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    Sydney Harbour and Sydney Opera House in Australia

    Australia Tours, Trips & Gap Years

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    Where better to go walkabout than Australia, the original gap year destination? Australia is full of gap travel adventures; learn to surf, dive or sail, camp under the stars, see weird and wonderful wildlife or get a job and live the urban Aussie dream in style. It's like a home-from-home but with sunshine, seriously stunning landscapes and adrenaline activities galore, perfect for first time travellers. With some of the best beaches in the world, cute koalas and jumping joeys, amazing nightlife, action-packed adventures with the chance to meet other like-minded young professional and student travellers. Our Australia trips and tours, be it a for a couple of weeks or several months, really are the ultimate gap year experience!

    Read more in our Australia Travel Guide.

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    Australia Facts

    Capital City

    Canberra

    Currency

    Australian Dollar (AUD)

    Language

    English

    Dialling Code

    +61

    Plug Type

    Type I

    Australia Highlights

    Aerial shot of city with ocean and bridge connecting, bright blue sky, Sydney

    Sydney

    Sydney is where travellers can experience the best of two worlds: East Coast sunshine and stunning city life. Starring sun-drenched golden stretches (including Bondi Beach!), a bustling Darling Harbour in the heart of the city, and legendary sights like the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, one word best describes Sydney - iconic!

    Swirling white sands and turquoise ocean with lush tropical island in background, The Whitsundays

    The Whitsundays

    Featuring swirling powder-white sands, a shimmering sapphire sea, and heart-shaped coral reefs, the Whitsundays are almost too gorgeous to be true. Sail overnight and go snorkelling inside this tropical paradise on earth as part of one of our Australia tours; trust us, it’s an experience that you’ll never forget!

    White lighthouse on green hill with people admiring the view on sunny day, Byron Bay

    Byron Bay

    There’s something magical in the air in Byron Bay. Maybe it’s enchanting sunsets by the lighthouse, yoga on the beach, dolphins skipping through the ocean waters, or cafes that are the definition of foodie heaven. Either way, life moves to its own tempo here. Once you’ve had a taste of Byron Bay, you’re never the same!

    Historic brown train station with round green rooftop and clock tower, with traffic on sunny day, Melbourne

    Melbourne

    Home to graffiti laneways, exhilarating nightlife, mouthwatering food markets, and hipster cafes that pride themselves on a great cup of coffee, Melbourne is effortlessly cool. And there’s more to Melbourne than meets the eye. Island getaways with penguins on the beach, and a wild coastline, is just a taster of what you can find!

    Giant red monolith rock surrounded by dry green and yellow desert on side of road, cloudy blue sky, Uluru

    Uluru & Kings Canyon

    As Australia’s final frontier, the Red Centre in the Northern Territory’s outback region promises epic adventures. Reconnect with nature inside this extraordinary, extraterrestrial-esque setting - whether that’s hiking inside the rugged Kings Canyon, or gazing at the sunrise by Uluru: a world-famous rock giant in the heart of the vast desert.

    Two persons in snorkelling gear facing the camera underwater

    Cairns

    In the northern stretch of tropical Queensland, you’ll find Cairns: a thrilling destination filled with natural beauty. When you’re not snorkelling inside the one-and-only Great Barrier Reef or trying out more adrenaline activities, expect to find waterfalls, island getaways and rainforest trails bound to take your breath away!

    Rugged cliffs leading into hills covered in dense dark forest under a sunset sky, The Blue Mountains

    The Blue Mountains

    Only an hour away from Sydney are the Blue Mountains, offering the most spellbinding vistas imaginable. Uncover waterfalls and native wildlife on the bushwalks, before marvelling at the misty valleys from the Three Sisters viewpoint. Named after its violet haze created by Eucalyptus oil droplets and sunlight, the Blue Mountains are dream-worthy.

    Car driving along the ocean by the waves on clear stretches of golden sand, near some grasslands, Australia

    K'gari

    K’gari translates to paradise, and that’s the perfect way to describe this island. Made entirely out of sand, this enchanting setting is home to stretches of blinding white dunes, bright turquoise waters, deep indigo lakes, giant shipwrecks, little woodland creeks, and lush rainforests. On a gap year in Australia, K’gari is simply unmissable!

    Modern city harbour with bright blue ocean and sailboats riding along, clear blue skies, Australia

    Brisbane

    With over 300 days of sunshine every year, Brisbane is all about enjoying the outdoors! From night food markets and live music venues to Streets Beach in the city centre, there’s always something exciting going on in Australia’s third-largest city. Dive into Brisbane’s nightlife and cultural scene, and you’re guaranteed to have a great time.

    Modern skyscrapers by stretches of white sand and ocean at sunset, lake in the distance, Australia

    Surfers Paradise

    It’s in the name! This three-kilometre strip of sun-kissed coast and glitzy city lights promises good vibes all around. Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast promises adventure from sunrise to starlight, regardless of if you’re out there riding the waves, shopping until you drop, or partying until dawn inside the neon-soaked nightclubs.

    Gold sand with bright blue waves lapping at the shore, mossy brown cliffs and rock stacks in the ocean

    Great Ocean Road

    There’s a reason why the Great Ocean Road is one of Australia’s most renowned road trips, and it has everything to do with the beachside villages, epic surf, atmospheric rainforest trails, and the famous rocky stacks called the Twelve Apostles. On our Australia tours, it’s an amazing day trip to take while exploring Melbourne.

