Welcome to Melbourne: The 8-Day
The Welcome to Melbourne: 8-Day tour is our most popular. It is perfect for tourists visiting Melbourne, travellers looking for an incredible start to their working holiday or international students studying here.
It is currently the Number 1 Tour on TripAdvisor, with exclusively 5 star reviews. The best way to see what it’s all about is to check out the video and itinerary below.
WATCH THIS VIDEO BELOW
DAY BY DAY
CUSTOMISED TRAVEL HELP
We offer FREE TRAVEL ADVICE CALLS at a time that works for you. These are great as they’re customised to you and you can ask us anything and everything! We can do that over Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger or Skype. You can also message us your questions or email us, whatever works for you works for us. Message us a date and time over your preferred platform and we’ll confirm it.
The support continues with helpful info emails (28 + 7 days before) leading up to you joining us.
We’ll also connect you with everyone that is on your tour before it begins.
PERSONALISED AIRPORT PICKUP
Welcome to Melbourne!
Your week with the group and guide starts on Monday morning, so you need to be in Melbourne for the Sunday night.
Landing a few days before? No worries! Your airport pickup is included for any day before the tour and we can organise any extra nights required at the YHA accommodation.
MEET THE FAM & DISCOVER THE CITY
Our morning meet and greet will see you get to know your new travel family before we put you at total ease by organising your bank, phone number and tax file number. This means that you’re organised for life in Australia from the start!
After that it’s time for us to take you on a guided tour of Melbourne where you’ll learn why so many travellers love this incredibly diverse city.
We’ll end the day with a riverside group Welcome Meal on Southbank, one of Australia’s most iconic settings.
MEAL AND DRINK INCLUSIONS: DINNER & DRINK
STREET ART & HIDDEN GEMS
Melbourne is home to the Southern Hemisphere’s biggest open air market and it really is a true treat for all the senses.
After haggling a bargain and exploring the wonders of Queen Victoria Market’s many stalls, we will spend the afternoon in the most Melbourne way possible, eating and drinking.
It feels like Melbourne has more food establishments than anywhere in the world so we thought the best way to showcase that was to create an exclusive food tour just for you….SO WE DID!
MEAL AND DRINK INCLUSIONS: Snacks, Tasters, Dinner and 2 Drinks
ROAD TRIP: BEACH, WINE & PENGUINS
It is time for a TWO DAY ROAD TRIP. We will be heading to Mornington Peninsula and Phillip Island two of the most incredible yet barely touched spots in Australia.
We will be having some much needed BEACH time, WINE tasting, heading to spectacular SCENIC lookouts in Victoria, playing the TUNES on the bus and for sunset we’ll marvel at the smallest PENGUINS in the world, emerge from the ocean and waddle across the beach . Yes, you read that right!.
We will be staying overnight on Phillip Island, where you’ll wake up to the sound of Australian wildlife.
MEAL AND DRINK INCLUSIONS: WINE TASTING
ROAD TRIP: SURF, ROOS & KOALAS
Australia is known for its famous SURF and today you’ll complete another Australian must do as you learn how to ride a wave.
This day includes a few hidden secrets along the way but the all you need to know is that you will get the chance to get up close to KOALAS and KANGAROOS. Another bucket list item ticked, two in one day!
MEAL AND DRINK INCLUSIONS: Lunch
WORK & TRAVEL HELP | EXPERIENCES!
It is time to show you exactly what you can do in Australia. In the morning we’ll be having a presentation on EMPLOYMENT for everyone on a working holiday visa. We’ll then cover TRAVEL for everyone who wants to make the most of their time this side of the World.
October-March: Melbourne has many celebrated suburbs and St Kilda is as famous as they get. We’ll head to this quaint beach suburb taking in its iconic promenade, alfresco cafes and famous landmarks. The afternoon will be spent lazing on the beach and trying out paddle boarding.
April-September: Making our way to the Royal Botanic Gardens for an enriching and insightful Aboriginal Heritage Walk and Smoking Ceremony. For sunset we will journey up to the highest viewing platform in Australia; the incredible Eureka Skydeck.
