welcome to travel melbourne tour

Welcome to Travel

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WELCOME TO TRAVEL (Melbourne) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Welcome to Travel

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Welcome to Travel - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Welcome to Travel

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Welcome to Travel - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024) - Tripadvisor

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Welcome to Travel – Melbourne

Things to do melbourne , melbourne , victoria.

Welcome to Travel is a Melbourne-based travel company, made up of a team of avid travellers who understand what it is people look for when they choose to go exploring. Meeting like-minded people, living life the way the locals do and losing yourself a bit in the places you see – that is what travel is all about.

Welcome to Travel is passionate about helping their customers feel comfortable about taking that first step of their adventure into the unknown. Offering travellers expert help and planning, ease and peace of mind and a lifetime membership of their travel community.

This tour is currently rated number 1 on TripAdvisor for Melbourne tours, with only 5-star reviews. It is the perfect start to your Australian adventure and is ideal for backpackers, students and Working Holiday travellers who want to do more, see more, meet likeminded people and make the most out of their time travelling.

On the tour you will get to explore the beautiful city of Melbourne as well as visit amazing destinations outside of the city such as Phillip Island, the Mornington Peninsula and the bustling beachside suburb, St Kilda. You will go surfing, wine tasting, witness penguins waddling across the beach, and go on an incredible Aboriginal Heritage Walk, among other things.

Overall Inclusions: Personal airport pickup, seven nights accommodation, a City Tour, welcome dinner and drink, two-day getaway to Regional Victoria, surf lesson, Wildlife Park Tour, Phillip Island Penguin Parade, Food, Drink & Street Art Tour; St Kilda Beach Day, paddle boarding, wine tasting, bar crawl, Farewell Rooftop Barbecue and Secret Inclusions throughout.

They will also help you with setting up your bank account, Tax File Number and Australian sim card as well as any employment help and life-long membership and support.

Disabled Access

Experience the best of Melbourne in the shortest amount of time. You will be shown all the highlights and hidden secrets in Melbourne and whilst in the City you will spend three nights at the perfectly located Space Hotel, famous for its rooftop hot tub and views.

The semi-guided Mini Pack is perfect if you want to experience the city with a local and have some free time. They organise your working holiday essentials and give you one-on-one expert employment and travel support now, during and after the tour!

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APERSPECTIVE

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South Yarra, Stonnington

Melbourne’s True Crime Tour

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• Accommodation

Intro To Melbourne 8 Day Tour (Includes Accomodation)

8 day introduction tour to Melbourne with FREE nights accomodation thrown in! Your working holiday starts HERE.

Intro To Melbourne 8 Day Tour (Includes Accomodation) Highlights

• 1 nights accomodation  free when you book with Backpacker Deals 
• Airport pick up (any day)
• 7 nights accommodation (extra can be arranged)
• Australia Welcome Pack (TFN, Bank Account, Phone Number)
• Welcome and farewell dinner and drink
• 2 days/ 1 night getaway
• Surf lesson
• Paddle boarding
• Wine tasting
• Australian wildlife park tour
• Discounted RSA/RSG courses
• 12 month YHA membership

What's Excluded

Why do we love this.

"This trip is created and hosted by two people who backpacked Australia before making Melbourne their home, therefore they have first-hand experience  in what backpackers arriving in Australia need!"

What to Expect

Enjoy a unique 8-day introduction to life in Australia and tick off some must do Aussie experiences! From feeding kangaroos to learning to surf, Welcome to Travel have created a one of a kind trip to kick off your Australian...

Frequently Asked Questions about Intro To Melbourne 8 Day Tour (Includes Accomodation)

Do i need a visa to come to australia, why do i need a bank account, what happens after welcome to melbourne, how will i find a job, medicare whats that, i've never stayed in a dorm before what can i expect, reviews for intro to melbourne 8 day tour (includes accomodation).

Total review count and overall rating based on Backpackerdeals and Travello reviews.

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All Reviews

We enjoyed it and had so much fun. Nice staff and guides

My whole family enjoyed this tour. We'd love to go again.

Really enjoyed our whole week in melbourne, got to see little penguins, kangaroo and koala. learned how to surf,. 😊 the tour guides are awsome and very helpful.. missing the laughs.. cheers..

• Travel Insurance is required
• Our maximum numbers are 24 and minimum numbers just 4. If 14 days before departure we have only 1-3 pax we will revert to our 4-day package for this pax. You will then be invited to come...
•  Full refund if cancelling 60 days
•  50% refund between 30 and 60 days
•  No refund within 30 days

All customer cancellation & refund requests are also subject to our website’s own  refund conditions .

Tour Operator

Welcome to Travel

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WELCOME TO TRAVEL (Melbourne) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

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• Start Your Adventure

Welcome to Australia: East Coast

30 Days / 29 Nights Semi-Guided Tour

Secure your spot for just $400AUD

The new way to travel the East Coast of Australia

The East Coast of Australia has it all and we will make sure you see it properly. We will explore bohemian Byron Bay with its laid back surfer backpacker vibe and explore the world’s largest sand island (K’gari / Fraser Island) by 4WD. You will snorkel the Great Barrier Reef out of Cairns, get up close to Koalas on Magnetic Island as well as see the incredible Whitsunday Islands TWICE, once by boat and then once from the sky as we take you on a spectacular scenic flight above Heart Reef. Truly special.

This is just the start, this Semi-Guided Tour will make sure that you and your new travel family have the best 30 days on the East Coast of Australia.

Tour Length

30 Days / 29 Nights

Perfect For

People wanting a group tour but with freedom

Max 24 people

Semi Guided

More free time, more inclusions at a better price

You will have us here to help, all the way up the coast!

Some Meals Included

We will cater for your dietary needs

Top Experiences

Experience Byron Bay

Explore Byron Bay with your guide before doing an incredible sunset glow kayak. You’ll spend 3 days in Byron Bay.

Fly Over the Whitsundays

Before an incredible boat trip, you will see the Whitsundays from the sky on a special scenic flight over Heart Reef.

