AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE, Oi Oi Oi: Working Holiday in Paradise!

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Welcome to the land down under aka the land of kangaroos, stunning beaches and German backpackers!

My first ever one-way ticket was to Sydney and I had absolutely no idea where it would lead my life eventually.  All I knew back then was that I wanted to leave Canada and go as far as I physically could, leaving all behind. I was dying to explore Asia as it seemed very exotic and unfamiliar. But after a thorough research of teaching jobs, I figured it makes much more sense to get a working holiday visa for Australia and work there where the minimum wage is a lot higher.

Soon after receiving my visa confirmation, I found myself on the longest flight of my life. 17 hours of feeling pure excitement, mixed with a bit of anxiety and fear of the unknown. I had never heard of the term “backpacker” until then. I picked up my oversized 30+ kg suitcase upon landing (I was moving to the other side of the world for a year after all) and in that moment got introduced to the concept of backpacking. No one else other than me had a suitcase, and they were all speaking German. Interesting start to the journey.

I had reserved a spot in a hostel, to initially have a place to sleep until I find a more permanent spot. Having never stayed in a hostel before, I had no idea what to expect. I arrived in the middle of the night, waited about half an hour outside the door when the receptionist finally arrived. Barefoot, in shorts, rocking a flower crown he seemed to be tipsy. He apologized for the delay and told me it is Thirsty Thursday at the hostel bar and that the drinks are half priced. After a quick check-in process, I dropped my suitcase in a shared room of four bunk beds and headed down to the bar.

Everyone I mingled with was from a different country. It felt like being back in college but surrounded by a much cooler crowd. I had some of my very first traveler conversations without knowing I would be answering the same questions for many years to come. Where are you from? Where are you going next? How long are you traveling for? Have you ever been to x,y,z?

I couldn’t sleep on my first night. I realized it will take some getting used to sleeping in a room with other people. But my biggest struggle staying in a hostel was to stay focused on finding a job and not give in to the temptation of socializing with whoever crossed my path. I had just broken up with my ex, and I was surrounded with a bunch of hot guys, from all across the world.

It was almost Christmas time and I had finally found a seasonal gig in events promotion. Meanwhile, I was constantly being proposed by random travelers if I wanted to join them on their travels of the East coast. After a month, I gave in to the temptation and decided to travel up the coast with three German guys who had rented a campervan to road trip from Sydney to Cairns.

East coast of Australia is absolutely stunning and magical. From hidden bays, to golden sand beaches, your eyes will thank you after your visit. It is the perfect country to travel in a campervan with camping grounds available in every corner with all amenities provided. You get to sleep under the stars and wake up to the sound of the ocean. Luckily, we only had one spider incident, where we had to disinfect the whole vehicle and book a room for the night.

I will have to be honest though, the average age of a backpacker in Australia is between 18-25, and this makes for some highly unhinged behaviour on the road. There is not a single hostel that is not a party hostel. Sharing a campervan with three German guys meant that I was in charge of mixing vodka sodas, and making sure that all the beer was kept cold for the duration of our trip.

I may want to keep a few details secret, but let me tell you that we ended up in ER more than once, for some hilarious reasons. One of the guys, who was studying to be a surgeon back home, got a coconut tattooed on his bum cheek, and another one almost didn’t survive a skydiving accident. At the end all was fine and we arrived to Cairns sunburnt, hungover and with many stories to tell.

I have seen kangaroos, wombats, emus, crocodiles, sloths, spiders and exotic birds of all colours. I swam with manta rays, and witnessed breathtaking sunsets and sunrises on the daily. I discovered a new passion for scuba diving after diving the Great Barrier Reef and getting my mind blown by its beauty. I cruised islands only reachable by boat and beaches only accessible with a 4×4. I felt freedom like I never did before.

I also learned some lessons. I learned that meeting people on the road is easy but building trust and a real connection takes time. I grew to appreciate my family and lifelong friends. I learned to enjoy my own company, to go on solo dinners and explorations. I learned to expect less from people and to not depend on anyone. I discovered that I am stronger than I thought and that I am enough for myself. I grew confident that I can start over in a new place, as many times as I wish, on my own, and always be fine.

After spending a final few days in Cairns, we said our goodbyes with the Germans. It was time for them to head back home to reality and for me to get a  job and settle down for a bit.

I took a flight down to Melbourne where I got a temporary contract for an admin/accounting job and stayed put for a few months. I am not a huge fan of big cities, but Melbourne was my favourite out of everywhere else I have been in terms of big city vibes. It was artsy, it had a European feel to it, it was on the coast and you could have a beach day anytime you wanted.

Most of the people I met and friends I made during that time worked odd jobs, ranging from Uber delivery to construction work to picking fruits in farms. It seemed that not having previous formal work experience or not speaking proper English got in their way of getting higher paying jobs.

So I would advise those of you wanting to have an extended holiday on a working holiday visa to use the time wisely and as an opportunity to gain valuable work experience that will help you discover your passions. As the visa allows only three months in one work place, it puts you in a position to explore as many different sectors as you wish, which is perfect while figuring out what you like after high school or university. And if you perform well at the job, there is the chance to get sponsored and make your Australian dream come true beyond the expiry date of your visa. Another option to extend the visa for a second year is to complete three months of farm work. Sadly, I heard horror stories about how draining and repetitive the work was and people getting underpaid for their labour, so I was absolutely not about that #farmlife. But if that is your thing, by all means go and explore your options.

As my visa approached its expiry date I started planning my long-awaited Asia adventures. And looking back, I see that it all worked out so perfectly. Australia is the perfect spot to test the waters as a first timer. It is safe, English speaking, and easy to navigate. Although I initially only viewed it as a means to get to Asia, I found out that it has so much to offer. For me, it will always represent the beginning of a life long journey of adventures, fun and self-discovery.

At the risk of sounding cliché, life is what you make of it. It is a good mental exercise to imagine yourself in your deathbed, thinking of things you wished you had done while you were still young. For that reason, if you are feeling even slightly drawn to the idea of experiencing living abroad solo, I say just do it, your older self will thank you for it.

To everyone who taught me lessons, brought me closer to myself and made my time down under so awesome, PROST!

P.S. If you decide you want to go on a working holiday and would like some support along the way figuring out all the not so fun stuff (visa applications, booking flights, finding a job, finding housing etc), I am your go-to person!

Travelling long term is fun but constantly arranging transport & hotels for yourself can be exhausting if you don’t know where to look. I use the following platforms to make my booking process a breeze:

For researching & booking the best flights:

For researching & booking the best buses & trains: