Whether you’ve decided to go for a two week holiday or you’ve decided to drop everything to go trapezing from state to state or country to country, you’re sure to need a little more than your usual overnight bag if you’re planning to backpack around. Of course, your wallet, phone, and swiss army knife should be at the top of your checklist, but there are a few unusual backpacker essentials that people often (but shouldn’t) forget to bring:

Although festivals in Australia are all year ’round, there’s something quaint and magical about the festival season in Winter. The air is nippy which means your body is ready to gorge on different delights to keep it warm. Cold weather also means you’ll have more energy to shop around for longer as heat and perspiration typically wears you out faster.

Whether you’re looking for a well priced hotel in Sydney, car hire in Brisbane, or airport car parking in Melbourne, websites like Trivago, vroomvroomvroom, and finder.com always seem like the smartest choice. Of course, who wouldn’t want to get the best prices for similar services?

Here’s a little inside scoop: you’re better off booking direct.