Your First Week in Australia on a Working Holiday Visa
Landing in Australia on your Working Holiday Visa Australia is one of those moments you never forget.
You step off the plane, walk through the airport, and suddenly realise:
You actually did it.
You moved to Australia.
For many people this is their first time living abroad, their first real gap year, or the beginning of a long working holiday adventure.
At the same time, the first week can feel chaotic.
You need to organise things like:
an Australian SIM card
an Australian bank account
your TFN Australia
accommodation
your first backpacker job in Australia
When I arrived in Australia, I had no idea where to start either. Over time I learned what actually matters in the first week and what can wait.
The truth is simple:
If you organise a few key things during your first 7 days, everything else becomes much easier.
This guide shows you exactly what to do in your first week in Australia on a working holiday visa — based on real backpacker experience.
The One Thing I Always Recommend
Before we go through the day-by-day plan, there is one piece of advice I always give to new working holiday makers in Australia.
Stay in a Hostel for Your First Two Weeks (or longer like me)
Many people arrive in Australia and immediately try to find a sharehouse.
This usually creates unnecessary stress.
When you first arrive you don’t yet know:
which neighbourhoods are good
where jobs are located
which areas are expensive
which sharehouses are scams
That’s why I always recommend staying in a backpacker hostel in Australia for the first 10–14 days.
Hostels are perfect because you can:
meet other backpackers
hear about backpacker jobs Australia
find travel partners
get advice from people already living there
Some of the best job opportunities I found in Australia came from random conversations in hostel kitchens.
Give yourself time to settle in first.
Then start looking for a sharehouse Australia.
Honestly, if it were for myself, I wouldn’t even look for a share house, as hostel life is part of your working holiday journey, and makes you stay flexible (no locked in contracts) at all times.
See the best hostels I stayed at myself here!
Arrival Day in Australia
Your arrival day should be simple.
Don’t try to organise everything immediately.
Focus on:
getting through immigration
reaching your hostel
resting
Long flights, jet lag, and a new environment can be exhausting.
Take it easy on day one.
Immigration in Australia
Most travellers pass immigration quickly.
Officers may ask simple questions such as:
Why are you visiting Australia?
How long will you stay?
Where will you stay first?
If you’re on a Working Holiday Visa (417 or 462) just answer honestly.
For example:
“I’m travelling Australia on a working holiday visa and planning to work and travel for a year.”
Immigration officers hear this answer hundreds of times every day.
Australian Customs Rules
Australia has extremely strict biosecurity laws.
If you brought food items, declare them.
Even small snacks or packaged food.
If you declare something, customs officers simply inspect it.
If you don’t declare food, fines can reach $400 or more.
The rule is simple:
If you’re unsure — declare it.
Getting From the Airport to the City
Most major Australian cities have easy airport transport.
Typical options include trains or airport buses. Keep in mind that the airport lines are more expensive than normal lines and cost around $20 AUD.Â
Sydney
Airport Link Train
Travel time: about 15 minutes
Melbourne
SkyBus to the CBD
Travel time: about 20 minutes
Brisbane
AirTrain
Travel time: about 20 minutes
Public transport is usually cheaper than taxis and very easy to use.
Your First Night in Australia
Your only real tasks for the first evening should be:
Check into your hostel
Store valuables safely
Buy some groceries
Walk around your neighbourhood
Get some sleep
Jet lag can hit hard, especially if you travelled from Europe.
Rest helps you start the next day with energy.
Day 1: Buy an Australian SIM Card
Your first real task should be getting a local phone number.
You will need it for:
job applications (especially able to receive SMS)
opening a bank account
accommodation inspections
networking with other backpackers
Best SIM Cards for Backpackers
Many travellers choose ALDI Mobile Australia because it’s cheap.
However, I personally recommend Telstra if possible.
Telstra has the best network coverage in Australia, especially outside major cities.
This becomes very important if you travel regionally or complete farm work Australia for your second year visa.
Typical prepaid plans cost between:
$30 and $50 per month (higher end plans)
Day 2: Open an Australian Bank Account
To receive wages in Australia, you need an Australian bank account.Â
Employers will ask for:
BSB number
Account number
These are used to transfer your salary.
If you are not completely stubborn, you already opened a Wise account back home, where you already have all the details to receive payment and to convert it the cheapest way to your “home” currency.
Best Banks for Backpackers
The four major Australian banks are:
Commonwealth Bank
ANZ
NAB
Westpac
Most backpackers choose Commonwealth Bank because it has the largest ATM network.
My recommendation is Westpac, though! You get better interest just leaving your money in the bank brings around 4%).
Don’t worry you can get both if you like.
Documents Needed
Opening a bank account is very easy.
Usually you only need:
passport
Australian phone number
Australian address (your hostel works)
After opening the account you receive:
account details
online banking access
temporary debit card
Your physical card normally arrives within a week.
Day 3: Apply for Your TFN Australia
Your Tax File Number (TFN) is essential for working in Australia.
Without a TFN you can still work but you will be taxed at 45%.
With a TFN the working holiday tax rate is always 15%.
How to Apply
Apply online through the Australian Taxation Office website.
The process takes around 10 minutes.
Information required:
passport details
visa details
Australian address
phone number
Your TFN usually arrives within 1–2 weeks.
Keep it safe because you will use it for:
jobs
tax returns
superannuation accounts
Here’s the application link for your TFN:
https://www.ato.gov.au/single-page-applications/iar#beforeStart
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Day 4–5: Start Looking for a Sharehouse
Accommodation is usually the biggest weekly expense during a working holiday in Australia. It doesn’t matter if it’s a hostel or a sharehouse.
