Vietnam Explorer & Working Holiday Australia

If you are planning to work in Australia whilst you’re here you’ll need to apply for a Working Holiday Visa. You can choose to book your Oz Gap Year programme with the visa included (only for Working Holiday Visa subclass 417). If you’re eligible for 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.

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.

– Get the best of both worlds and make new friends on this excellent combo trip in Vietnam and Australia. Mix adventure travel with touring, fun, party time, culture, beach breaks and paid work!

– Enjoy the buzz of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, go canyoning and have a basket boat experience, relax on your luxury Ha Long Bay overnight boat and party on the private island!

– Get advice and assistance organising interviews & arranging accommodation, training course, plus lifetime access to employer database and advice.

– Have a week of Australian fun in the sun in stunning Sydney and at Beach Camp, including city tours, sandboarding and beach time!

– Once your fun intro week is over, find a paid job in Australia with expert assistance from the Sydney jobs team and 12 months of job support and advice – awesome!

You will be travelling with a group of fun, exciting and interesting people from everywhere in the world! 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 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.

Hanoi: Welcome to Vietnam

Meet the group at our welcome dinner and drinks (about 6pm on Day 1). The tour leader will explain everything you need to know about the upcoming adventure. Later that night experience what Hanoi’s nightlife has to offer. (Welcome Dinner and Drink included)

Foodie Tour on Day 2. Get a taste of local foods and delicacies. We show you around the streets of Hanoi, visit the markets and show you how the locals live, eat and sleep day in and day out. Grab a stool and mingle with the locals over some fresh beer. (Breakfast and all food during food tour included – basically an 8-course lunch)

Halong Bay: Escape the City

We go on a 3-Day journey to the famous and world heritage listed Halong Bay. Board the junk boat, followed by some delicious lunch. Later this afternoon we visit the colourful Haven Cave, go for a dip in the sea and kayak around the islands before we get the boat party started. (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)

The next morning, we head to a private island resort hidden in the maze of stunning Lan Ha Bay. Hammocks, beach, palm trees, kayaks, beach volley, unbelievable sunsets and karaoke – it’s all here! (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)

Refreshed and relaxed we make our way back to Hanoi. Cruise along hundreds of islands and learn how to make Vietnamese spring rolls. (Breakfast and Lunch included)

Hoi An: The City of Lanterns

We head to the airport and fly south to Danang with only a short drive to romantic Hoi An, where we’ll stay for 2 nights. Explore the old town along the river, drop into one of the many tailors and chill out at the beach. (Breakfast included)

We head to the local market where we’ll pick up groceries for our cooking class. Cruise along the river to our idyllic cooking location and learn how to prepare delicious Vietnamese cuisine. (Breakfast and Lunch included)

The next day you get to sleep in, explore the city a little more or tan up at the beach before jumping on the overnight bus to Nha Trang. (Breakfast included)

Ninh Van Bay: Relax in paradise

To get from Hoi An to Ninh Van Bay we jump on an overnight sleeper bus – you’ll get your own bed and most buses even have WiFi.

We wake up in Ninh Van Bay, pure paradise! The hostel you’ll be staying at is located amongst the beautiful rolling hills of Vietnam’s countryside, nestled in the valleys a stone’s throw away from the beach.

After breakfast the day is yours to do what you wish but be sure to meet your guide in the afternoon to explore the surrounding areas with a trekking trip! Otherwise relax by the pool, challenge your group to a game of beach volleyball, unwind with a movie in the outdoor cinema, pamper yourself at the spa or take to the water in a kayak.

Da Lat: Canyoning and Abseiling

We catch the morning bus to DaLat and explore the city in the afternoon. The spend the next day abseiling and swimming in the canyon -walk down pounding waterfalls, slide through the canyon and jump off cliffs. Don’t worry if this isn’t for you. DaLat offers stunning scenery with heaps of things to do, so we’ll work out what you’re comfortable with. (Breakfast and Lunch included)

Ho Chi Minh City: Feel the Buzz and Cu Chi Tunnels

Final stop, but the trip isn’t over yet! We head to Ho Chi Minh City, where we have 2 more days and nights. You can’t come to Vietnam without learning a bit about the Vietnam War, so we have a bit of the history lesson and visit the Cu Chi Tunnels. Farewell Dinner and Drinks. (Breakfasts included)

City Stroll & Family Dinner

Today’s the day you meet your guide and the travel fam you’ll be starting your Australian adventure with, how exciting! After getting to know each other, we’ll get your bank account, sim card and Tax File Number organised for you so you can explore stress-free.

Taking you through the city on foot, we’ll show you why Sydney is such an iconic and charming city, and why travellers absolutely love it. Your Instagram will be the envy of all your friends by this evening!

We’ll end our first day together with a Welcome Dinner at one of Sydney’s most iconic venues..