Explore K’Gari (Fraser Island)

Spend 3 days at our favourite place in Australia, driving through rainforest, swimming in freshwater lakes and relaxing in lazy rivers.

Unique Everglades Stay

Stay amongst kangaroos in lakeside cabins before exploring the Everglades by cruise and canoe!

Great Barrier Reef

Get up close to Nemo and if you want, upgrade to a Scuba Dive!

Bribie Island - Hidden Gem

Spend the day exploring the island in a 4WD, paddleboarding on tea tree lakes, finding abandoned WW2 forts and spotting a kangaroo or two!

Magical Magnetic Island

Spend two days relaxing amongst koalas and wallabies on Magnetic Island, also a great place to swim or hike!

Add-On Options

Whether it’s our Skydiving, White Water Rafting or Surfing we can help with all of it!

Why is Semi Guided so good?

Here are some reasons this new way to travel, is THE best way to travel the East Coast:

1. Your tour will start (Sydney to Byron Bay) with a guide to ensure a perfect start

2. You are travelling with the same group, who will become your travel family

3. All of your activities, transport and accommodation will be organised for you

4. Compared to a guided tour, you have more free time to relax or do your own thing

5. Through our app, you will have support from Welcome to Travel guide all the way through your trip

6. Your activities will always have a guide

For your free time, you will receive suggested things for each destination, not with one option like a normal tour, but several options to suit your mood. We have optional activities you can book, things you can do for free and even food and drink specials all the way up the coast.

Welcome to Travel is all about helping people become the best version of themselves, and that includes ensuring you’re confident to continue travelling after you’ve travelled with us. This perfect blend of a group tour, with free time but a continuous support network will help you do that.

WHERE YOU'LL GO

Starting in Sydney, you will travel all the way up the East Coast of Australia until Cairns. Hitting the beautiful small towns, getting off the beaten path with unique destinations but also experiencing the big three: Great Barrier Reef, Whitsundays and K’Gari (Fraser Island).

WHERE YOU'LL STAY

As we make our way up the East Coast, we’ll be staying in our favourite hostels in the different towns along the way. You’ll also spend two nights camping on K’Gari (Fraser Island) and two nights on an overnight bus.

Tour Inclusions

Experiences.

• Relax with our day 1 group Meet and Greet Session
• Secret fun pre-departure Sydney activity
• Get to know each other at our Welcome Meal
• Explore Byron Bay as a group
• Yoga in Byron Bay (optional, but included)
• Beach time and lightouse walk in Byron Bay
• Byron Bay dinner on your first night in town
• Team night out on final evening in Byron Bay
• Go kayaking at sunset in Byron Bay
• Hit the beach and the bars in Surfers Paradise
• Get to know Queensland’s capital city, Brisbane
• Unique Day Trip to Bribie Island
• Paddleboarding and Sea Swimming off Bribie Island
• Kangaroo Spotting and Explore Fort Bribie
• Visit beautiful Noosa National Park, home of the Fairy Pools
• Afternoon boat trip on Noosa River with Roundaboat (BYO snacks and drinks) Noosa National Park, home of the Fairy Pools
• Frisbee golf and wIldlife spotting at the stunning Habitat Noosa
• Cruise (boat trip) and canoe on (optional but already included!) 1 of 2 of the world’s Everglades National Parks
• Bring in sunset at beautiful Carlo Sandblow
• Spend 3 days on K’Gari (Fraser Island)
• Take a scenic flight (this is included!) over the Whitsundays and Heart Reef
• Experience a boat trip to the world famous Whitehaven Beach
• Snorkel the pristine waters around the Whitsundays
• Chill out on Magnetic Island
• Visit the Great Barrier Reef trip. Snorkelling is included, scuba diving is possible to add on

Accommodation

• 22 Nights dorm accommodation in Australia’s best hostels
• 2 Nights in an incredible lakeside Wildlife Retreat, Habitat Noosa
• 2 Nights camping on K'Gari (Fraser Island)
• 2 Nights dorm accommodation on beautiful Magnetic Island
• 2 Overnight buses
• Extra nights available for before and after the tour

Meals and Drinks

• 2 Breakfasts
• Food and drink discounts and specials for every destination
• Suitable for vegans
• Beer tasting at lakeside brewery (optional)
• Connect with your group on our App, before, throughout and after the tour
• Lifetime membership with Welcome to Travel
• Access to free quarterly Welcome to Travel events
• Discounted rates for Melbourne and Sydney events (parties, bar crawls)
• Private lifetime member Facebook group access
• Bus: modern, air conditioned coach travel up the coast (WiFi/USB)
• Ferry: your transport to Magnetic Island
• 4WD Jeep/Troupes on K'Gari (Fraser Island)
• Fast Boat: your trip to the Whitsundays
• Plane: flight over the Whitsundays

Additional Advice Travel Help

• Travel information session
• Free recommendations for every destination on your tour
• Book other activities through our app
• Customised travel planning
• National travel specials and discounts
• Ongoing travel help after your tour

EAST COAST ITINERARY

Before you travel.

Before and after you book the tour, we know that you’ll have questions about travelling to Australia. This is totally natural and we’re able to help with all of this, not just over email but through our famous free, personalised travel advice calls.

We’ll do one of these on your preferred platform at a time that works for you meaning you can ask us anything and everything. Book one in by clicking the button below.

The support continues with helpful info emails leading up to you joining us on tour. The week before your tour we’ll also create a group on our app to connect you with everyone that you’ll be on tour with!

Meet Your Guide and Travel Fam

Today is the day, the day you meet your tour guide and the day that you meet your new travel family for the best 4 weeks of your life.

We will get to know each other in our meet and greet session, where we’ll also go over your itinerary for your East Coast adventure, answering anything and everything so that you feel as relaxed and excited as possible.

After that we’ll head for a cool secret inclusion followed by a Welcome Dinner, our first meal as a travel fam! That evening be getting the overnight bus to our next stop, beautiful Byron Bay.

