The Big Aussie Adventure

Transcription

1 Trip Highlights Start your Big Aussie Adventure in Cairns with exciting white water rafting, kayaking, a hot air balloon ride and a boat trip to the Great Barrier Reef! Use our flexible travel pass to travel along the East Coast. You can complete the route in a short time frame or hop on and off to stay longer, as your travel pass is valid for 12 months Stop off to see all the sights of the East Coast, such as famous Fraser Island or the wonderful Whitsunday Islands along the way and make new friends on this great group adventure! After 2 days of downtime in Byron Bay, spend 5 days relaxing at Surf Camp and learn to surf with expert instructors! End up in buzzing Sydney and enjoy a week of fun in the city and at Beach Camp before beginning your job search with our Absolute Oz paid work package! Up to 12 months from 2,259 1/13

2 Trip Overview Our Big Aussie Adventure includes exciting travel programmes along the Australian East Coast, plus our awesome Absolute Oz paid work programme. Explore the incredible East Coast from Cairns to Sydney and then find a paid job with our brilliant work package, all in one ultimate combo trip! This trip includes: Cairns Adventure East Coast travel pass Learn to Surf experience Absolute Oz jobs package This is a great adventure, ideal for meeting people and making new friends along the East Coast. Complete this epic East Coast route in as little as 3 weeks, or use your flexible travel pass to hop off and extend your trip for up to 12 months. Kick off your trip in Cairns, gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, with our fun Cairns Adventure packed full of adrenaline activities. Next, bounce along Australia s East Coast between Cairns and Brisbane with our flexible travel pass, which also includes some exciting activities and overnight stays. Spend 2 nights relaxing in Byron Bay before starting your 5-day Learn to Surf experience. Your final East Coast destination is Sydney, where you will have a week of fun in the city and at beach camp before beginning your search for the perfect paid job. This is the ultimate East Coast travel & work adventure! 2/13

3 Trip Details The Big Aussie Adventure includes: Cairns Adventure East Coast Travel Pass Learn to Surf experience Absolute Oz jobs package You can complete this epic East Coast route in as little as 3 weeks, or use your flexible travel pass to hop off and extend your East Coast trip for up to 12 months. Cairns Adventure This adventure is based in Cairns and is all about getting the ultimate Aussie buzz. You will spend a total of 6 nights staying in Cairns, with 4 full days of fun and inclusive activities. Enjoy awesome adventure experiences in one perfect package: Get your pulse pumping as you take a rapid ride on the Tully River with a day of white water rafting; take a sea kayak tour and have fun on Fitzroy Island; blow your mind on a soaring balloon flight above the Atherton Tablelands and snorkel in an underwater world at the gorgeous Great Barrier Reef. Day 1: Arrive in Cairns. Get settled in to your hostel and start meeting people! 3/13

4 Day 2: Full day white water rafting on the Tully River. Departs from Cairns at 6.30am. Return transfers, training and rafting equipment, BBQ lunch included. Local payment supplement for rafting. Day 3: Half day guided sea kayaking tour around Fitzroy Island and the Great Barrier Reef. Afternoon spent snorkelling in the coral reef, doing rainforest walks or bouncing on the floating ocean trampoline! Return ferry transfers, use of snorkel gear and picnic lunch included. AUD10 for return bus transfer. Local payment for kayaking. Day 4: Balloon flight. Early start for 30-minute hot air balloon flight over the Atherton Tablelands. Bus transfer back to Cairns for some free time. No meals included. Local payment for Civil Aviation levy. Day 5: Full day snorkelling at the Great Barrier Reef. An 8.15am start from Reef Fleet Terminal. Board catamaran for a full day's snorkelling and diving at multiple, exclusive reef sites, including up to 3 dives for scuba divers and snorkelling tours of the reef. Morning tea and buffet lunch included. AUD10 for return bus transfer. Day 6: Relax in Cairns. Spend a free day in Cairns before setting off on your East Coast travels tomorrow! Please note: All activities begin in Cairns and are run separately as individual events, so you will be meeting new people at each stage of your adventures rather than sticking with the same group. Because of this the order of activities is subject to change and the itinerary is for guidance only. Please be aware that in the event of bad weather conditions activities may be disrupted. Please Note: There will be a local payment of AUD90 (approx 49) which will need to be paid in cash on different days of your programme (see itinerary). This includes a Civil Aviation levy, a rafting fee and a kayaking supplement. This payment is extra to the trip price, but the trip has been priced to take in to account this additional local payment. Return transfers from the reef on days 2 & 4 will cost an additional AUD10 per day. Please note: Between the end of January and the beginning of March the hot air ballooning has a AUD30 local payment. If you wish you can swap the Cairns Adventure for our Learn to Dive at the Great Barrier Reef programme (for an extra cost). Please speak to a travel advisor if you are interested in this option. East Coast Travel Pass The East Coast travel pass route runs as follows: Cairns - Tully (for indigenous camp) - Townsville - Magnetic Island - Proserpine - Airlie Beach (gateway to the Whitsunday Islands) - Rockhampton - Emu Park - Gympie - Rainbow Beach (gateway to Fraser Island) - Noosa Brisbane 4/13

