Australia

Welcome to Australia

Nothing quite prepares you for your first glimpse of Sydney harbour and the famous Opera House in all its glistening glory on the waters edge, the word 'magnificent' springs to mind.

Sydney is the perfect gateway into the remarkable country - to find your feet, get over your jet lag and learn the local lingo - trust us, it is so close, yet so different.

Accommodation

You will be based in a funky hostel right in the centre of town. Expect 4 to 6 volunteers per room.

Food

Meals are not included. You will eat out in a cafe or restaurant. Loads to choose from covering all budgets.

From Bondi to the Blue Mountains

Your first week will be spent getting to know your team while exploring the best of Sydney and the surrounding mountains. Highlights will include:

The Harbour
You'll explore Circular Quay, Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Opera House and the Botanic Gardens on a guided walking tour. After which you will be treated to a Sydney Harbour Cruise to check out Darling Harbour, Fort Dennison and Watson’s Bay. Camera at the ready.

The famous Bondi to Coogee beach walk
We all know Bondi Beach and we promise it won't disappoint. You must have a swim in the famous Iceberg pool before heading out on the Bondi to Coogee beach walk. Starting off at Bondi, you’ll stroll over six beaches, multiple coves and rock pools, whilst gazing over Sydney’s most spectacular views of the Tasman Sea. Heaven.

Blue Mountains
Literally on the outskirts of this city are the Blue Mountains where you will be able to see your kangaroo and Koala, spectacular scenery, an abundance of Aboriginal history and the chance to ride the steepest railway in the world.

Let the Road Trip Begin

Having seen all the sites of Sydney and the surrounding mountains it's time to head off up the East coast all the way to Cape Tribulation. An amazing journey will unfold as you cross vast distances and different climates, reaching the rainforest at the very top.

You will be travelling as a team on 'hop on, hop off buses'. You will meet other fellow travellers and have independent flexibility to explore in each place.

Accommodation

Lively hostels at each location. Most hostels have WiFi access, shared bathrooms, laundry facilities and communal areas. You’ll be in single sex, dorm style rooms sharing between 4-6 people.

Food

Meals are not included. You will eat out at a café or restaurant - loads to choose from, covering all budgets.

All the way to Brisbane

Byron Bay
First stop is the popular backpacker hang-out of Byron Bay, offering gorgeous beaches and some of the greatest surf breaks in the world. During your stay, you will have the chance to take a surf lesson, mountain bike to the lighthouse and sample the world famous “Bay Kebabs”.

The Gold Coast
The Gold Coast is a region famed for its long sandy beaches and elaborate system of inland canals and waterways. This spot is just too good to miss, so you’ll stop here long enough to appreciate a tough choice of epic beaches such as the Burleigh Heads, Surfer’s Paradise or Coolangatta.

Brisbane
The hip capital of Queensland, buzzing with shops, cafes, bars and restaurants. A great place for a party.

The Best of Queensland

Leaving Brisbane behind, you’ll continue deeper into Queensland, stopping off at:

Noosa Beach
A beautiful beach town and Noosa National Park - a luscious, green peninsula made up of crystalline beaches, tropical rainforests and a perfect place to spot koalas.

Fraser Island
Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world with rain forests, mangroves, sand dunes and over 100 freshwater lakes. It is also one of the few places in the world where you find dingoes in their natural habitat. Here you will take a 3 day tour so you can experience everything the island has to offer.

Airlie Beach & Whitsundays Sailing
Airlie Beach is a super social and lively place with restaurants, clubs and bars to party well into the night, plus a beautiful swimming lagoon set in the parkland overlooking the islands. It’s also the access point for your overnight sailing adventure around the amazing Whitsunday islands. During your time you’ll also have a BBQ on Whitehaven beach, widely regarded as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

Magnetic Island
Magnetic Island is your chance to experience a truly paradise lifestyle. The hostel is located right on the beach, where you can chill out in the sun by day and groove to the tunes by night. Spend your days as you choose; whether you want to relax on the beach, or try something more adventurous like diving, your options are endless.

Cairns
Known as the gateway to both Australia’s tropical north and the Great Barrier Reef, it’s a hip place to stay with a vibrant nightlife. Here you’ll visit the cascading waterfalls at Atherton Tablelands, Crawford’s Lookout and Josephine Falls before swimming in Lake Eacham.

Great Barrier Reef Snorkeling
The largest barrier reef in the world. We have organised a day trip here to take you sailing to two unique destinations on the Great Barrier Reef, to see the best coral and marine life in the world.

Koala's to Wombats

For the next two weeks, it’s time to give something back to this incredible environment. We work with a number of different conservation partners in Northern Queensland, both government-supported and local NGOs who will welcome your help on the following projects:

Community Conservation: Caring for nature together

This program focuses on giving local communities a helping hand to protect their own patches of nature, especially around the coast, and wetlands which are important reservoirs for nature.

Living Heritage: remembering and conserving our past for a better future

The Living Heritage project celebrates indigenous and non-indigenous heritage by providing assistance to communities who wish to preserve, strengthen and conserve various aspects of important traditions and places.

Disaster Recovery: Building resilient communities

The disaster recovery program supports communities with rapid response teams of volunteers, providing essential assistance in the days and weeks following major disasters and extreme weather events. Fires, floods, earthquakes, cyclones, oil spills, and marine mammal strandings – all require compassionate yet practical responses, and the recovery program provides exactly that.

The exact project you’ll volunteer on will depend on when you go, weather conditions, seasonal differences and conservation priorities at the time.

Accommodation

Depends on the exact project but expect to stay in a mix of volunteer houses, caravans or tents (provided).

Food

3 meals a day included.

Reef Meets Forest

Your final week of this great road trip will take you to the very Northern region of Australia, an incredible eco paradise where the reef meets the rainforest in stunning fashion. It's hot, steamy but utterly stunning and the place for adventure - you name it, you can do it. Here is just a few of the things going on:

Horse riding along the beach.
Zip lining across the rainforest canopy.
4WD tours and hiking through the rainforest.
Ocean safaris.
Sea kayaking.
Swimming holes.

Final Night in Cairns
You'll head back to Cairns for your final night, before heading home or beyond.

Accommodation

Job Assistance Package

If you’re planning to stay on in Australia, then why not add on our Job Assistance package, which includes:

12 month membership to the leading job search database
You will receive priority access to thousands of job offers all over Australia. Your leader will explain how to find work, receive email alerts on new jobs as they become available and apply using an online CV.

CV review and interview service
An impressive CV and a confident interview performance are essential for finding work in Australia. Your leader will provide CV advice and interview techniques to help you clinch the jobs you want.

RSA course
The Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) course is essential if you’re looking to work in the hospitality industry in Australia. It’s an online course so you can do it in your own time.