When we think of Australia, we think in clichés: sunburn, Fosters, koala bears, bikinis, insects, indecipherable accents and your friend who seems to think himself a native whenever a BBQ wheels into view. We think of a lot of things, but rarely that it’s a reality, that a trip to that distant ‘down under’ is feasible, especially on a student budget. However, any paradise you care to bring up can be shortlisted for your next gap year get-away. In the next two issues we’ll also be tempting you with Thailand and New Zealand, but this month we start with Australia – looking at what to do when you visit, but more importantly why you should want to.

We all know about Australian weather. We’ve gasped at its startling heats, wispy clouds and turquoise skies. Equally, we know all about its scenery – beautiful to the point that the sceptics amongst us are forever searching for the canvas it was drawn from! Once geologically evolving, but now inactive, Australia’s past activity has produced the wondrous legacy of glacial landforms (Cradle Mountain), humming rainforests with over 18,000 plant species, vast deserts (the Central Lowlands) and The Great Dividing Range, home to Australia’s highest mountains, deepest ravines and volcanic regions.

A trip to Australia also lends you access to 18,000 kilometres of coast to explore, abundant with glowing bays, glistening sands, massive headlands and towering waves. And if scuba diving in the enchanting Great Barrier Reef with the world’s largest submarine ecosystem, kiteboarding or surfing can’t tempt you into the waves, then you needn’t worry. The beaches buzzing through the day and night, partying in the infamous city of Cairns and shopping in the open- air markets of Melbourne and Sydney will provide all the culture a mid-term holiday or an end of exams escape could ask for.

For all those hungry for foreign heritage, Australia caters in spades. Australian geological history is exquisite, and totally free to visit with world renowned sites like Uluru and the fossil excavations in Riversleigh, not to mention The Tasmanian Wilderness – the archetypal heritage site. There are rocks from every geologic era, unique plant life, the world’s oldest trees and some of its deepest caves. Lord Howe Island will satisfy even the most excitable of volcano enthusiasts and Kakadu National Park is a postcard location for tropical beauty!

For less muddy culture, Brisbane can provide art and botanical gardens, Sydney the acclaimed Opera House and Harbour, Canberra some world-class architecture, relics and art, and Melbourne a sport haven inside a gardener’s paradise. The City of Hobart is also worth a trip if only for history’s sake, irrespective of the neighbouring Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, white water-rafting and rock climbing.

Australia has literally thousands of theme parks, galleries, museums, aquariums, aboriginal sacred locations, wineries, inexpensive hotels, hostels and wildlife spots. It is an eclectic place, but that just makes it all the more perfect. Almost all of the above, if not already free, can be made cheap with a bit of planning – from whole package holidays to camping, forethought really helps stretch those pounds out here.

Overall, there’s more to Australia than simply sand and sun, but you can experience as much or as little as you want – that’s the beauty of it. Whatever you leave Britain searching for, from a crisp lager to another side of yourself, you’re sure to find it somewhere here. Australian life is more than a cliche, it’s a lifestyle – and it’s one you should definitely try.