It is world renowned that Australia is the “Land Down Under”- the home of Paul Hogan, shrimp on the barbie, man starved sharks and a million and one other deadly critters and creatures out to get you (including drop bears).
But to be honest, there’s not much truth in the hype associated with the stereotypes. Yes we have deadly snakes and spiders, but on my two east coast trips where I’ve spent the majority of my time camping in National Parks, I have seen just one diamond python, a friendly no venomous slithery friend.
If it’s the one thing I learnt about Australia on my East Coast travels, it’s that Australia is the land of public toilets. Not a day goes by without encountering an abundance of clean, well maintained facilities at your service.
Many people considering an east coast road trip get caught up in the idea of squatting 24/7. And I’ll be the first to admit squatting gets old very fast, especially when you’re travelling solo and there’s a dire need to keep up surveillance for unplanned interruptions while you do your business. I will admit the views can be sensational… better than any bathroom in the world.
Another misconception, is that all east coast travellers must smell of something atrocious. Yes we’re living out of ours cars, sleeping and eating on the side of roads and in remote areas. But have you ever met an east coast traveller who has complained about the lack of the everyday comforts of a bathroom? Let alone one that has a horrendous stench attached to them? No you haven’t.
How can this be?
It’s because Australia is the land of public toilets! You’re never far from a public toilet, whether it be in any town or on a major road. Every rest stop comes with a toilet, but on top of this most towns and even small villages have public toilet facilities which all maintained in top notch condition.
How do you find public toilets?
The best tactic to find a public toilet in Australia is by following the iconic information signs. Wherever there is an information centre, there is never a public toilet far behind. Pretty much all centres have a public toilet at the premises and others have them located only a short stroll away. So if you’re busting, the little yellow “i” on the blue background is your best friend!
In Australia we also love to drink, so drop into the local pub and use their toilets. If there’s no pub, locals will point you in the right direction of the nearest public toilet.
You’re probably thinking how does toilet access account for personal hygiene upkeep?
Well for starters, barely a day goes by without one, two, three or more dips in the ocean. For surfers, the majority of our day is spent in the ocean. So we may be salty, but we have bathed longer than the average person on any given day.
On top of this, Australia’s prime surf and beach culture means that there are bountiful public showers at almost every beach. It’s hard to get greasy hair and dirt stained skin because there are so many places where we can freshen up and blend into the throng of other people in the towns, beaches and cities you traverse through.
Who knew you could write so much about toilets?