Australia is a huge country, and it can be a bit overwhelming to think about how exactly you are going to tackle the task of moving there, and traveling through it. There are so many different things to think about when moving, whether it is your work, living situation, or what to do with your free time. 

Breaking down what exactly you want to do, and how to go about it will take loads of stress away from you, and make your overall experience much more simple and enjoyable. 

1.     Finding work is not difficult

When moving your entire life across the globe to Australia, the thought of doing so without a job lined up can be very stressful. This was 100% the main thing I was worried about when I made my move. I was extremely relieved to find out there are jobs everywhere, and most places are hiring year round! 

Hospitality is the main industry to look for jobs, as people are constantly coming and going, so bars and restaurants are always hiring. Just confidently walk in to any establishment with your resume and ask the manager if they are looking for help. Everyone is so nice, and will most likely give you a trial shift if they like you. I relocated to a different city 4 times, and did this with no issues every time. 

There is plenty of work in construction or trade work as well, and these jobs typically pay much more than hospitality will. They are more physically demanding, but you will get more consistent hours, and you will certainly make more money. For this type of work, I suggest searching on Facebook or Gumtree, and you will find something right away!

There really is no need to stress the thought of not having a job when you move to Australia. There are more than enough places looking for employees. As long as you are proactive, you will certainly find a job in no time!

2.     Cars are very useful, and easy to buy/sell

 Rental cars can be expensive, and if you plan on being in Australia long-term, you’re going to want a car eventually. It’s only a matter of time before day trips turn into weekend getaways, and weekend getaways turn to road trips. And for some, road trips turn into full on living out of your car. I started out Uber-ing everywhere, and by the time I left Australia, I had bought and sold two cars, and road tripped both the east and west coast. 

Good news though! It is super easy to buy and sell cars in Australia! Assuming you are on a tight budget, you can get solid vehicles from $2,000-$6,000 AUD. Whether you are looking for something to get you to and from work, or a 4×4 to do some off-roading in, you shouldn’t have a tough time finding what you need in that price range. 

Facebook marketplace is probably the best place to find used cars in Australia. The people are always willing to negotiate the price, and are friendly and understanding. However, I would definitely suggest having a professional take a look at the car before purchasing it. The last thing you want is to waste your hard earned money and have your car fall apart after 2 weeks. 

Lastly, if you are strategic about where you buy a car, you can potentially sell it for more than you got it for! Cars are going to be cheaper in the major cities like Perth, Melbourne, and Sydney. If you are planning to move around with your car, you can probably sell it for more in the more remote areas where there are fewer options for cars. For example, it’s better to buy a car in Perth, and then sell it around Exmouth or Broome, as you will probably get more money or close to what you paid for it. Have a look at the market and plan out where and when to buy/sell, to get the most for your money! 

If you set a budget for yourself, do the research before buying, and know where you plan on traveling with your car, you’ll be all good to explore the roads of Australia!

3.     Basic knowledge of cars

Going off the last point, if you plan on getting a vehicle, or even being around people with cars, having a basic understanding of cars is going to be a huge asset for you. 

For starters, any car you buy is going to be used, and will definitely not be perfect. There’s always going to be some sort of bump or bruise, and if you can fix it without paying a mechanic, you’re going to save yourself a lot of money. It also helps when going to the mechanic to know what they’re talking about, to make sure you aren’t getting ripped off, as mechanics have a tendency to be shady with people they can tell don’t know a thing about cars. 

Also, many of the roads in Australia are remote, and not well kept. You do not want to be 3 hours from the nearest auto shop with a popped tire, and no idea how to how to fix it. Trust me, I’ve unfortunately been in that situation, and it is far from ideal. So being able to fix basic problems like this can be very useful in many situations. 

Lastly, if you have an above average knowledge of cars, you can make a bit of money on the side with your skills. People are willing to pay someone they know and trust to come with them during the sale of a car, and make sure the car is going to be good to buy. It’s better for them to pay $50 to a friend rather than a few hundred to a mechanic, and you can make some extra cash for your services helping out a friend. Being knowledgeable about cars is certainly a general life skill, but it will be especially helpful on the roads of Australia. 

4.     Prices of rent/where to live

Finding a place to live can be stressful, especially considering the sense of urgency that usually goes along with it. 

There are a few different ways to go about finding accommodation, but I would say hostels are going to be the best option. For starters, you can check in right away, so you wont be scrambling looking for housing when you first arrive. Even if you don’t want to stay there long term, they can at least provide you a grace period to look for something more permanent. Also, most hostels offer work for accommodation, so you can work a few shifts a week, and have your housing costs covered. It’s a great way to save money, and you will meet way more people using this option than any other. So many of the experiences I’ve had in Australia have stemmed from being in hostels, and I cannot recommend them more. 

Another good option for housing is finding a shared house. The best way to do this would be either Facebook or Gumtree, but there are a lot of areas where it may be tough to find shared houses. In smaller towns and cities it will be much harder to find places, but in the bigger cities you should have no problems finding a place for a reasonable price. Share houses aren’t everywhere, but if you’re in an area where you can find one, it’s a good, inexpensive option to have a place with your own bedroom. 

