Australia

Best Destinations to Travel for a Gap Year Job

Author: Jeremy | Category: Australia, United States | Tags: America, Australia, gap year jobs, jobs, New Zealand, united states, usa

Your ticket to seeing the world on a gap year obviously comes much cheaper if you are able to spend some time working! A job in an exotic location is a fantastic opportunity to meet interesting people, really get to know the area, learn new skills, acquire CV-enhancing work experience, and perhaps even fund a trip-extension. Here are three great gap-year destinations you should consider:

Australia

Australia is a beautiful country and a wildly popular backpacking destination. With a culture very similar to the UK’s, living and working far away can still feel reassuringly familiar. This is a land of sunshine and spectacular natural wonders where most people live on the coast within reach of multicultural cities and enjoy the beach and active outdoor lifestyles.

Work opportunities and jobs in Australia include harvest work, bar work and catering, and office temping. Ranch work can offer more adventure – working on an outback cattle station, for example – but may require some farming experience.

As recruitment consultant Daniel Lucas confirms, UK job-seekers will be warmly welcomed: ‘Any Brits with a sales background, farming background, au-pair or nanny experience, horse-riding skills or nursing, care experience need to buy a ticket and get over here ASAP.’

USA

Working in the USA could be your once-in-a-lifetime chance to put aside your media-driven expectations and explore the reality of this dynamic country which exerts a truly global influence. Diverse landscapes and cultural experiences abound though you will find many echoes of home too.

Working at an American summer camp is a well-established paid-work option which entails inspiring and educating young people during their summer vacation. You will meet many friends and get plenty of free time to explore the country.

Au pair work with host families is another established employment route which offers the chance to experience the American way of life, yet also allows you plenty of time off to socialise. Those with special skills can often take advantage of niche opportunities, working, for example, as ski or snowboard instructors in Colorado’s Rocky Mountain resorts. As with similar ‘dream’ jobs, the pay may not be top drawer, but you will get to spend as much time as you choose on the slopes.

New Zealand

New Zealand, ‘the adventure capital of the world’, is another all-action destination for sports and outdoor enthusiasts that is also crammed full of truly stunning natural landscapes and amazing wildlife. Kiwi society and lifestyles will seem very familiar to UK travellers, as will New Zealand’s climate.

There are a variety of jobs open to ‘gappers’ in hospitality, promotions, IT, finance and similar industries. Outdoor options range from fruit-picking and construction to more specialised work for those with expertise, or willing to undergo training. For example, a white-water rafting company in Rotorua is willing to hire instructors who successfully complete a five-week training course.

Earn as you travel

For pay-as-you-go travel opportunities, a gap year working abroad is hard to beat. You are bound to meet new friends and gain ‘inside track’ knowledge about your chosen destination, both of which could prove invaluable if you are considering a career move overseas. Whatever your plans, the trip will enrich your life and future job prospects in equal measure.

11 Feb 2014

Top 5 Sights in the Southern Hemisphere

Author: Jeremy | Category: Australia, Travel Deals | Tags: Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, Zambia, Zimbabwe

There are plenty of historical and cultural landmarks dotted south of the equator that travellers flock to. This is not surprising given the fact that four of the world’s continents – Africa, South America, Australasia and Antarctica – are encompassed within its territory.

If you’re thinking of visiting one of the countries in the Southern Hemisphere, or indeed taking part in a round-the-world trip, then here are some of the top 5 sights for you to check out.

Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Symbolising the religious zeal of Catholic Brazil, the imposing Christ the Redeemer is a statue of Jesus Christ that has become synonymous with the country. Its substantial size of 98 feet and position on top of the 2,300 feet tall Corcovado Mountain makes it dominate the Rio skyline. Although there is a strenuous climb up to the foot of the statue, the views over the rest of the city are breathtaking. It is estimated that over 1 million people visit every year.

The Bay of Islands, North Island, New Zealand

One of the most popular tourist destinations in New Zealand, the Bay of Islands is a 16km-wide inlet which forms a natural harbour at the northern tip of the country. Although many visitors come each year, the natural beauty of the area remains preserved to a high level. 144 islands make up the area where people come to enjoy the picturesque bays and sandy beaches. Yachting and fishing are also popular pastimes in the Bay of Islands.

