As great as it is racing up the coasts, seeing all the sights and hitting the bars, sometimes it’s just not enough.
Which is why so many travellers seek something a bit more fulfilling.
There are numerous ways to work as a volunteer in Oz – and all of them will probably give you completely unique experiences.
Whether it’s working on an Aussie farm, helping preserve the land around Uluru, or keeping an eye on lizard populations, there’s certainly no shortage of options.
The most common approach is to sign up with Willing Workers on Organic Farms (WWOOF).
The organisation has more than 1,600 hosts willing to put up travellers. In return for a few hours of work a day, on anything from a huge cattle station to farms producing butterflies, so-called WWOOFers will be given free accommodation and food, often eating with the host family.
As Gary Ainsworth, of WWOOF Australia, says: “People who are travelling are given the opportunity to become part of the local community. This experience gives so much more than being on the outside looking in, as is often the case.”
Another big bonus of WWOOFing is that three months of work with the right hosts means travellers qualify for a second working holiday visa, in other words an extra year in Australia.
An alternative option is Conservation Volunteers Australia, which has 25 offices across the country, although some costs are generally involved.
Programme manager Denise Castro insists volunteering is one of the best ways to see Australia: “You’re interacting with local communities and going to places normal tourists don’t get to see. You’re not just a tourist!” she says.
“Australia is such a unique and beautiful country with amazing landscapes and wildlife, being a volunteer allows you to contribute to the protection of our precious environment for future generations to enjoy.”
Generally a good level of fitness and a willingness to get stuck in are the only qualifications you need.
Less worthy it may be, but another form of volunteering can be very useful in helping to extend your travels. If the cash is running out, don’t hesitate to offer your cleaning or cooking services.
Many hostels will offer free accommodation and food in return. Some live-aboard boats on the Great Barrier Reef will even offer free board, food and dives in return for cleaning work.
It’s a small price to pay for living in paradise.
