This is the article you didn’t think you needed. There’s a few things you can do to have the best year on a Working Holiday Visa in Australia, and after spending three in the country, I’m spreading some joy.
Travelling to Australia for a year abroad on a Working Holiday Visa can be a life-changing experience. It’s an opportunity to escape the day-to-day life in your home country and experience something new—maybe even everyday! Aside from this, there’s so many ways to have the best experience on a Working Holiday Visa in Australia.
This isn’t my first time living abroad in a foreign country, but living in Australia I’ve had some unique experiences I wasn’t expecting. Such as taking eons to finish my regional work.
I know travelling is hard and not every day is going to be perfect. This is when this article comes in, saving you from drowning in the bad days. Hopefully with these tips, when you leave Australia you’ll feel ready for new challenges.
Either way, the best advice I can give is to relax and enjoy the adventure.
Table of Contents
Practise or Improve Your English
English is an international language, and if you’re not already fluent, then why not start to learn in Australia. It’s a big reason a lot of people go to Australia, either to have the best year on a Working Holiday Visa, or even a student visa.
Most Australians are pretty accommodating to those trying to practise or improve english, so it won’t be hard to get going. Even throw in some Australian slang there, and it’ll be flash. It’s also a great tool to learn more about Australia, the culture and to stay safe.
Just beware of meeting other people from your home country and sticking to that language. With so many tourists and WHV holders alike, often grouped in hostels in major cities, it’s surprisingly easy to meet people that speak the same language. That means taking advantage of a crippling effect to rarely speak English. And like any learnt skill, if you don’t practise you could lose it.
Expect to be Poor
Many people value security and success with money, which is very reasonable. However, travelling and starting a new life in a new country is incredibly expensive and makes saving money a lot harder. Just accept there’s going to be a lot of financial loss and it’s okay.
When and if you do secure a reliable job, Australia’s minimum wage is high enough that it’s easy to begin saving again. Just keep enough to survive and the rest should work out. People say living costs in Australia are also expensive, so try to balance out entertainment options with real-life responsibilities.
Make Friends Everywhere!
Travelling is the best way to make friends all over the world. When I go on vacation I hardly ever stay in hotels because of the friends I’ve made while travelling; which I stay with. Living in Australia is no different.
It’s easy to make friends with people that are from the same country and may speak the same language, but moving past this and becoming friends with Australians or other travellers is also really rewarding. It’s also a great way to learn about other cultures and countries.
Regional work is Hard
Completing 88 days regional work is a requirement for Working Holiday Visa holders to stay a second-year in Australia—legally. The requirement doesn’t mean it’s easy to get done, though. While regional work can be exploitive, there’s tons of jobs that aren’t.
Living and working in regional areas can be so rewarding for travellers in Australia, it’s a chance to really absorb Australian culture aside from the cities. It can be better to expect the worst and hope for the best for regional work, because it really can be hard and great at the same time.
Shake Up Your Routine
Living in a new country may be a big enough change for some people, but not everyone. For example, cities can feel similar even in different countries, they all have a CBD, or a downtown core, fast food restaurants, big shopping centers and international dining options.
If moving to another country wasn’t a big enough change, try a city with different amenities—say Sydney, over Melbourne for better beaches—a new job or even a new workout routine. Traveling abroad is the best time to shake up anyone’s daily routine, especially for those coming out of a stale lifestyle. Or even try moving into a van and traveling around the country!
Get Ready for Hard Times
No trip is easy the entire time. Moving to Australia, possibly alone, learning a new language and coupled with other life issues can be really hard. Be ready for not every day to feel the best. I felt confused and stressed while travelling throughout Australia. While I never wanted to go back to my home country, I did feel confused with my purpose in Australia.
Just remember no trip can always be positive or perfect, there will always be hard days and getting through them will make the trip even better. When things do feel hard, use it as an opportunity to call home, because that is the point of having a good support system, whether it’s friends or family.
How to Have the Best Year on a Working Holiday Visa in Australia
Travelling will always have highs and lows, to have the best year on a Working Holiday Visa in Australia it’s important to just relax and enjoy it all. It’s definitely easier said than done though.
I’ve had my fair share of bad experiences and it’s hard to overcome those, especially when it’s related to a single thing such as work.
It’s also important to stay busy, have fun and keep discovering the country. Don’t settle with just doing the same road trip as every other backpacker. Go and see what’s in the country for you to make the experience more exciting.
Planning to travel the country? Then I’ve got some ideas for you, start with How to Get Started on a Working Holiday Visa in Australia, or this guide on How to Buy a Vehicle to Travel Australia, or even the Complete Van Build Guide for Travellers.
