Work & Travel Australia

See the highlights of the East Coast and join our Melbourne jobs programme

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Explore Sydney!

Group Size: Max 22

Trip code: AUAL

Duration: Up to 12 months job support

6 weeks on the East Coast
Intro week in Melbourne
12 months’ job support

G’day mate! Fancy travelling up the beautiful East Coast of Aus, before living and working in one of its most exciting cities? This bumper combo tour smashes together our Australia East Coast Adventure and Absolute Melbourne into one epic trip. Spend 5 weeks travelling from Sydney to Cairns, stopping off at the most iconic destinations including Byron Bay, Brisbane, Noosa, and Airlie Beach. Take a cruise round the stunning Whitsundays, camp out on K’gari and go snorkelling on the one and only Great Barrier Reef! Then make your way to hip Melbourne for a week of fun with wine-tasting, surfing and tiny penguins, before kicking off your Aussie job hunt with the full support of our local team! You’ll have full access to our jobs database and the support of the jobs team for up to 12 months. It’s the best start to living and working Down Under.

 

Trip Highlights

  • Spend 2 nights camping and exploring on K'gari
  • Sail around the gorgeous Whitsundays on a live-aboard maxi yacht!
  • Snorkel with thousands of tropical fish on the one and only Great Barrier Reef
  • Take in the best backpacker destinations on the East Coast, including Sydney, Byron Bay, Brisbane, and Cairns
  • Spend a week in Melbourne with food tours, beach time, bar crawls and more
  • Enjoy comprehensive job sessions, access to our awesome jobs database, and the full support of our jobs team for 12 months
Gap 360 Trip Notes

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What's included
  • Arrival airport transfer
  • 47 nights’ accommodation + 2 overnight buses
  • 9 breakfasts,9 lunches, and 9 dinners
  • Dedicated tour guide
  • All transport between included destinations
  • Sydney Harbour cruise
  • Sydney party night
  • Blue Mountains day tour
  • Coogee to Bondi Coastal Walk
  • Byron Bay surf lesson
  • Morning yoga in Byron Bay
  • Dolphin encounter
  • 2-night Whitsunday Island cruise
  • Magnetic Island forts walk
  • K'gari 4x4 island driving
  • Atherton Tablelands excursion
  • Great Barrier Reef snorkelling
  • Wine and cheese night
  • Brisbane city tour and beach visit
  • Noosa Beach time
  • Headland coastal walk
  • Rainbow Beach sand blow hike
  • Beach camping
  • Melbourne meet & greet session
  • Melbourne city tour
  • Aboriginal heritage walk
  • Melbourne Botanical Gardens visit
  • Food, drink & street art tour
  • Mornington Peninsula & Phillip Island getaway
  • Mount Martha visit
  • Wine tasting
  • Phillip Island bushwalk
  • Surf lesson
  • Kangaroo & koala experience
  • St Kilda beach day
  • Melbourne bar crawl
  • Bank account, Medicare and tax file number set up
  • Aussie SIM Card
  • Job and travel info sessions
  • 1-on-1 employment meeting
  • 1-on-1 travel info session
  • CV writing and interview advice
  • Access to nationwide jobs database
  • Access to farm work handbook and database
  • Weekly jobs email
  • Mail holding
  • 24-hour emergency support

 

What's not included
  • International Flights
  • Travel between Cairns and Melbourne
  • Visa
  • Travel Insurance
  • Optional Activities
  • Local taxes: K'gari levy ($20), Great Barrier Reef levy ($20) & Whitsunday Levy ($30) - subject to change
  • Some meals and drinks
  • Accommodation after first week in Melbourne
Further trip information

Australia East Coast Adventure

Days 1 - 4: Sydney. Meet the rest of your group at 11am on day 1 and get ready for a walking tour to introduce you to this gorgeous waterside city, including all the most iconic sights from the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge to Darling Harbour. The next few days are all about fun in the Sydney sun, with an epic catamaran cruise around the harbour, complete with Aussie barbecue lunch, a day with the beautiful people at Bondi Beach, the famous Coogee to Bondi walk and some seriously big nights out!

Day 5: The Blue Mountains. Take a trip to the spectacular Blue Mountains. Spend the day exploring the eucalyptus forests, sandstone cliffs, waterfalls and canyons of this stunning National Park before arriving back in Sydney ready for a night out.

