12 Reasons to choose Australia as your working holiday destination

A Working Holiday Visa (WHV) is a unique opportunity to have an extraordinary adventure in a foreign country for a year or more (depending on the destination). This easily obtained visa opens up new horizons—you will discover a new culture, yourself, others and the world. Regardless of your educational background, work experience or lifestyle, a WHV gives you the freedom to customize your trip, alternating between travel, volunteering and paid employment.

Not yet familiar with the WHV program? Start here for a complete overview!

In a nutshell, the WHV gives you access to dozens of countries, depending on your nationality—yes, it’s sometimes hard to pick a destination because there’s so much choice! Find out where you can go on a WHV adventure.

If you haven’t yet made up your mind and are torn between several destinations, here are 12 (excellent) reasons to go to Australia!

1. The Australian WHV is accessible and easy to get

Australia (along with Canada and New Zealand) is one of the most popular working holiday destinations. Every year, nearly 200,000 travellers from all over the world fly Down Under to start their WHV adventure.

Obviously, Australia is a fascinating country, but it also welcomes many working holiday makers because the WHV is so easy to get. There are only three requirements to submit a WHV application:

• 18-30 years old (up to 35 years old for some citizenship)
• Valid passport
• Proof of funds of AU$5,000 (or the equivalent in another currency)

There are no quotas or random profile draws, so getting a visa for Australia is quick and easy. In 2023, the Australian government even announced that applications were processed in less than 7 days in most cases.

A chance to fund your travels

The WHV concept really comes to life in Australia! Experienced professionals or new grads, Australia offers working holiday makers access to a multitude of professional opportunities.

Whether in farming, catering, hospitality, freelance or even higher-skilled jobs, the country is constantly looking for workers, skilled or not. It’s easy to find a job for the short, medium or long term (note that in Australia, you can’t work for the same employer for more than 6 months, with a few exceptions).

Wages are rather high (AU$26.73 minimum for a casual employee over 20), working conditions are strictly regulated and benefit workers, and access to employment is a priority for the country. All in all, you should be able to find a job easily and fund your adventure Down Under.

Another perk of the Australian WHV is that you don’t need to find a job before you leave. The best thing to do is wait until you land Down Under to tackle the required paperwork (applying for a Tax File Number, opening a bank account, etc.) and then start looking for a job. However, you may want to get your Australian resume ready before the trip.

3. A perfect opportunity to practise your English (or add cool new slang to your vocabulary!)

If you’re a native English speaker, you will enjoy the change of scenery, a fun adventure and potentially rewarding work opportunities without the language struggle—lucky you! Get ready for the accent, though. It may take you a few weeks to master the local slang and unique way of abbreviating everything!

And if English is your second or third language, what better way to improve your skills than practising it every day? Australians are welcoming and friendly. They are used to foreigners and they make every effort to understand and put their interlocutors at ease.

Believe it or not, even with a school-level command of English, you’ll be able to land a job and have fun in Australia.

4. A destination with yearlong warm weather and sunshine

Spending 12 months under the sun during your working holiday adventure sounds like a dream, doesn’t it? But it’s true—Australia is so big that you can travel and work all year round in warm places.

So, when you leave for a WHV in Australia, don’t forget to pack a swimsuit, sunglasses and sunscreen!

Stunning beaches, wild islands, tropical rainforests, the Outback… Australia is a country with diverse landscapes. This destination full of priceless natural treasures is a dream for worldwide travellers.

During your WHV in Australia, you can watch the sunset over Uluru, swim in Lake Mckenzie on Fraser Island, fly over the “heart reef” on the Great Barrier Reef in the Whitsundays, hike near Wallamans Falls or in the Blue Mountains, and much more.

Here’s a selection of our must-see adventure spots.

6. Unique flora and fauna

Unrivalled flora and fauna thrive in Australia—and no, we’re not just talking about spiders and scorpions. The country is home to much more than the world’s deadliest creatures.

Yes, you’ll be able to see kangaroos, koalas, quokkas, wombats, and so many other (cute!) animals that epitomize Australia. It’s also a land of rich and varied flora—eucalyptus forests, sand dunes, deserts, mangroves, rainforests, etc., that will surprise and amaze you!

So forget about sharks, snakes, crocodiles, deadly jellyfish and spiders—not all wildlife is dangerous and encounters are rare. It’s just hyped up!

7. A rich Aboriginal culture

Travelling is also, and above all, about learning more about the culture and origins of a territory and a people.

Some pages of history in Australia are still controversial and highly sensitive, especially for Aboriginal tribes, who suffered under colonization and still experience the impacts of the past.

Australia has been inhabited by indigenous people for over 50,000 years. British colonization started in 1788 and it meant violence, massacres, loss, and disease for the Aboriginals. Their population declined dramatically. Today, many Aboriginals are fighting to preserve and share their culture and beliefs and heal from the colonial trauma.

A WHV in Australia can be a chance to discover amazing culture as well as ancestral ways of being and knowing. Through dance, music and painting, Aboriginal art shines, and it’s passed on to the most curious and fortunate among us.

To discover this culture, start at Uluru, a powerful sacred and spiritual site for Aboriginals. You will feel the pervading spirituality that emanates from this red earth.

8. The perfect place for backpacker culture

Every year, 200,000 backpackers come to Australia on a WHV. During your trip, you’re bound to meet a few of them, often while staying in hostels.

Hostels are always lively and friendly places where working holiday makers get together to begin their adventure and bond with travellers from all over the world. Stories and tips are shared in English, Spanish, Portuguese, German and more. The atmosphere is a unique experience!

Meeting new people is an essential part of any trip. Locals and backpackers will help you create lasting memories of a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Some people you bump into leave a strong impression—this is especially true in Australia, a country with a thriving backpacker culture.

9. A chance to try vanlife

Australia is a land designed for vanlife. In fact, many working holiday makers choose this destination for a unique nomadic experience.

Over the years, the country has gradually embraced this lifestyle—it’s relatively easy to buy a vehicle, van or converted 4×4, drive off and go as you please for the perfect custom WHV adventure.

You won’t be part of a fringe group because this lifestyle is very much part of the country’s culture. Australians are nomadic travellers, experts in wilderness or luxury camping. There’s something for every taste and budget.

If you’re dreaming of living the vanlife, discovering new landscapes every day in your converted car, driving all day without knowing where you’re going, tasting the freedom of travel with no ties and no schedule, then go for it! Australia is waiting for you!

10. A gateway to other exotic destinations

A WHV in Australia allows you to discover other must-see destinations in Asia and the South Pacific for much less than if you were flying from Europe, Canada or South America.

Don’t forget that the WHV is a convenient multi-entry visa—you can leave Australia and return as many times as you like for the entire duration of your visa.

So if you’re going to Australia on a WHV, you can also take side trips to relax on New Caledonia beaches, enjoy delicious Balinese dishes, learn Thai boxing or discover the fabulous landscapes of New Zealand. This could be a great reward after weeks of picking strawberries on a farm, for example.

11. It’s an escape far, far from (most) homes

Australia is far from pretty much anywhere but New Zealand. It’s the land Down Under, after all. So yes, you’re likely in for a long flight or several to get there, but it will be a true change of scenery.

Let’s face it, you’re never going to spend a long weekend in Australia—may as well go for a year or more!

12. It could be for a year or more

Australia offers the unique chance to apply for a second and even a third WHV, as long as you meet the requirements.

So if you fall in love with it, you can extend the adventure and enjoy new opportunities. Pretty cool, isn’t it?

Who knows, a WHV in Australia could be a life-changing experience for you!