We always embrace the culture and make a huge effort to integrate ourselves into our new surroundings. Living in the city of Sydney however, we don’t come into contact too often with many locals. We took it upon ourselves to find some good old Australian sources, and here is what we found:

Watch the video, but do remember to scroll down to find a full list of Australian foods you must try when in Australia.

As you can see from our video, we weren’t quite able to capture everything that we needed to, before getting distracted and laughing our way off screen. This is the first time we have made a little video like this, so next time we’ll be better, we promise!

As mentioned above, Australia doesn’t typically have a signature dish.

Every Australian person that we asked replied with the same answer: A Meat Pie! or a barbecue.. yet that may sound a little stereotypical ha!

We have since spoken to more Australian people and have new items added to our list. Take a look below!

Here is a list for those of you who really want to know the Australian foods that you must try when in Australia:

• Meat Pie – You can buy these at any bakery. Most pubs also serve pie with chips, or mash and of course, gravy!
• Vegemite – Just like marmite, you either love it or your hate it. Every person that we spoke to told us to only use the smallest amount of vegemite on our toast. A very light spread. Adding to much is what typically results in people hating Vegemite, apparently 😉
• Kangaroo Meat – The Kangaroo burger is a very popular meal in most pubs and bars. If you can afford it, we highly recommend eating a kangaroo steak instead. This way you can fully explore the flavour without the distracting toppings of a burger.
• Chicken Parmigiana – Otherwise known as a Parmi. You will see this on every menu, everywhere.
• Pavlova – One of Australia’s favourite desserts is a good old pavlova. Make it at home, or eat one at a restaurant – just give it a try.
• Anzac Biscuits – Every country has a biscuit that people love, and Anzac biscuits are that biscuit! It is made with rolled oats and golden syrup which were previously eaten a substitute for bread.
• Tim Tams – The biscuits of all biscuits. The top dog. Tim tams are similar to a Penguin in the UK. A chocolate coated biscuit with a chocolate creamy middle. Make sure you buy double coated for that extra bite of perfection.

Traditional Dishes Don’t Really Exist in Australia!

So there you have it. Unlike in most countries where you have a typical dish, Australia seems to have individual items that make the cut. In the UK we have a roast dinner every Sunday, and maybe even Fish & Chip Fridays if you’re really traditional. I think that one is quite hard to keep up as we’d all be gigantic, though. If you’re on your way over to Australia, check out my posts for helpful insights:

Australian Working Holiday Visa – Getting Things Sorted

How to Find a Job in Australia

Finding Somewhere to Live in Australia

Mini Travel Guide to Sydney City – A 2 Minute Video

How to Find Legitimate Farm Work in Australia

Planning an East Coast Trip – Check Out My Tips on How to Do it!

The post Australian Foods You Must Try When in Australia appeared first on Green Eyed Traveller.

Even if it isn’t, stick around to find out how you can get into this industry, or how to find jobs outside of hospitality too!

The majority of Australian’s don’t work in Hospitality; this being bars, restaurants, cafes, hotels, face-to-face sales, etc. I think I actually only met one Australian working in the hospitality industry during my time in Australia, and he was a manager.

This is great news for anyone coming over on a Working Holiday Visa, because you get to work in a fun, social environment, alongside travelling and exploring everything that Australia has to offer.

Backpackers are always coming and going which means there are job openings popping up all the time.

Why don’t the Australian’s work in Hospitality you may ask?

They’re not on holiday like you are, and are usually very career focused. You can find them working long hours in the beautiful offices around the city. Salary is another reason that they steer clear of this industry. For anyone coming from abroad however, the pay for this type of work isn’t usually an issue as it is still twice, if not three times the amount of what you’d be paid at home for the same job! Win-win.

What if you don’t come from a hospitality background?

Now this one is completely up to you. If you want to work in hospitality but don’t have the experience, most places will consider hiring you if you have a good level of English. I had always worked as a photographer but managed to get a job in a restaurant in the very busy area of Circular Quay. If you can show that you are willing to learn, and are keen, they will most likely give you a shot anyway! Practicing to carry 3 plates around the house will also be of huge benefit. Some places will ask you if this is a skill that you posses, and answering “yes” will help you to secure the role.

The best way to get yourself a job in the Hospitality industry is to walk in to the venue itself. People seem to prefer seeing you in person. Managers will usually tell you on the spot whether to come back for a trial or not.

