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A Love Story
| What route did you take to get to Australia (countries) and where would you recommend, highlights? | Thailand- Bangkok for 2 days (more than enough) and then stayed on Koh Samui for 4 days – brilliant. Then, I went to full moon party – was fab  |
| Where did you arrive and where did you travel to in Australia? | Started off in Melbourne and flew up to Cairns and travelled the coast of Queensland, and lived in Brisbane for 2 months. Then, I went to Perth for Christmas over to friends and ended up spending the rest of my time their as that’s where I settled and found my boyfriend |
| What did you work in Australia? | I worked in a bottle shop and in sales (cold calling, door to door) |
| How did you find work? | A friend of a friend and work isn’t really hard. Once you get to explain you don’t plan to leave in a week or two – the sales… they don’t care when you leave once they think you will be there for at least a month!! So not worth it! |
| How did you find accommodation (i.e house/apartment)? | I lived with a friend that was an Ozzie that I worked with – the best people in the world while in Brisbane I lived in a hostel – TIN BILLIES in BRISBANE loved it so will you |
| What route you took back? | Perth to Melbourne… straight. |
| Would you recommend Australia to others? | YES! Definitely… If you get the chance, GO.The experience is fab, and you meet so many new people that will change your life forever. |
| How would you rate Australia between 1 and 10? | 20 |
| What tips would you give anyone considering going? | Yes. Do not do any sales cuz it’s mostly on commission only and involves long, long days that you might not even get paid for… and always know what you are entitled to as some employers who are involved in sales, will def rip u off!! I didn’t get paid for 3 wks  |
| If you could have done it again what would you have done differently? | If I had the chance to get a working holiday visa again, I would have stuck at college and got sponsorship but it’s all good as I met so many people that are friends for life; I met my boyfriend who is moving over to me until I finish college and then I can go back on a skilled migrants’ visa. Although it’s harder this way, I’m so glad I went. Such a life changing experience Good luck on your travels |
A Lot Said – In Short
| What route did you take to get to Australia (countries) and where would you recommend, highlights? | I flew direct from Dublin – Beijing – Melbourne. No sight-seeing for me. I did it all in 23 hours. |
| Where did you arrive and where did you travel to in Australia? | I arrived in Melbourne. Stayed with friends for the first 2 days then stayed in various hostels for 2 weeks around Melbourne. Bought a second-hand car and drove to Adelaide on the Great Ocean Road. Drove back to Melbourne via inland. So I was able to see most of Victoria. |
| What did you work in Australia? | 3 months after I arrived I decided I needed to work so as not to get too low on money. It’s not easy to get a job in Australia. They are very slow to give you a start date. Once you are “hired” you might not start the job for a month or 6 weeks. I was lucky to find work in my profession – animation. I drove from Melbourne to Sydney for work on the coastal road. The scenery is amazing. I’d recommend driving if you can. |
| How did you find work? | I googled and emailed about 30 CV’s to random studios I found online. |
| How did you find accommodation (i.e house/apartment)? | Once I had a job I needed to find a house. There are lots of room/house share posters on walls and posts around the streets. Gumtree.com.au has a list of acc/house shares too. I approached a letting agent. Of course this means you need to fill out applications to “apply” for a flat with all the other house hunters. You’ll need ID’s, references and a deposit. But I found it was the best way because at least you know who you are dealing with, unlike moving into a random share house. |
| What route you took back? | I didn’t come to Ireland!! I got sponsored and was given a 4 year skilled visa (subclass 457). I am one of the “lucky ones”. I got the visa just when news broke in Ireland of the recession. I grabbed the visa and decided to stay for a while longer. |
| Would you recommend Australia to others? | In the current economical state, yes! You get paid way more here for doing less work. You’d nearly get a pat on the back for taking a dump. It’s easy to have all the material things you could ever wish for, along with sun and bbq’s almost all year around. But don’t be fooled into thinking Oz is like a hot and clammy Ireland, cause it’s not. It’s a different culture. Your Irish-pub-drinking-habits and arm-chancing ways aren’t looked upon warmly. It’s a different way of life. A different sense of humor. It’s not hot all year around – July and August are bitter cold. Winds coming up from the South Pole. They don’t tell ya that in the booklets. And remember – It is 10,000 miles form home. You can’t pop down to the parents for Sunday roast. You get homesick… But you think to yourself, would I really be better off in the dole queue??? Earn some cash and go home to dear out Ireland when it straightens itself out. 2012 fingers crossed…That’s when my visa runs out. |
