Australia

This self-launched version of Intrepid Travel's "Tasmania Adventure" swaps their private vehicle for your own hire car, covering the same Freycinet, Cradle Mountain, Bay of Fires, and Tarkine rainforest route at your own pace. Cost estimate includes a 6-day economy car rental and fuel split between 2 travellers, budget motel/hostel stays in place of the operator's hotel, a Tasmania Parks holiday pass, and self-catered meals. All costs below are approximate per person, assuming 2 people sharing the rental car.

Travel Crew

~£720

Ditch the packaged surf camp markup and plan your own 5-day surf adventure at stunning 7-Mile Beach near Gerroa, NSW — one of Australia's best beginner surf spots, just 2 hours south of Sydney. By booking your own transport, accommodation at a nearby holiday park or hostel, and surf lessons directly with a local surf school, you can replicate the full Gap 360 experience for a fraction of the £529 price tag. All estimates are approximate and based on current budget traveller rates.

Travel Crew

~£445

The classic East Coast Australia adventure — Sydney to Cairns via Byron Bay, Brisbane, K'gari (Fraser Island), the Whitsundays and the Great Barrier Reef — done entirely independently. You'll hit every iconic stop, sleep in the same style of accommodation (backpacker hostels, camping, sailing boats), and book the same key experiences directly or via GetYourGuide/Klook — without paying for a group leader or operator markup. Estimated saving: over £900 per person vs the Gap 360 group tour price.

Travel Crew

~£1,490

Skip the £579 group package and do this iconic Sydney & Port Stephens working holiday kickstart entirely on your own terms. You'll stay in the same hostels, hit the same highlights — Stockton Bight dunes, Port Stephens dolphin cruise, Bondi to Coogee walk, Sydney Harbour — and book every activity yourself via GetYourGuide or direct. The job-search support (tax file number, bank account, Medicare, CV help) is all freely available online or via free drop-in services in Sydney. Estimated cost covers the 8-day intro week only, equivalent to the Gap 360 package scope. Note: all costs are approximate estimates.

Travel Crew

~£290

This self-launched itinerary replicates Gap 360's popular East Coast Work & Travel tour — hitting Sydney, Byron Bay, Surfers Paradise and Brisbane — without the £949 price tag. You'll do the same coastal walks, surf lessons, jet boating and city tours, staying in the same or equivalent hostels, using public transport and hop-on/hop-off buses. The 'work and travel' admin (bank account, tax file number, SIM, Medicare) is all freely self-serviceable in Australia and takes a couple of hours with online guides. Estimated total cost is around £430–£480 per person, saving you roughly £470–£520 on the operator price.

Travel Crew

~£625

An epic 18-day self-launched adventure along Australia's east coast from Sydney to Cairns. This itinerary mirrors Intrepid Travel's 'Real Australia' tour — hitting all the same highlights including Crowdy Bay, Port Macquarie, Byron Bay, Lamington National Park, Brisbane, Noosa, the Whitsundays, Magnetic Island and Cairns — but using public transport, self-booked activities and hostel accommodation to save you a substantial sum. All cost estimates are approximate and per person.

Travel Crew

~£1,335

Experience the best of Queensland's coast at a fraction of the group tour price. This self-launched adventure follows the same iconic route from Brisbane to Cairns — Noosa's coastal walks, a Whitsundays boat day, koala-spotting on Magnetic Island, a First Nations cultural experience at Mungalla Station and a laid-back finish in Mission Beach and Cairns. You'll book your own transport (buses, trains, ferries), stay in the same style of hostels, and self-book all activities via GetYourGuide, Klook or direct with local operators. All cost estimates are approximate and based on current budget traveller rates.

Travel Crew

~£830

This self-launched itinerary follows the classic Australia East Coast route from Sydney (or Melbourne) to Cairns — taking in Byron Bay, the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Noosa, Rainbow Beach, K'gari (Fraser Island), the Whitsundays, Magnetic Island, Mission Beach and Cairns. By booking transport on Greyhound or the Oz Experience hop-on hop-off pass independently, staying in budget hostel dorms (many of the same hostel chains used by Gap 360), and booking activities directly or via GetYourGuide/Klook, you can replicate virtually every experience on this itinerary for roughly half the price. All cost estimates are approximate and based on 2024 backpacker rates in GBP.

Travel Crew

~£1,530

The ultimate East Coast Australia adventure — done your way, at a fraction of the group tour price. This self-launched route follows the classic backpacker trail from Sydney to Cairns, taking in world-class surf at Byron Bay, sand dune driving on K'gari (Fraser Island), two nights sailing the Whitsundays, koala spotting on Magnetic Island, and snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef. All transport, accommodation, and activities can be booked independently using local operators, Greyhound/Premier Coach passes, and platforms like GetYourGuide and Klook. Estimated cost: ~£1,350 per person (excluding flights, visa, and travel insurance) — a saving of over £1,500 vs the Gap 360 group tour.

Travel Crew

~£1,350

Explore the stunning Australian east coast from Sydney to Brisbane entirely on your own terms — same beaches, rainforests, wildlife encounters and cultural experiences as the Intrepid tour, but without the group price tag. You'll travel by public coach and local transport, stay in the same style of hostels and holiday parks, and book activities directly or via GetYourGuide/Klook. This route takes in Crowdy Bay National Park, the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital, Red Rock, Coffs Harbour, Byron Bay and Lamington National Park before finishing in Brisbane. All costs are approximate estimates per person.

Travel Crew

~£640

This self-launched 30-day Australia East Coast adventure mirrors Gap 360's popular group tour — Melbourne's laneways and the Great Ocean Road, flying up to Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef, sailing the Whitsundays, watching wallabies at sunrise in Cape Hillsborough, a 4x4 day on K'gari (Fraser Island), Byron Bay yoga and lighthouse hikes, and finishing in Sydney with a Blue Mountains day trip. You'll book your own hostel beds, local buses, trains and direct activity tickets via GetYourGuide, Klook or operators directly — saving over £1,400 compared to the Gap 360 price. All cost estimates are approximate and based on current budget traveller rates (2024/25).

Travel Crew

~£1,980