The Australia travel dream was so close you could taste it, you’re here, you’re ready, but you’re in trouble!
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Let us stop that last phrase hitting your lips and share with you the three most common things that will ruin your trip (and how to prevent them!)
Let us stop that last phrase hitting your lips and share with you the three most common things that will ruin your trip (and how to prevent them!)
#1 I Can’t Find a Job – Now I can’t eat!
#1 I Can’t Find a Job – Now I can’t eat!
Finding a job is the number 1 problem backpackers have when they arrive. Why? Because there are hundreds of travellers looking in every city everyday, and they’re all doing the same thing! Print some CV’s, walk around the backpacker bars and smile…. If it didn’t work for the last 10 people, what makes you think you’ll be different!
If you want to join the exclusive “got a job in the first week club” Follow some of our basic tips below:
- Prepare before you arrive – You’ll need at least 1 months’ worth of savings before you arrive at the next city. What does this mean? Enough money to live and eat for 1 month. You’ll be surprised at how delicious those super noodles taste that your roommate is going without.
- Always speak to the manager – They’re out? Find out a time and date they get back and come back then – the employee doesn’t want you in work as much as you do!
- Apply for jobs outside of the city centre – how many of your rival job hunters took a train to the next stop out of the city to apply for work? You need to think differently if you’re going to get work.
- Use local Job Boards – have you used SEEK, Indeed and Jora?
- Get casual work on Airtasker – So many backpackers we talk to haven’t even heard of it! Look it up.
- Network with backpackers already working – If you have a friend in a Hostel who is already working, bingo – they know a business owner and they got a job! Ask how they did it and ask for a referral, even if nothing comes of it, you might be able to share food!
- Repeat – At least 4 hours a day seems about right. You need to be a job finding machine if you’re going to win in the backpacker world!
Finding a job is the number 1 problem backpackers have when they arrive. Why? Because there are hundreds of travellers looking in every city everyday, and they’re all doing the same thing! Print some CV’s, walk around the backpacker bars and smile…. If it didn’t work for the last 10 people, what makes you think you’ll be different!
If you want to join the exclusive “got a job in the first week club” Follow some of our basic tips below:
- Prepare before you arrive – You’ll need at least 1 months’ worth of savings before you arrive at the next city. What does this mean? Enough money to live and eat for 1 month. You’ll be surprised at how delicious those super noodles taste that your roommate is going without.
- Always speak to the manager – They’re out? Find out a time and date they get back and come back then – the employee doesn’t want you in work as much as you do!
- Apply for jobs outside of the city centre – how many of your rival job hunters took a train to the next stop out of the city to apply for work? You need to think differently if you’re going to get work.
- Use local Job Boards – have you used SEEK, Indeed and Jora?
- Get casual work on Airtasker – So many backpackers we talk to haven’t even heard of it! Look it up.
- Network with backpackers already working – If you have a friend in a Hostel who is already working, bingo – they know a business owner and they got a job! Ask how they did it and ask for a referral, even if nothing comes of it, you might be able to share food!
- Repeat – At least 4 hours a day seems about right. You need to be a job finding machine if you’re going to win in the backpacker world!
#2 My Car Broke Down – Now I’m homeless in Cape York!
#2 My Car Broke Down – Now I’m homeless in Cape York!
“I bought this car for $2,000 and now I’m going to drive all of Australia – I’ll only need money for fuel and food” Dream on buddy! Australia is about to gobble you up for breakfast!
Coming close at number 2 is unexpected car issues during a Road Trip. Do you perform your own surgery? Do you remove your own teeth? Well what makes you think you know anything about buying a used car? So many backpackers we talk to have grand visions of desert trips in bust up ford falcons or Nullarbor crossings in a 4th gen backpacker car!
Australia is not Europe, people can legally own cars here for 5, 10 or 20 years without a professional service no worries… no worries until you buy one and the engine explodes! To help you navigate this crazy ritual, we have listed our top tips below:
- Get a vehicle with a Mechanical Warranty – So few backpackers even know this is an option! Wongai sell 4wd’s with roof top tents for much less than they’re worth and can provide a mechanical warranty – the only things you need to do are basic servicing and to sell it back to them at the end of your trip!
- Road Trip with savings – You remember how hard it was to find that job? Well that $4,000 transmission replacement can’t be paid for with love! When you’re hard working enough to get a job, make sure you’re disciplined enough to save for unexpected vehicle costs during your trip!
- Meet a mechanic and get them to view your vehicle – most mechanics will do this for a small fee. Even better, meet a traveller who is a mechanic and get them to take look, $100 now is better than $1,000 later!
- Do the small things so the big things don’t happen – When was the last time you met a backpacker changing their oil? It’s rare. This should be your standard routine every 5,000km’s for vehicles in road trip mode! If you didn’t think of this, the person who owned the car before you probably didn’t either!
- Have local contacts – Facebook is your best friend as a backpacker, join a supportive group like Australia Road Trips and use the experience of others who have been there before!
