How to Plan a Working Holiday in Australia

In this post, I'm going to lay out why I decided to do a year-long working holiday in Australia and how I did it. The preparation for this trip was relatively simple for me, but I learned a lot along the way. Hopefully, this article can help a fellow traveler who's planning to spend some time down under.

Why Australia?

I'm an inexperienced female backpacker and this is my first solo international trip, so I chose this country because I knew it would be a great place for me to gain some experience.

That's because it's relatively safe, English-speaking, and has a culture that isn't crazy different from the USA (so, minimal culture shock).

It's a developed & industrialized country (aka first world country) that has a decent infrastructure, so I knew getting around wouldn't be too difficult and I'd be able to easily buy anything I forgot or needed in a store.

Also, the fact that I am able to legally work to support my holiday was a HUGE plus. I'm young and poor, and although my alternative lifestyle has taught me to live extremely frugally (and love it), having some income to supplement my savings is essential if I'm spending a full year adventuring abroad.

Lastly, as a wildish person myself, I've always been curious about this seemingly untamed place. The culture, the history, the wildlife, the landscapes...it all seemed worth experiencing and exploring. I felt like I had a lot to learn from the land and people of Australia, and so far I've been proven right.

How Do I Begin Planning?

Firstly, make sure you're under 30 years old and fit all the other criteria for the visa. Then apply! You can find the application on the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs website. They usually get back to you within 3 months. Heads up, it costs $400.

Secondly, decide when & where you want to arrive and the general direction you want to go (if you plan on moving around).

I love warm weather, so I decided to arrive in December to catch the entirety of their summer. I flew into Melbourne, Victoria (the southernmost state) because December to March is the best time to be in that area. As the year progresses & the weather cools, I'll slowly make my way north where it's warmer.

Thirdly, you'll have to buy travel insurance (I used World Nomads), which is easy to complete online. It's also a good idea to get a credit card that doesn't charge any international transaction fees. Otherwise, every transaction you make will be charged an extra 3% or whatever, which adds up over time.

Besides pinning places on Google Maps that I'd like to visit, some general info searches, and booking a hostel for my first week, that was pretty much the extent of my planning.

Some people thought that was crazy, but I love keeping things open-ended for a free-flowing adventure. You never know who you'll meet, what opportunities will arise, or where you'll want to be until you're there, so don't stress it.

How to Pack

(Do I Bring Camping Gear on a Working Holiday in Australia?)

Okay, be honest with yourself about the type of person you are. Do you love exploring the outdoors and getting out in the country? Or dwelling in the excitement of the city? Whatever you prefer now will probably transfer to what you do there, so pack accordingly.

If you google packing lists for a working holiday, NONE of them include camping gear! This put a huge question mark in my mind when I was packing. Will I not need my tent? Are the routes so well established that I'll always have somewhere to stay? Do most jobs provide accommodation? I had no idea.

In hindsight, I think most of those lists are written by people who stay on the beaten path and hostel-hop through the major cities. This is not me. I'm the kind of person who wanders to the wild fringes of the country.

I like to work on farms & nature reserves, go on multi-day hikes, and hop on last-minute adventures to somewhere incredible, hours from civilization. I should've known that I'd want my sleeping gear with me, just in case.

But I scoured blogs, Reddit, and Facebook forums for the answer to "Do I bring camping gear for my working holiday?" to no avail, so I decided to leave my tent & sleeping pad at home. I did bring my sleeping bag & cooking gear, but I quickly realized I would've used my full setup if I'd brought it. Lesson learned.

So, the answer is YES, bring it if you're the adventurous type and wish to connect with the land. Or be prepared to buy some when you get here.

Another piece of advice: bring less than what those packing lists say. You don't need three t-shirts, you need one. Keep it ridiculously simple. You can always go to the op shop (thrift store) if you need anything.

Throw in some boots and work pants if you plan to work on farms & home stays, and don't forget a laundry bag. Bring warm thermals, even if you're going in summer! The weather here is unpredictable.

What to Expect When You Land

There are a number of things to prepare for when you arrive:

1. SIM Card

If you want data for calls, texts, and internet, you'll need an Australian SIM card. The Melbourne airport had a kiosk that sells SIM cards for an affordable price. I got the pre-paid Telstra 30G for $30, which has plenty of data, works great, & I can just reload it through the app as I go.

2. Exchanging Money for AUD

There are usually (expensive) exchange kiosks in airports, but there are many money exchanges with better rates in any major town. However, most places use touchless pay in Aussie, so getting cash isn't a pressing matter, just good to have.

3. TFN & Australian Bank Account

If you plan to work a paying job, then you'll eventually want to apply for a TFN (Tax File Number) online and open an Australian bank account. There are 4 major banks in Australia that are available across the country. I went with the Commonwealth Bank and was able to use a work-exchange host's address to receive my debit card in the mail.

4. Backpacking Australia Requires Planning as You Go

This might sound intuitive, but be prepared to be organizing your next moves when you arrive and all along the way. There are no "established routes," it's more of a choose-your-own-adventure type deal. And although it's very common for one opportunity to lead into another, it's a good idea to mentally prepare for the transient nature of backpacking in this country.

My first week was spent exploring Melbourne during the day and browsing jobs, talking with locals, and sending messages to work-exchange hosts every other free moment. There is SO much work & opportunity for backpackers here, so it's really just a matter of narrowing down options and choosing.

I use HelpX to find work exchanges, which are a cheap and adventurous way to experience new places. Other websites like this include Workaway, WWOOF, & WorldPackers.

If you're searching for a paying job, you can browse listings on Indeed and/or Seek, but you might have better luck on Facebook forums for the specific town/industry you're in (for example, Melbourne Hospitality Jobs). Otherwise, ask some locals or simply walk around & apply to places with 'Hiring' signs in the window.

In Conclusion

As a female traveler from the US who is inexperienced in solo backpacking abroad, starting in Australia just made sense. I feel safe, there is no stressful language barrier, and figuring out how to get around is quite simple.

The hard-planning didn't happen until I landed because I wanted my adventure to be full of serendipity. But it's YOUR holiday, plan however you like.

And remember, you know yourself best, so write your own packing list! Mistakes will be made, but luckily Australia has plenty of markets and nice people to help you along the way.

Finally, finding work opportunities and fun adventures will be the least of your worries. This place is full of 'em! The hardest part is getting here, seriously.

I hope this article gave you some insight into planning a working holiday in Australia. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.

P.S. Other Random Helpful Bits

- You can expect an easy arrival into the country as a US citizen. Customs was literally a breeze ~ I didn't even have to talk to anybody. Basically, they give you a little card to fill out on the plane, which you'll hand off to a customs officer in the airport, and bam, you're welcomed in the country.

- They call pharmacy stores like CVS & Walgreens "the chemist." Chemist Warehouse is the most popular store like this.

- Some people call dinner, or the evening meal, "tea." As in, "what are you making for tea tonight?"

- Wildlife in Australia isn't actually any more intimidating or "trying to kill you" than in most countries. In fact, I think the United States has much more deadly (and scary) flora and fauna. Nonetheless, Australians are great at educating you about which snakes, spiders, insects, and marine animals to watch out for, so rest assured.