Meal and Drink Inclusions: Dinner & Drink

After your intro week in Sydney is over, it’s time to kick-start your Oz job search. You can make appointments with our job support team in Sydney who can give you all the help and advice you’ll need in order to secure yourself a paid job. A job coordinator is available in our office in Sydney from Monday – Friday for general chats, CV reviews and job advice. You’ll also have a full 12 months of job support so feel free to contact the jobs team by email to answer any queries while you are travelling in Australia. We’ll get you your first job interview within 1 week of you telling us you are ready to start work.

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. It’s tailor-made to fit in with your plans and allow for the maximum independent Aussie experience!

Our Oz job support programme includes:
A 12-months membership to our in-house recruitment agency voted Australia’s best backpacker job service. We connect employers and job seekers making sure every job we post is a genuine position suitable for working holidaymakers.
Get started before you arrive! Write your CV, browse jobs online from anywhere and easily apply even on your phone or tablet. Set up your profile and be found by employers on short notice.
Talk to our recruitment experts to get help with writing your CV, advice on second-year visa jobs or necessary certificates and any other questions you may have.
12 months of access to the online jobs network and vacancies nationwide
A CV review service
An orientation session
Advice about setting up your own Australian bank account before you go
An Aussie SIM card
Tax File Number
Medicare: If eligible, we’ll help you apply for Medicare so you get discounted / free healthcare whilst in Australia.
Access to free Wi-Fi
A 12-month mail holding service
Help and advice about long-term accommodation.

TRAINING COURSE DISCOUNTS: For most hospitality work in Australia it’s a legal requirement to have a RSA Certificate (Responsible Service of Alcohol). Oz Gap Year can help you book your RSA and any other training courses you may wish to book including Bar skills, Cocktail skills, White card (construction work) and more. We’re part of a Registered Training Organisation and offer discounts on all other courses.

*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.

Please note: Optional activities will be at your own cost and activities and itineraries are subject to change.

Please note: Flight from Vietnam to Australia not included.

Please note: Depending on your start date, there could be some independent travel time between your Vietnam Explorer ending and your Paid Jobs Australia programme beginning. If this is the case, accommodation will be at your own cost. We can advise you of suitable accommodation options in either location, please speak to a travel advisor for further details.

In Vietnam: Airport pickup is not included.

In Sydney: An airport shuttle will be provided and a voucher will be supplied for your client to present to the driver at the airport. The instructions on the voucher will explain in depth what to do and where to go once landed.

Welcome Dinner & Party (Vietnam)
Foodie & City Tour + Traditional Water Puppet Show in Hanoi
Overnight Junk Boat & Kayaking
Private Island Stay, Time to Relax
Visit local markets, Vietnamese Cooking Class with River Cruise
Reef Snorkelling with Island Lunch
Canyoning & Abseiling
Explore Cu Chi Tunnels
Farewell Party
Private Sydney Catamaran Cruise (incl BBQ) (Sydney)
Return Transfer to our Basecamp
4WD through the Worimi Conservation Lands
Sandboard down the Stockton Bight Dunes
Mt Tomaree Bush Hike & Lookout
Interact with Australian Wildlife.
Beach Evening & Stargazing
Port Stephens Dolphin Cruise
Experience Sydney nightlife.
Coastal Beach Walk
Visit Bondi Beach

IN VIETNAM:
Total of 13-nights accommodation
Sleep on a Vietnamese Junk Boat (with ensuite rooms)
Wake up on a private island
Overnight sleeper bus

IN SYDNEY:
Your first week is all about fun and adventure in Sydney. Accommodation for the first seven nights of your stay is included:
5-nights at WakeUp Sydney, one of the world’s best hostels and right in the heart of the city. Everything is pre-arranged so your check-in will be quick & easy.
2-nights at Basecamp, 5min walk from the beach.

If you wish to pre-book an extra night’s accommodation on the final Sunday please let your travel advisor/group leader know and they will do this for you.

In your hostel in Sydney, you’ll enjoy modern facilities in shared dorm accommodation with other members of the group. Sharing in hostels is often the best way to meet a lot of new people very quickly, and by the end of the week, you’ll have heaps of new mates to discover the land Down Under with!

The hostel has 24-hour reception, a travel and information desk so you can get all the top city tips and book tours. The hostel has all the facilities on offer you can ask for, including phone booths on every floor, security lockers, laundry facilities, Internet and Wi-Fi, and a postal service.

What do I do about accommodation after the first week?
After the first week, most of our travellers choose to rent an apartment, often sharing with the new friends they have made in the first week. Our team in Sydney will be able to help you explore possible accommodation options either in Sydney or elsewhere in Australia. Please be aware that accommodation costs in Sydney can be high due to the desirability of the city as a location to live and work, but it’s worth it for the experience! Alternatively, you can apply for jobs further afield in Australia.

You can expect to pay at least £100-£150 per week on average for rent in Australia (costs in Sydney can be a little higher than average). The minimum contract is normally 2 – 3 months. Alternatively, you can extend your stay in a hostel – a great option for those that want to travel around. Hostels offer cheaper rates for those that want a long term stay. You can often walk in and get a room that day but we recommend that you make a reservation the night before. Depending on where you stay in Australia, you can expect to pay around £90-£130 per week in a hostel.

