Where To Live In Australia On A Working Holiday

Lily Kerley

February 28th, 2024

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7 minute read

With an irreplaceable combination of surf culture, buzzing nightlife and interesting jobs, it’s no secret that Australia is an awesome place for a gap year! However, if you’ve decided to apply for your visa and book your flights, but still aren’t sure where to do your working holiday, let us give you a hand!

Australia is a vast and varied country, so there is a niche spot for every kind of traveller. And one of the greatest things about a WHV is that you can travel around Australia; you’re not just locked into one place (road trip of your dreams, here we go!). So, whether you’re chasing the nightlife, looking to make new friends, want to surf your days away or are keen to get amongst the bustle of the cities, find your own unique home Down Under!

Quick links

• Best cities
• Best surf towns
• Best dive towns
• Best places for farmwork
• Working FAQs for backpackers

Best cities to live in on a working holiday

Sydney

With both beach and city, Sydney is a very busy yet beautiful city. You can shack up on the beaches (Bondi Beach, yes please!), be assured by a huge variety of jobs and enjoy the bustling nightlife. There are also awesome nearby surf spots and quieter beachy towns that you can get to by bus or public transport. Downsides to Sydney are the exorbitant rents and crowds. 

Check out our backpacker guide to Sydney for the ins and outs of this city.

Melbourne

The cultural hub of Australia, Melbourne is by far the artsy capital Down Under. With its sprawling street art, brick-adorned cafes and spectacular nightlife, there is a niche for everyone in Melbourne. You also have access to nearby beaches like Torquay and regional Victoria if you have a car. Downsides to Melbourne are the extreme weather (freezing in winter, scalding in summer), ample rainfall and business. 

Discover more about Melbourne with our things-to-do guide!

Brisbane 

A bit of an underdog when it comes to cities, Brisbane is an exceptionally liveable and welcoming place. Not quite as big as Sydney or Melbourne, the capital of Queensland still boasts colourful nightlife, friendly vibes and ample work opportunities without the overwhelming size. You’re less than a two-hour drive from both Noosa and the Gold Coast, making it perfect for beachy weekend getaways. The cons of Brisbane include insufferably hot summers and at times patchy public transport.

Explore Brissy like a local with our top 10 cheap things to do in Brisbane!

Best surf & beach towns to live in on a working holiday 

Noosa

The iconic Noosa is filled with backpackers passing through, but it is also a great place to settle down… especially if you love to surf! With ample surrounding towns like Coolum, Peregian, Sunshine Beach and Caloundra, the Sunshine Coast is laden with awesome surf spots and friendly vibes. Of course, Noosa is the gem of them all with its crystal clear coves and abundant National Parks. However, Noosa can be quite expensive as both a holiday destination and a home, and the rental situation is also pretty pricey.

Learn more about Noosa and surrounds with our backpacker guide to the Sunshine Coast!

Gold Coast

Surfers Paradise is the centre of the backpacker-beloved Gold Coast, and it certainly doesn’t disappoint! Where nightlife and beach life intersect, the Gold Coast is a city right on the beach. Awesome for surfers, party-goers and workers alike, it will get busy during peak seasons and attract many other backpackers! Renting on the Gold Coast can be pretty expensive, but not quite as bad as in Noosa or Byron Bay.

Byron Bay

A hub for artists, wayward wanderers and backpackers alike, Byron Bay is known for its awesome surf culture, bohemian scene and gorgeous nature. There are also an array of healthy cafes, beachside bars and live music venues. Living in Byron Bay, you're a short drive away from other quieter towns like Lennox Heads, Yamba and Currumbin too. While Byron Bay can be busy with tourists, it is still possible to find more down-to-earth pockets and crowds, as well as to squeeze in a surf after work every day! 

Read our top 10 things to do in Byron Bay for more ideas on spending your time here!

Best places to live in for scuba diving & tourism 

Cairns

The star of Far North Queensland, Cairns boasts an amazing backpacker scene due to the abundance of world-class diving! Cairns is the town that it is today due to the Great Barrier Reef, and the dive tourism it brings. A lot of backpackers visit Cairns and never leave, due to the friendly, laid-back atmosphere and spectacular surrounding wonders like the Atherton Tablelands, Cape Tribulation and the Daintree Rainforest! Renting here can be tricky due to availability, but not overly expensive if you do find something. The nightlife scene doesn’t really compare to the cities, but it has a fun traveller vibe perfect for a working holiday! 

Check out our top Cairns experiences for more insight on diving into the deep unknown of FNQ!

Airlie Beach 

The gateway to the Whitsundays and a seriously stunning place to spend your gap year, Airlie Beach is home to the Great Barrier Reef and a rolling archipelago of islands. A lot of backpackers find work in Airlie as a deckhand or “hosty” on the many sailing boats, as well as hospitality jobs or tourism sales work on the mainland. With a classic Aussie nightlife scene complete with pubs and live music, the vibes are always high and the sun is always out in Airlie. Finding a rental here can be difficult at the moment, as well as expensive, but there are an array of budget hostels for those in-between situations. 

Learn more about things to do for backpackers in Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays!

Best places for farmwork in Australia

Naturally, the best places to do your farmwork are in rural and regional towns, not in cities. Follow the fruit and farms, use online tools like backpackerjobboard.com and get familiar with these eleven most popular areas for backpacker farmwork!

• Atherton Tablelands, QLD - bananas

• Innisfail, QLD - bananas

• Bowen, QLD - mangoes

• Ayr, QLD - mangoes

• Stanthorpe, QLD - apples

• Bundaberg, QLD - sugar, avocadoes

• Beerwah, QLD - strawberries!

• Bourke, NSW 

• Coffs Harbour, NSW - blueberries! 

• Griffith, NSW

• Mildura, VIC

Aussies love their mangoes - in fact, we have "the Big Mango" in Bowen, renowned for their own juicy type of mangoes.

Backpacker FAQs about working in Australia

Is it hard to get a job in Australia? 

It is pretty easy to find work if you have experience in hospitality, healthwork, education, farmwork or construction, as these are the most sought-after skills in Australia at the moment. It is also more common to find work in tourism in holiday destinations like Airlie Beach, Cairns, Noosa and Byron Bay, particularly in the period leading up to peak season (November through to the end of January).

Is it difficult to find farmwork in Australia?

Farmwork (for visa requirement purposes) in Australia is generally pretty abundant if you’re willing to be flexible with where you work and what you do. If you have experience with manual labour and machinery, you’re even more likely to score a gig! We recommend starting your search for farmwork early before you come to Australia.

Check out our handy guide to searching for your farmwork gig for more smarter-not-harder tips on securing farmwork.

Should I travel around on my working holiday visa? 

Yes - with at least a year in Australia, you should absolutely take the time Down Under and travel! An East Coast road trip is absolutely a must-do when you’re not completing your farmwork. You can’t miss stops in the Whitsundays, K’gari (Fraser Island), Magnetic Island, Cairns, Noosa, the Gold Coast and Byron Bay!

Get prepared with our tropical travel inspo and Aussie itineraries for your backpacker budget.

Ready to discover Australia and live it up on your working holiday?

Tour the East Coast and discover your next home in paradise with our backpacker itineraries, which can take you from the city lights of Melbourne to the reefs of Cairns!