Days 6 - 8: Sydney.You’ve got two full days of free time in sunny Sydney. Hit the beach, stroll round the Botanic Gardens, head to kitsch Luna Park, or visit Taronga Zoo. At the sun sets and the city lights flicker on, dress to impress with the ultimate party night! On day 8, board an overnight bus that’ll take you up the coast to Byron Bay.

Days 9 - 12: Byron Bay. Spend your days here relaxing on the perfect golden beaches and cooling off in the aquamarine waters. Enjoy a surf lesson, visit the lighthouse, get zen with a morning beach yoga session, and get stuck into a wine & cheese night!

Days 13 - 15: Surfers Paradise. This stunning city is legendary for its epic waves and buzzing nightlife. Put your new surfing skills to the test and spend a few days relaxing, swimming, partying and barbecuing!

Days 16 – 18: Brisbane. Today, you’ll discover Brisbane, a glistening city of towering skyscrapers and vast rivers. Enjoy a guided tour of the city, and check out the man-made Streets Beach, the perfect place for a cooling dip on a hot day!

Days 19 – 20: Noosa. Get away from the skyscrapers as you venture into the lush landscapes of Noosa. Enjoy a hike along the coast, take in beautiful panoramic views, or chill by the beach and watch an out-of-this-world sunset. Bliss.

Day 21: Rainbow Beach. This exquisite stretch of coast is pure paradise. Enjoy a hike along the beach and watch the sunset over K'gari. 

Days 22 – 25: K’gari. Take the ferry to beautiful K'gari. Travel the island in 4x4s, swim in the crystal-clear waters of Lake McKenzie and the champagne pools, soak up the views from Indian Heads Lookout and camp under the stars every night – amazing.

Days 25 - 26: Rainbow Beach. Have a free day to relax in Rainbow Beach. Choose to do some optional activities such as SUP, horse riding or kayaking. Tonight, travel and sleep on the overnight bus, waking up in paradise. 

Days 27 - 28: Airlie Beach. Check into the hostel from the overnight bus this morning. Visit the famous Airlie Beach Lagoon and Honeyeater Lookout Trail.

Days 29 – 30: Whitsunday Islands Cruise. Enjoy a night in lively Airlie Beach before boarding a spectacularyacht and cruising around the Whitsunday Islands. Sail past stunning islands and beaches, stop to snorkel and swim, and spend your nights under the stars on deck.

Day 31: Airlie Beach. Enjoy a post-island party night with your group and explore the gorgeous national park that surrounds Airlie Beach. If you want to max out on adventure, opt to see the Whitsundays from above in a helicopter!

Days 32 – 35: Magnetic Island. You’ve got 3 days on beautiful Magnetic Island. Snorkel in the shallows, enjoy a guided Forts Walk that takes in some of the best viewpoints on the Island, and relax at your accommodation.

Days 36 – 37: Mission Beach. Your penultimate stop is Mission Beach, a tropical paradise where golden sands and green palm trees fringe an ever-perfect blue sea. While here, you’ll explore the neighbouring National Park, home to the Djiru Aboriginal people.

Days 38 – 42: Cairns. Make the most of this fantastic backpacker destination with 5 full days to enjoy yourself. Take a daytrip to the Atherton Tablelands, a snorkelling trip to the one and only Great Barrier Reef and spend plenty of time topping up the tan and partying before heading to Melbourne!

Please note: You will be required to pay a conservation levy of AUD20 for the Great Barrier Reef. This cost is payable locally.

Day 43: Trip ends. Your tour ends this morning in Cairns! You’ll need to make your own way to the airport for a flight to Melbourne.

Absolute Melbourne

Absolute Melbourne Jobs is the ideal intro to living and working in this amazing Aussie city. Before you begin your job search, you'll enjoy a week of fun in Melbourne (including a night in Mornington Peninsula and Phillip Island). Then kick-start your job search with the ongoing support of our local jobs team.

8-day Intro Week

Day 1: Welcome to Melbourne! Arrive in Melbourne and get set for the time of your life! You’ll be met at the airport and transferred to your accommodation in the city where you can chill out and meet some of your fellow travellers before a first night in Melbourne.

