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Government Proposes Huge Increase to Backpacker Tax

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May 13, 2015 backpacker tax ,tax ,working holiday makers

Dimi

The 2015 government budget is out, typically something for everyday Australian’s to worry about but this year is completely different. A provision has been placed that will affect working holiday makers from July 1 2016. All 417 and 462 working holiday makers will lose the tax free threshold, meaning every day you earn on the working holiday visa will be subject to tax, tax at a rate of 32.5%. ( If legislation passed) The Current Working Holiday / Backpacker Tax Situation Currently anyone on an Australian working holiday visa will be exempt from tax on the first $18,200 Read more

The Australian Working Holiday: Work versus Play!

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May 10, 2015 Backpacking ,fruit picking ,jobs ,money ,Travel ,work ,working holiday

Laura Forfar

I am now in my 8th month in Australia and have decided not to do the 88 days regional work to get a visa extension. This decision has mostly been made by the fact that I have run out of time to find something suitable and to complete the days, but the idea of picking fruit for hours and an allergy to horses ruling out most farm work didn’t help! Plan Your “Working” Holiday Planning when to do the working part of your Australian working holiday can have a big impact on your year. I worked part time Read more

5 Reasons Why You Should Travel Alone!

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May 7, 2015 adventure ,Travel ,travel alone

Amarylis

Traveling alone is the way to go. You meet new people, you see new places, you get to know yourself. Ever since I traveled alone for the first time, I’m hooked. I even prefer traveling alone over a trip with friends. Not sure if solo travel is something for you? Here are 5 reasons why it undoubtedly is! 1. You can’t sit around and wait for life to come to you I decided on my first solo trip when I didn’t have anyone to travel with. I just graduated college, had some free time and none of my friends could Read more

8 Really Wild Encounters Around Australia

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April 30, 2015 Australia ,Bunbury ,bundaberg ,cage diving ,crocodiles ,darwin ,dingos ,dolphins ,exmouth ,fraser island ,great ocean road ,great white sharks ,jumping crocs ,kayaking ,mon repos ,port lincoln ,seals ,turtles ,whales ,whalesharks ,white pointers ,wildlife ,wildlife encounters

Clare Readman

Australia is home to some of the most spectacular wildlife and surprisingly it is a lot more accessible that you might think. Each state has something to offer so no matter where you end up in the vast country there is always something exciting to see, beautiful to photograph and ultimately make everyone at home green with envy! Here are a few choice picks around the country to add to the wild encounters wish list. 1. Whalesharking in Exmouth, WA Whalesharks are the largest fish in the ocean, occasionally reaching the grand length of around 18m, but generally about 12m Read more

Canberra – What You Don’t Know and Should Do!

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April 29, 2015 botanical gardens ,Canberra ,cycling ,government house ,kayaking ,museum of australia ,national gallery ,national portrait gallery houses of parliament ,National War Memorial ,Open air cinema

Clare Readman

Before travelling to Australia chances are you won’t have heard much about Canberra. Whilst travelling in Australia chances are you won’t have heard much about Canberra (unless you watch the news!). This is because most Australians haven’t been to Canberra nor are they planning on doing so. Well more fool them I say. Whilst working in Eden in NSW we found ourselves with an unexpected long weekend so thought we’d see what the capital of this vast country had to offer. Surprisingly quite a lot! Let me first start out by saying that Canberra is never going to be able Read more

The Easiest Way To Your 2nd year Working Holiday Visa – guaranteed!

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April 29, 2015 2nd year working holiday visa ,farming ,fruit picking ,wwoofer ,wwoofing

Clare Readman

Big boast I guess but it’s true. I am going to share with you the easiest and guaranteed way to get hold of your 2nd year’s working holiday visa in Australia. It’s called Wwoofing. Even if you know about Wwoofing this is still worth a read. Plenty of people don’t know about Wwoofing – which incidentally stands for willing workers on organic farms – and I’m here to tell you that not only is it fun, it’s often easy and will actually be better for you than a lot of fruit picking jobs out there. The main reason that a Read more

Backpackers Burn Quokka: Avoid $50,000 Fine and Jail Time

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April 19, 2015 backpacker ,disgusting ,fine ,quokka ,working holiday

Dimi

Two French Working Holiday Makers used a lighter and a deodorant can to burn a quokka. The abhorrent event occurred on April 3 at Rottnest Island. The two offenders, Thibaud Jean Leon Vallet, 24 and his cousin Jean Mickael Batrikian, 18 were fined $4000 each in Fremantle Magistrates Court They will be held in custody for 1 week or until their fine of $4000 is paid. A video was taken by Thibaud Jean Leon Vallet of the incident.The flame reached 30-centimetre in length singeing the quokka’s head and body. The tourists were seen laughing in the video after the Read more

9 Essential Items You Will Forget To Pack on Your Australian Working Holiday

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April 16, 2015 Australia ,essential travel items ,packing ,safety ,travel bag ,working holiday

Clare Readman

Once the big decision is made to up sticks and take up the exciting and sometimes daunting life of a backpacker suddenly there are lots of things to consider, packing is of course not the most glamorous or exciting element. Have you got enough pants? How many bikinis are too many? They sell shampoo there, why bother stocking up before leaving? Who needs a jumper, Australia is hot all the time right? And so the liturgy continues – however there are some items that are truly essential which often slip the mind due to their more mundane nature, or perhaps Read more

7 Wildlife Encounters in Australia You Can’t Miss

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April 16, 2015 aquarium ,AQWA ,australia zoo ,Australian wildlife ,Bunbury ,crocodile ,crocodiles ,crocosaurus cove ,dolphins ,kangaroos ,Koala hospital ,koalas ,Money Mia ,Natureworld ,polar bears ,Port Macquarie ,seaworld ,Shark Bay ,sharks ,snakes ,tasmania ,wombats ,zoos

Clare Readman

Australia is a country bursting at the seams with wildlife encounters and zoos begging for your backpacker dollar. Below are some of the key ones that I’ve encountered on my working holiday so far and my honest opinion on each one – should you be looking for something other than the shiny leaflet in the tourist office that is! 1. AQWA – Perth, Western Australia WA’s aquarium in Perth may initially look like a standard run of the mill aquarium the same as anywhere else, however the knowledgeable staff there really make it a full day’s outing to remember, and Read more

A Road Trip On The Great Ocean Road

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April 16, 2015 Australia ,backpacker ,great ocean road ,road trip ,Travel ,working holiday

getitizy

The Great Ocean Road-L. Bastien

I’ve heard one day: “A road trip on the Great Ocean Road? Seriously? It’s only rocks and heaps of water!” WHAT?! Well, it’s not entirely wrong, there’s a lot of water. But it’s so much more than that! Impressive cliffs, refreshing rainforest, beautiful beaches, hundreds of colours… This is definitely a must do trip for working holiday visa holders and backpackers that come to Melbourne! Some of you won’t have more than a day to dedicate to it, but if you can hire a campervan for a week or so, go for it! I’ve travelled along the Great Ocean Road (and Read more