Useful Resources for getting started with your Gap Year in Australia
I have put together this comprehensive list of links to websites and addresses that can be helpful while preparing your travel gap year in Australia and getting familiar with the australian life. On this working holiday planner you find a list of links to useful resources from how to get information about your Australia working visa and how to apply for it online as well as how to apply for your tax file number, to backpacker magazines, accommodation tips, links to job informations sites and job recruitment agency, to how to get around in Australia, and more.
Australian Working Holiday Visa
Find out how you can apply for your working holiday visa yourself. Visit the official governative webiste www.immi.gov.au where you can find everything you need to get started with your working holiday visa application for Australia.
SubClass 417 
This page provides thorough information to people coming from Europe: UK, Germany, Italy, France, Belgium, Denmark, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Republic of Ireland, Estonia, and from Asia: Hong Kong, Japan, Republic of Korea and Taiwan.
SubClass 418
This page gives all information for working holiday visa requested by people from the USA,
and from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Turkey and Iran.
If you wish some help and support while preparing your working holiday visa application you can check out visafirst for your queries and information you may need.
Australian Backpacker Online Magazines
As soon as you arrive in Australia you will soon hear about these very popular backpacker online magazines Some of them like TNT release a printed version of their magazine, TNT comes out every 2 weeks...you can find it in every hostel but also in backpacker travel agencies and in many other places. They have plenty of useful addresses and tips, as well as online forums, to help you get familiar with the Aussie Backpacker Life !
- TNT
www.tntdownunder.com
- The Word
www.thewordaustralia.com.au
- GumTree
www.gumtree.com.au
- the Aussie Backpacker
www.aussiebackpacker.com.au
Accommodation Network and Metasearch machines
Get a Travel Saver Card
There are many you can find on the market. A travel saver card can help you save hundreds of dollars during your stay in Australia. The Aussie Travel Saver Card for example you can get discounts up to 50% on all your travels in Australia.
You can choose the type of card from 1 month to several month or even a yearly card. Check out this page to learn more on how to save money during your working holiday in Australia.
Free Accommodation options in Australia
- Couchsurfing
www.couchsurfing.com
- Hospitality Club
www.hospitalityclub.com
Renting a flat in Australia
Renting a flat with a few backpackers mates can be a good alternative to hostel accommodation. If you are travelling with travel companions then renting a flat can bring many advantages,: the freedom of having your own flat to make you feel like at home while spending your travel gap year in Australia ! Here below some good links to great resources:
- Flatemates
www.flatesmates.com.au
- Shareaccommodation
www.shareaccommodation.org
- 2Share
www.2share.com.au
- Easyyroommate
www.easyroommate.com
Online Work Information in Australia
- WorkPlace
www.workplace.gov.au
- Jobsearch
www.jobsearch.gov.au
- Anyworkanywhere
www.anyworkanywehre.com
- Mycareer
www.mycareer.com.au
- Job Search OZ
www.jobsearch.gov.au
Job Recruiting Agencies in Australia
- Workstay
www.workstay.com.au
- Recruitoz
www.recruitoz.com
- Traveljobs OZ
www.traveljobs.com.au
- Taw
www.taw.com.au
Getting around in Australia
Getting around by bus:
- www.buslines.com.au
- www.greyhound.com.au
Getting around by train: The Australian Rail Network is good and covers all urban area and most outback areas too. Here below the major links to the websites:
- www.railaustralia.com.au
- www.gsr.com.au
- www.qr.com.au
- www.vline.com.au
- www.tarnswa.gov.au
- www.countrlylink.info
What about buying a car in Australia ?
Many young travellers on a working holiday consider this option. In fact it allows yo to save money and at the same time to enjoy the freedom to drive your own car. Check out these sites below which can help you find the car deal you are looking for:
- www.travellers-carmarket.com
- www.travellersmate.com.au
- www.carconnection.com.au
Australian Classifieds
Another way to find good aussie deals while looking for all what you need is to consult online australian classifieds . Here a few links to the major australian classifieds:
- www.trading-post.com.au
- www.quokka.com.au
- www.gumtree.com.au
More information about buying a car in Australia
If you plan to buy a car in Australia for your working holiday stay you can also check out these websites for information and tips on how and where to register your car in Australia:
- The National Roads and Motorists' Association
www.nrma.com.au
- Roads and Traffic Authority
www.rta.nsw.gov.au
What about volunteer Work and Wwoofing
What about if you find out you are not eligible for a working holiday in Australia and still want to do some work ? Well there are 2 wonderful opportunities for travelling around Australia, do some work on interesting organic farms.Or you can apply for some volunteer work.
Check out these two sites:
- Woofing means World wide Opportunities on Organic Farms
You get food and lodging on farms in exchange of some hours work, you are not paid for your work, so that you can join this project without any work visas. You can apply for the wwoofing membership online or in some hostels and in some backpacker travel agencies.
- Volunteer Work is another great way of spending your time in Australia. Usually you should pay for contribution for transportation, accommodation, and food. Check out the website of the Conservation Volunteers Australia
You can click on this link to download the Harvest Guide 2012I hope you find my working holiday planner useful and will share it with travel mates. If you feel you'd better get some help while getting your working holiday organized, then you can check out this other page of the website with great tips for work and travel time in Australia .
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