Australia Travel & Backpacking Guide

AUSTRALIA TRAVEL GUIDE

So...Australia.

You are thinking of heading off Down Under for a bit? Well good for you!

Australia is an INSANELY popular backpacker & gap year destination. For so many reasons.

You may be wondering what to expect, what to do and how to do it. What will happen when you get of the plane and how will you ever meet people?

Well relax!

This guide has it covered, so read on and work out if a life down under is for you!

XTREME GAP EXPERTS: GUIDE AUTHORS: This guide was written by Xtreme Gap´s UK Director Oliver Bray who has travelled Australia extensively 4 times and Xtreme Gap Year Australia Director Joanna Denington who lives in Sydney and runs Xtreme Gap Year’s Australian office.

Is no doubt you will have questions that cannot be answered in these pages so don’t forget to get in touch with us and get some first-hand advice.

Australia is in the Southern hemisphere so the seasons are reversed, June is mid Winter, December mid summer, having said that Australia is also a continent as well as a country, so the climate is different in different parts of the country.

This means the further north you head, the hotter the weather, just like in Europe if you head South.

The most popular time to go is end of January early February, just after the prices of flights come down, or pre Christmas in October many people head into Sydney and then head North on the east coast.

(A popular option for people to do this is the flexible Ultimate Australia Trip or on a backpacker bus pass like the Bruce Pass.

The reality is though at any time somewhere in Australia has amazing weather, the trick is to time your trip to chase the sun!

Also go before you hit 30 so you can get a working holiday visa!

AUSTRALIA H Australia is a massive place Just have a look to see how Europe fits inside the continent!

That means getting around does require some effort.

Most people stick to the East coast making the stretch of road between Sydney in Cairns the Golden backpacking route for meeting people having good times and great laughs.

If you want to meet people from day one you are best off starting in Sydney and joining our Sydney conneXion (See the trip)

HIGHLIGHTS

It may sound clichĂŠd but Australia is As just as much about the people you meet as the places you go.

Expect to make friends from all over the worldand see some unreal things.

AUSTRALIA H Everyone has their favourites but here or our top recommendations: Spend a week in Sydney, it’s the most popular entry into the country, one of the most beautiful cities in the world and very cosmopolitan.

Don’t forget to visit the zoo where you will be getting to know the local wildlife and see one of the best views of the city (pictured in the background).

Travel the East coast from Sydney to Cairns. Guaranteed way to meet loads of backpackers, share adventures and see many of these highlights en route.

It’s about 3 1/2 thousand miles, so the best way to do this is hop on hop off passes like the Oz experience.

Hit Frazer island. The world’s biggest sandbars Island, home to one of the oldest rainforest is your adventure playground. Get equipped with a 4x4, camp out under the stars, swimming freshwater lakes and drive up 90 mile Beach. Bring a bag of goon to make things really interesting.

HIGHLIGHTS Learn to surf. It probably did not cross your mind before you left, but travel is about doing new things.

Surfing in Australia is a lifestyle and you need to taste it. Go on safari, or have a surf lesson you may be on to a new addiction.

Check out the Great Barrier Reef. Whether you do this on a Whitsunday Islands boat trip, or go out and dive it from Cairns make sure you do it. The Great Barrier Reef is out of this world, sadly it is dying and you are running out of time to see it. There is no better way of doing this than on a dive course.

Party your pants off in the big cities. Sydney, Brisbane, surfers Paradise. All amazing places to go out and party. Even the smaller places have something waiting for you. Our personal favourite? Byron Bay.

WORKING HO One of the reasons Australia is so popular is because it is one of the few countries where you can get a job relatively easily while you travel, due to the special visa arrangement.

If applying for a working holiday visa: To obtain the 417 Working Holiday Visa, you must also: 1.

Not be in Australia when you apply (or when the Visa is granted).

2.

Not have been granted a working holiday visa before

3.

Be aged between 18 and 30 years (inclusive) at the time of applying

4.

Be applying with in one year of arriving in Australia

5.

Not have dependent children with you in Australia

READ MORE ABOUT VISA´S FOR AUSTRALIA HERE:

OLIDAY VISA Working and travelling is a great way to extend your trip by topping up your funds as you go. After all Australia is not a cheap country to travel in and unless you have a huge pot of money, getting a working holiday visa before you go is not a bad idea.

THERE ARE 2 WAYS OF LOOKING AT WORK & TRAVEL You can look for ad hoc jobs and bar work as you go, or invest a bit more money in a qualification, that will allow you to do a more interesting travel job (see next page).

Unfortunately these qualifications do cost a fair bit, but that is one of the reasons why the jobs at the end are so exclusive. If you have plenty of time be fore you leave and are able to save then they are well worth the money you have to invest (remember though they also include food and accommodation too, so you would recoup some of the cost in expenses alone.)

WORK & TRAVEL OPTIONS AUSTRALIA Get a temp job or jobs as you travel in destinations with working holiday visas (Australia and New Zealand). This is ideal if you want travel around and top up your funds. 

Most people choose to work Down Under and acquire a working holiday visa.

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The working holiday visa is valid for a year and enables you to undertake casual work for one year.

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After the year is up you can extend this to 2 years if you under take a couple of months agricultural work.

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A working holiday visa will cost around £175.

AUSTRALIA GAP YEAR PROGRAMMES NEW ZEALAND GAP YEAR PROGRAMMES

Wor k Tra and aro vel u wor nd t he ld o tio pns

Some help to get started Down Under?

The Sydney ConneXion is your trip.

Get sorted with airport transfer, 7 nights accommodation and cool group activities, nights out and day tours plus job assistance!

