A Gap Year in Australia?

So why is Australia the number one destination for gap years? We think it's probably because Australia is about as far away from home as you can get!

Introduction

There are a whole host of reasons why Australia is the perfect gap year destination. Due to the sheer size of the continent, Australia offers a wealth of travel experiences from buzzing cities to coastal R&R to outback adventure and rainforest wilderness. Australia is easy to get around, has stunning diverse scenery, it's always up for a party, has great weather, and is affordable. It's on the other side of the world but it's safe and there is something familiar about it (Neighbours anyone?!). You should be able to understand the language and you can get a working holiday visa to keep yourself going. Lonely Planet's Gap Year Book says there is so much to do Down Under that you really need two years to do it justice.

Australia is the land of the great outdoors which means endless opportunities for activities such as cycling and mountain biking, diving and snorkelling, sailing, surfing, white-water rafting, trekking, and skiing or snowboarding (yes snow!).

The wildlife is unique and un-missable. Besides iconographic koalas and kangaroos you can see migrating whales on Australia's southern shores from May to November, penguins on Philip Island (Victoria) and whale sharks on Ningaloo Reef (Western Australia).

Which Way Round?

The most popular route is up the east coast from Melbourne, through Sydney and town hopping all the way up to the rainforest beyond Cairns. This route can easily be extended at either end to take in the Great Ocean Road or the Northern Territory, the place to see Australia's Aboriginal heritage and national parks. Of course there are plenty of other options such as exploring the vastness of Western Australia, with its pristine beaches, rugged desert centre, extraordinary marine life, and wine country, or hiking Tasmania's majestic Cradle Mountain with its glacial lakes and windswept plains.

When to Go?

Any time is a good time to visit Australia but spring (Sep to Oct) and autumn (Apr to May) are probably the most comfortable. Summer in the north of Australia is the wet season when it's very humid and the sea is off limits due to box jellyfish. Winter down south can be a bit miserable.

How Much?

You could get by on a strict budget of £20 a day but you should allow more to cover the cost of travelling the great distances. Dorm beds in youth hostels are around £6 and you can eat for a fiver. An icy cold beer, somewhere between a half-pint and a pint, will set you back about £1.

Getting Around

Australia is geared up for backpackers and there are plenty of options for domestic travel. The most popular, and the cheapest, way to get around is by coach. Check out coachlines www.mccaffertys.com.au and www.greyhound.com.au, and for backpacker routes www.ozexperience.com. But if you can't stand long road journeys, it's worth checking out the new no frills airlines www.jetstar.com.au and www.virginblue.com.au.

Health and Safety

Australia is generally a very safe destination and the biggest problem for most visitors is likely to be sunburn. The sun is strong so stick to a minimum of factor 15. Usual precautions on personal safely apply in Australia as they would in the UK.

Working

Many gap year student's work in the service industry behind bars, in hotels and cafes, but there are plenty of other options you should look into. Farm work, such as fruit-picking, is low paid but you get to experience rural Australia and its outdoors. For a real Australia experience, you can become a jackaroo/jillaroo and work on a cattle/sheep station - not for the weak-kneed! There is also plenty of temporary office work and voluntary opportunities are good. Useful websites include: