GAP YEAR AUSTRALIA
October 5th, 2009
Make the most of your year out!
Thinking of taking a gap year? If so then there is a whole host of things you can do to fill your time. You could bum around, play video games and get drunk, you could try to get a job (good luck) or you could take the opportunity to do something that might just change your life.
Taking a gap year abroad is an increasingly popular way to expand your horizons and gain those vital life skills that employers are looking for. There is no better place to do this than Australia; the home of Neighbours, Kylie Minogue and approximately 2900 species of spider.!!
The Visa
If you are between the ages of 18 and 30 you can apply for a Working Holiday Visa. This allows you to live and work in Australia for up to 365 days, that’s a stonking 8760 hours in a country where rain is the exception, not the rule. The visa costs £115 and there are a few rules; you must have £2500 of personal finance, be willing to undergo character checks and be in possession of a return ticket. For the complete lowdown on working visas visit our Australia visa guide. Fit the criteria? Good. Still interested? Of course you are!
Getting There
Once you have your visa there is the task of getting there. There are dozens of airlines offering a wide range of deals, the trick is to either book far in advance or try your luck with a last minute deal (you can often save yourself hundreds of pounds). A quick internet search will show return flights from Heathrow to Darwin via Singapore from just under £600 which, for a twenty two hour journey each way is a bargain. Check out our cheap flights to Australia section too where we scour the internet every month to find the best flight deals to Australia so you don’t have to!
There are alternatives such as the Oz Bus; this coach will take you all the way from the UK to Sydney, passing through 17 countries over 92 days. The trip costs £3999, slightly more than your average flight but on your way you will see some of the most beautiful sights in the world and have the opportunity to go on numerous day trips.
When travelling to Australia always remember to check what you can and cannot take into the country and obtain permits if necessary otherwise any prohibited items will be seized on arrival.
On The Move
As you must know by this point Australia is a big place, around 3 million square miles in fact so if you intend to see some of it, planning your route is important. Taking an internal flight is the quickest way to get from A to B but if you want to see more of the country there is an extensive rail network. The Ghan will take you from Darwin to Adelaide, stopping at Alice Springs along the way.
The Greyhound bus offers a cheap way to travel around Australia.
The Greyhound bus network covers Australia like a spider’s web and tickets can be bought based either on distance (ranging from 500km to 20,000km) or a specific route.
If you don’t quite feel up to finding your own way across the country there are numerous tour companies that will take you to see the sights. These are more expensive but remove the hassle of planning and potentially getting lost. As with everything else it’s best to shop around and do your research, you will quickly find who has a good reputation.
However you intend to get around, don’t be tempted to hitchhike, it is extremely dangerous and illegal in some areas; no one wants to be one of those statistics.
Accommodation
In Sydney alone there are around 100 hostels and this level of competition keeps prices low and standards fairly high which seems to be the case in every major city. For a shared room expect to pay in the region of 25 dollars per night or from 50 dollars for a private room. Chains include Nomad, Base Backpackers, VIP and YHA. The Hostelz website has a list of Australian hostels with independent reviews from travellers who have stayed there in the past as well as tips on what to see and where to eat.
If you want your stay a little more comfortable Discovery Holiday Parks are similar to our Centre Parks, they will be more expensive than hostels but have activities to keep you entertained.
There are alternatives such as short stay apartments which can be rented from 2 weeks up to 3 months. The average price is around 750 dollars per week and the price goes down the longer you stay.
Working In Oz
Unless you already know someone down under or are going as part of an exchange programme it is likely that you will need to find temporary work. The classic backpacker work of fruit picking is always available but the work is hard and poorly paid, there are other options though. Those with experience or skills will find work slightly easier than most but there are still plenty of jobs around. For bar or restaurant jobs just ask around or drop in your CV, you could also check for adverts on hostel notice boards. There are specialist backpacker agency websites such as www.seasonalwork.com.au and www.momentumconsulting.com.au.
One thing you do need to do as soon as you arrive is apply for a Tax File Number. Without it you will be taxed around 50 percent on your earnings.
What To Do
One thing on your to do list should be climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge, this costs nearly 200 dollars if you are going during the day but is an experience you will never forget. The climb is done in teams of 14 and takes 3.5 hours. At the summit you will be 134 metres above the harbour and have spectacular 360 degree views including an unrivalled view of the Sydney Opera House.
The world famous Bondi Beach.
Australia has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world including the famous Bondi beach. Other top beaches include Bells Beach in Victoria, Hyams in New South Wales, Whitehaven in Queensland and Wineglass Bay in Tasmania. Whether you want to surf, play volley ball or just take in the sun there is a beach for you.
The Great Barrier Reef is another destination that should be on your list. This World Heritage Site is larger than the whole of the UK and home to over 2900 reefs, 1500 species of fish and 215 species of birds.Â
Alternatively there is the Ningaloo Reef on the west coast, this is not as well known and less crowded than some of the main tourist areas around the GBR. At the Ningaloo Reef you can swim, snorkel and kayak.
Uluru (Ayres Rock), a World Heritage Sight and one of the most famous landmarks in the world is around 280 miles from Alice Springs. There is a frequent bus service which is often busy and best booked in advance. There is the option of climbing the 350 meter monolith but it is requested by the Aboriginal community that visitors do not. If you do decide to you should be in good health as the climb is steep and long. While there you can learn all about Dreamtime, the Aboriginal creation story.
Other geological wonders include Kings Canyon and Mt Olga.
Are you ready to visit the country that brought us Skippy, Dame Edna and of course Steve Irwin? If so there is just one thing left to do - get up and get looking. The rest of your life is out there!
For more information check out our guide to the best places to visit in Australia. Take a gander through our travel section for flight deals and accommodation ideas and sign up to our vibrant community section to ask questions of our experts and chat to other like-minded souls.
