Sydney Gap Year

If you are planning to work in Australia whilst you’re here you’ll need to apply for a Working Holiday Visa. Once you obtain this visa (either subclass 417 or subclass 462), this work & holiday visa will allow you to participate in the Sydney Gap Year program.

Please note: If you have a criminal record, you are still able to apply for a Working Holiday Visa, but due to the specific information required while filling out the application form we won’t be able to process your visa for you, and this must be applied individually.

This Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417) is available to passport holders who come 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

Or you’re a citizen of and hold a valid passport from one of these countries:

Argentina
Austria
Chile
China, People’s Republic of
Czech Republic
Hungary
Indonesia
Israel
Luxembourg
Malaysia
Peru
Poland
Portugal
San Marino
Singapore
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Spain
Thailand
Turkey
Uruguay
United States of America
Vietnam

People hold one of the above passports can still apply for a similar visa called the Work and Holiday Visa (subclass 462). Grabatour Travel cannot apply for this visa for you, however once you obtain this visa it will allow you to participate in the Oz Gap Year programme.

To be eligible for a working holiday visa, applicants need to meet the following requirements:

Hold a passport issued by an eligible country or region
Be aged 18-30 (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 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 to cover your expected living/trip costs during your stay
Have funds for a return or onward ticket to depart Australia (or an actual ticket)
Have health insurance

How to apply:

You can choose our inclusive visa booking option and we can process the Working Holiday Visa application for you, or you may wish to apply for your own visa via Australian Immigration.

Medicare

You will need to apply for Medicare once you are in Australia and in order to do this please ensure that you can provide TWO forms of ID e.g. passport, driving licence, birth certificate.

• Arrival Day: Airport transfer to Sydney CBD & settle in after your flight!
• Monday: Orientation Session and City Tour. Phone, Bank Account & TFN Set-Up. Welcome Meal & Drink.
• Tuesday: Sydney Icons and Aboriginal Cultural Walk. Private Cocktail Making Class and Delicious cuisines.
• Wednesday: Overnight Getaway trip. Royal National Park, Sea Cliff Bridge and Surf Camp.
• Thursday: Dolphin Watching Cruise, Jervis Bay with Whitest Sand in The World, Beach Activities.
• Friday: Work & Travel Presentation and Bondi Beach.
• Saturday: One-on-One Work & Travel Chat.
• Bar Crawl Sunday: Rooftop Beers & BBQ.

You will be travelling with a group of fun, exciting and interesting people from everywhere in the world during Sydney Gap year intro week! And you can easily make new friends along the trip.

Small groups, insider access, and personal freedom to follow the whim of the moment are the order of the day, every day.
Groups sizes are usually between 5 – 22 people with most groups even celebrating reunions years after their trip! Chat with other people from your group before you leave home!

All visitors to Australia (excepting those from New Zealand) will require a visa or e-visa/ETA to enter. These must be applied for before departure, and if you’re planning on working in Australia whilst you’re out here you’ll need a Working Holiday Visa. If you are just heading to Australia for fun however, an ETA will suffice. Both visas can be applied for online. Please feel free to contact us if you need any more information.
Also, check out the general Australian visa requirement here.

Sure! We recommend searching and comparing flight prices using Skyscanner.com.
Travel insurance is highly recommended for all of our trips in Australia. You can get this in the Insurance section of our site.

If your Sydney Gap Year’s start date is more than 40 days away, you can secure your spot by paying a 10% deposit.
Simply select the ‘deposit’ option when you Check out. We’ll hold you a spot on your chosen start date and send you a link to pay the remaining amount.

The balance must be paid in full at least 40 days prior to your tour start date. If you are booking within 40 days of your start date the deposit option is not available so you need to pay in full.

Once you’ve touched down at Sydney Airport (Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport), your arrival transfer will be waiting for you outside. They’ll take you into Sydney CBD to your initial accommodation at a top-rated hostel where you can relax, make some new friends and settle in after your flight! Our hand-picked accommodation features spectacular rooftop views of the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Harbour.

