If there’s one thing to know about travelling, it’s that it’s easier to make friends on the road than it is at home. Trust us here. To start with, you’ve got the biggest thing in common: travelling! But more importantly, everyone else is in exactly the same situation, keen to meet people, make new friends and have an amazing time.
We’ve put together our top tricks for making friends as a solo traveller. So you can set off in confidence, knowing you’ve got friends for life waiting for you at the end of that plane ride.
Join a group tour
Ok, so landing in a new city, let alone a new country, where you don’t know a soul can feel intimidating… We’re not denying that. So to ease yourself in gently (and make sure you have ready-made friends waiting) start off your solo adventure with a group tour.
We love a group tour for a few reasons. First, you get a whole group of people in the exact same position as you. Second, we’ve got the BEST group tour to start your adventure – we’ve called them our Welcome Tours for a reason. Â
You’ll spend a week exploring a new city with new mates and your guide (who also feels like a new mate). You’ll tick off all your Australian must-dos – you’ll surf and you’ll meet a kangaroo… or maybe a dolphin… a koala if you’re lucky too. Most importantly, you’ll leave not just with friends, but with a whole family. Once you’re part of our community, you’ll find friends all across Australia.
Say hello in hostels (it’s not as scary as you think)
It’s time to start introducing yourself. Once you’ve done this a few times it’ll become second nature. So use your hostel to its full advantage. Say hello to your dorm mates (aka your new mates), ask if anyone wants to join you for a bite to eat, explore the area or at the hostel’s happy hour.Â
And then do the same when you’re cooking in the kitchen, ask what everyone is cooking then ask where they’re from and what they’ve been up to today – before long you’ll be chatting away and picking up some travel tips as you go.
And finally, make full use of the hostel’s social calendar – join that guided walk or yoga session. Take full advantage of the happy hours or bingo nights. These events are made for you to meet other travellers – so join in – start a conversation. And you’ll leave with new mates for sure.
Make the most of the outdoors
Australian’s love their outside lifestyle, so joining sports or outside activities is another great way to make friends when you’re travelling solo. Join a run club (Sydney has heaps of run clubs, for all suburbs and groups you can think of) or a team sport (rugby, volleyball and football are popular options).Â
Or head out to watch a game or show. Melbourne is particularly great for this being the place for sports, so there’s no shortage of games to watch or a new sport to try out. You don’t have to be sporty, but just eager to try something new and make friends as you go – and isn’t that what travelling is all about?
If in doubt, social it out
We can’t not include social media in this blog. Social media is everywhere and it’s the best connection tool – and it’s in your pocket. If you haven’t already, join our Facebook group, then join plenty more for backpacking and travelling around Australia. But don’t just join, you need to participate – put a post introducing yourself and your travel plans and see who responds.
You’ll hopefully connect with people in the same city as you or who are planning a similar trip and chat it out. Who knows, your new best mate might be waiting? Although, just like your mum, we’re going to tell you to be careful when talking to strangers online – trust your gut here.
Join our community
Once you’ve joined us on tour, you’re part of the Welcome to Travel family and you’ll get exclusive access to our events and tours.Â
Yep, you heard that right. Every year we host tours just for our community and explore places like the West Coast and Uluru all together – aka another really easy way to make friends.Â
But that’s not all, we also have events across Melbourne and Sydney so you can meet like-minded people in the same city as you.