Print out a number of CV’s and walk around for an afternoon. Hand them out to places you would be happy working at.

TIP! Choose the time of day that you visit a restaurant carefully. Do not go during the morning, lunch or dinner time rushes as you won’t be taken seriously. Time it perfectly and aim for around 9.30-11am or 2.30-4pm in the afternoon.

How to Find a Job in Australia

Finding a Job Outside of Hospitality in Australia

If you don’t want to work in hospitality that is a different thing. Of course there are other jobs available – they just take a bit more effort to achieve. Seek is a fantastic website which I use all the time. It allows you to type in the job you are looking for and select the area in which you wish to work, and it will bring up all available roles. Applying through Seek is a good way to apply for jobs, as you are more often than not contacting the companies directly yourself. One thing to note is that is usually takes around 2-3 weeks for somebody to get back to you, so it can become slightly disheartening. This seems to be the standard for most roles.

Recruitment Agencies

Another way to find a job outside of the hospitality industry such as reception, admin, accounting roles, etc. is by signing up to a few recruitment agencies. In my first year, I signed up to some of the bigger companies;

https://www.hays.com.au/
http://au.hudson.com/

I personally had no luck with them. They are large companies and took around 2-3 months to get back to me. They may however work for you and there are a lot of roles available on their sites so it is worth having a go. The way it works with a recruitment agency is you go into their office, sign up and complete a skills test. The test takes a few hours and measures your admin/typing/adobe abilities. Once you have the results you can send them to any recruitment agency that you sign up with as they all use the same tests which is a bonus.

This year I signed up to two smaller recruitment agencies and I have had work from both of them. I definitely recommend you use someone smaller, as they were back to me within 2 days.

www.coadys.com.au
www.lotuspeople.com.au

It’s important to know

One problem with finding a job in Australia outside of the hospitality industry comes from being on a Working Holiday Visa (WHV). There are many jobs available and it is definitely possible to find a job, however the WHV has a 6-month work limit with one company. This means that you are only allowed to work for the same company for a total of 6 months. If you are looking for a more complex role, the company can be hesitant to invest time and money into your employment, for you to then leave after 6 months. The only way around this is by either 1. Getting sponsored by the company (which will cost them a significant amount of money) or 2. Getting permission from the Government (which rarely happens unless you are undertaking extremely important work).

The amount of times I have been turned down for a position purely because of my visa situation is very frustrating!

There are still many places that will hire you so don’t give up before you try. Another thing to consider is temporary work which the recruitment agencies are able to provide you with. This way you can get your foot in the door of a company on a temporary basis (usually covering somebody’s annual leave) and who knows, they may even keep you on!

Other Suggestions – How to Find a Job in Australia

If the above suggestions aren’t working for you, you can try a number of Facebook pages. There will be pages available to help you find a job relevant to the area you are in.

If you are in Sydney, have a look at:
Irish Around Sydney
Sydney Jobs or
Jobs in Sydney 

These pages have general news, alongside many job opportunities daily!

One other thing you could try is Airtasker. This is a website where people who need small jobs doing such as moving a wardrobe, translating a document, writing a CV, cleaning a house, etc. will post their job on the site. Alongside the post is the amount they are willing to pay you to complete the task. If you are interested, you can put yourself forward for the job and hope to get picked. It definitely isn’t a way to make a stable income, but it can earn you a few extra pennies every week! 🙂

I wish you a massive good luck as I know how stressful it can all be!

Looking for Somewhere to Live?

If you are struggling to find Somewhere to Live in Australia, check out my blog post on useful places to search!

The post How to Find a Job in Australia appeared first on Green Eyed Traveller.

There are so many horror stories out there that usually involve people being paid something ridiculous like $3 an hour, or they’ve ended up in some shack in the middle of nowhere with a couple of cows for neighbours.

First thing’s first, be smart.

Being paid less that the minimum wage in Australia ($18.29p/h) is technically classed as ‘slavery’; it’s illegal. There are a number of legit farms who pay, and treat you properly so no matter how desperate you are, don’t fall for the tricks. You need to earn a certain amount of money over the duration of your time, therefore working on a farm who pays under the minimum wage will not count regardless. Don’t do it. The government recently came up with a new law that each backpacker must be paid $22.86 per hour when working on a farm in Australia. This figure increased from $22.13 with the new tax year, 2017.

