Australia Adventure with Gapforce

The program has been absolutely amazing! I have loved everything about Australia, formed a lot of new friends/relationships, and made so many great memories so far. I would 100% recommend it to others, I think everyone should get to experience this beautiful place. My favorite part was the camping trip on Frasier Island, but I have also loved sky diving, snorkeling, and all of the nights out have been a blast. Overall, this has been the best experience I’ve ever had and I’m so glad I got out of my shell and booked it.

Was so much more than I expected. Met amazing people and leaders. Would highly recommend this to anyone as you will have the trip of a lifetime and you will never look back at it with regret. Helps you step out of your comfort zone with likeminded people.

The whole trip was just incredible! In those 7 weeks you see all of the famous east coast spots and do a lot of well-planned activities but also have enough freetime to do your own thing which makes it perfectly balanced. The volunteering part is another very good part of the trip because even though it might not be interesting all the time, you give the country you stay in something back. If you think about doing the trip, than book it now!

This trip is amazing for those who may not have much experience in travelling much like myself , it’s been a great experience and i have had the time of my life the gap force team have been amazing and i have enjoyed everything moment of the trip would definitely recommend to anyone.

The most amazing and quickest 7 weeks in Australia! My highlights have to be Fraser Island and the Whitsundays Sailing as both places were absolutely stunning, and I had never experienced something like those places before. I was worried that the trip may feel like a school trip however this was not the case as you are given a fair degree of independence and free time. Our two leaders were very friendly, easy to talk to and knowledgeable about the trip. My only criticism with the trip is that you do spend a long time in Cairns which isn't the most exciting of places. Overall, I would highly recommend this trip, especially to new travellers mainly due to its amazing itinerary and it being well organised.

This program is a great introduction to long-term traveling, as you are in a group of people with planned activities most days. You see the best of what Australia has to offer on the east coast, my favorite city being Byron Bay. The Whitsunday Islands and the Atherton Tablelands in Cairns were also highlights. There are many scenic and gorgeous overlooks for pictures and you get to see the diversity of wildlife and climate that Australia has to offer. After 4 weeks there is a volunteering segment, which can be challenging, but is rewarding in the end. Around this portion of the trip there are less activities and a lot of free time, as you are in Cairns for a little over three weeks. There is an excellent extra activity called Green Island tour, which is a beautiful area with snorkeling. There is also skydiving, bungee jumping, and white water rafting (these all cost extra $). Be sure to bring enough if you want to do these, and for food in general because Australia is expensive in certain areas. You get a good mix of free time and planned activities throughout the time you're there. It's an amazing trip and you get to know the people you're traveling with very well and become like a big family. You will get a lot of it and learn so much about an amazing country with many experiences to offer.

This was my first time travelling alone without my family, which was a daunting experience in itself. That's why I chose to do a guided trip with other people, this was definitely the right decision and it is a great way to start off your travelling in a safe way, it eases you in and makes you so much more confident to go and travel by yourself. The trip itself was jam-packed with activities and you definitely got your money's worth for 7 weeks of travelling with accommodation and activities included. However, I did find that there were quite a few 'free days' which sometimes was a little frustrating as you just ended spending money for the sake of it. On the topic of money, I should have taken double what I did. The Gapforce website advised that you take approximately £750 for food for the whole trip, this was definitely not enough as Australia is really expensive!! A lot of others on the trip also recognised this, and some of us had to go into extra money or contact our parents because we hadn't brought enough with us. I think it might have been helpful to have known how expensive Australia was and how much money per day you would need (I'd advise £25-35). The highlights of this trip are definitely the Whitsunday Islands and the trip to the Atherton tablelands in Cairns. Everywhere here is beautiful and therefore your camera roll will be filled with scenic views and many waterfalls! The best times that I had were actually the extra activities that you could pay for like Green Island and Skydiving! (I would recommend taking at least an extra £500 to be able to have the freedom to enjoy these activities if you'd like to) a lot of people also got the opportunity to get their PADI diving certificates over 4 days which I would highly recommend as it is much cheaper than England! The volunteering section in the last couple of weeks was definitely harder than expected, a lot of us were a little disappointed as on the Gapforce website it states that the volunteering would involve animal conservation such as Koalas and Wallabies. However, we only got told a couple of weeks into the trip that we were actually going to be spending 4 hours in 35ºc heat weeding and planting trees, not what we had expected. Despite this, we all learnt a lot and very much appreciated the week after volunteering where we could relax and catch up on some sleep! This trip was honestly some of the best weeks of my life and I met some wonderful people. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone who hasn't travelled before and finds it hard to meet new people. You get a wonderful tour of Australia and I don't think anywhere was missed out on the trip at all, the itinerary was great and the Gapforce leaders were even better, they were so supportive and got to know all 23 of us individually, you really felt like a big family only after 1 week of knowing each other. I would highly recommend a Gapforce trip but brace yourself for 7 weeks of beautiful views, unforgettable experiences and lots of partying! I vlogged my 7 week experience - if you want to know exactly what we did.