We recommend that you should arrange your arrival to Sydney (airport code: SYD) on Sunday (official programme start date) in order to participate in our activities on the following Monday.

Landing a few days early? Your airport transfers will still be included as part of the tour.

Begin your day with a morning welcome meeting conducted by our group leaders and get the chance to meet plenty of other global travellers. Set up your bank account and Tax File Number so you’re all ready to start working. Our team will also give you an Aussie SIM card loaded with data, Australian calls & texts and international calling credit, so you can easily keep in touch with loved ones back home!

We’ll then take you on a guided walking tour to discover why Sydney is such an iconic and charming city, and the reason why many travellers love it.

In the evening, we’ll then enjoy a welcome dinner with your group of fellow newly arrived travellers at one of Sydney’s most iconic venues.

Connect to the country, and learn about Sydney’s Aboriginal history and contemporary culture, through our own private Aboriginal Cultural Tour.

Visiting Sydney Harbour, one of the most beautiful natural harbours in the world. Enjoy the iconic Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. After that, we’ll explore some other cool places Sydney and its surrounding suburbs have to offer. Indulge in the world of mixology with our amazing cocktail class!

There’s no shortage of outstanding places to eat in Sydney but we’re going to treat you to dinner at a place that only locals know, where you can try food from an incredible range of various delicious cuisines!

Today, we’re heading south on a road trip of a lifetime! Our scenic coastal drive takes you through lush rainforests starting in the Royal National Park, and across the iconic Sea Cliff Bridge where we can witness some stunning cliff tops views over the Pacific Ocean (a sight worth an entire road trip in itself), before calling at laid back surf camp.

Get suited up, grab ourselves a surfboard and learn how to ride a wave with some cool local surfers after lunch. Whether you are learning to surf or already up and riding, you have come to the right place.

Today, we’ll head to the stunning Jervis Bay, home to some of the world’s whitest sand beaches and azure waters teeming with marine life. An outdoor experience like no other, you’ll have the opportunity to chill out on one of Australia’s most beautiful beaches with the whitest sand in the world! Brilliant white sand, crystal clear water and an abundance of marine life await.

Additionally, you’ll also have a chance to delight in watching bottlenose dolphins play in the crystal clear water of Jervis Bay on our dolphin watching cruise. To top it all off, we’ll organise some great beach games for you to get the good group vibes going strong.

We know that one of the elements of a successful working holiday is to find local, seasonal employment to use as a means to fund your travels around the country. So it’s time to sort out all the things you’ll need for life in Australia. This morning, you’ll get an info session on working in Oz, and find out about tax, bank accounts, accommodation, courses, employment opportunities, and more. We’ll have a presentation on travel, covering everything you need to know to make the most of your time in Australia.

Next stop: Bondi Beach! You’ll have the whole afternoon to explore, sunbathe or do the famous The Bondi to Coogee walk which is one of Sydney’s finest coastal trails, featuring beautiful beaches, high sandstone cliffs, and incredible views.

Today, you’ll receive a one-on-one session with our local travel experts to chat about your plans, get advice on travel, work and life in Australia. It’s your opportunity to ask as many questions as possible, run through any worries you might have and book that life-changing adventure across the country.

You’ll have plenty of time to chill out before joining Sydney’s biggest bar crawl for a fun night out.

After a relaxing morning, spend your final Sunday afternoon with your new travel family. We’ll enjoy a few beers and a BBQ on a rooftop and relive all the epic memories we have made together over the intro week.

The intro week is over, but that’s only the start of your Aussie adventure! Whether it’s about finding work, finding a flat or exploring Australia our crew is there to help you out.

Our team will always keep in touch with you throughout your time in Australia. If at any point during your trip you need advice or support, our team will be on hand to answer all your questions. Don’t forget you can jump on our social media pages too or buzz our online support line for urgent matters.

Get picked up from the airport and taken to your accommodation, any day, any time.