| How would you rate Australia between 1 and 10? | 7 for job opportunities and wages rates. |
| What tips would you give anyone considering going? | Meet someone you know who knows the ropes. It’s a different way of life. And sometimes you are seen as a “Paddy abroad”. Remember you are in Oz…and “taking their jobs.” If you get hired, expect to wit for your start date. Be prepared to wait… |
| If you could have done it again what would you have done differently? | I think if I had known the shit was going to hit the fan at home in Ireland, I wouldn’t have blown as much money on beer in the first 3 months!! But if anyone coming over here now wants to make plans to stay long term I doubt they will be bringing that much cash from Ireland. |
…Would Prefer Melbourne to Brisbane
| What route did you take to get to Australia (countries) and where would you recommend, highlights? | Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos, would recommend all of them amazing in there own right |
| Where did you arrive and where did you travel to in Australia? | Arrived into Perth and traveled all the east coast, south and west of the country. |
| What did you work in Australia? | worked as a barista in Brisbane |
| How did you find work? | dropping CV’s all over the city |
| How did you find accommodation (i.e house/apartment)? | through Gumtree, very high standard and reasonably priced |
| What route you took back? | same route as I took going out |
| Would you recommend Australia to others? | yes |
| How would you rate Australia between 1 and 10? | 7 |
| What tips would you give anyone considering going? | save as much money before going as possible, try and go and do everything and avoid cities apart from Melbourne and Perth |
| If you could have done it again what would you have done differently? | would have settled in Melbourne for a few months rather than Brisbane |
A Brilliant Country
| What route did you take to get to Australia (countries) and where would you recommend, highlights? | London-> Hong Kong-> Melbourne, Only stopovers so I didn’t see anything in Hong Kong. |
| Where did you arrive and where did you travel to in Australia? | Arrived in Melbourne. Lived there for 6 months, travelled up and down the East Coast, went to Sydney, and Perth. And saw Alice springs and Uluru. |
| What did you work in Australia? | Data entry in AGL in Melbourne |
| How did you find work? | It was good. Very friendly atmosphere with lots of other backpackers and the pay was great! |
| How did you find accommodation (i.e house/apartment)? | Gumtree.com.au |
| What route you took back? | Reverse of how I got there |
| Would you recommend Australia to others? | Definitely, brilliant country with so much to see!! |
| How would you rate Australia between 1 and 10? | 11 |
| What tips would you give anyone considering going? | See as much as you can, try not to get stuck in one place for too long. It’s a big place! |
| If you could have done it again what would you have done differently? | Seen more of the outback. |
20 out of 10 for Oz!!!
| What route did you take to get to Australia (countries) and where would you recommend, highlights? | Sydney to Cairns. Would recommend a trip along the coast places like Byron Bay, Fraser island, Brisbane-the best city in Oz, Blue Mountains |
| Where did you arrive and where did you travel to in Australia? | Sydney, travelled up the coast and ended up in Brisbane. |
| What did you work in Australia? | Pharmaceutical work. |
| How did you find work? | Seek.com mainly one of the best sites for jobs. |
| How did you find accommodation (i.e house/apartment)? | Friends |
| What route you took back? | Brisbane, Abi Duabi,Dublin |
| Would you recommend Australia to others? | Hell yeah everyone should at least visit |
| How would you rate Australia between 1 and 10? | 20 |
| What tips would you give anyone considering going? | Plan it well, make sure you make 2 copies of everything i.e. passport, driver’s license. Make sure you don’t get stuck in Sydney because of the cost of living it will swallow your savings rapidly, so plan ahead. It’s hard to plan something I think if you never been a planner but I recommend a week to 2 weeks in Sydney and then get out. |
| If you could have done it again what would you have done differently? | Planned it a lot more, wouldn’t have stayed in Sydney for so long and also would have travelled with less people up the coast, 3 max when travelling up the coast . |
It’s a Big Big Country
| What route did you take to get to Australia (countries) and where would you recommend, highlights? | I went from Dublin in Ireland to Abu Dhabi, then to Sydney. I flew with Ethihad which I found to be a really good airline. |