Day 2: Welcome meeting & city tour. Kick off today with a welcome meeting where we'll organise your bank account, phone number and tax file number. Then get to know the city on an epic walking tour before an included welcome dinner on the banks of the Yarra River.

Day 3: Food tour & Aboriginal walk. Enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of  the Southern Hemisphere’s largest undercover market before taking an Aboriginal Heritage Walk through the Botanical Gardens. Then get stuck into our street art, food and drink tour. What a day!

Day 4: Beaches, wine & penguins. Head out of the city for our overnight road trip to Mornington Peninsula and Phillip Island. Bliss out on some of the area's best beaches and check out some scenic viewpoints before a group wine tasting session - yum! Round off the day watching tiny penguins waddle across the beach as the sun goes down!

Day 5: Surf & meet kangaroos! Get into the ocean this morning for an epic surf lesson. After you've learnt how to ride the waves like a pro, you'll get a chance to get up close to some kangaroos and koalas and grab some pictures with your new furry mates!

Day 6: Job session & St Kilda. Back in magical Melbourne today we've got a comprehensive employment and travel session. Then head to the beautiful suburb of St Kilda. Stroll around the promenade, grab a coffee in one of the alfresco cafes or try some paddleboarding.

Day 7: Get job ready! Start today with a group jobs presentation before a dedicated 1-on-1 work and travel session. Tonight, unwind with a few beers and a pizza before heading out on Melbourne's biggest and best bar crawl with your mates.

Day 8: Rooftop BBQ. What better way to spend the final day of your intro week, than chilling on a rooftop in the sun with your new mates?  We've lined up some beers and a classic Aussie BBQ , so grab a burger, and raise a glass to your incredible Aussie adventure!

Life Down Under

As well as all the activities in your intro week, you’ll also be provided with everything you need for life in Melbourne. This package really does take all the stress out of moving abroad.

The package includes:

  • An Australian SIM card. You’ll be provided with a SIM card so that you can make and receive calls in Australia. Perfect for organising job interviews and keeping in touch with your new friends! Just remember to unlock your phone before you arrive.
  • A Bank Account. You’ll get help setting up a bank account so that you can start earning and spending money.
  • A Tax File Number. Vital if you want to work in Australia. Sorting a tax file number out can be complicated, but you’ll be helped every step of the way.
  • Hostel Membership. You’ll be given a 12-month hostel membership which will score you hostel discounts all across Australia.
  • Employment Presentation: On day 7, the local team will deliver a presentation that covers the main areas of life and work in Australia including: Rules of work and taxation, 2nd year visa extensions info, and CV and interview tips.
  • Employment Information: During your meeting, you will receive detailed information packs that detail all the things covered in the presentation, plus a Rural Work Guidebook that features everything you need to know about rural work, including contact details for checked and approved rural employers.
  • Personal Jobs Meeting. After your presentation, you will have a personal meeting with a jobs advisor where you can ask questions and receive bespoke jobs advice.
  • Jobs Database: You will be connected to a jobs database that lists specialist jobs recruiters, working holiday visa employers and a Melbourne-based hospitality and labour firm’s vacancies.
  • Working Community: You will be added to an online network of employers and working holiday job hunters. You can connect with local job opportunities on an exclusive Facebook group, plus you will be added to a WhatsApp Group with everyone in your week 1 group and your guide, where you can share opportunities and jobs tips.
  • Employment Courses. You can opt to enrol in Barista Courses, RSA, RSG and White Card Courses to boost your employment opportunities.

Types of Jobs Available

There are a huge range of working opportunities across a range of employment sectors including:

  • Hospitality
  • Labour Jobs
  • Rural World
  • Admin
  • IT
  • Sales
  • Customer Service
  • Finance

Wages vary, but you can expect to earn somewhere between £10 and £15 an hour!

Real customer reviews
Australia Facebook Group Discussion

Hi! Is anyone on here doing the Absolute Oz and East Coast adventure starting October 13th?

Hey!! Anyone doing Epic East Coast Adventure around December? 🏄

Heya!! Is anyone booked on the 38-day East Coast Explorer trip for September 27th?