    Tropical flora surrounding grey rocks and beach with blue ocean on clear day, forest in distance, Australia

    The Noosa Everglades

    When a destination is as loved by the locals as Noosa is, you know you’re in for a treat! While the bronzed beaches and chilled ambience are enough to charm any traveller, the lush Everglades - a total rarity in nature - make it a must on Australia trips. As you glide through the mirror-like waters and emerald forest, you’re entering another world.

    Fluffy quokka holding a little snack on the beach on a clear day

    Western Australia

    If not for the quokkas and kangaroos, the West Coast often feels like another continent - let alone the same country as the rest of Australia. Bubblegum pink lakes, camels on the beach, and giant stretches of ancient sandstone are all ready for discovery. With how close it is to Southeast Asia, it’s an unmissable stop on a gap year in Australia.

    Australia Travel Advice

    Aerial shot of swirling white sand, turquoise waters and sparse emerald trees with rocky borders

    Climate & Weather

    Australia is located in the Southern Hemisphere, and with the exception of the tropical Northern Territory and far north Queensland, most of the country experiences four seasons. Australia has spring from September to November, summer from December to February, autumn from March to May, and winter from June to August. Its tropical north has a wet season (November to April) and dry season (May to October).

    While the East Coast generally has sunshine throughout the entire year, southern Australia has cooler temperatures in winter. You can even go skiing in the winter in the Snowy Mountains.

    Fluffy koala in a birch treetop surrounded by green leaves on a clear blue day, Australia

    Best Time to Visit

    The best time in Australia for travel depends on where you’d like to go. The summer months of December to February is a popular time on the East Coast. Sydney has amazing festivals during this time of the year, such as NYE and Mardi Gras. In May to June (winter), there’s also Vivid Sydney. 

    If you are visiting the Northern Territory, a great time to visit is in the winter months from June to August. Days are balmy with cooler nights, which is ideal for the desert. September to November (spring), and March to May (autumn), are another great time to visit Australia overall.

    Two surfers hanging out on the beach with their boards, sunset, crashing waves and golden sand, group in the distance

    Customs & Culture

    Australia today is a diverse melting pot, from Aboriginal heritage to international influences. This destination is all about connecting with the outdoors, embracing a “no worries” attitude, and socialising over delicious food and drink. Australian culture and dress code are super casual, so as long as you respect another person’s personal space and beliefs, you should have an amazing time travelling in Australia.

    Red and blue british passports

    Passports & Visas

    Entry requirements and visa regulations are different for every destination and your purpose of travel. We recommend staying updated on the latest official information before you go travelling. Your passport should be undamaged and have enough blank pages for stamps and visas. Many countries require your passport to have at least 6 months of validity beyond the date of entry.

    For more information and resources regarding entry requirements, check out our Visa Advice page.

    Blue ocean with three sailboats, curved white sand and lush forest, little islands in distance, sunny day with clouds

    Health & Safety

    At Adventure360, your safety and well-being are our top priorities. From the moment your trip is confirmed until you arrive back home, you'll have access to a 24/7 emergency contact number for any urgent issues. For anything non-urgent, our friendly team is also available during office hours to help.

    We strongly recommend checking the FCDO advice for Australia, as it's regularly updated with the latest safety and travel information and you can even sign up for email alerts to stay informed of any changes. In addition, you can check the FCDO general travel advice for British nationals abroad.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    A gap year in Australia is guaranteed to be the adventure of a lifetime. Aside from the fact that this destination is so huge and diverse, you could easily spend months exploring, Australia has one of the world’s best working holiday programmes! Find out more about how you could live and work Down Under as part of your gap year by reading our ultimate guide to the Working Holiday Visa Australia

    Australia is one of the biggest countries in the world and stretches across multiple time zones, so the best time to visit completely depends on where you’d like to go. As Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere, the most popular time of year to visit is the summer months from December to February. Shoulder season travel, in either September to November or March to May, is another great option. Similarly, the winter months of June to August are one of the most underrated times to visit Australia - temperatures in the Northern Territory are comfortably warm, and in the south of the country you can get involved with more outdoor activities without the heat!

    Australia has such an amazing variety of locations, that the question of where you should travel comes down to your preferences! The Aussie East Coast is a rite of passage for backpackers, thanks to the sunshine, surf and party scene. While you’re there, it’s worth heading further down southern Australia, to visit Melbourne’s vibrant laneways and check out the Great Ocean Road. Offering a totally different experience is the Aussie West Coast and tropical Northern Territory, where you can expect to find huge stretches of red desert, pink lakes and paradise beaches. Not sure where to go? Chat to one of our travel advisors and they’ll help you find your dream trip to Australia!

    If you are flying to Sydney or Cairns on the East Coast, or Melbourne in the south, this will typically take over 21 hours with at least one stopover included. You may be able to take a direct flight to Perth from the UK, which would take around 18 hours.

    Australia Trip Reviews

    4.7
    rating

    358
    reviews

    "Bloody brilliant!"

    Penny

    "Amazing, loved it! Nikki was very helpful and friendly. Great way to meet people and get started in Australia."

    Seren

    "Informative, good fun, varied, active, challenging."

    Patricia

    "-"

    Megan

    "Amazing group to book with, the itinerary is all planned and well structured and even helps with flights once…"

    Ben

    "So much fun! Everyone was so amazing and have definitely made friends for life! Went to good hostels and the…"

    Evie

    "The trip is an investment in a good time and support from a genuine staff! Perfect way to get acclimated when…"

    Shaneeka

    "Overall great experience"

    Laura

    "Amazing experience!"

    Roisin

    "This is your sign to book your flight to Australia and have the best week of your entire life! Travelling…"

    Chloe

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