FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Answers to our most frequently asked questions can be found here.
If you can't find the answer you're looking for, just contact us.
WHEN SHOULD I BOOK OZINTRO?
You can book with us right up until just before you leave. However groups often fill up, so it's a good idea to book early. You can secure your place by paying a $200 deposit.
DO MANY PEOPLE TRAVEL ALONE?
Yes. In fact most people who do OzIntro are travelling solo. So it's a great way to meet people and make friends to go backpacking around Australia with!
WHAT HAPPENS IF I ARRIVE BEFORE MY OZINTRO START DATE?
If you arrive in Sydney before your start date we will still pick you up from the airport and will book you into the hostel for the day you arrive. You’ll then just need to pay around $15 per night for any extra nights when you check in.
I'M GOING FOR A SHORT HOLIDAY. IS OZINTRO FOR ME?
Even if you're coming to Australia for a short holiday OzIntro is still the best way meet people, make friends and experience an awesome week in the amazing city of Sydney!
Plus we'll help you plan any travels for after your OzIntro week!
CAN I CHAT TO MY GROUP BEFORE I ARRIVE?
Yes. We will send you an invite to a private Facebook Group a month before your start date so you can start getting to know your group.
WHAT USUALLY HAPPENS AFTER THE FIRST 9 DAYS?
During OzIntro you'll get lots of help to plan your onward travels and on how to find work. After the first 9 days most people stay a few more days in Sydney and then go off travelling around Australia with the new friends they've made and find work when needed along the way.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT AUSTRALIA?
It’s always a great time to go backpacking in Australia! It’s hot all over the country for most of the year and only gets a bit chilly down south in winter (June, July & August). But because Oz is such a big country, when it’s cold down south most people will head north and follow the sun!
DO I NEED A VISA TO ENTER AUSTRALIA?
Yes. To enter Australia you must have a valid visa. We can apply for your Working Holiday or Tourist Visa for Oz. It usually takes about 2 weeks for visas to be approved, longer if you’ve served in the military or want to work in a hospital or with children in Oz.
WHAT IS A WORKING HOLIDAY VISA?
A Working Holiday Visa allows you to stay in Australia for up to 12 months from the date you arrive. You are legally allowed to work in Oz with this visa and can work for each employer for up to 6 months. Once your visa has been approved you have 12 months to use it. You must be aged between 18 and 31 to get a WHV.
CAN I GET MORE THAN ONE WHV?
Yes. If you do 88 days of ‘seasonal work in regional Australia’ you can apply for a second WHV. When you arrive in Oz we‘ll give you lots more info about this, will help you find work and will also help you apply. You can then use your second WHV at any time before your 31st birthday.
DO I NEED A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY TO ENTER AUSTRALIA?
You should have sufficient funds to support your trip. If you're on a WHV or have a return ticket out of Australia then it's highly unlikely that The Australian Department of Immigration will ask to see evidence of your funds. However if you are on a Tourist Visa or only have a one-way ticket then they might ask to see a bank statement when you land in Oz, so it's a good idea to have at least AUD$5,000.
HOW MUCH MONEY WILL I NEED?
It depends on how long you're going to be in Oz and whether you're going to work or not. Once you've paid for your flight, visa, travel insurance and OzIntro, we recommend that you arrive with at least $2000. This will give you enough money to do all the amazing things along the East Coast and have enough money to live on until you start work. Most people who do OzIntro will head off travelling after their week then will just work and travel their way around Australia.
HOW WILL I PAY FOR STUFF IN OZ?
The best thing to do is to transfer your money into your new Aussie Bank Account. That way you won’t get charged fees for using a foreign card in Oz. It’s best to transfer your money to Australia at least one week before you leave home, that way you’ll have access to your money when you arrive.
IS AUSTRALIA EXPENSIVE?
Yes. However wages in Australia are excellent! Most jobs pay around $15 an hour so as long as you're working you'll be fine! Hostels are $15 a night and you should budget around $15 a day for meals. And you can do all of the amazing stuff on the East Coast for around $2000.
IS IT EASY TO FIND WORK IN AUSTRALIA?
There are plenty of well-paid jobs in Australia and by doing OzIntro you’ll get lots of help to find work! It’s a good idea to think about what you’d like to do for work and we encourage you to do something fun and make working in Oz part of your Australian backpacking adventure! Become a Dive Instructor, work on a yacht, pick some fruit, work in a bar or become a Tour Guide. There are lots of great jobs to do in Oz!
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT TO PAY IN RENT?
After Oz Intro most people will go on to stay in a hostel, a shared room in an apartment or a private room in a shared apartment. Rent will range from $150-$300 AUD per week depending on the type of accommodation and the area you're in.
WHAT IS MEDICARE?
Medicare is Australia’s National Health System. Those holding a valid UK passport are entitled to subsidised medical treatment and medicine while in Australia. We'll sort your Medicare membership in your first week.
IS AUSTRALIA DANGEROUS?
Not really. Apart from the snakes, spiders, crocodiles, sharks, dingoes, stonefish and jellyfish Australia is a really safe place! We strongly recommend that you get Travel Insurance before travelling to Australia.
DO I NEED INJECTIONS FOR OZ?
The risk of catching a disease when you're in Oz is extremely low so most people don't bother with injections. However if you're going to be working in a hospital there's a few things you'll need to do before you come to Oz. Just contact us for details.