LIFE ADMIN DAY & BAR CRAWL
This is where you have the chance to put your ideas and plans for Australia into action. You’ll have a ONE ON ONE with an AUSTRALIA EXPERT that will help you with employment, accommodation and travelling this beautiful country. By the end of your personalised meeting you will feel like a whole weight has been lifted off your shoulders, so it’s the perfect time to celebrate.
We’ll be showing you the incredible nightlife that this marvellous city has to offer by joining Melbourne’s largest bar crawl. Time to get lit!
MEAL AND DRINK INCLUSIONS: Pizza & 4 Drinks
FAREWELL ROOFTOP AUSSIE BBQ
And just like that, it’s nearly over.
What better way to spend our final Sunday afternoon together than lazing on a rooftop overlooking the city with your new travel family?
We’ll crank up the BBQ and soak up the skyline as we talk about the memories made over the best week of your life.
MEAL AND DRINK INCLUSIONS: Aussie BBQ
WHAT IS INCLUDED?
– Food & Drink Tour
– Phillip Island Overnight Tour
– Beach Time
– Wine Tasting
– Phillip Island Penguin Parade
– Epic Surf Lesson
– Get Up Close With Kangaroos
– See Koalas
– Melbourne’s Biggest Bar Crawl
– Rooftop BBQ
– Paddle Boarding At The Famous St Kilda (Summer)
– Aboriginal Heritage Walk (Winter)
– Visit The World Famous Eureka Skydeck (Winter)
– 6 Nights at YHA Metro Melbourne
– 1 Night at YHA Phillip Island
– Australian SIM Card
– Tax File Number
– Medicare Guidance
– Free Mail Holding
– Life Time Membership
– Luggage Storage
– One on One employment meeting
– Lifetime Access to Employer Database
– CV Writing Assistance
– Interview question advice
– Weekly Job Update E-mails
– Farmwork Help and Contacts
– 2 Dinners
– Inclusions on the Food and Drink tour
– And 4 drinks on the bar crawl!
WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT US
AND JUST SO YOU KNOW...
LAND EARLY?
Already booked your flight and the dates don’t match the calendar below?
We’ll pick you up at any time on any date. Watch out for the dreaded jet lag.
NEED EXTRA NIGHTS?
If you land early, you will need some extra nights accommodation. On the “Book Now” page you can add these in and we’ll make sure you’re with people from your tour.
BOOK NOW...PAY LATER
But want to travel with us? Just put down a $99AUD deposit down to hold the price and your spot and pay the rest later.
CHANGE THE DATE
Booked in your spot, but can’t travel on that date? No worries.
You can change your date for FREE 28 days before your tour starts.
CHECK OUT WHEN OUR TOURS ARE RUNNING
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
One thing about our tours that amazes us the most is how close our travellers get on tour, and how they become one big, tight-knit family at the end.
We have people who were in the same tour group with us a year ago, who are still travelling the world together now! Everyone’s in the same boat, and you will make friends for life.
If you’re coming here to work while you’re on holiday, you’ll need either a Working Holiday Visa (417) or a Work and Holiday Visa (462), depending on which country you’re from.
You can find more information and a list of the various visas HERE.
The application can be completed through your travel agent, or directly through the same Australian Government website as above.
We always recommend checking Australian Government website for any specific enquiries.
However, if you make a booking within 28 days of your departure date, you will need to pay the full amount at the time of booking.
We also want to be flexible – so if you pay your deposit and later realise you have to change your date, don’t panic.
You can change the date of your booking, unlimited times and subject to availability, up until 28 days before your departure date. Please note that date changes made between 28 – 15 days before your departure date will incur a $50 fee, and changes made 14 days or less prior to departure are not possible.
As long as you’re polite and friendly then you’ll be fine. To get the best out of your experience we recommend talking to people in your dorm as soon as possible. Travel broadens the mind and that is mainly because of people you meet. Listen to where they’ve been, what they’ve loved, what they recommend, their funniest stories, all of it! This will be you in a few months!
