mapoz

Melbourne

Australia and New Zealand are very popular for backpackers, especially for those people whose countries are a member of the COMMONWEALTH. This makes it very easy to travel around...maybe even too easy.
But, allthough it is more expensive, they are beautiful countries to visit.

TRANSPORT
The cheapest way to travel around is with the coaches(buses) of which you have 3 important companies :
* GREYHOUND
* McCAFFERTY
* OZ/KIWI EXPERIENCE

ACCOMODATION
You have 2 organisations that provide you a membershipcards which can be as useful in Oz and New Zealand as a studentcard to get discounts in museums, hostels, transport, activities and so on...
* YHA - Australia
            - New Zealand
* VIP

VOLUNTEER WORK
If you cannot apply for a workingvisa it can be very expensive to travel around. Doing volunteerwork is a way to safe money �nd to learn more about the way of life and the culture and folklore of the country. The one I did was not really expensive (comparing with most of these volunteer organisations) and it gave me good memories while making some good friends too.

Willing Workers On Organic Farms (short: WWOOF)
The 'membershipcard' is a book with addresses all over and a personal code; this is what the brochure says :
   * You have nearly 1000 Organic Farms offering to teach you aspects of Organic growing, Bio-dynamics or Permaculture.
    * You choose from over 1000 hosts, covering the whole of Australia.
    * You learn about organic growing, and about the country you are visiting
    * You work in exchange for your keep
    * You get full board and lodging usually in the family home
     * You have Accident Insurance built in to your memebership

For more information :   WWOOF
                                       Mt Murrindal Co-op
                                       Buchan, Vic. 3885, Australia
                                       Telephone 03-5155-0218
                                       [email protected]

                                      WWOOF New Zealand
                                       Jane & Andrew Strange
                                       PO Box 1172, Nelson
                                       ph.:03-544-9890   (send 25 NZD)

CLIMATE
The winter      overthere is from March until September.
The summer    from       September       until March.

For South-Australia, New South Wales, ACT and New Zealand the best time to go is in the summer.
For the rest of Australia, you better go during the Winter.

VISAS



                          PHOTOGALLERY 1996
                         AUSTRALIA 2002

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