41 trips
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.
25 or 30 Days from £2,499
Best of Australia: cities, beaches, islands, nightlife, wildlife and more!
Australia's waiting for you on our Gap 360 exclusive trip! Choose between 25 or 30 incredible days of discovering the Aussie East Coast - plus an optional Melbourne and Great Ocean Road adventure. Watch the sunrise with wallabies, go Great Barrier Reef snorkelling, overnight sail the Whitsundays… all rolled into one life-changing adventure!
5-6 weeks from £2,899
5.0 155-6 weeks on the beautiful East Coast of Australia!
Spend 5 or 6 unforgettable weeks on Australia's East Coast. Discover beautiful beaches, unspoilt islands and buzzing backpacker destinations.
Up to 12 months from £549
4.5 34A perfect way to get your working holiday off to a great start!
Aged 18-35? Expect to earn £15 to £25 an hour with paid work in Oz! Start with 8 days of fun in Sydney, plus 12 months of expert job advice and support - awesome!
3 to 12 months from £7,599
4.5 217It's a bucket-list blockbuster!
Taking a gap year? Postponing uni? We've got the perfect trip for you! Discover Thailand, Vietnam, Bali and Australia with the perfect mix of group and independent travel. Combine fun in the sun with a working holiday and add on extra destinations to build your dream package!
28 days from £2,799
Non-stop bucket list moments on Australia's stunning East Coast
Discover the wonders of Australia's East Coast on this 28-day group trip packed with beautiful beaches, buzzing cities and wonderful wildlife.
5 days from £429
5.0 1Learn to surf in the best location on the East Coast
Learn to surf at the original and best 5-day surf camp on the East Coast, just 2 hours from Sydney. Perfect for beginner to intermediate surfers, it's the total package with meals, accommodation, equipment, and activities included. Eat, sleep, surf, repeat, and we'll take care of the rest.
30 days from £2,499
Semi-guided adventure on Australia's most famous stretch of coast
Looking for the perfect combo of group tour and independent travel on Australia's sunny East Coast? Then this trip's the one for you! Kick off with 5 days with a group leader before making your way through the highlights of the East Coast with your new mates.
7 days from £999
Reefs, beaches and national parks from Perth to Exmouth
Go West for the most fun you've had all year! 7 day group tour from Perth to Exmouth. Snorkel over tropical reefs, feed wild dolphins, sandboard on the dunes, explore ancient Aboriginal lands and more!
21 days from £2,139
5.06Explore the best of the East Coast in 21 days!
This fast-paced group adventure is jam packed with sunshine and fun. Set sail round the Whitsundays, catch a wave on the Gold Coast, discover K'gari in a 4 x 4, and party like an Aussie!
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!
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!
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!
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!
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.
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!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
British passport holders will need to either apply for an eVisitor visa or ETA to enter Australia - both are easy to organise and obtain. Typically, both will allow you to visit Australia for up to 12 months - up to three months at one time. Make sure your passport is valid for the duration of your stay. Many travellers also come to Australia to do a working holiday on a 417 visa!
We recommend staying up to date with FCDO advice before you go travelling, as entry requirements and visa rules can be subject to change.
At Gap 360, 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.
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
Yes, British travellers will need an ETA or eVisitor visa to enter Australia; however, this only takes a few steps and is easy to apply for. If you are interested in doing a working holiday in Australia and are a British citizen, you may be eligible for a working holiday 417 visa.
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!
Most travellers flying from major UK airports have a short stopover somewhere like Dubai or Singapore. 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. There are direct flights available from London to Perth in Western Australia which takes around 18 hours.
Your passport must be valid for the length of your planned stay. Always check with the relevant embassy websites before travelling. Please note that if you are travelling through or transiting another country on your way to or from Australia, you will need to check their entry requirements in addition to Australia’s. Refer to the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs for further details.
In the southeast of Australia is the popular state of New South Wales. Think of the Sydney Opera House, Bondi Beach, the Blue Mountains and so much more. This incredible destination has endless adventures to offer, so you’ll never be short of things to do. From soaking up the sunshine, and meeting like-minded travellers to living and working...
Last updated: 2nd May 2024
Should I travel to Australia or New Zealand? Well, it’s a tough question! They’re both equally incredible destinations so it’s not surprising they’re joint first place on your bucket list. They’re at the top of ours too! If you seriously can’t pick, you’ve come to the...
Last updated: 21st March 2024
Here at Gap 360, we seriously love Australia. Not only is it one of our most popular destinations with our travellers, many of us have visited, and we even have a few Aussies working here in our UK office. Like most destinations, there are plenty of Australian stereotypes flying around. Whilst some are true blue (which means true to Australia), others...
Last updated: 5th February 2024
Love a gorgeous beach? Australia is no doubt the place for you! With almost 12,000 beaches it’s the perfect destination for your bucket list for snorkelling, surfing, fishing, swimming, sailing, the list goes on! Australia’s shores are blessed with some of the most stunning beaches in the world. From coral-fringed bays in Western Australia to sugary sand...
Last updated: 11th December 2023
EligibilityHow to Apply Working Holiday PackagesFAQs Most travellers dream of exploring the world while earning and an Aussie working holiday is how to make it happen! Here’s everything you need to know about the Working Holiday visa in Australia - what it is, how to apply and why it’s one of the best decisions you...
Last updated: 8th October 2024
You’re finishing your travels Down Under and have had the ultimate backpacker experience... maybe over the year, you did some work here and there. You could be owed a Tax Rebate for your time spent in Australia. Sorting out your tax refund from Australia can be tricky, but we are here to help it go as smoothly as...
Last updated: 24th July 2024
If moving to and living in Sydney is high on your bucket list, you’ve found the perfect Working Holiday guide to start planning your big adventure. Here are all our top tips, and tricks to know before you take the leap and move to Sydney & New South Wales. How can I move to Sydney? Moving to Sydney...
Last updated: 31st May 2024
Looking to renew your Australian Working Holiday visa, and not sure if working on a farm is for you? The great news is that you are no longer required to do any farm or rural work with Australia’s latest updates to Working Holiday visas for British passport holders (Subclass 417). So if you want to extend your stay Down...
Last updated: 31st May 2024
In partnership with Sydney deserves its top spot on travellers’ bucket lists, and the excitement doesn’t end there. The magnificent region of New South Wales has so much to offer - whether it’s sandboarding on dunes, dolphin and whale watching, or bushwalks… the sense of adventure is limitless! If polished vineyards and leisurely beach...
Last updated: 13th January 2025
Are you keen to have Christmas in Australia? Well, you’ve come to the right place! Learn how and when the Aussies celebrate Christmas, from unique traditions to the Australian surfing Santa. It’s an incredibly unique way to celebrate this worldwide holiday, and we highly recommend experiencing it at least once in your life! When is Christmas...
Last updated: 13th November 2024
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