Please note that when you are working in Australia, you will earn enough to cover any living expenses such as rent, food and bills. If you would like any more information about costs and accommodation please contact us for more details.

IN VIETNAM:
Total of 12 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches, 3 Dinners
Welcome Dinner & Drink
Foodie Tour in Hanoi
All meals on Halong Bay
Cooking Class in Hoi An
Island Lunch in Nha Trang

IN SYDNEY:
3 x Dinners, 2 x Breakfast, 1 x Lunch
Welcome Hostel Dinner
Private Sydney Catamaran Cruise (incl BBQ)

P/s: We recommend a travel budget of approx $20-$30/ day for meals when not included in the itinerary.

Fully licensed, first aid trained and accessible 24/7 whilst on tour
Guides are experienced, have expert local knowledge & will show you the best time!

All transfers included (as written in the Itinerary).

P/s: Flights are not included.

12-Month Job Service with Travellers At Work

Travellers At Work (TAW) is Australia’s leading job network for travellers in Australia. Hundreds of jobs are available nationwide, with new jobs added daily. Customers receive TAW Membership with job offers from all over Australia. Other benefits include:

Access TAW’s online database of jobs all over Australia
Receive daily email updates of new job vacancies
Create online resumes, apply for jobs easily online on your phone, tablet or pc
Make profile available to be found by employers
Resume Review Service

An impressive CV / Resume will greatly increase your chance of finding work fast. The Job Consultants at Travellers At Work will be available to review your CV / Resume and provide recommendations for any essential improvements required.

‘Just Arrived’ Info Session

Our Work & Travel Experts will provide an ‘all you need to know’ overview of living, travelling, working and partying in Australia! We will answer any questions and explain in detail everything you need to know to get the most of your adventure in Oz.

12-Months Mail Service

Every traveller in Australia needs a fixed mailing address. It’s essential to set up your Tax File Number, bank account and Medicare (if eligible) and a great way for family/friends to send you letters and parcels. Oz Gap Year’s Mail Holding Service provides a safe and secure fixed mailing address for your client’s entire stay in Australia. With an Oz Gap Year mail service clients can access their mail from anywhere at anytime. Mail will be uploaded to a secure server and can be viewed online.

Australian Bank Account

We will provide you with the necessary information and instructions on how to set up their Australian Bank Account before you leave home. Once you have submitted the online application form which only takes about 3 minutes, you will receive an email from the Commonwealth Bank with your account details, allowing you to transfer funds into the account online. Upon arrival in Sydney, the staff at Oz Gap Year will direct you to the Commonwealth Bank branch (maps and directions in welcome letter for regional arrivals), where you can collect their ATM card straight away.

Tax File Number

The staff at Oz Gap Year will apply for your Tax File Number. The TFN will be issued within about 2 weeks after arrival and will be uploaded to your Oz Gap Year Mail Service Account. You may work whilst waiting for your TFN.

Mobile Phone SIM Card

Oz Gap Year will reserve your Australian mobile phone SIM card. Upon arrival, Oz Gap Year will help you choose a suitable pre-paid plan and activate the service.

Free Internet

Free unlimited WIFI Internet access during office hours at our Oz Gap Year office.

Responsible Service of Alcohol Course

RSA provides hotel, bar and club staff with the knowledge and awareness required to responsibly sell, serve and supply alcohol within licensed venues. An RSA license is essential for most hospitality work. As there are different regulations in every state, our course is valid for QLD, WA, SA and NT. The course is done online, so whenever you’re ready and wherever you are.

Bar Skills Course

The course provides you with all the skills you need to work in a busy bar. Learn how to pour beer, open and present wine, mix drinks, pour shots, use the post-mix guns, ice machines and much more. This course is offered in the showcase bar of our Sydney training center.

Medicare Assistance

If you’re from the UK, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Netherlands, Belgium or the Republic of Ireland you may be eligible for free healthcare (Medicare) whilst in Australia, although its always advisable to have adequate travel insurance also. We’ll help you arrange Medicare once you arrive in Sydney.

Find Housing

If you plan to stay and work in Sydney for a while, you’ll save money and make great friends in a shared house. We’ll help you beat the rush of thousands of other travellers on our tour of furnished share houses by the beach, inner city and all of Sydney’s top locations.

Tax Refund and Superannuation Advice

We will assist you with any gap year tax queries you may have throughout the year, help you claim a tax refund after working in Australia and help you claim your Superannuation after leaving the country.

There are loads of awesome jobs on offer across Australia. We’ll help you find a job and get you set for up to a year of paid work. Get advice and assistance organising interviews & arranging accommodation, training course, plus lifetime access to employer database and advice.! 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

*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.

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.

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 as above.

We always recommend checking 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 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.