Beautiful Byron Bay, Backpacker Paradise

With its beautiful beaches, epic surf, great food and good vibes, every traveller has Byron Bay on their bucket list.

You will do a tour of ‘the Bay’ with your tour guide before having a group meal to celebrate your first night in town. 

The next 2 days are all about you, that’s the beauty of our style of trip. Some of your group may want to surf, do yoga or just chill on the beach. Everyone’s different but whatever you want to do, our tour guide will be able to help with.

We’ll spend the twilight hours of your 2nd evening on a stunning sunset river kayak tour finishing at the pub. The final evening in Byron Bay will be a team night out, what a great first few days!

Whilst in Byron Bay we’ll be staying at the incredible Surf House, which is 100m from the beach AND has a rooftop bar.

Welcome to Queensland Surfers Paradise

From Byron Bay, you’ll be heading up the Coast as a group without your tour guide, but worry not, before this your guide will host a special session to help with the rest of your time in Australia.

Your next stop is Surfers Paradise where you’ll stay in the best hostel on the Gold Coast.

Here you’ll have time to hit the beach, or go to one of the many theme parks, all of which we can help organise for you! From the Gold Coast, we will carry on to Queensland’s capital, Brisbane.

Bribie Island

Brisbane, the capital of Queensland is a cool metropolitan city, with so many beautiful national parks surrounding it. 

We want you to experience new things in new places that you may not have heard of before, and that’s what one of these days is all about.

You’ll spend the day at the beautiful Bribie Island where you’ll take in incredible look outs, explore the island in 4WD’s along the beach, paddleboard in tea tree lakes and spot a few kangaroo’s along the way. How cool?!

Noosa, Everyone’s Favourite Town

Days 10 - 12.

Noosa is a popular holiday destination for travellers, but also Aussies. To be honest, Noosa is as perfect as life gets.

Like Byron Bay, it has beaches to die for and a great food scene, but it also has a National Park that’s just 500m from town. This National Park is home to the famous Fairy Pools.

We have the best advice on how to explore the National Park and the rest of Noosa, as well as where the best sunset spots are.

We’re committed to you staying at the best hostels and here we’ll stay in Bounce, a brand new hostel that’s just minutes from the turquoise river, perfect of a swim. Not only is Noosa itself stunning, it’s not far away from 1 of the world’s 2 Everglades National Parks. Guess where we’re heading next?

The Everglades: Truly Special Wildlife Stay

Days 13 - 14.

After Noosa, we’ve organised for you to stay lakeside at Kangarooms Noosa. Here you’ll be staying together in cabins that are surrounded by kangaroos every evening. You can grab a kayak or paddleboard and hit the lake or chill out on land with a beer at the onsite brewery.

On your 2nd day at Kangarooms you’ll be lucky enough to experience the Everglades National Park, firstly on a boat cruise, and then secondly by canoe. Both are on the spectacular River of Mirrors. Don’t worry, it’s a short distance to canoe and they supply everything you need!

Rainbow Beach and K’gari (Fraser Island)

Days 15 - 20.

K’Gari (meaning paradise) is the traditional name for a place you may know as Fraser Island. The world’s largest sand island is one of the East Coast’s most popular places for travellers like you.

We explore the rainforest, sand blows and freshwater lakes (Lake McKenzie photo above) on a 4WD tag along tour so we can see every part of it. You will also get the chance to drive!* We stay as a group on the island, before returning to beautiful Rainbow Beach. Because it’s the coast’s perfect beginner beach, this is where we can book you a Surf Lesson!

The Whitsundays 2 ways, by boat AND Plane

Days 21 - 23.

We want you to experience the best things on the East Coast, and the Whitsundays is one of them. What’s better than experiencing the Whitsundays once? Experiencing it twice! We’re obviously going to ensure you see the Whitsundays by boat, on a fantastic day trip that includes snorkelling pristine waters and visiting Whitehaven Beach. Before that though, we’re going to take you on a truly once in a lifetime experience, a 60 minute, scenic flight over Heart Reef. Yes, that’s included!

The Magic of Magnetic Island

Days 24 - 26.

You may not have heard of Magnetic Island but it is a true Welcome to Travel favourite, I mean look at it! After so many activities this is a great place to relax and recharge before your final stop, Cairns.

There’s no better place to chill than ‘Maggy’ home to so many wild koala bears and wallabies. While on Magnetic Island you’ll be able to do the famous Forts Walk, hire kayaks, snorkels or wait for it…Barbie Cars. All of which we’ll be able to help you with of course 🙂

Cairns, The Great Barrier Reef and Farewells

Days 27 - 30.

And just like that, you’ve travelled nearly 3000km and you are now a true travel family.

To celebrate this, you’re going to spend an incredible day out on the Great Barrier Reef, where you’ll snorkel with Nemo. If you want, you’ll also get the opportunity to scuba dive too! Following that, you’ll clink our glasses and say cheers to the best month of our lives at your final farewell meal.

With so many things to do, Cairns is THE place for backpackers. From white water rafting, to rainforest trips, bungy jumps, Skydives and more we can help you book all of these different things in Cairns.

Whilst in Cairns, you’ll be staying at the famous Gilligans Resort, complete with a pool and bar within it.

Optional Extras

There are some things we include, because we know you just have to do them, but there are some things only some people want to do. While you might want to learn to scuba dive you might hate heights, but the person next to you in your dorm might hate water but love jumping off things! Everyone is different and that’s what we want to do, encourage you on your journey, to have the best possible experience. We can help with every one of these extras as you go, that’s what we’re here for. Not only that, we’ll have specials and discounts too, win!

When travelling, you can be on the move a lot, and sometimes you just need some ‘me’ time and with our semi-guided style of travel, this is exactly what you get, all of the activities, group atmosphere and accommodation, but still some me time.

Undoubtedly you’ll also want to spend some of this free time exploring where you are. You might want to visit a national park in one town but hit the pub in the other.  