5 Overnight stops are highlighted in bold. Freedom & Flexibility: Your inclusive travel pass includes flexible, one-way travel between Cairns and Brisbane and is the ideal way to see the East Coast. The travel pass is valid for up to 12 months, but this part of the East Coast route can be completed in as little as 8 days if you are short on time (although we recommend 4-6 weeks to explore the East Coast). Alternatively, you are free to hop on and off to explore the East Coast at your own pace if you so wish the choice is yours! Easy to use booking app: One of the best things about this brilliant travel pass is the ease of booking. A high-tech booking app can be installed easily onto your device so you can book departure times, accommodation and activities all at the touch of a button. You can begin travelling the route any time within 12 months of the date of booking. Timetables and booking can be accessed by using the unique app or on the website. Top tour guides: This travel pass route has some of the most well-informed and helpful tour guides in Oz, and they travel with you on every stage of the fixed travel route, offering endlessly helpful advice and information about everything from local culture, fun activities in each area, tasty local meals, wonderful wildlife, and all the best things to see and do on the Aussie East Coast! Please note: Itinerary and inclusions are subject to change. Fraser Island and Whitsundays Add-on Complete your Travel Pass experience with our awesome Fraser Island and Whitsundays Addon. The pack includes a fantastic 2-night yacht cruise around the Whitsundays, stopping off at Whitehaven Beach and some beautiful snorkel spots, and a 4x4 camping experience on Fraser Island that sees you exploring in a 4WD vehicle and camping out under the stars. Make sure you save money by booking this add-on pack BEFORE you travel. Booking locally is a lot more expensive so get ahead of the crowd and secure your adventures early! (and spend the money you save on more fun and games in Oz!) If you wish to book this Add-on please contact your travel adviser. You can also book either of the adventures separately so let your travel adviser know your preference. Relax in Byron Bay and then learn to surf at Surf Camp! When you ve completed your travel pass route in Brisbane, you ll be picked up and taken to the laid-back surf and hippy town of Byron Bay, one of the East Coast s most popular and fun destinations. You ll spend 2 nights relaxing in Byron Bay followed by 5 days learning to surf at Surf Camp! 5/13

