I'm off to OZ for a YEAR!!!!!!!

hellnearth

Oh lucky you! I did that back in 1984 - 85 and had an absolute ball. So much to see and you don't realise how big the place is still you start travelling. Went from Brisbane down to Adelaide, up through the middle to Darwin, round the West Coast through Perth and back round the coast thru Sydney to Brisbane. That took me a year and worked out I'd travelled 12,000 miles - about the distance from the UK to Oz.
Don't know if the rules have changed since then, but working holidaymakers were only allowed to stay in one state for three months, then you had to move on.
I found it was really hard to get jobs in the cities - too much competition from permanent residents. But there was plenty out bush and it paid well as there was a hardship allowance. Real floating population and lots of people doing the same as yourself. The job centres had details of agencies who recruited for those areas.
I stayed in hostels quite a lot - it was a good way to hook up with other travellers.

RoryFulcher

Thanks Bananabelly, I have sent an email to IMB asking for further info… As well as the Commonwealth Bank too…

Olias, thank you for the recommendations, and no, I certainly will not discount hostels (they will be my main port of call for accommodation I feel… Unless I decide to buy a tent and check out some local camp sites – which I would also not discount… ;-) haha)

Moppet_217, Brisbane is certainly on my hit list, but honestly I am going to just stay “semi-permanently” at the places that personally resound with me the most. As we know, everyone has a different idea when it comes to “nice places”, but I have certainly heard good things about Brisbane.

I have absolutely no intention of trying to go everywhere in Australia in a year. That is incomprehensible – Yeesh, I can’t even comprehend the size of the place as it is, let alone trying to do the whole circuit in a year! Haha.

Yes, (and WOOHOO by the way) I finally got my visa granted, so all systems are go!!! Have to get flights booked now… Thank you for the tip about the Tax Number, I have found a website link, and that will be one of the first things that I do when I get into the country (as you have to actually be there to apply for it)

And I entirely agree, if we didn’t do things just because they took effort, where would we be? (can’t even comprehend being a lazy person like that).

Thanks Spottydog, all very helpful info, especially about phones. Cheers.

NorangeDuck, that is a great deal for flights!!! Cheapest I have found including airport taxes etc is about £500.... I have had a look on airasia… but couldn’t seem to find anything so good… Maybe it is because I am going in January? :-/

I have heard mention of “Skype Phones” I thought Skype was just an internet thing kinda like MSN…. Is that not the case? (can’t look right now as have to head off to work…) Any info would be good! :-D

DaMaNiAc82

Opening a bank account in Oz is simple. Just walk into any branch with your passport and you'll be all set up in minutes. Card arrives in the post a few days later. Tax File Number is just a matter of filling in the form online and you get the number a few days later.

I bought a car with my mate for $1700 ($2.5=£1 when I was there), ran it into the ground for 10,000km's in 4 months and flogged it to another backpacker for $1500! Great way to see the country.

Wine_of_the_World

Just so your aware - many banks in Oz charge a monthly account fee!!!

I opened a "saving" account with Commonweath that didnt, but they charged for withdrawals. But it was ideal for me as I just wanted an account that I could have wages paid into if/ when I found work.

For accommodation YHA hostels on the East Coast were all really good. They are a bit more than other hostels, but were always clean, well managed, with good kitchens etc.

Are you going to the West Coast? In terms of mobile coverage Telstra are the only network with any real coverage outside Perth. Your UK mobile will work over here as long as you unlock it to accept any network. And sign up to Skype so you can call you friends and family (even their mobiles) cheaply.

If you are thinking of working DO look at doing backpacker work like working in a pub or farm in the outback - I did and it was a real experience. Better than working in a city doing much the same as in England but without the friends. Also, if you do this kind of work accommodation and food are usually included so pretty much all the money you make you can save for further travels.

Just be warned you may not want to come back . . . .

RoryFulcher

DaMaNiAc82, I certainly love the idea of getting a van/camper and travelling (it also negates the need for hostels, etc, as you can sleep in the van), just that matter of insurance and fuel... I am not sure how much that would cost over there and if it would be a feasible option or not... It will certainly be something that I look into in more detail when I am over there, but not before (as I've no idea how much a vehicle would be.. until I get there).

Wine of the world (love the name), I am aware of the account fees with banks, yes... I am not too fussed about a $4 a month fee if I can find nothing better. It won't break the bank too much.

YHA hostels, OK, thanks for that, I will look out for them.

I am only going to be on the East coast (well, and towards the south) so no, not planning on doing the west coast... I will have to ask in the phone shops when I get there as to what is recommended... I am hearing lots of different things about mobile providers.. not sure what to believe really. haha.