As we keep saying, everybody is different, and that’s what makes travelling so great, you are constantly having new experiences with people that are so different to you. Because everyone is different, people like to spend their free time in different ways and that’s why we will give recommendations, advice and local tips for every type of mood for every type of person.

Want to Add This to a Welcome Tour?

We have several amazing packages to choose from, for whatever Australian adventure you’re looking for!

52 Days / 51 Nights

The hemsworth.

Melbourne, Surf & East Coast

Melbourne & East Coast

Sydney, Surf & East Coast

45 Days / 44 Nights

Sydney & East Coast

Travel Is All About Meeting People

Frequently asked questions.

All of your accommodation and transport is included, as are 14 meals. How much money you need on top of this depends on if you’d like to add on more activities, how much you like to eat food out and how many beers you like 🙂 Money saving tips include making the most of hostel freebies and cooking as a group.

Absolutely, when food is included we’ll always inform the tour of your requirements beforehand.

So many! Between our team, we have over 30 years of Australia travel experience and with that we know the sunset spot here and hidden waterfall there. We will give you the best advice for every single town or city you visit!

Yes, Welcome to Travel is full of foodies that have coffee addictions and are also known to enjoy a beer too. We have recommendations (and sometimes discounts/specials) for all of the way up the coast!

You sure can! We know that there may be some things you’re not quite sure on and that’s ok, you can decide later on. We can offer all of the below and more once you’re here:

– Rainforest Road Trip Add On

– Skydive

– Bungy Jump

– Surf Lesson

– White Water Rafting

– Dive Course

If you’d like us to give you a quote for some of these activities on top of your East Coast tour, click the button below.

That’s right! This is a perfect way to meet people and make friends for life while you travel. This way of travelling also means if don’t want to do a group activity every night, you don’t have to, it’s up to you!

Yes! All of the activities you will do will have a local guide, meaning you will always be looked after by an expert.

Yes. Not only will you have your guide, you have a full team to support you for your entire trip!

Want To Know More About Our East Coast Tour?

We love to hear from you and help you with your travel plans. If you have any questions at all then feel free to get in touch. Not only can you message us, we also offer free travel advice calls meaning you can have a real conversation with a real person that’s been in your shoes.

The experiences you have travelling will last forever. It's time for you to start making memories.

• [email protected]
• (03) 7065 9970
• 6b 300 King Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000
• 812B, George Street, Sydney, NSW, 2000

Work With Us

Subscribe to our travel newsletter, download the welcome to australia: east coast brochure.

Payment Plans Available

Unlimited & Free Date Changes

Open Dated Bookings Available

Pay Just $400 To Secure Your Place

Don’t know when you’re travelling?

Welcome to Melbourne - 8 Days

Melbourne to Melbourne

Trip Highlights

Arrive in Melbourne with absolutely ‘No worries!’. Yes that’s right...start your trip in Australia the right way with all the boring stuff sorted and get stuck straight into road trips, day trips and the real aussie way of life! Melbourne is a super funky up-and-coming destination with so much on offer; laneways, brunch cafés, festivals, street art and endless instagrammable spots to keep you busy.

This 8 day starter package is the perfect way to start your working holiday in Melbourne...share the adventure with solo travellers just like you!

See all included activities

What’s Included

Accommodation? Check! Activities? Yep. Guides? Of course! Meals? We threw in a bunch to keep you going!

HAND PICKED ACCOMMODATION

All Awesome ACTIVITIES

Unique Local Experiences

A BUNCH OF MEALS

PERSONAL AIRPORT PICKUP

TOUR LEADER & LOCAL GUIDES

24/7 HELP & SUPPORT

COMMUNITY FACEBOOK GROUP

See exactly what’s included

We’ve got you covered 😉

We’ll pick you up from the airport, get you all settled in and introduce you to the rest of the group. Get ready for the best 8 days of your life! To help you get your bearings we’ll take you on a walking tour of the city finishing at the Yarra River where we’ll have some bevies and dinner with the group!

Today is jam packed full of flavours starting at the largest open air market in the southern hemisphere followed by wandering the city in search for coffee and the best foodie spots! Once we’ve stuffed our faces we’ll take to the famous laneways of Melbourne, checking out it’s street art & busking musicians.

It’s time to hit the road...aussie style! We’ll jump in the bus, crank up the tunes and make the journey down to the famous ‘Phillip Island’. On route we’ll stop at a local vineyard and try some of the finest wine Australia has to offer...cheers!

Feeling a little tipsy? No worries...let’s turn the music up a little and continue our journey to Phillip Island - we’ll arrive just before sunset to see the smallest cutest PENGUINS in the world waddling their way up the beach as the sun hits the ocean...truly magical!!

Our 2 day road trip adventure continues today hitting some of our secret spots and finding some beginner waves for you legends. Yes that’s right, we’ll have our aussie surf buddies teaching you some skills to get you up on that first wave! Yewwww 🤙🏻

What's even more special about today is the fact you’ll have the chance to get up-close and personal with KOALAS & KANGAROOS...super cute!

Today we focus on what happens next after the trip here in Melbourne. We’ll spend most of the morning going through all the endless opportunities Australia has to offer giving you all something to get excited about.

In the afternoon we’ll head down to the lively suburb of St Kilda finding a spot on the beach to kick back, relax and have a bit of a lazy afternoon. For those that hate the idea of sitting on the beach don’t worry, grab a paddle board or go for a wander and enjoy some of the alfresco café’s dotted around the place.

Over the last few days we will focus on locking in any plans after the trip. This is when we turn all those ideas and dreams into reality. You’ll have 1-1 time with the crew to ask questions, run through any worries you might have and book that life changing adventure through Australia.

Don’t worry we’ll find plenty of time to relax, party on a pub crawl and even squeeze in a cheeky rooftop BBQ overlooking the city!

Where We Stay

The accommodation in Australia is something we do better than anyone else! From the hostel's rooftop panoramic views of Melbourne to spotting wallabies from your dorm window on Phillip Island. When we’re not out having an awesome time, you’re relaxing in our unique & comfortable accommodation.

