Traveling in Australia
How to get to Australia
Australia is a long way from just about everywhere, and getting there basically means flying. The flight takes 17 to 24 hours, and at least one stop has to be made depending on the airline either in Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Bali, Brunei or Kuala Lumpur. Australia has a number of international gateways. Sydney and Melbourne are the two busiest. If you are planning to explore Australia fairly seriously and looking for work opportunities in regional Australia to extend your travels then think about starting at an entry port like Darwin, Cairns, Adelaide or Perth.
Our partners will be happy to assist you with selecting the best available airfares to Australia.
How to travel in Australia
To estimate the distances in Australia is sometimes difficult for Europeans you have to get used to the fact that long stretches of land just lead through vast expanses.
The quickest way to cover large distances are domestic flights. Those can be pre-booked ahead if the dates and locations you wish to travel are known in advance. There are low cost carriers like Virgin Blue, Tiger Air and Jetstar offering frequently scheduled domestic flights services.
Bus passes are also popular where an amount of bus driving kilometres is pre-purchased and can be used over the period of a year whenever you like very flexible and easy to use. Sometimes you have to book seats a day ahead, but there are multiple options and regular services to use.
There are also many adventure and youth-orientated tour options. Not only does one have the advantage of being in company with like-minded people, but you are also able to discover many places off the main track not always noticeable when travelling on your own. There are many varieties in tours and standards of tours either camping style, for the low budget traveller, or with comfortable accommodation and regular breaks at restaurants, if you prefer to travel in comfort.
Transcontinental rain travel in Australia today, although slower and not necessarily cheaper is also worth considering. The Ghan, Australia's most famous Australian rail service, connects Adelaide in the South with Darwin in the North and other places of work opportunity in the Australian Outback along the way including Alice Springs and Katherine, whilst the Indian Pacific connects Perth with Sydney. JOB Australia travel partners can arrange travel at special rates in the Red Kangaroo day-nighter seat class of travel on the legendary Ghan that provides comfortable recliner lounge chairs
with generous leg room.
You can also travel by rental car or camper, or buy a vehicle. In Australia you drive on the left. Camper vans have some advantages; for example you do not need accommodation and in Australia you can generally camp everywhere, unless it is officially prohibited. There are restrictions for some National Parks and in some cities. Used vehicles are relatively inexpensive in Australia. One possibility is to make contact with rental car and camper companies they sell there cars after a specific period of usage. These vehicles usually have high mileage, but they have been undergoing regular check ups and in general are in overall good condition.
Our travel partners will be happy to help you with planning your working holiday in Australia.
Costs of Living
Generally speaking the costs of living are lower than in Europe, but the differences between rural and metropolitan areas are often considerable. While you might have to pay up to 400 AU$ per week in Sydney for a one-bedroom apartment, you can rent a whole house in Cairns for 300 AU$ per week. Rooms in flat share can be rented for 60 AU$ in some areas,
while in others you have to pay up to 200 AU$.
For the beginning hostels or camping sites are definitely the best alternative. Accommodation is basic, but inexpensive and you have the flexibility of being able to simply check out when you have found something more suitable or wish to continue travelling.
In general food, fuel, clothing, etc. is approximately 25% cheaper than in Europe, although fuel is more expensive in regional and remote parts of Australia. In some remote areas, accommodation is often provided or subsidised as part of the job opportunity, especially on outback stations where there is no alternative commercial places to live it is recommended to ask employers in rural areas what possibilities there are to find accommodation asking does not cost anything and the chances to receive help or even an offer are quite good.
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Food: Bread (one loaf) from 1.60 AU$ Milk (one litre) from 2.40 AU$ Beer (half litre) from 4.50 AU$ |
General Expenses*: Rent: AU$ 85 105/Week (in towns) Public Transport: AU$ 20/Week (in towns) Electricity, Gas, etc: AU$ 20/Week Laundry services: AU$ 10/Week Food, drink: AU$ 50-60/Week Other: AU$ 55/Week |
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Accommodation per night: Tent in Camping Site from 5 AU$ Dorm in Hostel from 12 AU$ |
Fuel: Diesel, Petrol from 1.10 AU$ per litre |