“I bought this car for $2,000 and now I’m going to drive all of Australia – I’ll only need money for fuel and food” Dream on buddy! Australia is about to gobble you up for breakfast!
Coming close at number 2 is unexpected car issues during a Road Trip. Do you perform your own surgery? Do you remove your own teeth? Well what makes you think you know anything about buying a used car? So many backpackers we talk to have grand visions of desert trips in bust up ford falcons or Nullarbor crossings in a 4th gen backpacker car!
Australia is not Europe, people can legally own cars here for 5, 10 or 20 years without a professional service no worries… no worries until you buy one and the engine explodes! To help you navigate this crazy ritual, we have listed our top tips below:
- Get a vehicle with a Mechanical Warranty – So few backpackers even know this is an option! Wongai sell 4wd’s with roof top tents for much less than they’re worth and can provide a mechanical warranty – the only things you need to do are basic servicing and to sell it back to them at the end of your trip!
- Road Trip with savings – You remember how hard it was to find that job? Well that $4,000 transmission replacement can’t be paid for with love! When you’re hard working enough to get a job, make sure you’re disciplined enough to save for unexpected vehicle costs during your trip!
- Meet a mechanic and get them to view your vehicle – most mechanics will do this for a small fee. Even better, meet a traveller who is a mechanic and get them to take look, $100 now is better than $1,000 later!
- Do the small things so the big things don’t happen – When was the last time you met a backpacker changing their oil? It’s rare. This should be your standard routine every 5,000km’s for vehicles in road trip mode! If you didn’t think of this, the person who owned the car before you probably didn’t either!
- Have local contacts – Facebook is your best friend as a backpacker, join a supportive group like Australia Road Trips and use the experience of others who have been there before!
#3 I’ve Been Robbed – Now I can’t fly home!
#3 I’ve Been Robbed – Now I can’t fly home!
“Australia is safe everywhere, the people are great and I leave my car doors unlocked at night, there’s no one around anyway!” Australia is good, but it’s not dream land!
On the international stage, Australia is one of the safest countries in the world – this doesn’t mean it’s crime free! Just like any country, dodgy characters lurk in the shadows and you need to take care to protect yourself and your belongings, especially when you’re travelling.
Below we’ve listed our top travel tips to help keep you safe and make sure if the worst happens, your trip can continue!
- Use the hostel lockers – Just because these people smile, doesn’t mean they will remember to lock the door! Always put your passport and money in a hostel locker (and bring your own padlock!) you would be surprised how many people leave belongings on the floor “because they know everyone in their room”
- Always keep some money in a second bank account – If you lose your Australian bank card while you’re out and the account is emptied, how do you plan to eat? Always keep some money in a second bank account in your own country, cancelling cards and sending money over by transfer is a lot better than begging for a ticket home!
- Lock your car doors at night – Those of you Road Tripping, especially those in roof top tents, make sure you lock your car before you go to sleep! This seems obvious but by the conversations we have, its rarer than you would think!
- Leave beach gear with another beach goer – heading to the beach for a beach swim? Bring the minimum you need (small cash is even better) and Ask another beach goer (who looks nice!) to watch your gear while you swim. It’s a long walk from the Manta Ray Barge to Rainbow beach to get a car key cut!
So there you have it, the three most common problem and a list of the not-so-common solutions! Is anything you read going to help you? Well share this with a friend! Don’t be that person who hoards knowledge that could save someone’s trip!
With Love,
The Wongai Team
“Australia is safe everywhere, the people are great and I leave my car doors unlocked at night, there’s no one around anyway!” Australia is good, but it’s not dream land!
On the international stage, Australia is one of the safest countries in the world – this doesn’t mean it’s crime free! Just like any country, dodgy characters lurk in the shadows and you need to take care to protect yourself and your belongings, especially when you’re travelling.
Below we’ve listed our top travel tips to help keep you safe and make sure if the worst happens, your trip can continue!
- Use the hostel lockers – Just because these people smile, doesn’t mean they will remember to lock the door! Always put your passport and money in a hostel locker (and bring your own padlock!) you would be surprised how many people leave belongings on the floor “because they know everyone in their room”
- Always keep some money in a second bank account – If you lose your Australian bank card while you’re out and the account is emptied, how do you plan to eat? Always keep some money in a second bank account in your own country, cancelling cards and sending money over by transfer is a lot better than begging for a ticket home!
- Lock your car doors at night – Those of you Road Tripping, especially those in roof top tents, make sure you lock your car before you go to sleep! This seems obvious but by the conversations we have, its rarer than you would think!
- Leave beach gear with another beach goer – heading to the beach for a beach swim? Bring the minimum you need (small cash is even better) and Ask another beach goer (who looks nice!) to watch your gear while you swim. It’s a long walk from the Manta Ray Barge to Rainbow beach to get a car key cut!
So there you have it, the three most common problem and a list of the not-so-common solutions! Is anything you read going to help you? Well share this with a friend! Don’t be that person who hoards knowledge that could save someone’s trip!
With Love,
The Wongai Team