Travel in Style

Private Room Upgrades

Feel Free Family

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• Hi everyone! Finally after months of searching I’ve found a tour that includes a bit of everything I want to do! Going to book the 15 day Thailand tour! 10 Comments View
• Anyone going to Thailand on the 12th of April? Got a group chat going if you want to join 😊🐘🇹🇭🙌🏻 6 Comments View
• Have just booked onto the Sri Lanka tour for Feb 22! Super excited! Has anyone else? 🤩 5 Comments View
• Does anyone recommend any essentials for a 15 day trip to Thailand? 😊🇹🇭 4 Comments View
• need some help with packing information lol. How is everyone packing? Backpack and luggage 9 Comments View
• The countdown is on for Thailand 🇹🇭 . Sent my last payment and I am pumped to see this incredible place 😍 1 Comments View
• Hey there! I'm not sure whether I can post this but I just wanted some advice about travel after the 15 day Vietnam trip that I'm going to do late next year. 9 Comments View
• Awww can’t believe it’s been nearly a year since we were all in Sri Lanka for the first trip of 2020. Miss all you legends! Even you Ryan Kinsey 😉😘 7 Comments View
• Last night with these absolute legends in Sri Lanka !!! 🇱🇰🌊🛺✌🏻✨ I have so much love for you guys !!!🥰 5 Comments View

Whats The Deal

Trip details.

Start: Melbourne Finish: Melbourne Tour Length: 8 days Avg Group Size: 12 - 20 Age Range: 18 - 39’s No. of Activities: 18+ No. of Included Meals: 6 Guides: Local & Western Group Leader

**Important note: This tour is managed & operated by ‘To.Travel.Pty.Ltd’ our buddies down under in Australia . Don’t worry this doesn’t change anything when it comes to having an awesome time. The team will do everything they can to give you that life changing trip you expect when booking with Feel Free Travel**

Tour Price: From £649 per person

What’s included for the price:

• All Activities & Experiences
• All Accommodation
• Personal Airport Pick Up
• Unlimited Help & Support in Australia
• Discounted Travel in Australia
• Bank Account Set Up
• Tax File Number Set Up
• Australian Sim Card
• Private Facebook group
• No Hidden Costs!
• Tourist or Working Holiday Visa
• Travel insurance
• Flights to/from Australia

Experiences & Activities

• Meet & greet sessions with the fam
• Guided city walking tour with the crew
• Sunset welcome meal on the Yarra River
• Taste the flavours at the Queen Vic Market
• Insightful Aboriginal Heritage Walk
• Visit Melbourne’s Botanical Gardens
• Food and street art tour of the laneways
• 2 Day/ 1 Night road trip to Mornington
• Hangout at the Mount Martha beach huts
• Get tipsy on a wine tasting experience
• Wildlife bushwalk at Phillip Island
• Watch 100’s of tiny little penguins at sunset
• Learn to surf in Mornington Peninsula
• Get up close with kangaroos & koalas
• Explore the beach-side suburb of St Kilda
• Test your skills at paddleboarding
• Take on Melbourne’s biggest bar crawl
• Farewell BBQ at the hostel rooftop
• Secret Inclusions throughout the week

Before the Trip

Aim to Arrive Early

We always suggest arriving a day or 2 early to allow extra time to recover from that long flight. Of course it’s not essential but we have a bunch of ideas to spend that extra time, whether it’s wandering around, day trips or overnight adventures. We’ll also hook you up with other early arrivals to give you someone to hangout with.

Your Arrival Details

Once you’ve booked your flights, head to the Check In Area and update your arrival details. This will help us plan for your arrival and so that we can be waiting for you when you arrive.

Travel Insurance & Visa

It’s super important that you get yourself covered for your trip with us. It’s not expensive and certainly does give you and your loved ones peace of mind. Be sure to check any visa restrictions before you leave. If you’re unsure then let us know and we will do our best to help.

When I Arrive

Your Airport Pick Up

No matter what time you arrive, we will always be there to pick you up. All our trips include airport pick ups so be sure to update your arrival details through the Check In Area .

What time to arrive on Day 1

We always recommend arriving earlier rather than later on Day 1. This gives you time to nap, freshen up and recover from that flight. In the evening we will head out for dinner and drinks with the group.

Pre-Night Accommodation

You can add extra nights accommodation at the time of booking or by letting us know in the DM’s. We will get you booked in at the accommodation where we start to save any unnecessary moving around.

Life Essentials Covered

Australian Bank Account 🏦

If you’re only traveling in Australia for a few weeks then don’t worry about a bank account.. a pre-loaded travel cash card is all you’ll need.

If you plan on spending more time in Australia or you’re coming on a Working Holiday Visa then we recommend that you open an Australian bank account. It’s going to save you money on exchange/ transaction fees and if you want to get paid for working in Australia you’re going to need one.

Sounds super stressful? Don’t worry, it’s actually super easy and we’re going to help you organise it so you can have Australian dollars already in your account for when you get here.

Australian SIM Card 📱

We’ll make sure you have your local SIM Card all set up first thing on Monday morning before the trip kicks off. Just make sure your phone’s unlocked to any network before you arrive.

The hostel we stay in has free WIFI… So don’t worry, you’ll be able to jump on that as soon as you arrive to let your family and friends know you landed safely in Australia.

Tax File Number ✅

You’re not going to be able to work in Australia unless you have one… that’s why we’re going to sort that for you too!

Your Tax File Number is basically a personal identity number created for you by the Australian Taxation Office. You’ll need to give this to your employers at each place you work so that your tax will be deducted correctly, just like it would be in your home country.

We’re hoping you’re going to do some epic travelling first, but it’s always good to have it ready for when you want to work in the land down under.

Your Medicare ⛑

What even is Medicare? It’s Australia's health care system for locals and also for some overseas visitors including the following countries: Belgium, Finland, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, The Republic of Ireland, Slovenia, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

It’s not essential but basically it allows you to access certain health services at little or even no cost.