And still not sure how this Skype malarky works... Do you do it from your mobile phone, from a special mobile phone you have to buy, or just over the internet with a mic and some headphones?

I am certainly going to be working, and I am certainly NOT going to be getting an office job or something like that. If I can get a job in a little pub or restaurant that'll do me, meet the locals and other people, why not. I'm not going to Oz so I can work in an office! haha. Considering doing fruit picking and that sort of thing too, just something different really, and something that I can just jump into and out of as needs be.

I am fully prepared for the possibility that I might not want to come back. That is a risk... I am just willing to take. :rotfl:

Wine_of_the_World

You use Skype on the computer. Just download the software from
https://www.skype.co.uk

Then set yourself up an account (all free and very easy). Then you can call people up - using a headset or the computer's speakers to hear the person and the microphone to speak to them.

You can credit the account with a normal debit / credit card to call land lines and even mobiles cheaply. But if your friends have a skype account themselves you can call to their skype account for free (if the computer has video camera they can see you too).

Its really not difficult, but I would recommend setting up an account now, and maybe doing the same for your parents.

Also, probably best to buy a headset and take it with you as the headsets in internet cafes tend to brake pretty quickly and its SO frustrating if you can hear the other person, but they can hear you!

loveabargain13

RoryFulcher wrote: »

DaMaNiAc82, I certainly love the idea of getting a van/camper and travelling (it also negates the need for hostels, etc, as you can sleep in the van), just that matter of insurance and fuel... I am not sure how much that would cost over there and if it would be a feasible option or not... It will certainly be something that I look into in more detail when I am over there, but not before (as I've no idea how much a vehicle would be.. until I get there).

Wine of the world (love the name), I am aware of the account fees with banks, yes... I am not too fussed about a $4 a month fee if I can find nothing better. It won't break the bank too much.

YHA hostels, OK, thanks for that, I will look out for them.

I am only going to be on the East coast (well, and towards the south) so no, not planning on doing the west coast... I will have to ask in the phone shops when I get there as to what is recommended... I am hearing lots of different things about mobile providers.. not sure what to believe really. haha.

And still not sure how this Skype malarky works... Do you do it from your mobile phone, from a special mobile phone you have to buy, or just over the internet with a mic and some headphones?

I am certainly going to be working, and I am certainly NOT going to be getting an office job or something like that. If I can get a job in a little pub or restaurant that'll do me, meet the locals and other people, why not. I'm not going to Oz so I can work in an office! haha. Considering doing fruit picking and that sort of thing too, just something different really, and something that I can just jump into and out of as needs be.

I am fully prepared for the possibility that I might not want to come back. That is a risk... I am just willing to take. :rotfl:

Hey, I'm going to buy a skype phone out there its $129 AUD, when are you off out there, I'm flying to melbourne in 2.5 weeks yipppeeeeee

RoryFulcher

I'm going to be flying into Cairns in January not entirely sure when. How long are you going for?

Right... On a different note, I am a Hypnotist, and I will probably do some comedy shows in Oz to top up my cash... Now with this in mind, as a backpacker, how would I declare these earnings and pay the necessary taxes? Or are there certain limits that you have to cross before you pay tax? Any help appreciated! :-)

Bananabelly

RoryFulcher wrote: »

I'm going to be flying into Cairns in January not entirely sure when. How long are you going for?

Right... On a different note, I am a Hypnotist, and I will probably do some comedy shows in Oz to top up my cash... Now with this in mind, as a backpacker, how would I declare these earnings and pay the necessary taxes? Or are there certain limits that you have to cross before you pay tax? Any help appreciated! :-)

The taxfree threshold in oz is around $6000 per year for all income. I think if you are doing shows like that you would be classed as self employed. When I was doing that I had to register as a company and have a bank account for the business, and get paid through that. I wasn't in the entertainment industry though, and I am not sure if that would be different. Check out the Australian Tax Office website, it can be pretty useful, or even ring them as they are pretty helpful (if you follow the tax rules!).

Keep in mind, I think it has been said before that although Australia survived the global financial crisis well, Cairns has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country at the moment, mainly because it has a very tourist based economy. You may find it very difficult to get work there as anything, let alone a hypnotist. If it is beaches and stuff you're after, the whole of the east coast is good, and some places have a lot more opportunities.

RoryFulcher

Thanks, I checked the tax office website, but didn't see anything particularly pertaining to what I'm after... they don't have an email address contact, unfortunately... ugh... but I found some random ones on google... so hopefully they will be able to direct me to someones email address at least. :rolleyes:

It's not that I am just after beaches, I just want to see as much of the East coast as I can, so I figure start in Cairns and work south.

I don't particularly need to work in every place that I stay... so I don't mind starting in Cairns (probably best really, starting with my full amount of savings in the place I am least likely to get work)