Who ever thought the words work & holiday in the same sentence would be the gateway to a dream life?
Well lemme tell ya, it’s the damn dream.
One of the biggest obstacles wanderlusters have is the balance of travel and income. Well, Australia & New Zealand have come up with a brilliant way to make that obstacle a lot more manageable. Alas, The Working Holiday Visa.
This is what the lovely two German guys told me in Thailand and once I discovered it, I couldn’t ignore it! Essentially you apply for a visa & once granted can travel around Australia for 1 year and are able to work in any industry and for any company to sustain your travels.
What’s the catch? Well none, except you can’t work for a single employer for longer than 6 months. You’re also able to extend your visa for another year by working 3 months of rural work* and that varies depending on what country you’re coming from. You can even do 6 months of the same work and extend for a third year! I should also point out that Australia is the only one that allows for you to extend. New Zealand is a one time wonder, so take advantage of it while you can!
What kind of jobs did I work?
Well, I did WWOOFING for a beautiful resort in the Whitsundays called Paradise Cove, but that was only for food & accommodation. I then worked as a hostel manager, a coffee shop allrounder, and a waitress at a popular seafood restaurant in Cairns. My experience in Cairns deserves a post in it’s own, but to give you an idea…it’s the gateway port to dive the Great Barrier Reef and 2 hours from the Daintree Rainforest!
What are the qualifications to be granted a WHV?
Well, not dealing with a global pandemic is one…
Also, theres an age limit of 18-31.
You must have a high school degree or equivalent, not be an ex-con, and be able to show proof of $5,000 AUD ($3,600USD) upon arrival. They don’t normally check bank accounts, but if you’re one of the unlucky few ya might want to have it ready! There’s also a $500AUD application processing fee that’s non-returnable, so make sure you’re absolutely sure all of your details are correct before submitting!
That’s pretty much the gist of it, and I’ll have plenty more stories to share about how this is has played such a huge role in my life. What’s crazy is that most people in America have never heard of this?! I’m here to change that, so if you know anyone who has a desire to travel and want’s more detailed info of the process send ’em my way and share this post!
Against The Grain Travel 