury types can target you when they see you with a map as they can think you look like a tourist. 

3. Book Central Accommodation

You may be wondering why I have included booking central accommodation in how not to look like a tourist when you travel Australia! Well, booking accommodation close to the centre of a city means you are close to most of the main tourist attractions. This means you won’t have to travel all over town to see them using maps and apps. As mentioned, maps can show you are a tourist, or a local who is potentially lost. And not having far to get to places of interest may mean you won’t need the tourist maps. However, you cannot always stay in central accommodation, sometimes you might stay in the suburbs and use local transport to get around to see the iconic tourist sites.

To find accommodation I look for accommodation deals and these may not be central. Depending on the type of accommodation I am looking for I book a bed in a hostel through HostelWorld, a hotel room through Booking.com and a lot of the time I housesit to save on accommodation costs through Trusted Housesitters. House sitting is one of my favourite ways to blend in to life in another country.

READ MORE: 

What to look for before booking a bed in a Hostel
Booking accommodation through Booking.com
Housesit and Never Pay for Accommodation Again

4. Store Your Luggage As Soon As You Can

I know it can be hard when travelling to not be seen with your luggage at some stage however, I would store it as soon as you can. Leave it in your hostel or hotel room or utilise places such as lockers at train and bus stations. I suggest you use accommodation websites and apps to see what security services, ie. lockers are on offer at the accommodation. Then leave your belongings in a safe place so you can enjoy where you are. Ensure you know where your luggage is at all times and also ensure you have it securely locked. 

5. Park Up Your Van ASAP

If travelling in Australia in a van or towing a caravan, park up as soon as you can. Pulling into town and parking at tourist spots is a dead giveaway you are travelling. So park up as soon as you can and lock up your van.

6. Buy Attraction & Tour Tickets in Advance

Sometimes when you get to a tourist attraction there maybe other people lined up to buy an entrance ticket. After all, you won’t be the only tourist in town! Thank fully we don’t often have the long queues to get into attractions such as they do in Europe. You can often walk up and buy an entrance ticket. However, some attractions such as Movie World on the Gold Coast or the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb, I would buy a ticket in advance. My favourite site for booking a ticket for attractions is GetYourGuide. They have literally hundreds of options available to discover different tourist attractions. And one of my favourite tickets to buy is the ‘jump the queue ticket’. This is because I don’t need to stand in line to buy a ticket, because I pre-purchased one I can walk to the top of the queue and get entrance to the site much quicker than waiting in line to buy one at the venue. 

7. Don’t Flash Your Cash Around

To avoid looking like a tourist, don’t flash your cash around. Cash is a magnet for robbers. Therefore, refrain from displaying massive wads of cash and other valuables like credit cards. Robbers love these. Only carry enough cash to last you for the day. Yeah I know, it is hard to know how much you will need for the day but take a bit, maybe $50 or so. And yes, some places only accept cash. Definitely keep your valuables hidden until needed. If you have booked accommodation in the centre of town like suggested, you could easily walk back to your accommodation to get more! Or use other options like credit cards and debit cards.

8. Have A Good Attitude When Travelling

Having a good attitude to where you are can help you to blend in. Basically I would ensure I behave appropriately. I wouldn’t stand at a beautiful sight and say in a loud voice negative comments and compare it to home. I suggest you embrace everything and be accepting of what you are seeing and doing. You are more likely to be warmly welcomed and possibly strike up conversations with the locals which could provide you with a slice of local life and create a friendship. Still, be wary.

9. Ditch The Giant Camera, Camera Bag & Selfie Stick

Of course you want to take photos of special moments of your travels. With phones offering great cameras you may want to use your phone rather than using a camera or perhaps invest in a compact camera. I purchased the Canon IXUS 185 Digital Camera – it is a little beauty. But I don’t always take it out with me. Sometimes I forget. That’s when I reply on my phone and it takes pretty good photos. On a recent day trip from Sydney to the Blue Mountains most people at the Three Sisters were taking photos with their phones. Same on a recent trip along the Great Ocean Road, there were plenty of people stopping to get a photo of Bells Beach with their phone.

However, if you like to travel with a big camera I would try to have it out of the way until it is needed, such as in your daypack. So depending on its size, ditch the giant camera and camera bag if possible. Carrying this item is like travelling with a target on your forehead which says ‘I’m a tourist and I have an expensive camera’.

When I first started travelling selfie sticks weren’t a thing. If I wanted a photo of myself in front of a site, like Buckingham Palace I would ask someone to take the photo for me. There were plenty of tourists around who were happy to take my photo in return for me taking one of them!  I’m showing my age now! If possible, just like your camera, keep your selfie stick hidden until needed.

10. Do As The Locals Do + Learn The Logo Lingo

You want to see all the sights of the place you are in, right? Well, so you should. Maybe check out the sights the way the locals do. Utilise local transport of buses, trains, trams and ferries. And eat where the locals eat to get a more immersed experience. But don’t be afraid to go on a bus sightseeing tour like a hop-on hop-off tourist bus as these are great to see all the sights, particularly when short on time. Doing as the locals do will help you to blend in while travelling Australia.

11. Learn The Local Lingo

It is very useful to learn some of the local lingo of Australia. Australia has some interesting slang that is worth your while to know and use. Knowing some will only help you to blend in.

12. It’s How You Act In Public

As you travel Australia you will find that sometimes it is very hard not to stand out because of your physical appearance. But sometimes it’s how you act which can be your downfall. Therefore, know where you are going (or look like you know), only get your camera, map and selfie stick out when needed. Dress like the locals and smile and communicate effectively. Try not to get yourself in to situations such as drinking too much and then walking home along quiet and dark streets. You can do reckless and sometimes dangerous things when intoxicated in unfamiliar territory. And unfortunately, people can take advantage of you.

Are You Ready to Be Invisible in Australia?

I hope these tips help you to not look like a tourist on your travels in Australia, even though at times you will look like a tourist. But as Australia is a very multi-cultural country with many people from foreign lands call it home, and with clothes to help you blend in and knowing the local lingo and customs, you should have no problem being an invisible tourist while travelling Australia.

I’d love to hear any of your tips on how not to look like a tourist in the comments below. However, if you don’t mind looking like a tourist carry on as you are and enjoy your travels no matter what.