Gap Year Diaries: Australia
@TARALOUISEROBERTS; @THISOUTFITCOST
I’ve always loved to travel. I was very fortunate that my family took us on trips when my sister and I were little, and it’s something that has stayed with us. I’ve always loved the sea – I studied marine biology at university – and scuba diving is one of my favourite things to do, so when the time came, Australia felt like a natural fit for a gap year.
Australia’s working holiday visa makes it one of the easiest places to live and work as a Brit. I knew it was a good idea because my sister did the same thing and loved it so much that she’s now moved to Sydney permanently. Seeing the life she's created there made me want to try it – and it meant I’d be closer to her as well. I moved here with my university boyfriend, who was being sponsored by his work, which made it quite an easy decision. The hardest part was saying goodbye to my parents at the airport.
One tip I have is to book a return flight when you first go over to Australia. It makes it much easier knowing you'll see your family again soon, and it also gives you all something to look forward to. There’s no denying the flights are long – I always carry a little travel pack with a silk eye mask, foam earbuds, a mirror, toothbrush and paste, lip balm and body lotion to really settle in for a big nap.
I’ve settled in Perth, Western Australia. It’s been a great base from which to explore the rest of the country. I've visited Brisbane and the surrounding area – Noosa was my favourite. I’ve spent a lot of time in Sydney, where my sister is, did Kiama for Christmas, and loved Melbourne too. We’ve done a fair bit of travelling in WA, as we had a campervan when we came out here. But I do have a soft spot for Perth – the beaches are incredible and Rottnest Island is only a 30-minute ferry ride away. I ended up living on the island for nine months doing my regional work, so it has a real place in my heart. Next up is Uluru and a hiking trip in Tasmania.
During my first year here, I really got stuck in. It was all about travelling and meeting new people. Culture wise, I love going to the visitor centres in the national parks and reading all the signs on the trails to learn more about the local culture, history and animals. I've also been to a smoking ceremony on Rottnest Island and joined in with aboriginal events to deepen my understanding of the history here. Getting that campervan when we first moved here was a great way to get into the surfer lifestyle.
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My working holiday visa came through just three days after applying. It's simple to apply online – you just need to have proof of funds and some other checks in place, but once you have everything ready, the application only takes an hour or so to complete. The main struggle is not being able to work for the same company for more than six months on the working holiday visa, so I’ve had to change my job a few times. If you want to stay for a year or less it's simple, but if you want to stay longer it can be a bit trickier – you have to find sponsorship or other visa options if you want more flexibility with your job. However, the upcoming new agreements being made between the Australian and UK governments should make things easier from July.
I had a savings goal of £5,000 before I left, so I worked and saved hard. I wanted to use this money to get myself set up in Australia. I used some of it to get the campervan and put a deposit down on a rental home, and the rest I've used for travel expenses. I have been a real ‘yes’ girl, saying yes to all the fun events, holidays and travel plans, and I wouldn't change a thing. I've also worked for 75% of my time here – taking about three months off in total to fit in all of my travel plans.
Australia is expensive but you do get paid a good living wage. If you’re happy to work for a few months, it can really help extend your travel time here. I've put money into my savings and investments, and have found I haven't had to dip into my £5,000 pot for too much because I've been getting paid. My aim for this year was to enjoy Australia and work enough to cover my adventures and social life.
@TARALOUISEROBERTS; @THISOUTFITCOST
Australia has a real travel culture. Everyone is always moving around, so the second-hand market here is crazy – for everything from clothes to cars. That’s actually been my main challenge – you do really need a car to get around but new cars are out of our budget, so we’ve had a couple of duds and are on our third car already. I love and hate Facebook Marketplace in equal measure – that’s all I can say.
Australian culture changes depending on what side of the country you are on. I love the way Aussies are either up for sunrise on the east coast, grabbing their coffees and going on ‘hot girl’ walks, or heading for sunset sips and dips on the west coast. The sunsets in WA are some of the best I've ever seen, and I'm certainly happy we decided to call it home for a bit. Just remember to pack a coat – it can get cold in the winter. Coffee culture is massive here, too – everyone has their go-to order, and the coffee is much stronger than what we have in the UK.
I was also shocked by the food scene. There are so many fast-food places still knocking about – I thought Aussies would be healthier, especially in the coastal areas. Food is a lot more expensive than in the UK, so fast food is a cheaper option for many. It's very hard to find a restaurant that accepts bookings past 9pm too, even in the summer. I'm used to London clubs that are open ’til 5am, but you'll be lucky to find one that’s still going at 1am here in Perth.
I came here with three objectives: to live near a beach, learn to make latte art, and DJ. So far, I have achieved two out of three. I ran two coffee vans on Rottnest so I became a barista there, and I live just a ten-minute stroll from the beach now. I also got my freediving certification. For people thinking about coming to Australia, think about what you want to achieve – maybe narrow it down to three goals like I did. And then maybe three places you want to tick off. And don’t forget to think about what you want your work/life balance to look like.
My year abroad has made me so much more independent. It’s also helped me find joy in the little things, after having a hard time in the UK. That said, it’s also made me appreciate what I have at home in Birmingham – my loving family and amazing friends. I can't wait to see them all again soon, and after this time away, that first hug will be all the sweeter.
For more gap year inspiration, follow @ThisOutfitCost on Instagram.
@TARALOUISEROBERTS; @THISOUTFITCOST
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