Tourism Industry Work Experience in New South Wales Australia

If you are a tourism student with a specific interest in sustainability in action, then you might like to consider enhancing your degree with practical experience gained from one of Australia’s leading Responsible Tourism operators, Crystal Creek Meadows in Kangaroo Valley on the South Coast New South Wales.

Australian Hospitality & Tourism Experience

You will be involved in all aspects of the customer service value chain, including packages for our guests, greeting guests, marketing and property conservation development. Your involvement could be tailored, to some degree, to your interests. Crystal Creek Meadows believes that tourism is more than simply about relaxation; it can also be about personal enrichment and looking at life in a new way - a life changing experience.

Working alongside Christopher (learn more about Christopher’s campaigns), you can help create the Responsible Tourism experiences that inspire positive happy holidays through action research and product development. All excellent ways to gain practical experience for your future career and to help make it a better world.

Volunteer Tourism Experience

As part of the work experience you will be part of the Kangaroo Valley community, and will undertake local tourism projects for the community. You will meet the locals and take part in making tourism more sustainable in a destination. You will also learn about realities of community tourism, the practicalities of implementing projects and cooperating with small local operators to achieve great results.

Additional special interest options:

• Aboriginal Community Tourism. Meet members of the local Aboriginal Community and learn about tourism opportunities for the Koori people of New South Wales

• Agritourism. Meet and work with the local cooperatives and food producers and help develop greater local economic sustainability

The Experience

Sophie and Christopher welcome Australian and international students for stays between six to 12 months work experience at their farm home. Students will enjoy their own studio room offering privacy yet be part of the family as much as you wish. Located just 3 minutes from the picturesque village of Kangaroo Valley you will be able to enjoy the peaceful country lifestyle of New South Wales, enjoy bush walks, cycling, swimming and more. We are located just 2 hours from Sydney and have a close rail link from Berry.

Our young family and Sophie’s extended family, who live in the region, make it a home from home, and a true rural Australian experience. So while we only offer work experience to serious minded candidates you also get to enjoy true Aussie hospitality (even if Christopher’s actually British!). Please contact Christopher for more information.

Laura's Diary - our current student

Laura Green BAHons Tourism student from Leeds Met University UK

I am currently partaking in a 12 month work experience placement at Crystal Creek Meadows, which commenced on 20th August 2011. My time here so far has been extraordinary to say the least. The experience is benefiting me in so many ways. There is a great social aspect as I am able to work closely with the local community, I have learnt so much from Chris and Sophie and also from the politics and cultures that are evident in the area. The family have been really welcoming, and being so close to them eases the pain of being away from my family.

Choosing Crystal Creek Meadows
The reputation of the company speaks for itself, they have won countless awards. Although I may have been apprehensive about living so far from home, I knew the opportunity was something I would be foolish to pass up on. Chris is completing his MSc. in Responsible Tourism Management (I just know my university assessments are going to improve just from being in his company).

Sophie and Chris work very well together in running the company and there responsible tourism policies and procedures are admirable. I learn so much from them both, and the work experience I do is just invaluable, I often have opportunities to attend important meetings and special events that Chris is invited to due to his role in so many tourism associations. It is a privilege as all the people that are invited have years of industry experience so it’s a great first hand opportunity to see how tourism is planned in the destination.

It’s hard to describe a “typical week” as the work here is so varied (customer service, cottage preparation, researching to help complete a nature tourism experience, sales analysis, property conservation, attending workshops/community projects) I am always doing new things and it keeps the experience fresh. Have a look at my diary news stories (links below) to give you an idea.

This is a great opportunity for students, and it’s probably one of the best decisions I will ever make. If you would like to ask me any questions about my time here, I will be happy to answer them.  You can contact me via email;   l [dot] green5238 [at] student [dot] leedsmet [dot] ac [dot] uk.