Short Gaps via Australia and New Zealand

Short Gaps via Australia and New Zealand

The favourite destination amongst backpackers is easily Australia, closely followed by New Zealand, and there’s a reason why they’re so popular; rainforests to trek through, glaciers to hike, remote beaches to explore, vast underwater worlds to discover...

That's not forgetting the top tourist attractions like the Sydney Opera House, Uluru and the Lord of the Rings sets! From snowboarding and bungy jumping in the adventure capital, Queenstown in New Zealand to sun and surf on Bondi Beach in Australia; there's something for everyone 'Downunder'.

They’re often overlooked as stop gaps due to the cost and time of flying out there. However, if you do make the trip then you can travel the East Coast of Australia for two weeks and around New Zealand for two weeks.

If you have any time between school, university or a job then a stop gap is for you. You’ll be amazed what you can do in a short amount of time.

Key stops in Australia and New Zealand

Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth or Sydney are the key stop off points in Australia. The most popular airports for international flights are Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.

For New Zealand, head to Auckland if you want to visit the North Island and Christchurch or Queenstown if you want to visit the South Island.

There are a number of budget airlines that fly around Australia and New Zealand and flying is one of the most cost effective methods of travelling around. You can pick up a flight for under £30 saving not only money, but time too…

Popular routes that include Australia & New Zealand

London >> Cairns >> Brisbane >> Sydney >> Christchurch >> Auckland >> London

London >> Perth >> Adelaide >> Melbourne >> Sydney >> London

London >> Auckland >> Wellington >> Christchurch >> London

The East Coast

The most popular route to travel in Australia is the East Coast. You can travel either north to south (Cairns to Sydney/Melbourne) or south to north (Melbourne/Sydney to Cairns). Companies such as Greyhound and OzExperience offer competitively priced bus passes, but you get travel by car or train too! It just depends on what you prefer.

Melbourne offers an artsy vibe and you can get lost in the small cafes and pubs; Sydney has the sites of the Opera House, Sydney harbour bridge, and a cosmopolitan feel; Byron Bay delights surfers from all over Australia; Fraser Island is the world’s largest sand island and it’s great fun to trundle around in a 4X4; the Whitsundays has clear water and golden beaches; and Cairns, well, Cairns has everything – diving, bungee jumping, sky diving. The East Coast is really where it’s at… if you’re backpacking Australia, then you’re going to want to backpack the East Coast.

What we recommend...

We recommend you fly into Perth. Perth is really up-and-coming at the moment, and it has a great city vibe to it. There’s a bunch of things you can do on the West Coast too, such as diving on the Ningaloo reef and riding a camel in the outback.

If you want, you can travel up to Broome and really get to know the Australian outback a little more. The West Coast is very different from the East Coast and it’s not to be missed.

From Perth you can travel down to Adelaide. The trip itself is stunning. Adelaide is the most architectural city in Australia with some funky buildings and wide, open spaces. It’s one of the most European cities in Australia.

Adelaide is a stop off to Melbourne. Melbourne is the most popular city in Australia. It’s also one of the most liveable places in the world. There is a lot to see and do, and Melbourne is the starting point for your East Coast adventure.

There are plenty of options to choose from in Australia and New Zealand for your stop gap. Due to its size, we recommend New Zealand. It’s much smaller to get around and you can easily do New Zealand in four to six weeks, whereas Australia can take months.

Why Australia and New Zealand?

As mentioned, they’re the two most popular backpacker destinations in the world. They have everything from adventure activities to pristine beaches.

You don’t become the most popular backpacker destination in the world without having something to offer; all you have to do is find out for yourself…

What others say…

Michael Purvis:

“I had a great time in Oz. It was my first year traveling and gave me so many experiences. My favourite time was working on a small orchard off the backpacker trail to get my seasonal work done. Working hard, meeting all the local people and making friendships that are still strong to this day more than 3 years later. Fishing for your dinner and cooking on a campfire with a 4X in hand. That's life.”