gap year to australia????

Question

hi ive wanted to go to australia for a gap year at the end of my a levels for a while now, and wondered if anyone ever did this/ is doing this or if you live there. would you be able to give me advice on places that cant be missed what travel companies i could use etc. i would be going on my own as far as plans go for now. im in year 12 at the mo so the rest of this year and next year and then id go. anyone fancy coming with me??!! lol
any advice and information about what to do, where to stay who to travel with etc would be much appreciated. many thanks in advance.
love lucy xx

im going to order the lonely planet guide later on, thanks for the tips guys.

hi joeswiss, good luck with ure exams too. im not sure where in oz i want to go, probably queensland!!! how about u??xx

Answer 1

Yay come to Australia!!
I live in Brisbane, in sunny warm happy Queensland! Even in winter you only need a pair of jeans and a light jumper (err, sweater, i think, for you guys...).
And you'll be eighteen! Which means you'll be able to hit the clubs HARD! If you come to Brisbane, make absolutely sure you go to the Stock Exchange, on the corner of Edward St and Charlotte St in Brisbane city, on a Thursday night. It's student night so they're cheap drinks, awesome music, and lots of fun.
You should also go to the Whitsundays, the Great Barrier Reef, the Sunshine Coast (Australia Zoo), Cairns (crocodiles and rainforests...), Fraser Island (it's cheaper if you go via Inskip Point at Cooloola, but closer to the resorts and fun stuff if you go via Hervey Bay), and of course head out to the country. If you plan on going to other states, go to Bondi Beach in NSW, Uluru in the Northern Territory, the Queen Victoria markets in Melbourne...
You'll love Australia. The people are friendly and relaxed and the country is beautiful.

Answer 2

I did a gap year and did both, enjoying both. I got a round the world ticket with stops in thailand, australia, new zealand and fiji. It really depends on what sort of experience you want. Australia is great for the social life, the backpacker scene is great and once you've made a few friends, you'll never be short of travel buddies. Theres also lots of seasonal work and from the ski season in the south to the fruit picking in the north. The weather is also nice and you'll never be short of a nice beach on the coasts. New zealand is much more of a little britain - but way better. If you want a slightly quieter life, friendlier people and awesome scenery then here is a must. Mountains, volcanoes, glaciers, beaches and all the adventure sports, you'd never be short of things to do. It also has plenty of seasonal work. My advice - Do both on your own, if you start with a friend, guaranteed you'll get fed up of each other. Get an open ended round the world ticket with which you can change the dates of flights - that way your free to change your mind if you are or are not enjoying it somewhere. Definately do the seasonal work, its hard work but a good experience, you'll meet loads of like minded people, and you'll need the money if you want to do loads of the tourist trips. Enjoy.

Answer 3

hi, im also in year 12 and planning a gap year in australia
def buy lonely planets guide, ive heard alot of good things abount it and if your staying in aussi over new year, def go to sydney and watch the fireworks
-which part are you visiting?? its a huge country
have a look at my questions, you will find alot of good tips there

If you wanna compare notes and tips, just mail me
good luck for your as exams XD

thx, im going to spend first few weeks in perth, working, visiting rottnest island etc, then go to melburn, sydney, brisbane??
i dont really know, gonna have to buy that guide and plan it better, but i def learn to dive on the great barrier reef :)
I dont know much about queesnland, whats it like?

Answer 4

year 12,so that's about 17 or 18 years old, well make sure your 18 before coming over,that way you can take advantage of our legal drinking age of 18 yrs and PARTY HARD!! oh and see cultural stuff as well

i hope you have a great time when you get here.

Answer 5

Buy the lonely planet guide.

This will give you loads of basic info and will put you on the backpacking trail so you will meet lots of people and have a great time.

Answer 6

why don't you try chatting to some of the many Aussie students that we seem to have working in our pubs.
It should be a cheap source of information.
have a good time