Sure, from time to time you may have a cliché guitar player, a loud snorer or a 6am deodorant-sprayer (you’ll know what I mean soon!) but that’s all part of travelling and the people you meet will be a big part of your stories and travel experiences!
All dorms have lockers, but you will need to buy a small padlock to use them.
We aim to try and get everyone on Welcome To Melbourne in the same dorm, but if you have any special requests such as, you want to be in an all female dorm or you want to upgrade to your own room. Then will be able to assist you.
Nothing quite sums it up quite like the viral video which we made ‘Things Never Said By Backpackers’
For drinks, both the welcome and farewell dinners will include a drink, and you’ll be given two on your food and drink tour, and another four during the bar crawl – how good is that! Outside of that, drinks usually cost between $7-11 but we can also point you in the direction of plenty of places with happy hours offering drinks for $5-6.
Because accommodation, activities and some food and drinks are already included, we would suggest that $200-$250 of extra spending money during your week with us will be enough!
According to the Australian Government, you need $5,000AUD in your bank account on arrival if you’re coming on a Working Holiday visa. This is a good savings target if you are wanting to either travel for a month or set yourself up for working and living in Australia after the Welcome To Travel week.
However, everybody is different and to give yourself the best chance of experiencing as many things as possible in Australia, we would recommend just saving up as much as possible before you come travelling.
Either way, the Welcome To Travel team is here to support you before, during and after the welcome week. Whether it’s work or travel you’re looking to organise or get advice on, we’ll be able to help you.
We will go through options that suit you specifically in the one-on-one sessions on the Saturday of the tour. We then have our Travel Experience Team who will be there to help you throughout your whole time in Australia!
Of course! During our travel presentation, we will give you an overview of all the beautiful and exciting destinations and experiences around Australia.
Following this, during your one-on-one sessions with our team, we will talk more specifically about what exactly you want to see and do, and we’ll help you plan everything. We want to make sure you have the most amazing adventure possible while you’re here!
With our help, that’s how!
As part of your Welcome to Travel: Melbourne package you will receive exclusive tips, resources and guidance towards finding a job and farm work in Australia.
We will present you with all of the basic information needed to get started, and give you access to our huge database of employers and contacts in sectors such as hospitality, retail, construction, sales and marketing and many more.
We also send out a weekly update email that highlights the most recent job and farm work opportunities we come across.
You will receive your Australian Sim Card on Friday morning before the tour or on Monday morning of the tour, during the meet and greet session.
Don’t panic! You will be able to jump on the free wi-fi at the hostel beforehand to let everyone back home know that you got to Melbourne safe and sound.
This is basically a personal identity number created for you by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). It is required if you want to work in Australia, so that you can be correctly taxed on your income from day one.
You will provide this number to each employer you have while you are in Australia and your tax will be deducted from your wage accordingly, just as it would be in your home country.
If you’re travelling as a tourist for just a few weeks, you don’t need one – a pre-loaded travel cash card will work just fine!
If you’re here for a longer period of time (for example, on a Working Holiday Visa) then it’s highly recommended to open an Australian bank account. Not only will you save a lot on exchange/transaction fees, but employers will only pay wages into an Australian account. It’s also an extremely easy process that we will organise for you.
You can fast-track the whole process by creating a Transferwise account, so that you can already have Australian dollars in your account for when you get here. But don’t worry about all of this now, we’ll explain it all soon!
Medicare is Australia’s health care scheme, which allows Australians and some overseas visitors to access certain health services at little or no cost. Only a handful of countries are eligible to apply for Medicare in Australia, including:
Belgium, Finland, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, The Republic of Ireland, Slovenia, Sweden and the United Kingdom
Click HERE to see details for eligibility and details for enrolment, such as what documents you will need to bring to service centres. We will also explain this in more detail when you arrive and point you in the right direction.
AWARDS WE HAVE WON