Booking options

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Online booking isn't currently available but if you'd like to enquire please use the form below. Alternatively if you'd like to discuss alternate trips or if you have any other questions please don't hesitate to contact us.
Call us on: 01892 527392
Email us at: [email protected]
Flights from £417

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Cheapest: £417 September, 2024
Most expensive: £1,239 July, 2024
Arrival information

Your tour begins at around 11am on day 1 in Sydney. Due to this early start time, we recommend you arrive in Australia the day before and book an extra night of accommodation in Sydney. Head to the pre-set meeting point at Sydney airport and a greeter will direct you to the shuttle bus which will take you directly to your hostel to begin your first week of fun and adventure! If you don’t arrive in time for the 11am meeting, you can meet your group later that day instead. Please speak to a travel advisor for more information and assistance in booking this. 

The Australia East Coast Adventure ends on day 43 in Cairns. You’ll need to make your own way to Melbourne for the Absolute Melbourne leg of your tour. A return airport transfer is not included but is easy to arrange locally.

Accommodation & meals

Accommodation

Australia East Coast Adventure

42 nights of accommodation are included on the Australia East Coast Adventure leg of your tour. This will mainly be in mixed hostel dorms, sleeping between 4 and 12 people. Two nights will be spent on overnight transport. Two nights will be spent camping on K'gari, and two nights will be spent on board a maxi yacht. Private room upgrades are available at extra cost. Please contact us for more details.

The majority of the journeys on the tour will be by coach. The coaches used are modern and comfortable, with USB sockets, Wi-Fi (connection dependant) and reclining seats. The overnight coaches also have even more legroom (more than most airlines!), as well as reclining seats, so you'll get a great night’s sleep.

Absolute Melbourne

7 nights of accommodation are included on this leg of the trip. You’ve got 6 nights in an up-market backpacker accommodation with modern designer rooms featuring iPod docking stations, high quality mattresses and flat screen TVs. Facilities include a rooftop terrace with spectacular city views, sun loungers and a swim spa, a fitness space with treadmill, cross trainer, exercise bike and multi-station gym, shared kitchen, lounge space, laundry facilities, full travel desk, and a balcony BBQ area for those iconic Aussie cookouts. You’ll stay in mixed dorm-style rooms with 4 – 8 bunk-style beds. Each bed has a lockable locker, private reading light and power points. Shared bathrooms are just down the hall.

You've also got 1 night in a stylish, modern hostel on Phillip Island. As well as a rooftop deck, the hostel offers a number of funky lounges, gourmet-style kitchen areas, free Wi-Fi and large balconies.

Let us know if you're travelling with a friend so we can make sure you're placed together. If you'd like to upgrade to a private room, it might be possible to arrange this at an additional cost. Please speak to a travel advisor for further details.

After your first 7 nights in Melbourneyou'll need to organise your own accommodation. Many of our travellers choose to share a flat with the new friends they've made during their first week. Our local team will help you explore accommodation options in the city.

You might also choose to extend your stay in a hostel - a great option if you enjoy the social element and if you'd like to travel around. Hostels usually offer cheaper rates for long term stays.

Meals

9 breakfasts, 6 lunches, and 6 dinners are included on the Australia East Coast Adventure leg of your tour and 3 lunches, and 3 dinners are included in your first week in Melbourne, including a welcome meal and a farewell barbecue dinner on the hostel rooftop.

You will need to purchase the majority of meals yourself. Each stop will have a great range of restaurants and backpacker bars where you can find tasty meals. Alternatively, you could prepare meals in the hostel kitchens. Preparing your own meals is a great way to save money. 

Minimum age & eligibility

The minimum age to join this group trip is 18.

If you are planning to work in Australia, you will need a Working Holiday Visa. To be eligible for a Working Holiday Visa, applicants need to meet the following requirements:

  • Hold a passport issued by an eligible country or region
  • Be aged 18-35 (inclusive) at the time of applying
  • Not be accompanied by dependent children at any time during your stay in Australia
  • Meet health, character and financial requirements
  • Not have previously entered Australia on a Working Holiday visa (unless applying for a second visa)
  • Be outside Australia when they apply and when their visa is granted
  • Apply within 12 months of intended travel to Australia.
  • Have sufficient funds to cover your expected living/trip costs during your stay
  • Have funds for a return or onward ticket to depart Australia (or an actual ticket)
  • Have health insurance

Gap 360 can apply for your visa as part of your package. Please select + WHV option at the time of booking on the dropdown list when selecting your date of travel.

Visa rules and regulations are subject to change. Please check the relevant embassy websites for up-to-date information.

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