Feature: Gap year ideas for visitors to Australasia
Always high on the list of gap year destinations are the fabulous countries of Australia and New Zealand. They offer the first time traveller new sights and experiences but with the benefits of being English speaking! Australia is a vast country, and while New Zealand is a lot smaller, can be quite rural in parts (such as parts of the South Island) so booking onto an organised tour is a great way of ensuring you see and experience as much as possible. To give you a head start, we have compiled a comprehensive list of backpacker orientated tours for the independent traveller, allowing you to hop-on and hop-off at your leisure!
OzIntro
For first time travellers looking to travel or work in Australia for an extended period of time, the OzIntro could be just what you need to get started. The company offers three and seven day intro packages which offer airport pickup and either hostel living in Sydney or beach accommodation in Coogee for the duration, depending on which package you choose.
You then have the perfect opportunity to meet new people by participating in a range of activities, which include jet boating through Sydney Harbour, surfing lessons, Blue Mountain treks, and pub crawls for all those party lovers. The company also provides you with an Australian bank account and SIM card, and offers assistance in finding work so can top up your travel funds!
OzExperience
For travellers who want to be able to decide where they want to go and when, but who also want the opportunity to meet fellow travellers, the OzExperience could be for you. Offering a range of different passes, the company provides a hop-on hop-off bus service to most east coast travelling spots, allowing you to stay in destinations for as long as you want and then booking your next bus whenever you’re ready to leave.
Although mainly based on the east coast from Sydney to Cairns or vice versa, it is also possible to make additional arrangements to visit Melbourne in the south – known for its coffee and fun nightlife – or Alice Springs in the centre of the country, which is a great place to camp outdoors under the stars and hear traditional Aboriginal storytelling.
The OzExperience offers a great chance to meet new people, get tips from the guides and drivers on the best places to stay, see all of the sights the east coast has to offer at your own pace and even attempt the odd bungee jump along the way!
Kiwi Experience
New Zealand’s equivalent to the OzExperience, this hop-on, hop-off bus service lets you choose your own itinerary while showing you awe-inspiring landscapes such as the Karangahake Gorge and the 20 metre high Taranaki Falls which cuts through and flows over ancient lava flow.
There are a range of options just focusing on the North or South Island, but the most comprehensive tours cover both, and take in all the major cities Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch as well as the serene beauty of Lake Matheson, with its famous views of the snow-capped Mount Cook reflected in its waters.
The best feature of the trip if you’re travelling alone is the opportunity it presents for meeting new people – in a country as rural and, in some parts isolated, as New Zealand such a tour will ensure you meet fellow travellers.
FeeJee Experience
Why not take a break from the well travelled path of Australia and New Zealand and head to the Fijian archipelago instead? Much the like the Oz and Kiwi Experience, this is another hop-on, hop-off bus service stopping over on isolated beaches, traditional Fijian villages, rainforest, and travelling by boat and raft to Robinson Crusoe Island, Mantaray Island, and Beachcomber Island.
The round trip calls at Pacific Harbour, with its long sand beach, opportunities to kayak, jet ski, and shop. And with lush rivers and waterfalls nearby, you might stay longer than expected! The tour also stops at the more remote beach resort of Volivoli, and the provincial towns of Ba and Nausori.
While these fantastic tour opportunities offer a glimpse into the nature and way of life of these far flung places, remember they can also be travelled differently, by using local transport and sourcing your own accommodation. It’s just you might have to work harder to meet as many people!