We recommend that you should arrange your flights to arrive in Sydney (airport code: SYD) on your Sydney Gap Year programme start date, this is always a Sunday. In case you want to arrive a few days early, we can help you arrange extra nights at our top-rated accommodation in Sydney central before your intro week begins.

● Walking City Tour.
● Welcome Dinner & Drink.
● Aboriginal Cultural Tour.
● Overnight (2 Day/1 Night) Getaway and Surf Camp.
● Surf Lesson.
● Dolphin Cruise.
● Beach games.
● See the whitest sand in the world.
● Street Food Market (Dinner included)
● Surry Hills Bar (drink included)
● Bondi Beach Day.
● Cocktail Making Class.
● Bar Crawl Entry.
● Farewell Rooftop BBQ.

● 6-night dorm accommodation at WakeUp! Sydney Central. One of the best hostels in Australia.
● 1-night dorm accommodation at legendary Surf Camp Australia as part of our 2-day getaway on the South Coast.
Extra nights/Private upgrades are available at an additional cost.

After your intro week, you can choose to extend your stay at the hostel accommodation or look at getting a shared apartment with other gap year travellers you’ve met. Our travel experts in Sydney will be able to help you out on this and advise you on finding paid work, places to visit, and travel plans.

● 1 Breakfast.
● 3 Lunches.
● 3 Dinners.
● Cocktail making and drinks.
● Bar crawl drinks.
● Suitable for vegans.
● Suitable for vegetarians.
● Gluten free options available.

Fully Guided.
Our leaders are professional, fun, have expert local knowledge & will show you the best time!

● Tram.
● Private bus For 2 day getaway.
● Airport shuttle.

Once your intro week is over, its time for you to find a great job, earn money, and fund your travel adventures in Australia! You’ll be set up with all the practicalities you need to live and work in Australia, including:

● Bank Account: You’ll get help setting up a bank account so that you can start earning and spending money.
● Tax File Number (TFN) Set Up: If you want to work in Australia. Sorting a tax file number out can be complicated, but you’ll be helped every step of the way.
● Sim Card: You’ll be provided with a SIM card so that you can make and receive calls in Australia. Perfect for organising job interviews and keeping in touch with your new friends! Just remember to unlock your phone before you arrive.
● Employment Info Pack: Useful advices and local contacts.
● Hostel Membership & Support: A 12-month hostel membership which will score you hostel discounts all across Australia. Luggage Storage & Mail Holding.
● Employment Presentation: We will present you with all of the basic information needed to get started
● One-on-one Job Meeting: Where you can ask questions and receive helpful jobs advice.
● Jobs Database: You’ll have access to a jobs database that details opportunities, recruiters and employers all over the country.
● A Social Group: You’ll be invited to join a social group that connects employers and working holiday job hunters.
● Discounted RSA/RSG Courses: You can choose to enroll in Barista Courses, RSA, RSG and White Card Courses to boost your employment opportunities.
● Medicare Help.

Some types of jobs you could find in Australia
Sydney is definitely a land of opportunity, and there are tons of options for backpackers on the Working Holiday Visa.

The most common jobs are hospitality, construction, and office jobs. Wages vary, but you can expect to earn somewhere between $25 and $30 an hour!

2^nd and 3^rd Year Working Holiday Visas

If you wish to stay and work in Australia for an additional year after your first visa expires then you just need to do 88 days of specified regional work during your first year in Australia. This Melbourne tour package can help you apply for regional jobs which would qualify you for the 2^nd year visa!

Furthermore, if you qualify for a 2^nd year working holiday visa and then spend 6 months during your second year doing regional work, you can also apply for a 3^rd year working holiday visa too!

*Under the terms of the working holiday visa, you can work for the same employer for a maximum of six months. You can continue to work for the same employer for a further six months if you switch to another branch of the company.