| Where did you arrive and where did you travel to in Australia? | I started in Bondi in Sydney; spent Christmas there which I would say is definitely the best time to be there. Then I travelled the east cost as far as Cairns. Doing Fraser Island and the Whitsundays on the way a must-see. Then settled back in Airlie beach for my last 7 months. Really beautiful place. |
| What did you work in Australia? | I worked in exile men’s clothing in Sydney and beaches backpackers bar in Airlie beach. |
| How did you find work? | Walked around handing out resumes. |
| How did you find accommodation (i.e. house/apartment)? | Booked my accommodation in YHA in Bondi before I left Ireland by e-mail. Then found a house by word of mouth from other backpackers. Booked hostels to stay in up the coast through Peterpan’s travel agency in Sydney or heard about good hostels from other backpackers etc. |
| What route you took back? | Drove from Airlie beach to Mackay and flew from there to Sydney; then took the same route from Sydney home as I took to Sydney the first time. |
| Would you recommend Australia to others? | Yes, definitely. It’s a beautiful place. I think everyone should experience it. |
| How would you rate Australia between 1 and 10? | 10 |
| What tips would you give anyone considering going? | Be careful with your money when you first arrive – it’s way too easily spent. Try and get into a shared house if you’re planning to stay in one place for a while as it’s a lot cheaper than hostels. Don’t judge Australia by one or two places as it is so big and everywhere here is different. |
| If you could have done it again what would you have done differently? | Nothing. I had a brilliant time and I’m just back home for Christmas then heading back out for another year. |
A Brilliant Craic
| Australia (countries) and where would you recommend, highlights? | I went to Thailand for a month on the way, spent all my time on the islands of Koh Samui, Koh Tao, Koh Phangnan and Phiphi. I wouldn’t recommend Samui, it felt like a package holiday! Loved Koh Tao, I dove there with easy divers! Best place to stay in Koh Tao is in-touch bungalows on Sairee beach! They have a gorgeous restaurant! The full moon party is a must! So much fun, but don’t bring a camera or wallet, lots of people get pick pocketed at it! Phi was gorgeous, you get everywhere by taxi boat, the highlight of Phi Phi was a trip we booked through ‘Spider Monkey’- they are located in the main town in Phi Phi, we rented a long boat for the day and went cliff jumping, snorkeling with sharks and had a few drinks on the beach where The Beach was filmed! |
| Where did you arrive and where did you travel to in Australia? | I arrived in Oz on the 4 February; I stayed in Melbourne for two months, then Cairns for a month; Brisbane for three months; Darwin for three months; Sydney for 4 days over New Years and then back to Melbourne for my last eight months! I was there for 18months! |
| What did you work in Australia? | I did a lot of waitressing and functions; my best job was as a TOEFL teacher for three months in Melbourne. I also worked on a fishing boat in Darwin for two weeks as a deckhand. It was extremely hard work! |
| How did you find work? | the work was fine, you make more money waitressing in Oz than in Ireland, the wages seem higher in every sector |
| How did you find accommodation (i.e house/apartment)? | The accommodation was usually fine. Some of the hostels were smelly or had moldy walls but my fav hostel of the whole trip was Bev and Micks in south Melbourne! It was a bit grubby but brilliant craic! |
| What route you took back? | I went home by Thailand and Laos! I flew into Bangkok and got the bus to Chaing Mai, I spent three days trekking in the mountains! I would only recommend two though unless you’re a hard core trekkie! From there I went to Laos, I didn’t get to spend much time there as I had very little time and money so I spent four days tubing in Vang Vieng and then flew back to Bangkok. I got a connecting flight to Koh Tao and spent my last eight days there before flying home! |
| Would you recommend Australia to others? | Definately! it was the best year and a half of my life, i met friends for life and got to do things i wld never normally do like trekking, swimming with sharks, scuba diving, working on a fishing boat! |
| How would you rate Australia between 1 and 10? | 10 10 10! |
| What tips would you give anyone considering going? | Try and keep money aside for emergencies, because there are plenty of times when u will be strapped for cash! |
| If you could have done it again what would you have done differently? | i would not have relied on my credit card as much! i wld apply for jobs before i got to places and make sure i didnt get stuck anywhere, its easy to get stuck when u have low funds and cant find a job! |
