To say that life in the great Land Down Under is a bit taxing on the budget would be a grand understatement. However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t amazing work and travel or scholarship opportunities out there that can grant you a lengthy stay in Australia and allow you the opportunity to revel in all its urban and natural glory on the cheap.
Being one of the most enthralling countries in the world, Australia is a place you need to visit at least once in a lifetime. And not just as a tourist on a ten-day escapade, but as a true local living the life and experiencing the culture for all it’s worth. Here are five great ways to experience the best Australia has to offer, even when you’re short on cash.
Stay and work on a local farm
Farmers in Australia are always looking for young blood to help them with all of the taxing daily chores that help maintain a productive homestead. Based in rural areas across the country, there are numerous opportunities for physically able individuals from abroad to join a local family and spend the summer helping out around the property.
In exchange for your hard work, you can expect to receive a salary, food and accommodation, and a free day during the week, usually over the weekend. You can use your free day to travel to nearby urban hotspots such as Sydney, Darwin, Melbourne, and other major cities, or you can even visit the numerous national parks dotting the expansive countryside.
Combine work and pleasure
Truth be told, no matter the job you land in the Land Down Under, you’re more likely than not to have the time of your life, and obtain a lifelong experience that will reshape you as a person. One of the more rewarding options is philanthropy, or simply, volunteering. The expansive continent is filled to the brim with volunteering opportunities for backpackers and worldwide travelers if you’re up for lending a helping hand in taking care of local wildlife or aiding in the preservation of the local flora.
This is a unique chance to discover and familiarize yourself with a particular region of the country, but it does open some cross-country travel opportunities as well. National Parks and conservation areas are usually close to major cities and beachside hot-spots, so you’re bound to have the chance to visit Perth, Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, and Canberra during your stay. For instance, you can volunteer on Kangaroo Island and aid in the preservation of the indigenous species there, while having Adelaide close by for a weekend urban escapade.
Join a student exchange program
Speaking of urban escapades, there are numerous ways to spend your entire trip in a vibrant city setting and soak in the urban culture and the unique vibes that permeate every neighborhood. And the best way to do that is to join a student exchange program. From typical tourist sightseeing in the days following your arrival to becoming a true local in the months to follow, staying in one of Australia’s cities is truly an experience of a lifetime.
Fortunately, Australia is the land of the young and the aspirational, and students are highly represented here, so you should have no problem settling in on the cheap. For instance, you can easily find affordable student accommodation in Melbourne – home to the world-renowned Melbourne University. What’s more, Melbourne is also one of the most livable cities on the planet, so if you’re looking to study and live in Australia, this is definitely the place to be.
Take on a holiday job
A holiday job can mean a lot of things, but oftentimes it is synonymous with jobs in the hospitality industry. When the tourist season is in full swing during the summer, you can easily find a job bartending in a cafe or a restaurant in a major city, or even a quaint little town somewhere in the outback where people stop by frequently on their way to national parks and reserves.
It might require some experience or prior training, but you can also find a holiday job at a renowned boutique winery that offers accommodation and wine tours to its guests. One such region is Adelaide Hills, and their world-renowned wineries dotting the surrounding landscape, where you can find a job as a tour guide, a receptionist, a valet, or anything else that fits your personal preference.
Build a simple travel blog
Last but not least, you have the option to become a digital nomad and travel across Australia while building your career at the same time. Note that even though this is a country of digital nomads and that the nomadic culture is present here, you will need to bring quality, consistency, and a unique approach to writing to the table if you are to stand out from all other bloggers looking to achieve the same. Nevertheless, if you kick-start a travel blog, market it well, and stay consistent in your writing, you might just make enough money to finance your Australian road trip.
Visiting Australia and staying longer than a week might not be cheap, but it is necessary because such a rich and diverse setting cannot be experienced in such as small timeframe. Fortunately, with these cool ideas, you can finally start planning your great Australian adventure without fear of busting the proverbial bank.