You can find out if you're eligible HERE and see exactly what documents you’re going to need to apply. Again, don’t stress... we’re going to explain in more detail once you’re here in Australia with us.

Lifetime Membership ⭐️

For as long as you are in Australia and beyond we’re always here for support. Whether you need some help or you just want a catch up… you can always get in touch in the DM’s or just head back to the office to chill out...no worries!

After the Trip

What happens after the tour?

That’s totally up to you! Everyone has different plans in mind before arriving in Australia but don’t worry… you won’t be on your own. You’ll no doubt meet a bunch of awesome new buddies in the group, more often than not they will have the same plans as you...sometimes plans change...but that really is the magic of travelling solo.

We’ll do our absolute best to support your work and travel plans here in Australia...the team has a wealth of experience travelling around Australia & New Zealand so rest assured they’ll make that epic trip you’d always dreamed a reality...that's a GUARANTEE!

Onward Travel Support for Australia & NZ

Throughout the week we will be filling your brains with ideas, tips, tricks and routes to give you all the knowledge and inspiration to plan that life changing trip around Australia. We will even do a travel presentation that our travellers love because they all sit together and get pumped for different experiences.

Finding Work in Australia

Looking to work in Australia? Then you’re probably wondering where to start in finding your feet in the working world overseas. It can be tough but with our help we’ll have you earning cash on the road in no time. #WORKHARDPLAYHARD

As well as having an awesome first 8 Days in Australia, you will receive exclusive tips, resources and guidance towards finding a job and farm work in Australia. We’ll even give you full access to our huge database full of employers and contacts in working sectors such as hospitality, retail, construction, sales and marketing and many more.

We’re always on the lookout for jobs perfect for people on their working holiday in Australia and here’s what you’ll receive to get going:

• One to One Employment Meeting
• Lifetime Access to Employer Database
• CV Writing assistance
• 10 Printed copies of your CV
• Interview question advice
• Weekly Job Update Emails

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I come alone?

You sure can! This kind of trip is perfect for solo travellers, you’ll be sharing the adventure with like minded people and have all the boring stuff taken care of! Plus from the moment you arrive you’ll have a new best friend making sure you get settled in, answering all your questions and introducing you to the rest of the group.

Can I contact other people who have booked onto the same tour as me?

There are 2 ways to get intouch with people in your group - you can either join the ‘The Feel Free Family’ on Facebook to get chatting with other like minded people. If you prefer you can wait until about a week before the tour starts and you’ll be invited into a private WhatsApp group that is only your group! Or better still why not do both options 🙌🏼

I’m not on a Working Holiday Visa, can I still do this tour?

You absolutely can! This trip is designed to give you the best 8 days of your life! As much as we cover a whole bunch of things that help & support those individuals on a working holiday visa...we also visit some awesome places and share some incredible experiences.

What’s included in my Australia tour?

Check out ‘The Details’ tab for a breakdown…but all accommodation, trips & activities, guides, transport, a bunch of meals, all the boring stuff sorted and onward travel support is all included. You only need to sort your flights & visa to Australia, get travel insurance and bring some spending money!

How much spending money do I need for the 8 day tour?

You don’t need much at all considering almost everything is included during your first week with us! We suggest no less than $200-$250 AUD to be safe… some people spend less and some more, it really depends on your spending habits. If you are prone to a few more big nights out than the average person you could spend more.

For the meals that aren’t included you’ll be able to find lunch for between $6-15 and dinner for $10-$20. If you want to save money, you can always team up with people and cook dinners at the hostel!

How much money would you recommend bringing to Australia?

This really depends on how long you plan to stay in Australia and what’s on the ‘list’. Your first 8 days of activities, accommodation and a bunch of other experiences is sorted so what’s next is up to you!

IMPORTANT NOTE: All ‘Working Holiday Visa’ holders will be required to show they have at least $5,000 AUD in their bank account on arrival to Australia.

If you’re looking to do some traveling for around a month straight after the trip then this would be a good amount to start with but we’d always recommend saving up as much as possible to give yourself the best possible experience in Australia. Nobody wants to be that guy/gal that has to sit on the beach watching everybody else Skydiving having an awesome time!

Are flights to Australia included in the price?

International flights to & from Australia are not included in the tour price. We can definitely help when it comes to planning flights, so if you are unsure then drop us a message and we can help. Rest assured, we’ll be at the airport to meet you when you land.

Which Airport to Arrive

There is more than 1 airport in Sydney but you’ll soon see when you’re looking at flights that the airport that you’ll be flying into is Sydney Kingsford Smith, SYD. One of the aussie crew will be waiting with a big smile to get you checked in to the Sydney accommodation.

Is This For You?

If you’re looking to travel Australia have no idea where to start...this trip is for you! The 8 day Melbourne starter package is completely hassle free, we include everything from accommodation, activities, a bunch of meals and unlimited help and support with travel and finding work. Most people travel solo or others bring a friend, either way by the end of this adventure you’ll have a bunch of new buddies for life.

If you’re all set and can’t wait to come join us... click ‘book now’ below and reserve your spot for as little as £1.

Book With Confidence

Deposits from £1.

As little as £1 to secure your spot

FREE DATE CHANGES

Change your date for free. T+C’s apply*

COVID SAFE TRAVEL

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We're Here To Help

24/7 support before, during and after your trip

FLEXIBLE PAYMENTS

Pay with no fees or interest

PAY SECURELY

We accept Visa, Mastercard & AMEX

What Our Travellers Say

Other trips you might like, best of thailand - 15 days, bangkok & the south - 9 days, hanoi to hoi an - 10 days, best of vietnam - 15 days, best of asia - 29 days, best of sri lanka - 12 days, welcome to sydney - 8 days, best of bali - 12 days, share this trip with a friend, yes, it’s all included, we're here to help 😊.

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AFL 2024: Richmond set to regain Jacob Hopper and Dylan Grimes

A Richmond leader says the Tigers still have trust in their medical staff as an important pair’s return softens their injury crisis.

