Surviving in the land Down Under on a student budget

I spent over a year travelling solo across the South Pacific and eight of those months on the road Down Under. While abroad, I navigated budgeting, hostels, jobs and general travel tribulations. I came to Halifax to be back on the north shore, although I’ll admit I prefer beaches with palm trees on them. Here’s what I wish I knew before going walkabout. 

Hot girl summer on a budget 

Whether you’re taking a quick summer trip or going on a longer adventure, the first thing to think about is your budget. I learned some travel costs are locked in before you even leave, while others depend on your day-to-day choices. 

Fixed costs, like flights, pre-booked activities and travel insurance, don’t have to be expensive. The cheapest flights are those you book early, especially if you plan on travelling during peak season, which runs from December to February. I also recommend booking a couple of activities for yourself before your arrival. I signed up for a cooking class, a pub crawl, a surfing lesson, skydiving and scuba diving. 

For day-to-day costs, plan week by week, and remember to compromise. Consider what’s most important to you: accommodation, food, activities or experiences. In Airlie Beach, I opted for a two-out-of-10-star hostel so I could afford a sailing tour. Did I come back from my trip to find cockroaches in my bag? Yes. Was it worth it to see a baby dolphin? Hell, yes. 

Hostels can cost between $40 AUS and $80 AUS a night, which converts to roughly the same in Canadian dollars. Large dorms are cheapest, while private rooms or central locations cost more. 

Eating out adds up fast in Australia, so I mostly cooked in hostel kitchens, even if it meant dealing with questionable cleanliness and the occasional stolen grocery item from the communal fridge.

The cheapest dorms have larger capacity, and depending on the hostel, female-only dorms can cost the same or more than a co-ed dorm. I recommend only booking your first week or two of accommodation to leave some room for spontaneity. Odds are you’ll want to discover a new spot or make friends to travel with.

Work hard, play hard 

Finding yourself strapped for cash? There are plenty of work opportunities in Australia if you know where to look. You’ll need a working holiday visa (subclass 417 for Canadians under 35), which lasts a year, and must be applied for online outside of the country. Australia has one of the highest minimum wages in the world, at around $24 CAD. Some positions for travellers include au pair, hostel staff, farm work roles or internships. 

AuPairWorld is the best way to get connected as an au pair, where you’ll live with a family while caring for their children. The best part is that you don’t have to pay for living expenses like food and rent. This is a good option if you love a spot and want to stay long-term.

I worked as an au pair for three months in a city called Wagga Wagga, caring for a six-month-old, two-year-old and four-year-old. There’s nothing funnier than a toddler who sounds like Hugh Jackman. 

Working in a hostel is similar to an au pair role, where you work for accommodation, mostly in housekeeping or administrative roles. These positions often aren’t advertised online. Building a good rapport with the hostels you stay in can open up opportunities. 

Farm work — like fruit picking, tree planting and animal cultivation — is a popular option because it can make you eligible to add a second year to your visa. Make no mistake: these jobs are gruelling and physically demanding, but everyone I know who’s done it said they had a blast. 

The best job I did during my travels was my PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) divemaster internship. I did mine in Indonesia, but PADI operates internationally. Some dive shops offer divemaster internships on a training-for-work exchange basis, where you help with daily operations while earning your certifications. If you’re passionate about the ocean but can’t afford the cost of scuba diving, these programs offer a way in without paying out of pocket. 

Transpo tips 

The best way to travel long stretches across Australia is on the Greyhound bus. A Whimit Pass, starting at $315 CAD, offers unlimited trips for seven, 15, 21 or 30 days. Once in your desired location, transportation varies, but most cities have Uber.

If you choose to fly, the cheapest airlines are Rex Airlines or Jetstar Airways. One downside is they’re strict about the size and weight of your carry-on, which can lead to extra fees. 

Aussie culture 

The culture in Australia is a lot like Canada’s, but a couple of words might throw you off when you first hear them. There, thongs refer to flip-flops, not underwear. A cheap boxed wine in a four-litre bag is called goon. Importantly, c**t is a term of endearment, but be sure not to enunciate the T, or else it becomes the unpleasant insult we know it as in North America. 

The best thing Australia has to offer is its natural beauty, whether that’s in the ocean, rainforest, mountains or outback. Some plants and animals looked straight out of the Avatar movies. I saw a massive 70-year-old sea turtle named Brian on a night dive in the Great Barrier Reef, who will be with me forever, both in my memories and the tattoo on my ribs. 

There’s an expression in nature: take only pictures, leave only footprints. Travelling should be no different, measured not by the impact you have on a place, but by the impact it has on you.