My Experience As An Irish Digital Nomad In Australia

Alison Condon

March 5th, 2024

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9 minute read

Can you work as a digital nomad in Australia? As someone who has successfully lived the digi nomad life Down Under, I can safely say that the answer is yes! When I moved from Ireland to Australia last year, I quickly found that working as a digital nomad was a great opportunity to earn a living while getting set-up in Oz.

Like many Working-Holiday-Visa-holders, I found it a little bit difficult to secure a job when I first touched down in Australia last year. Originally, I had been hoping to secure a simple temp job at an office somewhere in Sydney, earning some money without making any long-term commitments so I could travel if I wanted to. But I quickly discovered that I was competing against hundreds, if not thousands, of other Working Holiday candidates who had the same idea. Meanwhile, Aussie businesses often reserve their more secure, long-term roles for permanent residents who won’t have to leave for regional work in the middle of the work year.

So, after a month or two of searching, it became clear that the digital nomad life was my best option, at least to get me started. With a background in digital content creation and copywriting, a laptop, and a dream, I quickly got to work setting up my digital nomad lifestyle, and went from stressing about money to casually typing on my laptop from a little café on Bondi Beach or an artsy coffee house in Melbourne. Now that’s the life! Here’s everything you need to know about doing the same.

For more information on visa requirements and taxes involved with being a digital nomad, check out our ultimate guide to working remotely in Australia!

What Do You Need To Be A Digital Nomad?

Simply put, all you need to be a digital nomad in Australia is a computer, access to the internet, a job you can do remotely, and a visa that allows you to work in the country. It’s that simple!

In my case, I offered writing services to an overseas company using the Wi-Fi in my home, in coffee shops, and in communal work spaces, all in accordance with my Working Holiday Visa (417).

Most of the time, I worked from home at my kitchen table. Working from cafés is nice, but if you want to get away with taking up a seat in a public space, you're going to have to fork out some cash for coffees upon coffees. Plus, relying on public Wi-Fi to get your work done can be risky business. Working from home is a whole lot cheaper and more reliable.

I made sure that the overseas company I was freelancing for understood the terms of my Working Holiday Visa, and that I would eventually have to go off the grid for at least three months to complete my specified work. Depending on how remote you’re going, and what your access to Wi-Fi is like, there’s every chance you could keep up your digital nomad job while you’re completing specified work. But I preferred to see my 88 days of specified work as a chance to take a break from the digital nomad life and sink my teeth into something different - at least for a little while! I came out to Australia for an adventure, after all!

For me, a typical day as a digital nomad involved rolling out of bed, packing my laptop, charger, headphones and any other equipment I need, before deciding where I would work from for the day. 

When I was set-up, I would work at my own pace for about eight hours. Of course, I'd take regular breaks to eat, refresh and - if I was working from home - get some laundry done! If I was working from a public space, I'd sometimes use my breaks to change up my location, moving from a public space to a café or to a shared co-working space. One of the perks of a digital nomad job is you can change up the scenery whenever you like!

This particularly came in handy whenever I had planned a trip with friends. I had a lot more flexibility when it came to planning holidays and could always opt for cheaper flight or train times than some of my pals, as I was never in a rush to make it back to Sydney in time for work on Monday morning. If flights home were cheaper mid-week, I could simply work from whatever city or holiday destination I was in for a few extra days, then head home at a time that suited me better.

What is the best city in Australia for digital nomads?

The best part about living as a digital nomad is that your office can be just about anywhere with a good internet connection. So, when you’re trying to decide on the best place to live in Australia as a digital nomad, the options are pretty vast.

Of course, the most secure locations for digital nomads are big cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Adelaide, where you can often find purpose-built co-working and remote working spaces specifically designed for digital nomads. You’re also more likely to come across cafés, restaurants and public spaces with strong, open Wi-Fi networks that plenty of other digital nomads and remote workers are making use of.

Don’t get me wrong, you can certainly get your digital nomad work done in smaller, scenic towns. I certainly gave it a shot after I left Sydney! But, as far as public workspaces go, your options will be limited and, like me, you might get some funny looks if you set up your laptop in the corner of a coffee shop for more than an hour or two.

What are the downsides of being a digital nomad?

Like any job, there are of course some pitfalls that come with digital nomad life. These are some of the top challenges I personally struggled with as a digital nomad in Australia:

Digital nomad work-life balance

Being able to work from anywhere you want is a huge privilege but if you don’t stay organised or set boundaries between your work life and your personal life, you'll quickly find that remote working can become a burden. If your digital nomad lifestyle involves working from home, it can be easy to fall into a routine of doing laundry and dishes during work hours and catching up on unfinished projects while you’re sitting in front of the TV in the evenings. Believe me, that’s a recipe for disaster! The best resolution to this is to get out of the house to do your remote work, if you can. If you’re not in a city that offers amenities to digital nomads, then set up a designated workspace in your home that you can commit to working from without distractions.

Being a digital nomad can get lonely

If you’ve moved out to Australia with some mates and you’re the only one giving the digital nomad life a crack, you might find yourself getting a little bit lonely. Although I loved working by myself and having the freedom to change up my work environment every day, I often felt like I was missing out when my housemates or travel buddies made new work friends or told fun stories about workplace mishaps. My solution to this was finding other digital nomads who were in similar situations, and meeting up with them to work side-by-side. Often we were working on entirely different projects, and we couldn’t always commit to the same work hours, but it was nice to have some company a few days a week.

Stable income, paid leave, and organising your taxes

If you plan on working as a digital nomad, you had better get good at organising your own money. Not only will you be in charge of keeping your taxes in check but, if you’re working in a freelance role, your income might not always be stable.

The beauty of a digital nomad job is that you’re essentially your own boss - but that means it’s up to you to work enough hours for a solid paycheck, and to decide how much time off you can afford to take. As the Spider-Man comics once said; ‘With great power comes great responsibility’.

Is being a digital nomad worth it?

Being a digital nomad is perfect for those who long for adventure and want the freedom and flexibility to travel while earning an income. It comes with its share of pros and cons, but ultimately, I would argue it’s worth it. Digital nomads are incredibly lucky to be in a position where they can work and travel with few restrictions. If you have the skills or experience to do  a job that can be done online, becoming a digital nomad is a brilliant way to earn money - especially if you’ve been struggling with the competitive job markets in Australian cities. 

That being said, I would highly recommend trying to secure an Australia-based job if you plan on living here long-term. I worked as a digital nomad in Australia for a few months before I decided I wanted a change. I had started to feel as though I was missing out. I came from Ireland to Australia, not just to see new things and go on an adventure, live the famous Aussie lifestyle. There’s no better way to do that than to join an Aussie workforce and immerse yourself in the culture.

If you want to give the digital nomad life a try while exploring all the wonders that Australia has to offer, look no further than our jam packed East Coast itineraries.

Want some help planning the perfect Aussie adventure?  Our friendly team are here to help you build your bucket list.

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