Cats speedster makes huge call on future

New details about footy player’s horrific fall

Hawks regain star but doubts over spearhead

Richmond is poised to regain two important senior players for the Anzac Day Eve clash against Melbourne after Dylan Grimes and Jacob Hopper got through training on Monday.

The availability of Grimes (wrist) and Hopper (knee) will provide a welcome reprieve for first-year coach Adem Yze after the Tigers went into the bye with one-third of its senior players on the injury list.

Grimes could be sent to Melbourne star Bayley Fritsch on Wednesday night after his absence was felt keenly when Eagle Jake Waterman piled on a career-high six goals in the Tigers’ 39-point defeat to West Coast in round 5.

Teammate Jack Graham said the pair both looked on track to return against the Demons as he insisted the Tigers still had faith in their medical staff despite the horror run of injuries.

“They both trained (Monday), looked good, so hopefully they pull up all right and I’m pretty sure they’ll put their hands up for selection,” Graham said.

“I’m not too sure (what can be done better), the medical staff, they do a great job, but unfortunately sometimes luck just doesn’t go your way.

“Poor Tim (Taranto) did it (broke his wrist) in the last five seconds of training, so however you can manage that or fix it, I’m not sure. There's huge trust in our medical staff, and we’ll back them in.”

Graham said he had spent the bye week in Mandurah after Kamdyn McIntosh invited him, Liam Baker and captain Toby Nankervis to join him in his WA hometown.

“It was good, a couple of days to just refresh … (after) a disappointing loss. Yze just wanted us to go away, refresh, get back to what we love doing,” Graham said.

“A few boys playing golf, a couple of boys stayed back in the West, and now have come back, trained hard, and ready to execute on Wednesday night.

He said Yze’s intimate knowledge of the Demons from his time there as a senior assistant had the Tigers feeling well prepared to face the sixth-placed side.

“Just some of their ball movement, what they want to do at stoppages and all that, how they might flip a couple of certain players … he’s given us a good insight in how we’re going to tackle that,” Graham said.

“There’s been a bit of banter during the week … about (Yze) trying not to call them by their nicknames. I think there’s a $50 fine every time he says ‘Trac’ or ‘Maysie’, so he might be up to about $200.”

One of AFL’s most sought after out-of-contract players has made a decision on where he wants to play next year.

An Adelaide football club has given more details about an incident at a hotel that left one of their players in the ICU after he fell through a pub roof.

Hawthorn’s reigning best and fairest winner is set to play his first game of the season as the Saints prepare to unveil a new recruit.

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Welcome to Travel Guide - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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A musical tour of Manchester: from the Hallé to the Happy Mondays

Every genre of music has made its mark on Manchester, including dialect ballads, classical, TV theme tunes and all the strands of post-punk. Welcome to the north-west sound

M yth distorts any city’s musical history, and in Manchester myth looms as large as the new Co-op Live , a £365m, 23,500-capacity mega-venue that opens today and will soon be staging big-name acts, including Take That. So, for every occasion a music fan mentions the hit-making boy band or, for that matter, 10cc or the Hollies, a thousand more bark back: Joy Division, the Fall, Happy Mondays. Not that 10cc were a small Manc band, but they peaked before punk and a wall went up at the end of the 1970s that relegated all that had passed prior to 4 June 1976 – the night the Sex Pistols performed at the Lesser Free Trade Hall – to prehistory, as in dinosaurs, fossils, folk musicians. New hagiographies about music impresario Tony Wilson (1950-2007) are no doubt at the printers as I write. But how about we spend half an hour mooching round the Rainy City aboard the free buses and trams in search of the underplayed, surprising and tangential – with a few Gen X/6 Music standards for when we’re stuck at the lights.

You might not think Coronation Street a promising departure point, but it gives us an in to Bowton’s Yard. It’s one of those ditties that may prompt unpleasant memories of the BBC TV series Sit Thi Deawn, but listen carefully and you’ll hear it is in fact a Victorian reality show made song. Written by Marsden-born, Stalybridge-based Samuel Laycock, it inspired Tony Warren when he was devising the characters for his Weatherfield/Salford-set soap opera. Granada Studios on Quay Street also played a leading role in disseminating the north-western sound, from regional accents to theme tunes to the Beatles’ first TV appearance , in October 1962.

Dialect ballads spoke truth to power after Peterloo – memorialised in 2019 by Jeremy Deller’s burial mound-like stone tump – and during the cotton famine . To spread the word, broadsides were run off at printers around the Oldham Street-Swan Street junction. Lancashire songs were central to the folk revival of the 1960s. Harry Boardman, a singer and collector from Failsworth, unearthed many anonymous songs of protest and historical record. Edward II has recorded a reggae version of the Great Flood, about the time the Medlock burst its banks in 1872. Jennifer Reid , from Middleton, performs The New Poor Law Bill a cappella on her album Gradely Manchester.

The most famous folk number, Ewan MacColl’s Dirty Old Town , alludes to a “gasworks wall” or “gasworks croft”, depending on the version. The works were in Ordsall, bounded by West Egerton Street, Liverpool Street and Regent Road. Prior to their demolition in 2019, a prosaic infographic (not quite a “ muriel ”) was placed on the West Egerton Street wall. The Working Class Movement Library is a repository of MacColl’s work and life and has significant holdings of sheet music and song lyrics.

The Hallé Orchestra was founded by Sir Charles Hallé, who was conductor for the first concert at the Free Trade Hall on 30 January 1858. The Hallé premiered Elgar’s Symphony No 1 and Vaughan Williams’s Symphony No 8. The latter, dedicated to the orchestra’s celebrated conductor John Barbirolli, took place at the Kings Hall , a converted tea house at Belle Vue (demolished to make way for a car auction centre) on 2 May 1956. The BBC recorded it a few days later. The third movement, a cavatina, is a swirl of lark-like ascents and descents.