*Just in case it’s not clear already, we’re not an employment or recruitment agency, so please don’t book with us if that’s what you’re looking for. We sell and organise amazing international travel experiences for the purpose of cultural exchange & education. If a trip has a paid work opportunity/employment help, this is not mandatory to do and is there as a means to fund your travels, and no fee is charged by us for this component. All payments you make are for travel and local support services. If you’re still confused, please get in touch.

International flights not included.
We recommend searching and comparing flight prices using SkyScanner.com or contact us for a great flight deal.

Travel Insurance is NOT included, however it is mandatory for you to have travel insurance for the duration of your tour. If you require travel insurance, Grabatour Travel has partnered up with World Nomads to provide a hassle-free experience. More information can be found here.

The following options are available with this tour. Simply select the corresponding add-on during booking at the Check-out page!

Extra Night Sydney
Arrived earlier than the actual Start Date? You can add an extra night in Sydney.

Working Holiday Visa Australia
Coming to Australia for a Working Holiday? Take the hassle out of arranging your Working Holiday Visa and let us do it for you! We’ll arrange everything for you, all you have to do is sit back, relax and get excited for your trip of a lifetime!.

Skydive Australia
Get the Ultimate adrenaline rush and book your Skydive today! Multiple locations available, including the incredible Mission Beach – Jump over the Great Barrier Reef and land on the beach! Excludes $35 levy payable on arrival. (Please note, depending on the Skydive Location you choose, you may need an extra night in Cairns to include this activity in your package).

Dive Course
Gain your PADI diving certification during our 5D/5N trip which includes 2 nights on a live-aboard vessel on the Great Barrier Reef! Includes all your accommodation in one of our favourite hostel in Cairns, all meals whilst on the live-aboard, all equipment and theory/pool lessons! This trip is open-dated so you can travel when it suits you!

Of course you are – anyone would be – and of course we will! We completely understand you because we’ve been you.

One thing about our tours that amazes us the most is how close our travellers get on tour, and how they become one big, tight-knit family at the end.

We have people who were in the same tour group with us a year ago, who are still travelling the world together now! Everyone’s in the same boat, and you will make friends for life during your Sydney Gap Year tour.

Yes you do! If you’re coming here just as a tourist to visit Australia, you’ll need a Visitor Visa.

If you’re coming here to work while you’re on holiday, you’ll need either a Working Holiday Visa (417) or a Work and Holiday Visa (462), depending on which country you’re from.

You can find more information and a list of the various visas HERE.

We recommend organising this as soon as possible.

The application can be completed through your travel agent, or directly through the same Australian Government website. Please click here to learn more about the visa.

We always recommend checking the Australian Government website for any specific enquiries.

Absolutely! It doesn’t matter if you’re coming to this beautiful country to work, visit friends or family, study, sunbathe with the kangaroos or perfect your Australian accent. All of our travellers will still get the full package: a lifetime membership to our wonderful little travel family, a week full of food, friends and fun and any support you may need along the way.

Our Sydney Gap Year tours cater for people aged 18-39 years old. The average age varies each week and that’s what we love about it.

The $99 deposit is required to secure your booking. But don’t worry! Full payment is only required 28 days before your departure date, which gives you time to save money for it!

However, if you make a booking within 28 days of your departure date, you will need to pay the full amount at the time of booking.

We also want to be flexible – so if you pay your deposit and later realise you have to change your date, don’t panic.

You can change the date of your booking, unlimited times and subject to availability, up until 28 days before your departure date. Please note that date changes made between 28 – 15 days before your departure date will incur a $50 fee, and changes made 14 days or less prior to departure are not possible.

Expect the best experience ever!

As long as you’re polite and friendly then you’ll be fine. To get the best out of your experience we recommend talking to people in your dorm as soon as possible. Travel broadens the mind and that is mainly because of people you meet. Listen to where they’ve been, what they’ve loved, what they recommend, their funniest stories, all of it! This will be you in a few months!

Sure, from time to time you may have a cliché guitar player, a loud snorer or a 6am deodorant-sprayer (you’ll know what I mean soon!) but that’s all part of travelling and the people you meet will be a big part of your stories and travel experiences!

