Ever wondered what a working holiday in Australia looks like? Wondering how to plan your trip? How to pack for the weather? Meet other travellers? Join a gym? You’re not alone…
We took to social media to ask you what you’d like to know about a trip to the land Down Under. So here they are – some quick answers to your frequently asked questions to help guide you in planning your Aussie adventure.
Got a question of your own? Drop us a message via @wakeuphostels, contact us or pop your question in the comments below…
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Where should I start my Australia backpacking trip?
Sydney is a great place to start and base yourself. A lot of backpackers start here, so it is the perfect traveller’s hub for meeting fellow travellers, sharing your itineraries, and making lifelong friends from the start! If you are looking for work, Sydney is an ideal launchpad when it comes to job opportunities – from hospitality and travel, to farm work and more.
When arriving into Sydney’s International Airport, hop on the airport train straight to Central Station. Wake Up! Sydney is located directly opposite – easy!
Q: How to get to Wake Up! Sydney from the airport?
It’s super easy! Take the Train from the International Airport (follow the signs), and stay on until you reach Central Station (12 minutes on the train). From there, Wake Up! Sydney is located across the road. You can pay for your ticket by tapping your credit/debit card at the station. Just remember to ‘tap-off’ when you get to Central Station using the same card.
If you prefer, you can also pre-load an Opal card (available from train stations and convenience stores) to travel around Sydney by bus, light rail, train and ferry.
Q: Is it safe to arrive to Sydney airport at night and travel by public transport?
Yes it is. The train is located inside the International and Domestic Airport terminals (so you don’t have to go outside). We also have a 24 hour reception team, so there will be a friendly face waiting for you when you arrive.
Q: What’s Sydney like in summer?
Summer is beautiful here! The days and nights are nice and warm. Whilst you’ll find northern parts of Australia (like Cairns) have a tropical, hot and ‘wet’ season, the summer months in the southern areas (like Sydney and Melbourne) are drier, and warm. In Sydney and Melbourne, you’ll still experience a mix of both sunny and rainy days. A lot of travellers arrive for the Aussie summer, so you will find it easy to make friends!
Take a look at our guide for 50 things to do in Sydney in summer. And if you happen to be in Sydney when it’s wet and rainy, then check out our recommendations of things to do in Sydney when it’s raining.
Q: What’s the best way to travel around Sydney?
Public transport, Uber, walking… it’s easy to get around Sydney! We’ve put together a list of transport tips for how to get around Sydney as a backpacker.
Q: Should I bring a winter jacket or is it warm all year?
Australia is a big country, so the weather is changeable depending where you are. The winter months can be cooler, especially at night, so bring a winter jacket or coat. If you’re following the sun, and you don’t want to travel with a winter jacket at first, you will be able to shop for one here. In the cities you’ll find big international brands such as Zara, H&M, Uniqlo and all the sports brands as well as a whole host of department stores, boutique shops and Aussie designers.
Q: Is it easy to find Vegetarian / Vegan / Gluten-Free restaurants?
Yes! Australia is fully set up to cater for all types of dietary requirements. In the bigger cities, you won’t have any problems finding amazing Veggie and Vegan restaurants with GF food options on offer. The main supermarkets (Coles and “Woolies” – Woolworths) are set up to cater for all dietary requirements so you’ll find all the comforts of home or similar versions of. If you’re from the UK and Ireland, you might even find some of your favourites (hello Bisto gravy, curry sauce and Marmite!) in the International food aisles. It can be slightly more tricky to find V/VE/GF food options in some of the most regional areas, so keep that in mind if you plan to head off the beaten track into the outback.
Take a look at our favourite Vegan and Vegetarian restaurants in Byron Bay.
Q: Can I pay for food or bus tickets with a debit card from my home country?
If your card is Visa, Mastercard or American Express, and it shows the contactless payment symbol, then you can use it to pay for public transport and in shop purchases, no problem! Always check with your card provider beforehand to notify them of your travel plans, and to check if they charge any overseas transaction fees.
If you’re staying a little longer and planning to work in Australia, we recommend getting an Aussie bank account when you arrive. Our friendly team can help point you in the right direction when you arrive.
Q: What’s the best way to meet Australians and other travellers as a foreigner staying in hostels?
- Go to local or student bars (Side Bar is one of Sydney’s most popular student & backpacker bars in Sydney and is located underneath Wake Up! Sydney Central) It’s a great place to meet Aussies.
- Sometimes simply stepping outside of your comfort zone and introducing yourself is all it takes. Start a conversation, ask for directions and just get chatting – you never know what friendships can blossom from a simple introduction.
- Join some free, locally organised social activities. You can find lots of them on social media (especially Facebook groups).
- Join a sports team or try out a class at one of the local fitness or community centres, depending on what you’re interested in.
- Join our complimentary hostel activities including pizza night, cheese and wine night, Sydney beaches walking tour and a tour of the city – it’s such an awesome way to meet other travellers and locals alike!
Q: What’s the deal with joining a gym as a traveller? Or any tips on staying fit as you travel?
- At Wake Up! Sydney, we provide half price gym passes (no contract) to Anytime Fitness ($10 instead of $20). For your other hostels in Australia, ask if they provide any discounted gym passes – for example, Bounce Noosa provides discounts on memberships to their local gym.
- There are also lots of outdoor gyms and parks all over Sydney to workout at. For example, head to Prince Alfred Park and North Bondi’s outdoor gyms, take a run around Centennial Park or go for a swim at one of the free harbour and coastal beaches pools.
- Join Class Pass, which will give you access to heaps of gyms without having to sign up for contracts.
- There are a lot of swimming pools, where you can sign up for one-off sessions for lap swimming, or take advantage of the many free ocean pools all along the East Coast. Prince Alfred Park (a 9 minute walk from Wake Up! Sydney) has a 50m outdoor pool, with dedicated lanes for swimmers of all speeds. $6.90 per entry ($5.20 for concessions). The Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre has a 50m indoor heated lap pool (just 13 minute walk from Wake Up! Sydney), as well as group fitness, cycle and acqua classes for $8 per entry (no lock in contract). And the Andrew Boy Charlton Pool allows you to swim with killer views of Sydney Harbour, by the Royal Botanic Gardens. This 50m outdoor saltwater pool will cost you $6.90 per entry. Further up the coast you’ll find free man-made swimming lagoons in Brisbane City Centre, Cairns and Airlie Beach, to name a few!
Q: When’s the best time to visit Cairns?
Generally, the best time to visit Cairns is during the winter months (June-August). However it can get busy during this peak season. If you’d like to avoid the crowds, it’s worth considering travelling in the months before and after from April – May and September – October. Usually, the temperature will be warm and pleasant – approximately 17-25 degrees Celsius with less rain than in the summer months.
Travelling to Cairns during the wet season? No worries! You’ll still have an awesome time! Just expect tropical, warm and humid weather with some heavy rain and monsoons.
Q: What visa do I need to travel to Australia?
To travel to Australia you’ll need to apply for a ‘Tourist’ visa or a ‘Working Holiday’ visa. Depending on how long you plan to stay in Australia, what your purpose of travelling to Australia is, and which country your passport is from, will determine which one you need to apply for. Check out our visa resource with everything you need to know about visas and how to apply.
Got a question? We love to help! We answer our travel communities questions every week on social media, so keep an eye on our stories, and as always give us a shout if you have any questions of your own!