That’s why most backpackers eventually move from hostels into sharehouses. Potentially saving some money.
Average Sharehouse Rent
Typical weekly prices in major cities:
Shared room
$150–$220
Private room
$220–$350
Prices vary significantly depending on location.
Sydney is usually the most expensive city.
Best Websites for Sharehouses
Popular websites include:
Flatmates.com.au
Gumtree Australia
Facebook groups
SpareRoom Australia
Always inspect the property before paying anything.
Avoid Rental Scams
Unfortunately scams exist.
Watch out for:
- landlords refusing inspections
- requests for money before viewing
- extremely cheap rent
- pressure to transfer money quickly
Always sign a written agreement.
Day 6–7: Start Your Job Search
Once you have:
SIM card
bank account
TFN application
accommodation search
You can start looking for backpacker jobs in Australia.
Popular Backpacker Jobs
Many working holiday makers start with jobs like:
hospitality jobs
cleaning jobs
construction labour jobs
retail jobs
event work
farm work Australia
Later many travellers move into better paying roles or travel around the country.
Best Job Websites
Common job platforms include:
Seek Australia
Indeed Australia
Gumtree jobs
Facebook job groups
However, the best strategy is still walking into businesses with your resume.
Many small cafés and restaurants don’t advertise jobs online.
If you hand out 20 resumes in person, someone will likely need staff.
Just see my ultimate guide on how to find backpacker jobs fast!
Preparing Your Australian Resume
In Australia the term “resume” is used instead of CV.
Backpacker resumes should be short and simple.
Typical sections:
contact information
short personal summary
work experience
education
skills
references
Keep it one page long.
Employers mainly want to know:
Can you start immediately?
Are you reliable?
Are you available long enough?
Your First Week Budget & Priority List
If you only remember five things from this guide, remember this order.
Week One Essentials
1 Buy an Australian SIM card
2 Open a bank account (if not already with Wise)
3 Apply for TFN Australia
4 Start accommodation search
5 Prepare resume and job hunt
Everything else can wait.
First Week Budget
Many travellers underestimate their first week costs.
Typical expenses:
Hostel (7 nights)
$200–$280
Food
$80–$120
Transport
$40–$60
SIM card
$30–$50
Total first week budget:
Around $400–$500 AUD.
Cooking meals instead of eating out helps save money.
Common Mistakes New Backpackers Make
After seeing thousands of backpackers arrive in Australia, the same mistakes happen again and again.
Trying to Do Everything Immediately
You don’t need to organise everything on day one.
Spread tasks across the week.
Renting a Room Too Fast
Give yourself time to understand the city before signing a lease.
Not Networking
The backpacker community in Australia is incredibly helpful.
Jobs, travel plans, and accommodation often come from conversations with other travellers. That’s why I really recommend you stay in a hostel long-term.
Ignoring Regional Work
Some of the best opportunities exist outside big cities.
Regional jobs like farm work Australia or construction work can help you qualify for a second year working holiday visa Australia.
What Happens After Week One
By the end of your first week you should have:
Australian phone number
bank account (WISE)
TFN application
accommodation search started (or extend in the hostel on time!
resume prepared (or various variation of it)
job search started (See my blog post about it; nothing is better)
Most backpackers find their first job within two to three weeks.
Backpackers who follow my advice and do their “homework” will find a job much quicker.
It all depends on how fast you want to get settled in Australia.
Final Advice for Your Working Holiday
Starting a working holiday in Australia is one of the best decisions many travellers ever make.
You will work, travel, meet people from around the world, and experience places most tourists never see.
But in the beginning everything feels uncertain.
New systems.
New city.
New life.
That feeling is normal.
Focus on the basics during your first week.
Everything else will follow.
And before you realise it, you’ll be giving the same advice to new backpackers arriving after you.
Welcome to Australia.
Your working holiday adventure has officially begun. 🇦🇺
Overview of your working holiday journey
- Part 1 is all about visa requirements and eligibility for your working holiday in Australia (read before coming to Australia)
- >>Part 1.1 I lead you step-by-step with screenshots through the official working holiday visa application!
- Part 2 is all about relevant working terms to get started in your first days in Australia. I show you Australia’s minimum wage, what TFN, ABN, RSA, SUPER, etc. are, and where to apply to work legally in Australia.
- Part 3 is all about pay rates and work. I show you my payslips, what I earned, and you can too! I show you all special occasions where you can earn more money!
- Part 4 is all about finding typical backpacker jobs and pay rates. I show you all relevant ways, platforms, and websites where you can find backpacker jobs
- Part 5 is all about extending your working holiday visa in Australia and the required 88 days of specified work. (Farm work)
What’s next in your journey?
For working holiday starters:
- Apply for the working holiday maker visa subclass 417 (usual approval time 5 min – 14 days) or 462 (usual approval time at least 14 days due to further requirements)
- Provide further details if necessary to get the application going (health examination, etc.) in your immigration account (ImmiAccount)
- Get credit cards, especially a WISE account (Australian bank account), and check passport validity! (min. 2 weeks – 1 month before you plan to fly)
- Book your flights (AFTER receiving an approval letter from immigration)
- Packing list 2026 (coming soon)
- Get travel insurance before you fly (SavetyWing or Heymondo)
- Get an Onward ticket ALWAYS! (24-48h before your flight, evidence of leaving the country you enter). For working holiday Australia visa holders, it’s NOT necessary.
- Book your accommodation via hostelworld to get to know people quickly. I recommend the first two weeks at the same spot
- Job hunting and other bureaucratic stuff (once in Australia)
- Open up your US LLC to get your freelancer business started!
- Sign up for my Newsletter to get a smarter traveler and stay up-to-date.
