Australia is one of the most expensive countries in the world to live in, but it’s also one of the most expensive countries to travel to. While you might have spent months saving for your dream vacation to this stunning sovereign country, you might be surprised by how quickly experiences, accommodation, and food can eat through your funds.
Picture: Gabriella Clare Marino
Fortunately, long-term travelers often have the option of turning their relaxation vacation into a working one. You might be able to supplement your savings account by working some of the following jobs:
Hospitality Industry
After doing an RSA course so that you can be qualified in the responsible service of alcohol, you might find it easy enough to obtain a job in the hospitality industry. Bars, restaurants, and cafes throughout Australia are always looking for employees to fill casual and part-time roles. These jobs might be perfect if there are plenty of tourist attractions and activities you still want to check out before you leave.
Use Australian Job Search Sites
Every country has its own preferred job search sites, and you likely won’t be familiar with what’s popular in Australia before traveling there. However, these sites can be important for securing casual or part-time work while you travel, so ask locals to learn what they are.
Some of the most popular include Gumtree, Seek, Career One, and Indeed. Make profiles, create your resume and cover letter, and ensure you have a working Australian phone number for prospective employers to call you. Otherwise, provide your email address and check it often to see if any job offers come through.
Crop Picking
Australia is known for its wide selection of crops, like wheat, fruit, vegetables, and sugarcane. Often, producers need workers for short periods when harvesting season begins, especially around the Queensland Coast, Northern Territory’s top end, and around Margaret River in Western Australia.
If you don’t mind working outdoors and getting your hands dirty, crop harvesting or fruit picking might be an ideal way to make extra money to ensure you can see as much of Australia as you want to without finances being an obstacle.
House and Pet Sitting
Accommodation can be expensive, especially when paying per-night rates. Many travelers find that it’s one of their biggest costs when traveling anywhere in the world. However, you might be able to save money and still explore tourist attractions in Australia by signing up for house and pet-sitting services.
Various online platforms allow home and pet owners to advertise for people to look after their properties and pets when they go on vacation. While you look after someone’s prized possessions, you can also be enjoying free accommodation and proximity to many memorable tourist attractions.
Freelancing
If you have digital skills, you can work from anywhere in the world. Graphic design, content writing, website design, and coding are just a few of the many things you can do while vacationing across Australia.
You might be able to perform these tasks while traveling around in a caravan, sitting in a hotel room, or even sunbathing on a glorious Australian beach. Just be sure to check your tax obligations if you’re required to declare foreign income while working in another country.
Caravan Park Work
Caravan parks can be busy in Australia during the peak vacationing period of summer and spring. They often put the word out for casual staff to assist with groundskeeping, hospitality, and visitor management. If you plan to travel across Australia at a leisurely pace, consider putting your hand up for such a job. At a minimum, you’ll likely enjoy free accommodation to keep more of your money free for fun activities.
Station Work
Stations in Australia can be busy places, and many can be hiring during the busy months to assist with all manner of tasks. Even if you’re not skilled in farm work or prefer not to take on a labor-intensive job, you might find something suitable on a station on a casual, part-time, or full-time basis.
Typically, stations are looking for people to work as nannies, cleaners, cooks, and caretakers. However, if you do have station skills, you might find work in mechanics, machine operating, maintenance, and other station duties.
Tips for Saving Money While You Travel
Travel can be expensive. Even if you’ve secured work as you travel, you might like to take note of the following money-saving tips to help your money go further:
- Stick to a shopping list
- Cancel unnecessary subscriptions
- Use complimentary Wi-Fi where you can
- Meal plan to make ingredients go further
- Take advantage of online tourist and activity deals
- Stay in hostels
- Visit free attractions
- Make food rather than eating at restaurants
- Use public transport
- Swap labor for lodging
Money shouldn’t be a barrier to enjoying a memorable vacation. Earn money while you travel throughout Australia by exploring some of these casual employment options above.