Secondly, make sure you research specific areas for Farm Work before you pack your things and make your way there. Australia is huge, and each state has a different time of year in which they are in season for farm work. The majority of farms in Queensland for example, run from May through until Mid November/December.

Think about how much time you have and whether it fits in with the season in the place you are looking to go to. These websites are really useful in providing information regarding when and where to go:

https://workingholiday.co/fruit-picking-seasons-in-australia
http://www.fruitpickingjobs.com.au/australian-harvest-and-crop-calender/

Farm Work Australia

How to Find Legitimate Farm Work in Australia

The best way to find legit farms is by going to a Working Hostel. These hostels have deals with the farmers so you get a job, and the owner of the hostel gets some sort of commission. The majority of these farms are legit and you will soon realise if they are or not when you’re first pay check comes in. Check to make sure you are being paid the correct amount ($22.86 p/h).

If you do not want to be in a Working Hostel, there are many family farms that are also legit. Check on this website, which is run by the government, to see if you can find a farm: https://jobsearch.gov.au/harvest 

I ended up moving to Bowen, in Queensland and lived in a working hostel called Aussie Tavern (Nomads).  I had heard many horror stories about Farm Work in general, but I was especially worried about the place I would end up staying at.

The Aussie Tavern is clean, has 2 kitchens (although not big enough once the hostel is full) and a big pool outside with outdoor seating and a sunbathing area. It is a decent place to crash, especially if you’re waiting around for work.

Living in a Working Hostel

The good thing about living in a working hostel is that the manager has contacts with a number of farms in the area. They are able to get you the work as soon as anything comes available (in a first come first served matter). They also provide transport to take you to and from work which is included in your rent.

The down side is, the owners are very aware of how desperate backpackers are for work. They tend to take advantage of that by charging ridiculous amount of rent. I paid $230 a week to live in a 6 bed dorm. If you need a comparison to put the price into perspective, I was paying $240 for a 2-bed room in the heart of Sydney overlooking Darling Harbour!!

It gets difficult at times if you are on a farm without much work and living in a hostel as your paycheck goes straight on rent. There are other options, especially if you have your own transport. You can live in shared houses or camp sights, as long as you can get yourself to work, people will hire you.  It is totally down to luck of the draw whether you will make, break even, or lose money while doing your farm work.

Thirdly, expect the worst and be ‘pleasantly surprised’. I won’t lie and tell you that farm work is great – it’s not. There are a small handful of people who are given fab jobs such as driving the tractor all day, or cutting a few wires here and there, but honestly, for the majority of people like me and you, we’re given the hardest, and most painful jobs on the farm. Planting or picking any sort of fruit or vegetable is hands down the hardest job.

Farm Work Australia

The constant back pain never goes away and keeping up your good spirit is a challenge in itself, not to mention the horrific t-shirt tan lines. I worked both in the field picking, but also in the shed packing all kinds of things over 4 months and the shed isn’t much easier – it’s a mental challenge.

Your opinion is completely invalid and this can be extremely frustrating, especially when you know you could help (or think you could ;)…). You have to think though that the people you are working for have spent their entire life to create the farm you’re working on, and once you have that in mind, you learn to accept your position as ‘a robot’ and just get on with things the way the tell you too.

Work gets extremely repetitive and you don’t even need to think about what you’re doing once you get the hang of it. Make sure you keep your mind active with a few puzzles or Sudoku every once in a while or you’ll feel yourself becoming rather dumb ha!

Farm work can have its positives. Yeah the 5am wake up, and long hours in the heat aren’t cool, but the people you meet are incredible and definitely friends for life. These people go through the ups and downs with you and help you out the other side. Weekends are good fun as everyone comes together after a long week of work to have a couple (or more) drinks.

Working in these conditions definitely teaches you how to make the most of what you have and challenges you to stay positive in all kinds of situations. If farm work doesn’t break you, you will come out a stronger person than you have ever been!

My Farm Family

The post How to Find Legitimate Farm Work in Australia appeared first on Green Eyed Traveller.

After having spoken to many people in the same position as us, we knew that finding somewhere to live in Australia, being a group of 5 girls wanting to stay together, was going to be difficult.

Below I have outlined a number of tips to help you find somewhere to get settled. We decided to stay and live in Sydney, but no matter where in Australia you are, these tips will work.

There are many different ways to find somewhere to live. For most of you, you will probably end up looking for a room in a shared house. This is the cheapest way to live here. There are few Estate Agents that offer house shares. However, the majority of people offering this type of accommodation are the landlords or owners of the properties.

