Taking a gap year is an exciting time for any student. After all, you have a whole year to get to know the world around you and yourself. You also have this unique opportunity to do whatever you want for a year, without the pressure of society, college, or work. This might be the only time in your life when you’ll be able to have such an unforgettable experience. Where better to live out your most adventurous dreams than in Australia? It’s the country of untouched nature and the most advanced cities in the world. By spending your gap year here, you get the best of both worlds. So here’s how to make the most out of it.
1. Consider volunteering
Volunteering can be a great way to help others and yourself. You’ll get to work with the locals and improve their daily lives, as well as immerse yourself in the culture. There are a lot of volunteering programs which you can look up. Most of them are aimed at working with children, and we’re usually talking about teaching or taking care of them. If you’re a people person and really like kids, this option is great for you.
There won’t be a lot of hard work involved, you’ll get to do what you love, and most programs pay for your accommodation. What’s more, writing you volunteered in Australia for a year is really good for your CV. Remember that a gap year doesn’t mean neglecting your future entirely. With volunteering, you get both the fun and the benefits.
2. Explore everything on foot
If you really want to get to know Australia’s biggest cities, explore them on foot. It might sound exhausting to wander the streets of Melbourne or Sydney on foot, but it can be life-changing. You’ll get to see everything up close and see the true colours of these cities. This also allows you to get to know your surrounding on a more personal level.
Who knows what you might discover? Melbourne, for example, is home to a lot of small and interesting streets. Some are covered in graffiti head to toe, and you must work really hard to find them. You might also come across a café or hang out a spot that’ll grow to be your second home.
3. Immerse yourself in the language
Just because you’re on your gap year, it doesn’t mean you can’t do anything for yourself. After all, this trip is about growing. What better way to grow than to learn or perfect a whole other language? Anyone whose mother tongue is something other than English can attest that the best way to learn is to be surrounded by the language.
In Australia, you’ll have to communicate in English all the time meaning that you’ll really practice the language. As we all know, practice makes perfect. If you really want to up your skills, you can even take some additional lessons. Just make sure to take an English placement test first so as to really get your money’s worth.
4. Go scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is a wonder of nature and it’s a shame to miss it if you’re already spending a year in Australia. After all, it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to get to swim and explore the Reef. There are a lot of companies with their own boats who take people out on the sea and let the experience the wonders of diving.
Don’t worry if you’ve never done it before, as you’ll have an instructor and be well taken care of. The Reef is like a whole other world, with fish of various shapes and sizes swimming about and the mesmerizing colours of the corals. Who knows, you might even make friends with a turtle on your underwater journey.
Conclusion
As you can see, Australia has a lot to offer to any student. You’ll get to grow as a person while doing the most incredible things. The only requirements you need to have an absolutely amazing gap year is to be young and hungry for adventure. Australia welcomes people like that with open arms and leaves them breathless with all its beauty.
