Shopping Around

Just a few of the options available to you

If like me, you’re choosing to go travelling with the help of a company and organisation, such as Bunac or STA Travel etc, it’s vital to look around and conduct thorough research before making any big decisions of who to go with. After aimlessly typing “working in Australia” into Google one day (no doubt I was probably sitting in a lecture bored at that time), I was overwhelmed by the amount of results and the vast number of choices available. For the first-time traveller, such as myself, I was looking for an organisation to fly out with, something that would introduce me to living in Australia and would eventually get me on my way to working and earning out there. Of course this isn’t everyone’s first choice. A lot of people don’t see the sense in paying £400/500 to get ‘settled in’, when they could just book a flight and work it out for themselves for free when they got there. That’s all well and true, but for those of us that like that little extra bit of security and forward planning, these are just a couple of the great options available...

This was the very first company I looked into, and was pleased with what it had to offer. For the basic package, costing £369, they would pick you up from the airport, give you a two night stay at their hostel in Sydney, as well as free breakfasts and help you on your way to finding both future accommodation and jobs. As this is a company set-up by the same people that run Camp America, I didn’t think it could be that bad. Other extras included in the price involved a $10 phone-card, an Australian bank account, free baggage storage for a month and all year round help and advice for any work or travelling query. Seems great right? Yes, however when I heard back from a girl who had just flown out there with GET, she told me they had forgot to put her change of date in the system, and so did not pick her up from the airport and did not have any room at their hostel for her once she had finally arrived. Admittedly this was just an admin error that could happen anywhere and to anyone, but it gave me the incentive to look at another company that a friend had recommended to me...

The very first thing I noticed about Oz Intro was that their package was £100 more expensive than that of GET Australia. However, when I looked into what that £469 included I was pleasantly surprised. Instead of just a two-night stay and the odd free meal, you get a SEVEN night stay at one of Sydney’s most popular hostels, Base Backpackers, and a whole weeks worth of activities already planned out for you. I won’t lie, it was like looking at my Freshers week plan all over again (although much better, Pat Sharp isn’t DJing in Aus). 

Monday - City Orientation and Jet Boating
Start your trip off with a blast – Jet Boating on Sydney Harbour! It's a great way to see the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge and soak up the spectacular views of Sydney. All whilst having a great laugh.

Tuesday - Learn to Surf

Surfing is an awesome experience everyone must try at least once. We'll take you out of the city to a beautiful beach where you'll get surf lessons by qualified instructors.

Wednesday - Sydney Aquarium and Working in Oz
Today we get all the important stuff sorted. We'll get your Aussie Bank Card, Medicare Card and Tax File Number. Then will go through everything you'll need to work in Australia. We'll then visit Darling Harbour and the Sydney Aquarium - where you'll come face to face with sharks!

Thursday - Beaches and Snorkelling
We'll visit the world famous Bondi Beach where you can take a swim or just relax and work on your tan. Then we'll do the Bondi to Coogee Coastal walk. You'll snorkel in secluded bays, play some beach volleyball and enjoy an Aussie beach barbeque and a few cold beers!

Friday - Blue Mountains
We escape from the city and spend a day in the beautiful Blue Mountains. You'll go bush walking through beautiful rainforest, see stunning waterfalls, amazing gorges and even some kangaroos in the wild.

Saturday - Pub Crawl on the Party Bus
During the day we'll help you plan your travels around Oz. Then at night we're going to take you on a Pub Crawl to Sydney's best pubs and clubs on our pimped out party bus! There'll be lots of free drinks, great music and sexy locals to meet.

Sunday - Farewell Dinner
Get dressed up for dinner at Australia's highest and most spectacular revolving restaurant. Enjoy delicious food at the 'all you can eat' buffet where you can even try kangaroo and camel. It's the perfect way to end your first week in Australia!

...

Need I say more? I was also pleased to see that the travel insurance worked out £140 cheaper than that of GET Australia, therefore making the price of the package seem not so bad. They also offer the chance to buy your working visa from them, a must have for anyone looking to make some money whilst away. With three options available, you can buy yourself either a three, six or 12 month visa for just £20, £90 or £279. During the week with Oz Intro, you are put into a group of up-to 20 other travellers, giving you the perfect opportunity to meet equally jet-lagged and excited friends and possibly people to continue your travels with. So far I am yet to hear anything negative about this company, and will hopefully ‘touch wood’ be booking with them very soon! 

So remember, research is key! Don't just rely on what a website tells you either, but find people who have either been or are going with a certain company and see how their experience was. Just by looking on these organisation's Facebook / Twitter pages you'll be able to find fellow travellers, more than happy to share their planning / travelling experience with you. It's a big decision and a lot of money, and you don't want to be kicking yourself down the line when you find you could have gained a lot more from your money. Happy looking!