All dorms have lockers, but you will need to buy a small padlock to use them.

We aim to try and get everyone in the same dorm, but if you have any special requests such as, you want to be in an all female dorm or you want to upgrade to your own room. Then will be able to assist you.

1 breakfast, 3 dinners and 3 lunches are included as part of the tour, as well as some delicious tastings. Outside of that, you’ll be able to find lunch for between $6-15 and dinner for $10-$20. If you want to save money, you can always team up with people and cook dinners at the hostel!

For drinks, the welcome dinner will include a drink, and you’ll be given another four during the bar crawl – how good is that! Outside of that, drinks usually cost between $7-11 but we can also point you in the direction of plenty of places with happy hours offering drinks for $5-6.

Because accommodation, activities and some food and drink is already included, we would suggest that $200-$250 of extra spending money during your week with us will be enough!

This depends on trip length, your travel style (backpacker or flashpacker) and what you are wanting to experience here in Australia.

According to the Australian Government, you need $5,000AUD in your bank account on arrival if you’re coming on a Working Holiday visa. This is a good savings target if you are wanting to either travel for a month or set yourself up for working and living in Australia after the Sydney Gap Year: Working Holiday Intro week.

However, everybody is different and to give yourself the best chance of experiencing as many things as possible in Australia, we would recommend just saving up as much as possible before you come travelling.

That’s up to you! Everyone has different plans for their time in Australia. You might even find that your plans may change halfway during the tour after meeting some new friends.

Either way, our team is here to support you before, during and after the welcome week. Whether it’s work or travel you’re looking to organise or get advice on, we’ll be able to help you.

We will go through options that suit you specifically in the one-on-one sessions on the Saturday of the tour. We then have our Travel Experience Team who will be there to help you throughout your whole time in Australia!

Of course! During our travel presentation, we will give you an overview of all the beautiful and exciting destinations and experiences around Australia.

Following this, during your one-on-one sessions with our team, we will talk more specifically about what exactly you want to see and do, and we’ll help you plan everything. We want to make sure you have the most amazing adventure possible while you’re here!

With our help, that’s how! As part of your Welcome to Sydney package you will receive exclusive tips, resources and guidance towards finding a job and farm work in Australia.

We will present you with all of the basic information needed to get started, and give you access to our huge database of employers and contacts in sectors such as hospitality, retail, construction, sales and marketing and many more.

We also send out a weekly update email that highlights the most recent job and farm work opportunities we come across.

Depending when you land you will receive your Australian Sim Card on Friday morning before the tour or on Monday morning of the tour, during the meet and greet session.

Don’t panic! You will be able to jump on the free wi-fi at the hostel and airport beforehand to let everyone back home know that you got to Sydney safe and sound.

This is basically a personal identity number created for you by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). It is required if you want to work in Australia, so that you can be correctly taxed on your income from day one.

You will provide this number to each employer you have while you are in Australia and your tax will be deducted from your wage accordingly, just as it would be in your home country.

If you’re travelling as a tourist for just a few weeks, you don’t need one – a pre-loaded travel cash card will work just fine!

If you’re here for a longer period of time (for example, on a Working Holiday Visa) then it’s highly recommended to open an Australian bank account. Not only will you save a lot on exchange/transaction fees, but employers will only pay wages into an Australian account. It’s also an extremely easy process that we will organise for you.

You can fast-track the whole process by creating a Transferwise account, so that you can already have Australian dollars in your account for when you get here. But don’t worry about all of this now, we’ll explain it all soon!

Medicare is Australia’s health care scheme, which allows Australians and some overseas visitors to access certain health services at little or no cost. Only a handful of countries are eligible to apply for Medicare in Australia, including:

Belgium, Finland, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, The Republic of Ireland, Slovenia, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

Click HERE to see details for eligibility and details for enrolment, such as what documents you will need to bring to service centres. We will also explain this in more detail when you arrive and point you in the right direction.