Australia is the perfect location for a gap year. Its relative seclusion from the rest of the world and its massive landmass make it extremely popular with students from all over the world.
Australia has a lot to offer to international students, being a continental country, a vibrant and prosperous multicultural democracy and a robust economy on the world stage. Australia is a land marked by diversity and graced by the beauty of nature. You can enjoy a familiar cosmopolitan lifestyle or your own version of an outback adventure. Travelling around the continent is not only fun, exciting and daring but it is also safe and easy. The locals are very warm and friendly and always ready to swing into the party mood. Sydney’s New Year bash is a stunning example of this hospitality which draws travellers from all over the globe. Australia can be experienced on a range of budgets but is relatively affordable to the United States, Western Europe or Japan. The weather is just great, sunny and hot in summer and mildly cold in winter for Australia’s largest state, New South Wales. There’s so much to see and do according to the Lonely Planet’s Australia Gap Year Book that it would take you two years to appreciate the Australian experience.
Australia is the place for outdoor activities cycling, diving, sailing, surfing or skiing. The Australian climate make this and more possible. You can be assured that your adventure Down Under is going to be a memorable one for all these reasons and more. For wildlife enthusiasts, there are the unmistakable Aussie icons, the koalas and kangaroos. Other wildlife attractions include migrating whales in the south of Australia, penguins on Phillip Island in Victoria and whale sharks on Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia. For the nature lover, Australia is a pandora’s box waiting to be opened.
The most popular travel route is down south to the top of Australia. You can travel up the east coast from Melbourne, then journey up to Sydney before slowly making your way to the lush rainforest region around Cairns in the state of Queensland. Alternatively, this trip can be extended to include the Great Ocean Road or the Northern Territory. It would be worth the while to choose this option because of the area’s Aboriginal heritage sites which are unforgettable and in a sense mystical. As a traveller, you can also visit the vast state of Western Australia which is a beautiful creation of nature and waiting to be explored by the intrepid traveller. Then there is Tasmania’s splendid Cradle Mountain attraction with its many beautful lakes and plains.
When you wish, but the Spring (September to October) and Autumn (April to May) is highly recommended as the best time to visit Australia. Summer season in Australia’s north is wet and humid and the beaches become out of bounds due to the increase in box jellyfish numbers. The winter season down south can become very uncomfortable and gloomy.
You should allow for a tight budget of $50 per day but the costs involved in travelling long distances should also be factored into the budget but you should allow more to cover the cost of travelling the great distances. Dorm style accommodation in youth hostels will cost you at cheapest $14 a night.
Australia is the primary backpacker destination and travelling and sightseeing Australia comes with many travel options. The recommended mode of travel is by coach because it is the most popular and the cheapest.
Australia is generally classified as a safe destination for international travellers. The biggest problem can be the sun factor, so sticking to a minimum of factor 15 is highly recommended. Usual security precautions as in the UK apply.
The majority of gap year Australia students work in the services sector. Bars, hotels and cafes are the most popular options. But Australia offers gap year students even greater flexibility and choice which is worth considering. Farm activities such as fruit-picking won’t get you a lot of money but you get to experience rural Australia. There are also opportunities available in temporary office work or volunteer positions. If you are after a distinctly Australian experience, then why not become a jackaroo/jillaroo on a cattle or sheep station in outback Australia but be warned that this is not for the fainthearted.
