>>1043524 (OP)
>how do i get started with it?
Install DNSCrypt-Proxy
>what is a fast/reliable server for australia?
Dunno. Figure it out, bogan.
>what precautions should i be taking?
Always wear a condom when fucking a women whose STD status is questionable and/or who isn't on verifiable birth control.
>do botnet dns servers exist and do they have any real power like seeing what websites your IP visits?
The DNS server you're connecting to, whether its traffic is secured by DNSCrypt or not, knows that hostnames you're looking up.
>surely because they have to translated it to IP, right?
Right.
As anon said, you should be usng Tor for most everything, though.