Going Through an Estate Agent

One Estate Agents who are involved in House Shares are called Share My Room and own many stunning properties around Sydney. However, this company infuriate me so much. Their properties are incredible but the staff who work here are completely useless. We found this company last year by talking to a few people who directed us to a back office that nobody knew about. We signed with them based on the quality of the apartment. Most of their properties include a swimming pool, gym, and sauna within the rent too.

Unfortunately, the lack of communication between the staff is horrendous. They turn up to the house unannounced for inspections and viewings – something I shut down on them for. Legally they cannot to do that, but they seem to come up with all kind of excuses.

Overall, I would recommend using them IF you can’t find something elsewhere, purely because of the standard of their properties. They are way nicer than a lot of apartments I have seen around Sydney.

How to Find Somewhere to Live in Australia – Finding a Place By Yourself

If you want to find a place to stay on your own accord, there are a number of websites which can aid you to do this. There are always people moving out of their rooms, or who are looking for a roommate, who advertise their rooms on Gumtree, and various other websites dedicated solely to finding a place. Here are a few which I found handy:

https://www.flatmatefinders.com.au/
https://au.easyroommate.com/
https://flatmates.com.au

You can sign up to these websites and create your own profile. Here you will state what you are looking for, and get notified by email when something matches your search, or somebody has messaged you. You receive numerous emails a day through these sites. They are very popular, so definitely a good way of finding something.

TIP! Be prepared to book viewings as soon as they become available.

BONUS TIP! One massive issue that leaves backpackers staying in hostels for so long, is not signing for the house on the spot (or the next day). Of course, you have questions. Ask them! Also, don’t skip reading the contracts down to a tee, etc. But if you keep saying, we’ll think about it and get back to you. More often than not, they will have gone. The majority of properties in the city centres are gone within days of being advertised. If you like a place, and have a good feel for it, follow your gut and sign the paper!

Another Popular Method is Social Media

Another thing that is very popular among backpackers is signing up to Facebook Groups. There are a few groups that are specifically for finding/advertising available rooms and apartments. Type in the search bar what it is you are looking for and join one of the appropriate groups. A good group to join if you are in Sydney is called ‘Irish around Sydney’. I’m pretty sure this group started as a group for the Irish to get in contact with one another, but every nationality in the world is now inside this group. They post both things about apartments, jobs and events, so a very handy one to be involved in.

**Please note that moving in somewhere can be expensive for the first 2 months. Most landlord/agencies require a bond upfront, usually 4 weeks rents worth (around $1000) plus 2 weeks rent upfront also ($500). It does take a big chunk out of your savings but don’t worry, you will make it back – just give it time and don’t give up.

Check out my post about How to Find a Job in Australia

The post How to Find Somewhere to Live in Australia appeared first on Green Eyed Traveller.

If you’re not a fan of videos and prefer to read (seriously?) then scroll down the page and read our detailed summary of this video! There may even be some ‘Bonus Info’ in there, who knows? 😉

 Mini Travel Guide to Sydney City

Sydney stole our hearts last year so we have come back for more. No matter what you feel like doing, whether it is taking in the rush of the city, strolling through peaceful gardens, sunbathing on one of Sydney’s beautiful beaches or chilling in a beer garden – Sydney has it all. Below we have outlined a few tips to visiting Sydney, which will hopefully enrich your experience, and save you a few pennies.

Famous Landmarks 

Obviously visiting the Opera house and the Sydney Harbour Bridge are very stereotypical things to do, but you can’t visit Sydney without seeing these incredible landmarks.They are also very easy to get too, with a train station right next door. To the right of the Opera house, are beautiful gardens with a few cafes and a small ‘lake’. It is a great spot for sunbathing or a picnic if you don’t fancy getting the bus to the beach. There are also many events on in the gardens, like egg hunts at Easter, outdoor cinemas in the summer and walking tours all year round.

Living like a Local

Once you have hit the tourist spots, get out of the city to fully engage in the Australian lifestyle. The Australians work in the city, therefore avoid it at all costs on a weekend. There are a few local markets in the city which a great to visit, offering tons of free samples. This is probably the only time you will see an Aussie in the city, other than to shop in Westfield tower.