GETTING A FUN QUALIFICATION & WORKING ABROAD The other option if you wish to combine working and travel on your gap is getting a fun qualification. We have the following options for you: 

Divemaster or dive instructor courses all over the world

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Work on a ranch in the Australian Outback.

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Surf Instructor in Australia.

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Work as a crew member on a yacht in Australia.

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These programmes will help you get the right qualifications and job offers after finishing the course. Not only will these jobs top up your funds, but you will earn money by doing something you really like! What a great experience that will it be! And do not forget that it will also boost your CV and have you stand out over others applying for a ´serious´ job when you get back.

WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH Cairns Adrenaline Overload airns Adrenaline Overload! Six days of pure adventure. In the adventure capital of Australia, we will take you white water rafting on the Tully, go deep into the ancient Daintree Rainforest to check out huge crocodiles, head out onto the Barrier Reef to snorkel in a pristine underwater environment. Optional bolt on sky dive is also available! We will put you up in a great hostel in Cairns too!

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Learn to Dive on the Great Barrier Reef earn to Dive on the Great Barrier Reef, becoming a scuba diver in one of the worlds top diving locations. You dive pristine reefs, stay on a state of the art multi million pound Liveaboard vessel, and you have your own Scuba instructor to help you get your PADI Open Water dive certification in this 6 day adventure you will never forget.

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Bruce Pass Oz Experience ruce Pass Oz Experience The Bruce Pass from Oz Experience allows you to travel from Sydney to Cairns on a flexible hop on hop off backpacker bus. Guides accompany you all the way and it is one of the most popular backpacking options to get you up the East Coast.

We will beat any price on this pass.

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H XTREME IN AUSTRALIA 14 Day Oz East Coast Adventure 4 Day Oz East Coast Adventure Starting in Sydney or Cairns you travel the East Coast of Australia in the company of fellow adventurers on an tour to remember. With lots of mini adventures on the way like Fraser island and the Whitsundays there is plenty of action on this epic road trip. Perfect if you are pushed for time and want to "do" the East Coast in a few weeks.

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Awesome Oz

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wesome Oz Eight days of fun and friends guaranteed. Three days in Sydney with plenty of activities including jet boating in Sydney Harbour followed by a five day trip up the east coast to Byron Bay on a great Aussie Surf Trip.

Learning to surf off the best beaches Australia has to offer

WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH Aussie Surf Trip o you want to live the Aussie Dream?

Beaches, waves and great new mates, this is what it is all about dude. Beach parties, incredible breaks and learning to surf on some of Australia´s most untouched beaches. We will take you from Sydney to Byron Bay on an unforgettable 5 day surfari, all you have to do is look good on a board and enjoy Aussie BBQs and hospitality.

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H XTREME IN AUSTRALIA Surf Instructor Course Australia

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xperience summer beach parties, make new heaps of new friends from all over the world, relax and enjoy the sun, sea and sand while learning how to become a surf instructor.

The programme takes place about a two hour drive from Byron Bay. Here you find the secluded beaches and the surf camp where you will eat, breathe and live surf! You will develop your surfing abilities, train your ability to teach others and then we qualify you to work in the industry.

Australia Surf Dude Surf Development Course oing the surf development course is an amazing experience.

You will spend a couple of months developing your surf skills on some great Australia breaks. Everybody at the camp is so enthusiastic that you will have a good time and enjoy the surfers life style. Our professional surf instructors help you to push your surf abilities and you will become a real surf dude. Together with beach parties, BBQ's, sun and your new friends, this will be an awesome experience!

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WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH Xtreme´s Ultimate Australia s your dream travelling Australia?

Then this is your ultimate road trip.

One action packed backpacker trip you will never forget, taking in the very best of Australia.

Surfing, skydiving, and diving as you head up the coast in search of good times and incredible adventures.

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Everything is arranged for you that you need, arriv It is flexible too, so you can spend up to 6 months com work trave

H XTREME IN AUSTRALIA

val, transport and awesome activities! mpleting it as well, and even include some el.

Check out the video

Questions and answers: Q: Does it ever get windy in Australia? I have never seen it rain on TV, how do the plants grow?

(UK).

A: We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around watching them die.

Q: Will I be able to see kangaroos in the street? (USA) A: Depends how much you’ve been drinking.

Q: I want to walk from Perth to Sydney – can I follow the railroad tracks? (Sweden) A: Sure, it’s only three thousand miles. Take lots of water though.

Q: Are there any ATMs (cash machines) in Australia? Can you send me a list of them.

A: We do not have ATM´s. We barter, so bring you goat.

Q: Can you give me some information about hippo racing in Australia ? (USA) A: A-Fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe… Aus-tra-lia is that big island in the middle of the Pacific which does not ….. Oh forget it. Sure, the hippo racing is every Tuesday night in Kings Cross. Come naked.

Q: Can I bring cutlery into Australia ? (UK) A: Why? Just use your fingers like we do‌ Q: Can you send me the Vienna Boys’ Choir schedule? (USA) A: Aus-tri-a is that quaint little country bordering Ger-man-y, which is Oh forget it. Sure, the Vienna Boys Choir plays every Tuesday night in Kings Cross, straight after the hippo races. Come naked.

Q: Are there supermarkets in Sydney and is milk available all year round? (Germany) A: No, we are a peaceful civilization of vegan hunter/gatherers. Milk is illegal.

Q:Please send a list of all doctors in Australia who can Dispense rattlesnake serum. (USA) A: Rattlesnakes live in A-meri-ca which is where YOU come from.

All Australian snakes are perfectly harmless, can be safely handled and make good pets.

Q:Do you celebrate Christmas in Australia ? (France) A: Only at Christmas.