Travelling halfway around the world for 2 months is never going to be easy, but the Gapforce trip makes it an incredible experience. The trip is packed with different experiences, from the fast paced city of Sydney up to the serene Fraser Island, this was a truly unique and fun way to experience the east cost of Australia. It’s daunting travelling thousands of miles to spend 7 weeks with people you’ve never met, but after a while you forget that you only met recently, as you’ve made friendships that will last. I even decided to remain in Australia for another few months, to live and work with some of the people I’ve met on this trip. The volunteering portion of the trip was difficult, 4 hours of hard work daily in the heat planting trees and weeding areas of land. This was a different experience to what was described on the website, and it was a little disappointing that we weren’t working with the amazing wildlife and animals found in Australia. It was overall a rewarding experience to have done, but not my first choice when it comes to voluntary work and something to consider when planning this trip! The leaders provided fantastic support, and their advice on what to do, where to visit and the extra activities available was very helpful. Their interaction with the group made it a better experience, and it was clear they loved what they were doing. The optional activities are definitely worth it, from bungee and skydiving, to spending a day relaxing on Green island there is definitely something you’ll want to do, and no doubt they’ll be one of the most memorable parts of your trip. If you’re looking for a tour of the east coast that captures a bit of everything, whilst giving you some freedom to choose what you’d like, this trip is a fantastic opportunity in an incredible country.

The most amazing 7 weeks travelling up the East coast of Australia. The included activities were incredible- my highlights being Fraser Island and the Whitsundays sailing, as both places were both stunning and nothing like I'd ever experienced before. I was anxious at first that the trip would feel like I was back on a school trip, however, I did not find this the case as you are given relatively large amounts of freedom and are able to go off into the local area on your own. Our two leaders, Humphrey and Andy were both very good, as they were friendly, easy to talk to and had good knowledge of the local area. My only criticism is that you do spend a long time in Cairns (3.5 weeks) during and after the volunteering, which does end up getting very samey.

My Australian adventure was amazing! The trip was jam packed with activities but also well balanced with free/down time. The leaders were always making sure everyone was having the best time and we had all the information we needed. The days were well structured with a lot of free days to explore for yourself which was really good. My favourite part of the trip was the 3 days on Fraser Island, a surreal experience! You definitely get your money’s worth with all the included activities which were fun to do as a group.

At first, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do this trip. For reasons such as only being 18; the fact Australia is on the other side of the globe; and a few others, I was worried I’d feel alone on this trip. However, that is not the case, the group becomes friends that will last forever. You learn to live with others, and you learn the challenges of travelling through a foreign country all the while having the support of your group leaders and new found friends. The trip itself is rather fast-paced. You head from one town to the next almost every other day. Once you arrive in cairns, you can unpack and relax, as moving around stops for a few weeks. The volunteering in cairns is not a piece of cake. You work hard for 4 hours a day. There is a lot of manual labour involved, but in the end, you can look back and be proud of what you and your group has accomplished. As for accommodation, you stay in hostels, but you are never with strangers. Wifi and power outlets are common and keeping devices charged isn’t something to worry about.

i had a really fun time, will always remember it and i wish it was carrying on for longer. everyone was so nice and the group leaders were very helpful and were more like friends than people in charge which was nice.