Catch the bus up to Palm Beach, which is located just opposite Ku Rai Chase National Park. Palm beach is famous for the Australian TV series called Home & Away. If you’re lucky you might even see the cast filming one day. Palm beach is a great day out. There is an uphill walk (which is pretty steep) to the lookout at the top. The views are stunning and in May you can even see the migration of many Whales. Another great spot is Bondi beach. We are completely aware that Bondi is very popular amongst tourists, but there are many local people who enjoy a day surfing here too. It is only a 35 minute bus ride from the city, which makes it all the more tempting.

Australian Foods to Try

When you go on holiday, you have to try the local foods. It’s one of those must do things when ever you go somewhere new. In Australia, there isn’t a specific dish as such, but there are a few things you have to try.

• Australian Meat Pies
• Kangaroo Burger
• A good old BBQ by the beach
• Vegemite (if you dare!)
• Avocados – the Aussies LOVE their Avo’s

Sydney on a Budget

Buying food in Sydney can be expensive. The first time I walked into Coles supermarket I remember looking at the prices and nearly crying. If you are not working in the city, it is very easy to start losing money, quickly. So, for anyone who is visiting for a holiday, you are going to find Sydney very expensive.

A few things we have learned since being here, is where to shop. Paddy’s Market is an Asian Market that sells almost EVERYTHING. If you have forgotten to bring things from home, you will almost certainly find it here. What we go to the market for though is the food. Fruit and Veg are nearly half price compared to standard supermarket prices.

Another good tip for travelling around Sydney on a budget is knowing when and where to eat. If you can cook your own foods – even better! Especially if you buy your veggies from Paddy’s Market. But, as we all know, cooking in a hostel kitchen can be absolutely chaotic at times. There isn’t enough pans to go around and the plates are not exactly the cleanest. If one day you really can’t deal with that dreaded hostel kitchen, then luckily for you we have a little tip. There is an app which we came across through word of mouth last year called ‘Happiest Hour’. This app is AMAZING. Every single bar that has happy hour on, whether is it food or drink will show up on this app. It also shows you on a map where about’s in the city it is. It tells you in detail what is on offer and until what time, meaning you can plan your meal times around the app!

If you have any more tips that might be useful, be sure to comment below and let us know what they are!

The post Mini Travel Guide to Sydney City – A 2 Minute Video appeared first on Green Eyed Traveller.

I had just graduated from University in the summer and I had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do with my life (I still don’t).

I originally said I would never move to Australia because of the alarming fact that 9/10 of the deadliest animals in the world live there – and I’m also not a fan of spiders, at all!

After spending the summer travelling through Thailand with my brother and his friend, I caught what people call “The Travel Bug” and knew that I wanted to keep travelling. I did a bit of research into work, salaries, living costs, places to go that attracted a lot of people my age (18-30) and Australia seemed to be the number 1 destination in all aspects.  I was completely hesitant at first but after looking in to what Australia had to offer, I put aside my fear and took a chance on making the move.

A number of concerns run through your mind when you move to a new place, especially somewhere so far away from home, but if I could give you any piece of advice, it would be to firstly book your flight. It sounds a little odd, but it’s very easy to get comfortable where you are, in the same job, in the same place you’ve always been, and the good old saying of “I’ll do it tomorrow” becomes a reoccurring habit.

Luckily for me, my mum was way more excited about me considering the move than I was (as she knew it meant she’d be holidaying there sometime soon) and basically persuaded me to go ahead and buy my ticket.

Now I’m doing the same for you!

Why Moving to Australia is a Great Idea

Australia is one of those places that everybody talks about and has been a big hype amongst youngsters for a while now. There is a lot on offer in this beautiful country from amazing weather, perfect beaches and a huge contrast in living situations – from the buzz of the city life to the very quiet outback.

Many people arrive to Australia and are greatly shocked by the price of things, which can instantly put you off. I know when I first walked into Coles Supermarket and looked around I nearly fainted. I remember looking at the prices at numerous restaurants too, and seeing Salads being advertised for $20-25. Madness.

Once I settled in, and began to work, everything seemed so much cheaper. Luckily for Australian Citizens and backpackers alike, the wages completely outweigh the cost of living.

Let’s Put It in to Perspective:

I was living in an apartment in the City Centre of Sydney, sharing with 5 other girls. There were 2 people to a room and we were each paying $240 a week. A WEEK!? Yup, I said a week.

BUT. The minimum wage in Australia is $18.29 per hour (p/h). In most jobs, you will be earning around $25p/h. This means that after 10 hours of work, you have already paid the rent for the week.

