About Australia

Australia is one of the best places to travel to on your gap year, career break, holiday or as an Au Pair! There is so much to do and see whilst in Australia that you could spend 6 months travelling and you still wouldn't see everything. Australia really does have it all, from crazy extreme sports, adventure, chic boutiques, shopping, popular food and coffee culture- the list is endless. We can guarantee that you won’t have a dull moment whilst living out in Australia.

The wildlife

Australia is known for its amazing wildlife and however cliché it is there really is nothing like seeing a kangaroo for the first time or seeing one as your driving along the country roads!! You’ll also see cute koala’s, wild dolphins’ whales, Tasmania devil’s platypus – there’s just too many to list!

It's true though that Australia has a lot of creepy crawlies which are harmful. for many this is a deal breaker but don’t let it be! We promise you hardly ever see them! You’ll be having so much fun exploring cities, meeting up with friends and just having the time of your life that you wont even notice they are there!

Interesting facts

• Did you know that 80% of Australia’s wildlife is native to the country so much of the wildlife you can only see whilst your there! Perfect place to visit if you’re an animal lover!
• Australia’s wildlife was almost wiped out by bunny rabbits! 5 rabbits were introduced to Australia in 1845 and they quickly expanded to 5 billion within 50 years!!Australia has wild camels
• there are more kangaroos then people living in Australia

The culture

Australia is known for its laid back culture! Some say Australia is just a hot England but its so much more then that. Australians are so friendly, welcoming and love to talk! Plus, have you ever been in a country where they abbreviate everything? By the end of your year in Australia you’ll be talking the lingo and shortening all your words.

Australians are really passionate about having a good work life balance and they prove this by having 15 bank holidays a year! They even get a bank holiday for the Queen’s birthday which not even those living in the UK get! There are some holidays like Australia day and Anzac Day that are really unique to Australia and you won't experience anywhere else. On Australia Day there are loads of events for people of all ages to get involved in, and it usually ends in fireworks. On Anzac Day (Memorial Day) they have a game (called 2 up) which is illegal any other day of the year except Anzac Day!

The landscape

Australia has blazing hot deserts, lush tropical rainforests, and some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Many people underestimate the size of Australia as they see it as a small little island in the middle of nowhere. However, all of Europe and more can fit into it! Australia is absolutely huge, and you could send the whole year travelling it and still not see everything. one of the best things about Australia is that it is not overly populated and has a lot of untouched natural landscape. There are few places in the world nowadays where you can go where no one has really ventured before.

Australia is famous for many things such as its beaches, wildlife, and its culture but one of it best kept secrets are its sunsets! There’s nothing quite like them and they are amazing all year round!

Funny facts about Australia

• There are over 8,222 islands off Australia’s main coastline
• there are over 10,000 beaches in Australia, and it would take you over 25 years to see them all
• Australia is bigger than all of Europe and almost the same size as the United States of America
• The great barrier reef is one of the seven wonders of the world
• Australia has a farm that is bigger than Belgium
• Melbourne and Sydney are in the top 5 best places to live in the world

The Activities

Whether you’re a thrill seeker or like to sit back and rewind Australia has every type of activity that you can think of. How do you fancy taking a swim at one of Australia’s 10,000 beaches, kayaking around Sydney harbour, camping in beautiful mountains etc.

Australia generally has a great community feel to it and no matter where you are in the country, there is always something going on. Australian cities and large towns have lots of festivals and events happening most weeks of the year. Some of the most famous are Sydney’s vivid festival, Australian day paradise, Sydney Mardi Gras, Melbourne’s food festival and Brisbane's City of Light festival. Many of these events are free so you just have to turn up and have fun.

It's most well-known for:

• Skydiving over the beach/ Great Barrier Reef
• Bungee jumping
• White water rafting
• Wine tasting
• Trekking through the jungle
• Sailing around beautiful islands
• Hiking up and around the Blue Mountains

Travelling in Australia

All AIFS staff have travelled around different parts of Australia so our team can make personalised recommendations depending on your likes and dislikes. We’ve created the ultimate guide to Australia highlighting unmissable places and places that you could skip if you really wanted to. Our Work & Travel team can offer great discounts on travel packages and can help you organise you’re a stress-free travel plan. Whether its 1 weeks, 2 months or a whole year we can help you travel and see all the wonders of the world