16 November 28, 2021The Sunday Times
Travel Long haul
and dramatic rock formations
hog the headlines, but the
151-mile drive brims with
animal encounters too,
particularly at the kangaroo-
starring Anglesea Golf Club
and the koala-heavy hamlet of
Kennett River. Lesser-known
spots are the platypus hangout
Lake Elizabeth and Tower Hill,
an extinct volcanic crater
where emus and echidnas join
the photogenic marsupials.
Work it The Great Ocean
Road is dotted with holiday
towns. Hospitality workers are
in high demand, particularly
at cafés, restaurants and
holiday parks. The best
place to start looking is
on seek.com.au.LEARN TO SURF
Where Bondi Beach, Sydney
Forget cricket — surfing is
Australia’s true national sport.
And where better to try it than
at Australia’s most famous
beach. Aim for North Bondi,
where the waves are gentler
and Let’s Go Surfing runs its
surf school. Only the most
hapless fail to stand on the
board by the end of the first
two-hour, £54 lesson. The £227
five-lesson course will have
you performing even better
(letsgosurfing.com.au).
Work it Sydney has the
greatest range of working
holidaymaker jobs, often
advertised in backpacker
hostels. The hefty jobs board
at the Sydney Central YHA
(yha.com.au) offers up work
in construction, traffic
management, office temping,
market research and retail.
MEET KOALAS AND
KANGAROOS
Where The Great Ocean
Road, Victoria
West of Melbourne, this is
Australia’s classic driving
route. Surf beaches, big cliffs
After nearly two years Australia is finally reopening — to a select few. Here’s
how to make the most of the working holiday visa, says David Whitley
GAP YEARS
BOUNCE BACK
KAYAK WITH DOLPHINS
Where Byron Bay,
New South Wales
Arts meets alternative lifestyle
in the increasingly chic surf
town Byron Bay. There are
several beaches to hit the
waves from, with wildlife
and waterfall-filled national
parks in the hinterland.
The standout experience,
though, is the tour that takes
you paddling through the
crashing surf — then cooing
as the resident bottlenose
dolphin pod sidles alongside
your kayak (£38;
capebyronkayaks.com).
Work it Lots of tropical fruit
needs picking around nearby
Murwillumbah. The badnews? It’s hard work. The
good news? You get a
minimum of £13.70 an
hour. Find vacancies at
backpackerjobboard.
com.au.HANG OUT WITH
STREET ARTISTS
Where? Melbourne
Melbourne’s laneways
have been transformed
from grotty bin alleys to
fizzing hives of cool — partly
thanks to the hidden bars
and vibey cafés, partly thanks
to lashings of the southern
hemisphere’s best street art.
Explore the mega murals
of AC/DC Lane,
Duckboard Placework. The
get a
70 an
ncies at
oard.H
S
urne
eways
formed
alleys to
ool — partly
ddenbars
partly thanks
e southern
st street art.
a muralse
AUSTRALIA
LOCKED DOWN —
‘SO I STAYED FOR TWO
YEARS!’ READ ELENA
WYATT’S GAP-YEAR
STORY AT
THETIMES.CO.UK