As we were in the centre, we were hardly paying for public transport either, as everything was within walking distance. Except for weekends when we went exploring or lazy days when you can’t be bothered to walk home after a long shift.

The quality of life here for the majority of people is incomparable to any other country. There is such a relaxed, and friendly environment, everybody earns enough money to enjoy life, and that’s exactly what they do – enjoy life.

As you are surrounded by 100’s of international backpackers with the same ideas as you, you end up making friends for life and unforgetable memories. No matter where you choose to go; Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns.. there will always be like minded people surrounding you. The Working Holiday Visa is great too, as most employers will accept your visa for their job roles, and you also get to travel around this amazing country. There is so much to do and see throughout the entire country, from stunning beaches, to miles and miles of deserted land.

For anybody considering moving to Australia for a year (or two), take a leap of faith and try it. For the majority, you won’t be let down, and for those of you are, at least you stepped out of your comfort zone, and tried something new!

For more information about getting set up in Australia, visit my posts: How to Find a Job and How to Find Somewhere to Live.

Make sure to leave us a comment and let us know if you decide to make the big move!!

The post Why Moving to Australia is a Great Idea appeared first on Green Eyed Traveller.

Here Is Some Advice on How to Plan for the East Coast of Australia.

Before organising our trip, I read a number of blogs and talked to a lot of people about how long you need on the coast, how much it costs etc. in order to prepare for my own adventure. 4-5 weeks is the recommended amount of time to fit in the best places to stop and all the activities.

As I had already lived in Sydney for so long, and also lived in Queensland whilst doing my farm work, I had seen a bit of the coast already. I decided I would travel from Byron Bay up to Fraser Island (plus the Whitsunday islands at the beginning – sounds bizarre but made sense at the time) and then make my way over to Bali. I had two and a half weeks to see everything in between Byron and Fraser and it was the perfect amount of time (for me). You’d need another 2 weeks [minimum] to get from Fraser Island to Cairns. Read on to find out how much the trip cost us overall.

Top Tip

TIP! When you’re travelling the East Coast of Australia, if you can hire a car, hire one! I cannot express enough how handy the car was to have. We travelled to our destinations in our own time, stopped off at places the buses don’t stop. We saved hours of travel time and were able to buy food to take with us on the trip.

I talked to a lot of people using the Greyhound or Premier buses who were spending a fortune on food and constantly eating out which subsequently meant the majority of what they were eating was unhealthy. The hassle of buying and carrying food alongside their luggage was too much for them. We, however, were able to buy cooler bags that we put in the car and had salads/fruit every day, saving us a lot of money and keeping our bodies happy. We did treat ourselves on occasion – who can resist an acai bowl?

If you’re in a group of 3 or more people, hiring a car becomes cheaper than using the buses too. There is a Facebook page called Australia Backpackers with thousands of people posting daily, looking for travel buddies if you’re up for a different adventure and want to make some new friends!

Book with a Travel Agent

Booking your hostels and activities through a Travel Agent works out cheaper and it saves you a lot of time. The more hostels you stay in the cheaper they become so you end up with some sort of discount by booking the whole thing through the same company. If you are unable to hire a car, you can also book your Greyhound or Premier Bus tickets through travel agents.

The travel agents tend to pick the popular/clean hostels too, so you don’t have to worry about missing out or staying in some run down room. We went through a company called Backpackers World Travel. There was only one hostel that we stayed in which we didn’t feel comfortable in and it was Surf n Sun Beachside Backpackers in Surfers Paradise. If you can, I’d avoid it.

There weren’t enough beds and they had no record of who was in which room, how long they had been there and when they were leaving. We met people who had been there for months and weren’t paying rent as the owners didn’t keep track of anything. There are no lockers in the rooms to keep your valuables in either which was a big No-No for me. Make sure you’re happy with any plan the Travel Agents come up with for you and if not just make amendments.

I would recommend not booking all your extra activities beforehand as you can get really good deals in the hostels you stay in down the coast.

So, on to another question that keeps popping up:

How Much Does It Cost?

