Photo by Dave Nicoll

It doesn’t take long to see that the eastern Australian backpacking trail, which stretches from Sydney to Cairns, is geared for the sub-30 set. Hundreds of young’uns, mostly European, flock to the Gold an Sunshine Coasts chasing sunny shores, bountiful alcohol, and beach-beautiful bodies.

Nothing wrong with this, but it’s not for everyone. Which is the reason that travelers 30 and above are a rare sight: it’s easy for them to feel they have outgrown this kind of budget-minded tripping.

1. You feel like a tourist, not a traveler

Byron Bay, Surfer’s Paradise, Fraser Island, the Whitsundays… All lovely places overrun with McTrips that process thousands of travellers daily. It’s difficult to feel like you’re on a journey when you’re just another body among so many others.

Yes, there are tours catering to more discriminating travelers, but the prices are well above the long-term backpacker’s budget.

2. You feel like a chaperone

Remember the last time you went to your favourite university bar or club and felt like you were officially part of another generation? It’s like this.

3. Trips are too organized

You came for a little adventure – and adventure is what the travel agencies promised – but got a grammar school trip. Everything is prepared and planned for you. You have to follow strict schedules and itineraries, even if there’s no guide. It feels like a holiday nanny state.

4. You turn your nose at goon

At some liquor stores you can buy a four-litre box of terrible wine they call goon for as little as $11. It’s a favourite on three-day tours where you must bring your own drinks: to young broke backpackers the price-to-drunkenness value is unbeatable. For you, it’s a travesty of good taste.

5. You complain about discomfort

You’re no longer content with the tissue-thin sleeping mat they provide on camping trips. You’re can’t fall asleep on rock-hard surfaces like you once could. Probably because you’re not drinking enough goon.

6. You long for quiet contemplation

Between the big crowds, the drunken hooting, and the sound systems constantly blaring top 40 hits, your only moment of serenity is that magical time between 3 and 7 am when everyone is sleeping. If you’re lucky, you can find a quiet corner in whatever touristy town you’re saying at for reading, writing, or meditating.

7. You’re not challenged

You speak the local language. The streets are tidy and orderly. Everything is organized and predictable. You’re not in an alien culture, having to negotiate unusual customs and learning something new everyday. It quickly becomes quite boring.

8. You’re done with all the partying

You’ve already done it all: the drinking games, the random hook-ups, the next-day amnesia. With your wild days behind you, you now seek more meaningful, lasting, and vomit-free experiences.