When my family and friends ask me how was Australia it’s very hard to answer. Mostly because stories I tell sound unbelievable - on the trip I pushed myself to do things I would have never done back home; and because the whole trip has been so amazing it sounds like I am exaggerating. The location was obviously dreamy - amazing beaches, friendly Australians and warm weather. But what made this journey even more special were the people. We lived together for (only) seven weeks, but I can say that some individuals turned into friends, as they helped me to overcome my fears and push my limits. And the experience I have gained because of this trip will benefit me forever. I am going back home with tanned skin, head full of amazing memories and heart full of joy. And I am so glad that I (for once in my life) did not overthink the whole situation and just spontaneously booked the trip. It’s maybe the best decision I have ever made. I also want to thank the leaders of the trip who were always there for us (even at 3 am in the morning).

I did the 7-week program. The trip was absolutely amazing! Already after 4 days the group had become so close. The order of the trip was perfect and we got to see so much. There were two people who switched their 4-week program to the 7-week program, because they liked it so much. Over all you’ll get a good image of the east coast the only city we didn’t go was Melbourne but that didn’t make the trip less good.

Can’t stress enough how amazing this trip was in every way. Totally prepared me to travel on my own in countries across the world, increased my confidence when talking to people and taught me how to be an adult (or some parts of it). None of that would be possible without the group leaders Andy and Humphrey. They allow the perfect level of flexibility and independence while also making sure you are safe and being there with the answers to any questions you may have. 10/10 would recommend to someone considering a gap year. Gapforce will push any concerns you have about your gap year away. Miss everyone already!

I would highly recommend this trip to anyone and everyone! Having always wanted to travel Australia I would never of been able to organise everything on this trip i.e white water rafting, fraiser island, surfing (I could go on) making my trip very easy. Our leaders, Andy and Humphrey truly made our experience being the parent, friend and occasional doctor we needed for our little family. We laughed the whole way up the coast whilst obviously conducting many dynamic risk assessments! The people on the trip were amazing and I made many true friends who saying goodbye was difficult. It’s crazy to me that I ever considered NOT going on this trip, it’s a great way to get out of your comfort zone whilst always feeling safe and make friends. The only bad thing about it is that the rest of gap year might not measure up! Thank you GapForce (Andy and Humphrey). Memories for a lifetime

The trip was truly amazing! Made so many good friends and will miss every single one of them. All the activities were super fun and well planned. Accommodation was mostly comfy. Would definitely do this trip again :)

I have thoroughly enjoyed this trip and feel it has been the perfect mixture of travelling around different places, trying new activities and meeting new people. We had two leaders - Andy and Humphrey who were fantastic and ensured we had the opportunity to undertake any activities that we desired. I loved that there was such a big group of individuals who have come from all over the world, we all became close, very quickly :) I would recommend this trip to anyone who is interested in travelling around the East Coast of Australia.

This trip has exceeded my expectations. This was my first time travelling on my own and I am so pleased I chose this trip! I was homesick at first but the leaders, Andy and Humphrey, made me feel at home and really encouraged me. They made the trip so enjoyable! The trip is fantastic to really build your self confidence and memories as there are many experiences to participate in such as the Harbour Bridge Climb which i definitely recommend. Moving from place to place i really enjoyed and Byron Bay was a big favourite on this trip with Fraser Island and the Whitsundays being absolutely magical. There is alot of flexibility on this trip to really find yourself. My confidence really increased so much so, I didn't want to leave Australia! I am very pleased i pushed myself to take part as i wouldn't have made the memories or made the most amazing friends.

If this is your first time traveling, and feel safer with some babysitting, Join Gapforce!! If you have travelled Anywhere at all before and are interested in the ability to spend free time doing what you want when you want, no need for a group. The group and itinerary are both great, however this is basically a high school trip with two teachers. It is very hard to go on excursions on your own even when you have 24+ hours of free time due to the companies risk management and legal team. The issue with the buddy system is often times 18 year olds like to see and do nothing all day and drink all night. Don’t get me wrong, if you are scared to travel on your own or would like some babysitting, join Gapforce!!!