5.     The backpacker community

If you’re worried about meeting people and making friends, you’ll be pleased to find out how amazing the community of backpackers is in Australia. 

Everywhere you go, you will run into likeminded people that are on a similar journey as you. Everyone is so open minded, and willing to meet new people and experience each other’s cultures. Australia is so big but can also feel so small when you meet new people everywhere you go. I’ve gained life long friends from all over the world from my time in Australia, and I would encourage anyone traveling there to look for a similar experience. 

Hostels are probably the best place to connect with new people as a backpacker in Australia. Every hostel has it’s own unique vibe and community, and you will feel like the people there are your family by the time you leave. In most hostels, there are always events going on each day of the week that get everyone mingling with each other. 

Staying at a hostel is definitely the best way to meet new people, and open doors for new experiences and adventures during your time in Australia!

6. Weather

I know it’s a common thought that Australia is just hot as $%& all the time, but it gets cold there! 

Winters in the south are cold, rainy, gloomy, and long. In places like Melbourne and Perth, it is not warm out from about March-September. If you have a limited time in Australia, it would be much better to visit these places during summer, in December-February. There is much more going on in the summer, and you can save yourself from being miserable wondering why it’s so cold and wet outside all the time. 

In the northern parts, it’s warm year round, but the wet season (November-April) is not the most ideal time to be there. The humidity can be unbearable, even into the late hours of the night, and it rains just about every day. And when it rains, it rains hard. I swear the raindrops are heavier in Far North Queensland than any other rain I’ve ever experienced. 

The wet season up north does have some benefits though. It’s a great time to visit the waterfalls and gorges, as they will be at full force. Also, the lightning storms at night are an incredible spectacle, if you can find a dry spot to watch from. 

Australia’s weather is extreme, and you do not want to be caught in the middle of a bad storm, a heat wave, or a cold winter. Make sure you plan out when and where you will be traveling to have the best experience possible!

7. Luggage

Pack lightly! Whatever you think you need, pack a little less. You will not regret it. Having light luggage is going to help you so much when you’re trying to travel within Australia, and when you are going to and from the country. Baggage fees can get expensive, so if you can limit yourself to one checked bag, that would be ideal. Also, if you plan on doing any kind of road trip, minimizing the space you’re going to need in the car for you luggage is important. There’s plenty of other gear you will need, so you won’t want half the space being taken up by huge suitcases filled with clothes. 

It’s ok to repeat outfits; no one will know or care. Do yourself a favor and pack only the essentials, you will be happy you did it when you only have one bag to worry about while driving and flying around Australia!

8. Cameras/Technology

My only regret from my time in Australia is not having a drone or a nice camera. Australia is incredibly photogenic, and an iPhone camera does not always have the ability to capture the vast beauty of the landscapes it has to offer. There are countless locations that can truly only be captured by the viewpoint of a drone, and if this is something that interests you, it is worth it to save your money and get a nice one before coming to Australia. 

A solid camera is another good option depending on what you are trying to capture. If you’re going more for landscapes and larger scale stuff, a drone is the way to go. But if you are more of a subject photographer, focusing on animals, people, and objects, a camera would be better. The detail on some of the birds, reptiles, and marsupials is amazing, and having a good camera does justice to the uniqueness of some of the creatures in Australia. 

Drones and cameras are amazing, but can be really expensive, and hard to travel with at times. The best bang for your buck would be getting a GoPro. They’re extremely compact, so you can fit one in just about any bag you have. There’s a really wide range of what type of content you can capture with them, whether it be underwater footage, to time lapses of long drives. They are also super easy to use, so you wouldn’t need the camera knowledge and experience you may need with a drone or camera. 

Australia is breathtaking, and you are going to want to capture it in one way or another. Whether it’s a drone with a 2-mile range, or a $20 polaroid camera, be sure to bring something with you to capture your journey in some form. 

9. Cooking

The ability to cook will be a huge asset while traveling through Australia. First of all, it is going to be much cheaper to by groceries and cook your own meals. This is true in most places, but eating out is especially expensive in Australia pretty much anywhere you go. Learning how to cook cheap, quick, and easy meals is literally going to save you thousands of dollars in the long run. 

Also, I didn’t think the food was that great in Australia. Of course you can find nice restaurants, but I found that the average dining experience is not anything special. They don’t really have their own cuisine, so you won’t be trying exotic foods that you’ve never heard of. For this reason, it’s just better to cook for yourself. Especially given that you’ll be traveling around a lot, food is an expense that should be kept as low as possible, and learning to cook will certainly allow you to do that. 

10. Surfing

Australia is one of the best places in the world to surf! There are so many great locations along the east and west coast, and I really wish I was able to enjoy them. Unfortunately, I still don’t know how to surf after being there for two years. 

Coming into Australia knowing how to surf would be ideal, because a lot of the locations are not for beginners. In places like Margaret River, the waves can be enormous, and it isn’t a great place to learn. But for someone who is already a good surfer, Australia is one of the best places to be. Also, surfing is just objectively one of the coolest sports. Like really, who doesn’t love surfers?