Since 1996, the orchestra’s HQ has been the purpose-built, vibration-proof Bridgewater Hall , with former St Peter’s church in Ancoats, a hulking redbrick Romanesque building, used for rehearsals, recordings and intimate shows. Manchester has an opera house , originally known as the New theatre. Recent shows include The Full Monty and Peppa Pig’s Fun Day Out, but it may get weightier fare as the ENO relocates to Manchester over the next five years. The region’s greatest opera singer was, like so much Manchester talent, from way outside town. Tom Burke, a miner from Leigh, was known as the “ Lancashire Caruso ”. What used to be the city’s Hippodrome is now a Wetherspoons named after him.

The Manchester School includes Accrington-born Harrison Birtwistle, Salford’s Peter Maxwell Davies and German immigrant Alexander Goehr, who met at the Royal Manchester College of Music in the 1950s. They founded the New Music Manchester group with pianist John Ogdon, who had attended Manchester Grammar School, and trumpeter Elgar Howarth. Exponents of avant-garde experimentation, they shunned cotton-themed concertos and any kind of parochialism.

If Unesco dispensed rosettes for demolition, Manchester would have many. Most of the old taverns that hosted turns, popular dance salons and music hall venues have been razed, together with mills, warehouses and factories. Concert halls and fun palaces were removed to make way for multistorey car parks and office blocks. The Free Trade Hall , where locals including Gracie Fields, Van der Graaf Generator and James played, as well as Dylan (AKA “ Judas ” as he was called at a gig there in 1966 ), Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd and Genesis, is now a hotel . Does a ribald, rollicking spirit live on from the boozy days of industrial Manchester? Certainly the refurbished Band on the Wall – which reopened in March – celebrates its location on the foundations of the George & Dragon and nearby Rising Sun pubs.

Every genre of popular music surfaced in Manchester between 1950 and the present, including big band, beat, rhythm and blues, soul, chart-oriented pop, punk, goth and all the strands of post-punk. There are not as many landmarks as songs, partly because, as mentioned, the wrecking ball is unsentimental and also, because pop stars have generally used their art to get away – lyrically first, and then physically. The Bee Gees, who claimed to have practised harmonising at their childhood home at 51 Keppel Road , Chorlton-cum-Hardy, never knowingly screamed a word about the town.

Northern soul, which arrived via Liverpool docks and Burtonwood airbase, drew large followings in Stoke, Wigan, Blackpool and, before any of those , Manchester. The Twisted Wheel on Brazennose Street and, later, Whitworth Street, had gigs by the Hollies and Freddie and the Dreamers, and less well-known bands such as Powerhouse 6 , but is best known for its legendary northern soul nights. The building has gone but Twisted Wheel “lives on”, according to a members-only Facebook page , at Area, 50 Sackville Street. The Ritz, on Whitworth St, survives as an O2 franchise. Originally opened as a dance hall (with a sprung floor) in 1927, it hosted a Dancing in the Dark evening in the 50s and 60s, fronted by Crumpsall’s Phil “King of the Ritz” Moss and his Band (which later became a stalwart on TV’s Come Dancing), and went on to transition through beat, northern soul, disco and mainstream rock scenes. The mobile phone firm also owns the famous art deco-style Apollo , long a fixture for bands on tour. Stockport’s MoR hitmakers 10cc were a classic art school, let’s-go-to-London-asap outfit, but they played here when they came home, as did Sad Café.

The Pistols concert in 1976 made the Lesser Free Trade Hall a holy-of-holies in Manc muso circles, but the Electric Circus , in Collyhurst (birthplace of pianist and crooner Les Dawson), earned its credentials through many seminal punk performances, including the first gig by Warsaw (Joy Division’s first name), and shows by Buzzcocks, John Cooper Clarke, the Fall, the Nosebleeds and Slaughter and the Dogs, among others. The fact it had previously been a cinema, Bernard Manning’s Top Hat club and a bingo hall should surely have made it one for the heritage buffs to list.

Richard Boon and Howard Devoto launched the New Hormones label in 1977 at a then ramshackle, now listed former hat merchants’ warehouse at 50 Newton Street . The first release, the Spiral Scratch EP , was a punk watershed and a declaration that bands needed neither London nor major labels. In 1980, Boon and others started up The Beach Club (a reference to the Situationist slogan “Under the pavement, the beach!”) at Oozits on Newgate Street. In 1978, Factory Records began as a WFH DIY disruptive startup at Alan Erasmus’s first-floor flat at 86 Palatine Road (now blue plaqued), only moving to a proper HQ on Charles Street in 1990 – where it was officially incorporated with the catalogue number FAC 251 (the name of a venue for cover bands on the site, part owned by Peter Hook). The Factory was the name of a night at the Russell Club on Royce Road in Hulme that ran from 1978-80; two years later the Haçienda (FAC 51) opened in a former yacht builders’ shop and warehouse on Whitworth Street West, beside the Rochdale Canal. The site is now occupied by “ iconic ” apartments.

The last Factory catalogue number, FAC 501, was used for the plaque on Wilson’s coffin, and no number adorns designer Peter Saville’s headstone for his business partner in Southern Cemetery . Fabled producer Martin Hannett is also buried at the necropolis – said to be entered via the Smiths’ Cemetry Gates.

There’s no better terminus than a musical graveyard. Inevitably, dozens of Manchester music sites are missing from this hop, skip and jump, including Rochdale’s recording studios, Festival of the Tenth Summer venues and countless bedrooms, garages and rave locations. But most tell versions of the same story, just as some songs seem like Venn diagrams of influence; Oasis by Happy Mondays sounds like New Order with lyrics by Morrissey or Ian Curtis, on a bad day (“You went too far, and it’s gone all the wrong way”). If you want to aurally vacuum up every Manc motif in a single song, steam on in to Mike Garry and Joe Duddell’s St Anthony: An Ode to Anthony H Wilson (Andrew Weatherall Remix; lyrics here ), perhaps while walking from the thrusting Aviva Studios/Factory International behemoth to the Epping Walk Bridge to search hopelessly – à la 80s – for Hulme Crescents and the dead souls of yesteryear.

• Manchester holidays
• England holidays
• Joy Division
• Northern soul
• Cultural trips
• City breaks

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