Work & Travel Australia Sydney Welcome Week

The InterExchange Work & Travel Australia program offers an optional Welcome Week add-on in Sydney, which includes extended accommodation and social activities. In addition to job support for a full year, seven nights of accommodation at Wake Up! hostel, housing referrals, and assistance with logistics such as setting up a local bank account and taxes, the Welcome Week includes an awesome week of activities so you can make new friends and start exploring as soon as you arrive. Here’s the schedule:

Day 1: Arrival

Welcome to Australia! You will already have a voucher from us covering your transportation from the airport in Sydney to the funky Wake Up! hostel on Pitt Street right in the center of town.

You’ll probably be pretty jetlagged but we recommend staying active and visiting Paddy’s Market, strolling the Botanic Gardens, or having lunch at Darling Harbor.

Day 2: Info Session and a Night Out

Your orientation session will cover the where to go and what to do in Australia, as well as banking, working, living, and traveling in Oz.

In the evening get ready for a big night out with the group on your pub crawl!

Day 3: Wildlife World

At your own pace, head over to Wildlife World to experience all of Australia’s unique and wonderful wildlife. Sydney Wildlife World is located in Darling Harbor so we recommend taking a packed lunch and eating by the water, or hit up café/bar Pontoon with cheap deals suited to the backpacker’s budget.

Day 4: The Finer Points of Sydney

See some of Sydney's best: Darling Harbour, the Botanical Gardens and Chinese Gardens, and Harbour Bridge. Get great views and good tips from locals on how to enjoy the city like a local. Optional: catch the ferry to Manly Beach for $2.50.

Day 5: Blue Mountains

A trip to Sydney isn't complete without a visit to the beautiful Blue Mountains, famous for exhilarating bushwalks and giant waterfalls. You'll learn about the culture and history of the region from expert guides, while exploring the famous national park.

Day 6: Job Search Seminar and Bondi BBQ

Attend a job search seminar in the morning for tips on finding work, resumes, cover letters, interviews, and finding specific types of jobs.

Then enjoy one of nicest stretches of coastline in Australia on the Bondi coastal walk. Be sure to wear your favorite "budgy smugglers" out to the world-famous and fabulous Bondi Beach! Take a dip in the ocean, catch some rays, and eat up with the most classic of Aussie meals: the barbecue!

Day 7: Birds Eye View and Feast

Get ready to see Sydney from it's highest point, while you dine at the Tower Restaurant, 260 meters in the sky! Walk off all that food on an adventure through the coolest parts of Sydney including Circular Quay, the Rocks, and the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge! Optional: Aussie Adventurer Talk Wednesday afternoon covering the East Coast in more detail, farm work, buying/hiring campervans, and more!

As a participant on the Welcome Week, you will be offered a free online Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) course, recognized in the Australian Capital Territory, Northern Territory, Queensland, and Western Australia. You may want to work on this in the afternoon if you haven't already completed it! (Note that if you want RSA certification for Melbourne or Sydney you'll have to do a separate course.)

The activity week has ended but your adventure will be just beginning! Consult the jobs team about finding work and enjoy your working holiday!

Sydney Welcome Week Arrival Dates 2018

• February 1, 8, and 15
• March 1, 15, and 22
• April 12 and 26
• May 10 and 24
• June 7 and 21
• July 5 and 26
• August 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30
• September 6, 13, 20, and 27
• October 4, 11, 18, and 25
• November 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29
• December 6 and 13

Don't see the start date you're looking for? It's all good! You can arrive on just about any date through the year on our standard program and we'll suggest other welcome activities you can join. If you're open to Melbourne, you can also check out our Melbourne Welcome Week start dates.