Guys, Australia is an expensive country. Unless you’re working there, and everything becomes relative to living costs etc., visiting the country on a holiday basis is going to cost you a few bob. Here is how much it costs me and the girls to do our trip:

My friends went from Byron Bay up to Cairns and this was everything they paid for in advance:

– 29 nights of Accommodation (Good quality Accommodation, most of the time Ensuite, 4-6 and 8 share dorms)

– Dolphin Kayaking Tour in Byron Bay

– The Discovery Group: Noosa Everglades Bar-B-Canoe

– Dingos: 3 day/2 night Fraser Island ‘Tag-along’ camping Safari from Rainbow Beach ALL INCLUSIVE

– Ride to Paradise: 2 Day 2 Night Resort Stay Whitsundays

– Skydive Airlie Beach 14.000ft

– Return ferry for Magnetic Island

– Great Barrier Reef Trip with Ocean Freedom + 1 Introdive

– 11x breakfast, 6x lunch and 5x dinner

Normally the recommended Retail Price of everything is $2.662 AUD pp but our Travel Agent brought it down to $2.297 AUD pp.

Hiring the car cost on average $30 per day plus $19 for insurance through the actual car hire company. Once again, the Travel Agents do however have their ways of getting discounts that we all love so much and knocked off another $143 from our total. The car cost $1278 and we divided it between the 3 of us, costing a total of $426 with insurance, which is actually cheaper than the Greyhound!

All accommodation, transport and activities came to a total of $2723. Spending money on average was around $1000 for the whole month, which covered all meals, alcohol, petrol, extra activities and any other expenses (clothes shopping ehem!! ;))

TOTAL COST FOR THE EAST COAST TRIP FOR 1 MONTH = $3700 AUD ( around £2124/ €2405)

The post How to Plan for the East Coast of Australia appeared first on Green Eyed Traveller.

Once your flight ticket is booked it makes it a lot harder to back out of this amazing decision (Make sure you leave yourself enough time to apply for an Australian Working Holiday visa as you cannot get into the country without it).

Getting Set Up

It was completely surreal at first but as soon as it kicked in that I was ACTUALLY going, I had a lot of things to sort out, or so I thought. In fact, there’s not that much you can actually organise until you are there.

I applied for my Australia Working Holiday visa through the Visa Bureau which saved me a lot of hassle when I arrived to Australia. The company set up your Tax File Number (TFN) which you need to work in the country, and they open up a bank account for you with Westpac Banking.

Westpac is the only bank that allows you to open an account from overseas which means you can get things set up before you arrive in the country and transfer any money you have into the account, ready for your arrival. The Visa Bureau also provide you with a phone number for Whatsapp so that you can contact them if you ever need a hand with something.

You can of course save yourself a few pennies and apply for everything on your own accord. Above I have attached a handful of useful links to help you get set up. To apply for your TFN number you must provide an Australian address. The Visa Bureau use their company address but if you’re applying for it on your own you may have to wait until you arrive. Another option is to use the address of the place you plan on staying for your first week (a hotel, hostel or friends house) and hope it arrives on time. Aside from your visa, TFN and bank account, most other things such as finding a job, somewhere to live etc. can all be done once you land.

Finding a Place to Stay for Your First Week (or Two)

Luckily for me, my friend from home was moving over to Australia with some of her uni friends so I was able to tag along. We booked into Wake Up Hostel for our first week which I would highly recommend, especially if you are a solo traveller. They have an event on every night, from pool night, quiz night, to wine and cheese night (be warned that this is a backpacker equivalent and is actually goon and cheddar). If you don’t know what goon is yet, you will as soon as you get here.

They also do walking tours during the week, one to see the famous Bondi beach and the other is a tour of the city. Everyone at Wake Up makes you feel so welcome, making extra effort with anyone who is by themselves. The place is so clean, and it probably the nicest hostel I’ve stayed in – it is worth the money.

If Wake Up is a little bit over your budget, there is YHA around the corner but it isn’t much cheaper. In fact, most DECENT hostels in the city are around the same price ($35-40 p/night). Don’t be fooled by a really cheap deal, there are a lot of nasty hostels in Sydney.

While you are staying at a hostel, you will meet so many people and make 100’s of friends. You will be so busy with all the activities they provide, and the excitement of being in a completely new place will kick in. Be aware, that although this is probably one of the most amazing weeks of your life, you also need a few hours to get down to business. Finding somewhere to live can be so stressful and the earlier you start looking, the less time you will end up staying in a hostel..

Check out my posts about Finding Somewhere to Live, and Finding a Job for some helpful tips!

I would love to hear your stories about how you got set up in Australia! Comment below if you wish to share 🙂

The post Australia Working Holiday – Getting Things Sorted appeared first on Green Eyed Traveller.