6 Day 1: Arrive in Byron Bay. You ll enjoy one inclusive surf lesson in Byron Bay today, plus a chance to relax and explore the laid-back town of Byron Bay - bliss! Day 2: Byron Bay. Have another exciting surf lesson on Byron Bay's beautiful beaches and spend some free time in the relaxing town of Byron. Day 3: Arrive at Surf Camp. You ll be taken to the legendary Spot X surf camp. Check in and chill out with your new surf buddies around the campfire, before your first surf lesson, which will take place in the afternoon. Days 4-6: Learn to Surf at Surf Camp. You will spend the next three days learning how to surf, enjoying two surf sessions a day: A morning lesson with the expert surf instructors and an afternoon expression session. Expression sessions allow you to celebrate the beach and surf lifestyle with boards, music and beach activities with your guides and instructors. It's a great opportunity to kick back and build up your surf skills. Instructors cater for all levels, even absolute beginners, and will have you riding a wave in no time. Enjoy loads of fun activities on offer around the camp and tuck in to three delicious inclusive meals a day, while at night you can enjoy a drink around the campfire, join in games or rest up and conserve your energy to hit the waves again in the morning! Day 7: Surf Camp to Sydney. You'll have one surf lesson in the morning, hang out for a final afternoon at surf camp and then arrive in Sydney in the evening, ready to begin your Absolute Oz Jobs programme. Absolute Oz Jobs Before you begin your Aussie job search you ll enjoy a week of fun and amazing activities in Sydney and at Beach Camp: Day 1: Arrive in Sydney. You will arrive on a Sunday and are then free to spend the day as you wish. Day 2: Sydney. Go on a city walking tour. Walk to Darling Harbour for a leisurely lunch (own expense) then take in the stunning Botanic Gardens and see the iconic Opera House. In the evening you ll meet at 7.30p.m for a group dinner. Day 3: Sydney. Your day kicks off at 9.15am with an orientation about working in Australia! Enjoy a boat party in Sydney Harbour and then walk to Darling Harbour for an afternoon enjoying the sun, sea and sand before hitting the town at night. Day 4: Beach Camp. Depart Sydney for a 2-night Beach Camp adventure. At 1pm you meet at the hostel reception and catch the bus to Beach Camp. Discover some prime Aussie scenery and wildlife just 5 minutes walk from the beach. Relax in this beachside escape surrounded by a total of six acres of rainforest. 6/13

7 Day 5: Beach Camp. Go on a 4x4 tour of the sand dunes (with sandboarding!) before learning about local Aboriginal cultures. Take a bushwalk through Tomaree National Park, spotting koalas. Enjoy an evening BBQ and drinks around the campfire. Day 6: Beach Camp to Sydney. Browse the coastline on a boat cruise, and spot dolphins and other marine life. After a last trip to the beach, head back to Sydney and spend the rest of the day relaxing or enjoy a night on the town. Day 7: Party Night. Spend today chilling out at the hostel or exploring Sydney. Today is also a good opportunity to ask the local team any questions you may have about your onward travel plans. This evening is all about partying as you meet your group at 7.30pm in a bar in Darling Harbour (bring your ID). Enjoy entry to four city bars and clubs (plus 4 inclusive drinks!) as you kick off your night on the town. You'll be provided with a party bus for the evening so you can explore the streets in style on this Sydney city pub crawl! Day 8: Bondi to Coogee Beach Tour. Breathe in the fresh ocean air on a Coogee to Bondi beach tour, checking out some gorgeous coastlines on a cliff-top walk. The tour leaves at 10am from your hostel (bring some money for lunch and a bus fare). Comfy shoes and swimming costume are a must! It s the perfect way to chill out after an action packed first week in Australia. Your intro activity week ends today. Time to get cracking on your working holiday adventure! Let the Job Hunt Begin! Now it s time to kick-start your Aussie job search. You can book appointments with our job support team who can give you all the help and advice you ll need in order to secure yourself a paid Aussie job. A job coordinator is available in our office from Monday - Friday for general chats, CV reviews and job advice. You also have a full 12 months of job support so you can also contact the jobs team by to answer any queries while you are travelling in Australia. Your job adventure is fully flexible, meaning you can search for the job that suits you, wherever you want in Australia, and the balance of time spent working and travelling during your year is entirely up to you. The job support programme includes: 12 months access to the online jobs network and vacancies nationwide A CV review service An orientation Advice about setting up your own Australian bank account before you go An Aussie mobile phone SIM card A Tax File Number Medicare Access to free Wi-Fi A 12-month mail holding service Help and advice about long-term accommodation A hostel & travellers discount card An inclusive bar skills course 7/13