Great Barrier Reef, Coral Sea, Australia

The incredible Great Barrier Reef is the world’s biggest single structure made by living organisms. Referred to as one of the Seven Wonders of the World on numerous occasions, it has also been selected as a World Heritage Site. Because of its reputation, millions of people flock to the Reef every year, especially tourists travelling down the popular east coast route. The Great Barrier Reef supports an extremely diverse plant and marine life which make snorkeling an attractive pursuit also.

If you’re planning on visiting Australia and seeing the Great Barrier Reef, visit this site:

The Telegraph guide to visiting the Great Barrier Reef

Victoria Falls, Zambia & Zimbabwe

Lying on the border of both Zambia and Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls is one of the most famous waterfalls in the world. Named by the Scottish explorer David Livingstone after the British monarch of the time, the Falls are considered to be the largest in Africa and the world due to its combined height and width. Large national parks surround the waterfall with an eclectic bundle of wildlife to enjoy for visitors.

Sydney Harbour, Sydney, Australia

If visiting Sydney then the harbour district is the must-see area for all tourists. With its historical past and cultural landmarks, the image of the harbour is widely associated with Australia. This is notably because the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge lie within a small distance of each other, two of the most prominent sights in the Southern Hemisphere. The spectacular celebrations at New Year also take place around the harbour, perhaps the most famous fireworks display in the world.

19 Dec 2013

Top Reasons To Visit Adelaide, Australia!

Author: Jeremy Albelda | Category: Australia | Tags: Adelaide, Australia, History, market, Things to see, wines

There are definitely a lot of top reasons to visit Adelaide, Australia. The capital of South Australia (and the fifth largest city as well in the continent) has a lot to offer tourists with a taste for art, adventure and good food. The best wines, great, bush tucker food, arts, historical landmarks, you name it: Adelaide has it.

And there’s more to love about this city. Here are some of the top reasons to visit Adelaide:

Festivals. Adelaide is known as the “Festival State” of Australia. And why not? There’s always something to look forward to when you visit Adelaide. One of the highlights in Adelaide is the Adelaide Festival of Arts which is celebrated between the last week of February to the first week of March. This internationally renowned festival is one of the world’s biggest celebrations of arts. The weeklong celebration involves theatre, opera, dance, cabaret, classic and contemporary music, as well as new media. At the heart of the celebration is the Adelaide Festival Centre, which usually hosts the opening of the event.

Local Flavors. Want something a little more extreme than the regular barbies and fish and chips? How about some bush food? Australia (particularly Adelaide) is rediscovering the joys, wonders and flavours of bush tucker, or food enjoyed by the Aboriginal people for thousands of years. Try out Kangaroo, crocodile or emu meat, or feast on some witchetty grubs.

If the idea of eating grubs or feasting on emu meat is a little too intense, then try out a pie floater from one of the late night pie carts.

Wines. South Australia’s rich soils and ample amounts of sunshine makes it a perfect place for making some of the best wines in the continent. As a matter of fact, it is considered Australia’s premier wine state.

Adelaide has some of the best vineyards in the state, with the nearby Barossa Valley boasting of some of the world’s finest Shiraz and Cabarnet.

Gaming with a Touch of Class. Not every country has gaming and casinos, but Australia is not one of them! A sight in itself, Adelaide Casino is located within the historic Adelaide Railway Station which was built way back in 1856. They have plenty of table games and slots, and if gambling isn’t your thing, just admire the iconic structure! Australia is also a special country because they are one of the last to permit online gambling as well. So, if you’re worn out from sightseeing all day, feel free to hit the tables from your hotel room on http://www.casinomidas.com.au/!

Adelaide Central Market. One of the top reasons to visit Adelaide is its lively central market, which is filled with some of the freshest, organic produce in the country. It’s the best place to observe the Adelaide culture (while shopping for some souvenirs and local finds).

10 Dec 2013