Missed out on a university place? Head Down Under

Wednesday, 3 August 2011 10:43 AM

We are just days from A-level results time and, if you are stressed out by media reports that over 200,000 students may be unable to get a place, a working holiday would form part of a very productive gap year. Results come out August 18 and Tourism Australia is encouraging those that miss out on a place to consider heading Down Under on the Working Holiday Visa, by highlighting the benefits of the visa via a new online series on Facebook called 30 Days in Oz.

30, one minute, videos showcase the day in the life of brilliant backpackers working in Oz. You will experience a day in the life of croc handlers, shark swimmers, surf photographers, bungee jumpers, street artists, nature nuts and musicians.

On the day the A-level results are announced, Tourism Australia will launch a competition on its Facebook page offering young people the chance to win their own gap adventure Down Under.

Tourism Australia General Manager (UK & Northern Europe), Rodney Harrex, said: “We’re encouraging school leavers that missed out on a university place to catch up with other backpackers as they share their stories, and then to use the information on our Facebook page to start planning their own gap year adventure."

Ideas for amazing gap year jobs

Great gap year job ideas

Planning a gap year is really exciting, especially when you're at the stage of picking destinations to visit. It's also worth giving some thought to working while you're overseas; so, we've put together a list of the top gap year job ideas below.

Kangaroo Island will world surf tour event

Kangaroo Island attracts world surf tour to its shore

When gap year travellers consider Australia as a destination many thoughts will turn to the plethora of world-class surf spots which the land down under is famous for. Now in an historic first, South Australia will play host to some of the world’s top surfers this November after gaining the right to host an event on the surfing World Tour.
Staying in touch on your gap year

Staying in touch on your gap year

Keeping in touch with friends and family is an important part of any gap year, whatever you decide to do. It enables you to let your parents know that you’re OK and stay connected with your friends. Staying in contact is also a great way to combat homesickness and as a brilliant reminder or memento of your trip, that you can look at when you return.

 adventure tour

New adventure travel series to inspire travellers

A new video series that helps to inspire travel seekers find their perfect trip for 2013 will launch on the Google+ social network next week.
Melbourne, Australia - a gap year destination

Gap year down under offers jobless graduates a chance

As the UK job market is becoming increasingly difficult for graduates with no previous work experience, there is no better time for 18 to 35-year olds to take advantage of a Work Australia or Work New Zealand gap year programme.

woman on volunteer abroad scheme

Uni entries fall as students head overseas to work and learn

Rising university fees have led to a 30 per cent rise in the number of students heading abroad to work, study and volunteer, according to new figures from STA Travel. The youth travel specialist has seen a climb in bookings after the government introduced its top-up university fees for 2012. Many young people are now looking at alternative ways to bolster their CVs.

Australia Tourism announces finalists for ‘Best Jobs in the World’

Tourism Australia announces finalists for ‘Best Jobs in the World’

The 18 finalists for Tourism Australia's 'Best Jobs in the World' – three for each of the six dream jobs – have been chosen and will travel Down Under next month to spend a week undergoing the final stage of the global competition.

 Teaching English abroad is a great gap year activity

Top places in Europe to use your TEFL

Choosing to teach English as a foreign language - which is more commonly referred to as TEFL - is a fabulous thing to do during your gap year travels. We'll look at the benefits of doing so a little later, but first of all it's worth bearing in mind that it'd be a mistake to think you have to travel to the other side of the world in order to teach. Indeed, Europe is a fabulous place to put your qualifications to good use.

Travel Tales: "I walked through a wet forest whilst covered in leeches"

India is full of surprises, as backpacker Sarah discovered

Backpacker Sarah Ward chats leeches, monsoon weather, chilli for breakfast and clubbing in Mumbai - and everything else than happened on her Indian gap year adventure!

Interview with a local: An insider’s guide to London

London guide local interview destination

We chat to Cat Hughes, the mystery traveller behind TravelBite.co.uk's Secret London blog, to get the best travel tips direct from a local Londoner. Discover things you never knew about the UK capital...