8 A free, inclusive online RSA (Responsible Service Alcohol) course (valid in all territories except New South Wales or Victoria) There are loads of awesome jobs on offer across Australia and our expert job team will help you apply and line up suitable job interviews. Using the job database you ll have access to over 1900 job adverts at any one time, so the sky s the limit when it comes to finding paid jobs in Australia! Some typical areas of employment include: Accounts / Banking / Legal Au-Pair / Nanny / Childcare Bar / Hospitality / Chef Credit / Collections Jobs Farm / Harvest / Ranch Hairdressing / Beauty Jobs IT / Web / Design / Media Mechanical / Engineering Mining Industry Jobs Nursing / Health Care Jobs Office / Admin Jobs Retail / Customer Service Sales / Marketing / Fundraising Teaching / Coaching Jobs Telemarketing / Call Centre Trades / Labour Jobs Travel / Tourism Jobs Wage rates will vary depending on the type of job you have and its location. You can expect to earn around per hour. Arrival Information You should arrange your arrival into Cairns on day 1 of the Cairns Adventure. An airport transfer to your accommodation is included between the hours of 8am and 8pm. This transfer runs approximately every 30 minutes. If you arrive outside these hours you will need to arrange a transfer yourself. Go to the Transfers Desk and tell them which hostel you re staying at, and you can jump on a transfer and be dropped off at your accommodation. The transfer costs around 5. Accommodation & Meals Cairns Adventure 8/13

9 6 nights accommodation in a hostel in Cairns is included, in shared dorms sleeping up to 8 people. Some meals on day trips are included: A BBQ lunch on your white water rafting day, a picnic lunch on your day spent sea kayaking and lunch during your snorkelling day at the Great Barrier Reef. East Coast Travel Pass No accommodation is included as part of this flexible travel pass, but in each overnight location you will have accommodation reserved for you, so you don t have to worry about where you will be staying. These will range from shared dorm rooms in hostels, at an average cost of AUD28 (approx 16) per person per night, to en suite twin or double rooms in motels, at an average cost of AUD100 (approx 57). Accommodation costs are to be paid locally. This travel pass includes several compulsory, scheduled overnight stops in locations off the beaten track, complete with amazing and unique adventures and experiences. Each of the following overnight stops are at extra cost to be made by local payment: Barrington Tops Overnight Stay (AUD 60): Stay on the edge of Barrington Tops National Park, in a private lodge overlooking the Barrington River. Surf Camp Overnight Stay (approx. AUD 60): Stay at a beautiful beachside location in a laid-back surf camp. Remote River Camp Overnight Stay (AUD 50): Journey to the Solitary Islands Marine Reserve and camp beside the river overnight. Treasure Island Overnight Stay (AUD99): Cruise across to Great Keppel Island and enjoy snorkelling, turtle spotting and a treasure hunt adventure. Tully Rainforest Experience (AUD120): Visit a swimming hole, spend the night in a historic country pub and enjoy a sunrise mountain hike and champagne breakfast. In some locations you will be camping in remote campsites, but permanent toilets and shelter areas are provided. If you choose to hop on and off for independent travel time, you will be responsible for finding and paying for your own accommodation: Your helpful tour guides will be able to advise you of the best local options. Meals are not included on this trip. Self-catering options are sometimes available, or the group often chooses to go out for a meal together. Byron Bay and Surf Camp You will spend 2 nights in a unique surf camp in the laid-back surf and hippy town of Byron Bay - staying in tipis! You will also have breakfast and dinners included while in Byron Bay. 9/13

