Oceania
Australia
Harbour cities, the outback and the Great Barrier Reef on one working holiday.
Australia is the classic working holiday. Many backpackers pick up work in Sydney or Melbourne, then travel the east coast from Byron Bay to Cairns.
Distances are huge, so choose between the coast and the outback, or fly to Uluru and the Red Centre for a few days.
Good to know
- Time zone
- GMT+10 on the east coast, GMT+11 in summer in Sydney and Melbourne
- Plugs
- Type I, 230V
- Emergency numbers
- 000 police, fire and ambulance
- Tap water
- Safe to drink
- Traffic drives on the
- Left
- Tipping
- Not expected, as wages are high, but rounding up for good service is appreciated.
- SIM cards
- Telstra, Optus and Vodafone prepaid SIMs cost around A$30–40 for a month with 40GB or more.
When to go to Australia
Best months to go: March to May and September to November. Pick a month to see what it’s like.
Bars show rainfall; numbers are the average daytime high. Amber marks the best months to go.
SeptemberBest time to go
Spring arrives. A good month for Uluru before the heat.
- Daytime high
- 21°C
- Rainfall
- 60 mm
- Crowds
- Quiet
| Month | Daytime high | Rainfall | Crowds | Best time to go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26°C | 90 mm | Peak season | No |
| February | 26°C | 115 mm | Busy | No |
| March | 25°C | 130 mm | Busy | Yes |
| April | 23°C | 125 mm | Busy | Yes |
| May | 20°C | 100 mm | Quiet | Yes |
| June | 18°C | 130 mm | Quiet | No |
| July | 17°C | 80 mm | Busy | No |
| August | 19°C | 80 mm | Busy | No |
| September | 21°C | 60 mm | Quiet | Yes |
| October | 23°C | 75 mm | Quiet | Yes |
| November | 24°C | 85 mm | Busy | Yes |
| December | 25°C | 80 mm | Peak season | No |
What Australia costs
Work out a budget for your trip, then check what everyday things cost.
$1,078for 14 days, about $77 a day (A$1,640 in total)
| Cost | Per day | For the trip | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed | $30 | $420 | |
| Food and drink | $20 | $280 | |
| Getting around | $10 | $140 | |
| Things to do | $12 | $168 | |
| Everything else | $5 | $70 |
Per person, in US dollars. Flights and insurance not included.
What things cost
- Hostel dorm bedA$40, about $26
- Flat whiteA$5.50, about $3.62
- Meat pie from a bakeryA$7, about $4.61
- Schooner of beerA$10, about $6.58
- Sausage sizzle at BunningsA$4, about $2.63
- Greyhound bus, Sydney to Byron BayA$110, about $72
- Whitsundays day sailA$180, about $118
Routes through Australia
Where to go and how long to stay, for the time you’ve got.
14 nights, 5 stops
Sydney and the best of the east coast, with a flight to Cairns to finish on the reef.
Sydney
4 nights
The Bondi to Coogee walk and a ferry to Manly.
Byron Bay
3 nights
Surf lessons and sunrise at the lighthouse.
Noosa
2 nights
Koalas in the national park and easy longboard waves.
Rainbow Beach
2 nights
A 4x4 trip to K’gari, the world’s largest sand island.
Cairns
3 nights
Snorkel or dive the Great Barrier Reef.
Getting around
Bus
$60–100 per long leg
Greyhound runs the whole east coast. A Whimit pass gives unlimited travel for a set number of days.
Private car
$40–100 a day for a campervan, plus fuel
Great for the Great Ocean Road and the outback. Many backpackers buy a van and sell it at the end.
Flight
$60–180 one way
Jetstar, Virgin and Qantas cover the huge distances, and Uluru is really only practical by air.
Train
$40–120 per leg
Slower than the bus but comfortable. NSW TrainLink and Queensland Rail run the coast.
Boat
$120–250 for a day trip
Most reef and Whitsundays trips are by boat. Overnight sails from Airlie Beach are a highlight.
What to eat and drink
Meat pie
A hand-sized pie of minced beef and gravy, with tomato sauce on top.
A$7, about $4.61
Sausage sizzle
A sausage in white bread with onions, sold for charity outside hardware stores.
A$4, about $2.63
Chicken parmi
Breaded chicken with ham, tomato and cheese. The classic pub meal.
A$26, about $17
Barramundi and chips
The local white fish, grilled or battered. Best up north.
A$28, about $18
Lamington
Sponge cake dipped in chocolate and rolled in coconut.
A$5, about $3.29
Flat white
The coffee is serious here, especially in Melbourne.
A$5.50, about $3.62
Say it like a local
A few words go a long way. Tap “Hear it” to listen, where your browser can.
Hello, how are you?
G’day, how ya going?
Say it like: gid-day, how-ya-go-in
It’s fine, you’re welcome
No worries
Say it like: the answer to almost everything
Afternoon
Arvo
Say it like: ar-voh
Off-licence
Bottle-o
Say it like: bot-ul-oh, where you buy alcohol
Petrol station
Servo
Say it like: ser-voh
Flip-flops
Thongs
Say it like: not what you think
Sunglasses
Sunnies
Say it like: sun-eez
Barbecue
Barbie
Say it like: bar-bee
Questions travellers ask
Can I work in Australia?
Yes, if you get a working holiday visa, usually for ages 18 to 30 (35 for some countries). Do 88 days of specified work, such as farm work, to qualify for a second year.
What do I need before I start work?
Apply for a tax file number online as soon as you arrive, open an Australian bank account and, for bar work, get your RSA certificate.
Which way should I travel the east coast?
Either works. Travelling north in the southern winter means you reach the tropics when they are dry and stinger-free.
Are the animals really that dangerous?
Mostly no. Swim between the red and yellow flags, wear a stinger suit in the tropics from November to May, and never swim where there are crocodile signs.
How strong is the sun?
Very. The UV is among the highest in the world, so wear sunscreen, a hat and sunnies even on cloudy days.