10 You'll spend a further 4 nights at Surf Camp, where you ll be staying in beachfront shared dorms, which house 6-8 surfers and have direct access to the beach. The Surf Camp is a sparkling hidden gem, kept secret in a national marine park north of Coffs Harbour, and south of Byron Bay. Facilities here include all meals and accommodation, laundry, Internet, beach activities, a TV room and chill out areas, board / kayak and bike hire services, and you'll have access to a shop selling drinks and snacks. All meals are included at camp and are prepared by camp chefs. Water, coffee and juice are also included at mealtimes. Absolute Oz Jobs 7 nights accommodation is included, in a city centre hostel in Sydney and at Beach Camp. In your Sydney hostel you ll enjoy modern facilities in shared dorm accommodation with up to 10 people. The hostel also has a bar, restaurant, cafe, TV room and lounge, self-catering kitchen, security lockers, phone booths, laundry, internet and Wi-Fi and a travel desk. At Beach Camp you ll be staying in shared accommodation by the beach, surrounded by rainforest. 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners and some free drinks are included during your first week in Sydney and at Beach Camp. What do I do about accommodation while I m doing paid work? While working in Australia you can extend your stay in a hostel or rent an apartment. Our customers often end up renting a place with the friends they ve met on their travels. You can expect to pay per week to rent an apartment. Alternatively you can extend your stay in a hostel. Hostels offer cheaper rates for those that want a long term stay. It is really easy to book accommodation in hostels: You can often walk in and get a room that day but we recommend that you make a reservation the night before. You can expect to pay around per week. Please note that when you are working in Australia, you will earn enough to cover your accommodation and living expenses. Minimum age & eligibility The minimum age requirement is 18. As you will be doing paid work in Australia, you will need to apply for a Working Holiday Visa. Due to Working Holiday Visa age restrictions, this trip is only available to year olds. You can book this trip with the Working Holiday Visa included or apply for it independently, either online or by post. 10/13

11 The Working Holiday Visa is available to passport holders from: Belgium Canada The Republic of Cyprus Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Hong Kong SAR The Republic of Ireland Italy Japan The Republic of Korea Malta The Netherlands Norway Sweden Taiwan United Kingdom To be eligible, applicants need to meet the following requirements: Hold a passport issued by an eligible country or region Be aged (inclusive) at the time of applying Not be accompanied by dependent children at any time during their stay in Australia Meet health, character and financial requirements Not have previously entered Australia on a Work and Holiday visa Not have previously entered Australia on a Working Holiday visa (unless applying for a second visa) Be outside Australia when they apply and when their visa is granted Apply within 12 months of intended travel to Australia Have sufficient funds Have funds for a return or onward ticket to depart Australia (or an actual ticket) Have health insurance Please contact us if you have any questions regarding visa applications. Fraser Island Add-On: In order to drive a 4x4 on Fraser Island you must be aged 21 or over and have a full, clean, manual driving license. Otherwise, you can see the island from the passenger seat! Group Size 11/13

12 Avg What's Included All transport from Cairns to Sydney A total of 19 nights shared accommodation Arrival transfer in Cairns (between 8am and 8pm) 4 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 5 dinners, 1 afternoon tea and 4 free drinks White water rafting on the Tully River near Cairns Hot air balloon flight from Cairns Sea kayaking day tour around Fitzroy Island and Great Barrier Reef Day boat trip to Great Barrier Reef including snorkelling East Coast Travel Pass with guide, valid for 12 months Access to unique web app for ease of booking on travel pass Visit to Nimbin 2 nights in Byron Bay with 2 inclusive surf lessons Surf lessons & expressions sessions at surf camp with expert instructors Surf equipment hire: Wetsuits & surfboards provided A guided Sydney city tour A Sydney Harbour cruise 2-night trip to Beach Camp including a wild bottlenose dolphin cruise, 4x4 sand dune tour, sandboarding & bushwalks 12 months of job search assistance and support in Australia Free Wi-Fi access and use of the online jobs database The advice of a personal work and travel expert Advice about setting up an Australian bank account Australian mobile phone SIM card Use of a CV review service The arrangement of a tax file number and tax advice A bar skills course and an RSA (Responsible Service Alcohol) course 12 months mail holding & forwarding service Travellers discount card Medicare assistance 24/7 support What's not Included Flights Working Holiday Visa (unless you select the visa option) Travel Insurance Accommodation on Travel Pass route 12/13

13 Some meals 2 return transfers from Cairns Adventure activities (AUD10 extra per day) Local payment of AUD90 on Cairns Adventure. Local payment of AUD30 for hot air ballooning between end of January and beginning of March Optional activities Prices Prices shown are correct on the 25th Apr 2018 and are subject to change The Big Aussie Adventure - 2,259 The Big Aussie Adventure + WH Visa - 2,599 13/13