365 days · Solo male, 22yo, recent graduate
First 7 Days in Australia — Working Holiday Setup, Sydney
This itinerary covers your critical first week in Sydney: getting legally and logistically set up to work, earn, and move. Days are split between admin tasks and city orientation so you hit the ground running without burning cash. This preview covers the first 7 days of a 365-day trip — claim it to build the full itinerary with Voyaige.
Built for solo male, 22yo, recent graduate spending 365 days in Australia (12-month working holiday)
Budget Estimate
$434
~$62/day for 365 days · USD
Before You Go
Apply for your Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417) online via the Department of Home Affairs; costs AUD $635 and is approved within hours typically.
Do not book accommodation beyond your first 3–5 nights; flexibility is essential for housing and job hunting across neighbourhoods.
Avoid using Global Work and Travel or similar agencies — their placements cost £300–500+ for jobs you can find free on Seek or Gumtree.
Bring printed copies of your visa grant letter, passport, and UK references; Australian employers frequently ask for these on day one.
Set up a Wise (formerly TransferWise) account in the UK to transfer your budget to Australia with minimal fees once your bank account opens.
Good to Know
RSA certifications are genuinely state-specific — a NSW RSA is worthless in Queensland; budget AUD $50 extra if you move states.
Arriving without a concrete job or housing plan is completely normal for working holiday makers; your first week is purely setup time.
Sydney and Melbourne have the toughest housing markets — Brisbane or smaller cities like Adelaide offer better room rates and less competition for hospitality roles.
Start applying for jobs the day after you land — October is peak Australian hiring season for bar and cafe work, don't wait.
Walk-in CV drops before 11 AM on weekdays work best — managers are less stressed before lunch service and more likely to chat.
Hostel notice boards still produce real job leads — especially for cash-in-hand fruit picking, removals, or event staffing work in your first weeks.
Your TFN won't arrive for 28 days but employers can legally hire you without it — just notify them it's pending and follow up promptly.
Day by Day
Land, Orient, Settle In
Airport to Hostel Transit
Take the Airport Link train to Central Station; avoid expensive taxis.
AUD $19.72Check Into Base Backpackers or Wake Up! Sydney
Both hostels offer weekly rates and lockers; book a dorm for flexibility.
AUD $35–45/nightWalk Hyde Park and CBD Orientation
Slow walk to learn the city grid and locate key streets and transport hubs.
FreeBuy a Prepaid SIM (Woolworths Mobile or Aldi Mobile)
Pick up a SIM in-store at Woolworths on Park Street for cheap data plans.
AUD $10–30Hostel Common Room Networking
Talk to other working holiday makers; job leads and housing tips flow freely here.
FreeWhere to eat
Woolworths or Coles Supermarket
Grab a meal deal, under AUD $7.
Thai Rock, Haymarket (Chinatown)
Cheap noodle bowls, fills you up.
Tax File Number and Banking — The Non-Negotiables
Apply for Tax File Number (TFN) Online via ATO
Use the hostel Wi-Fi to submit your TFN application; takes 28 days to arrive.
FreeOpen a Commonwealth Bank or ANZ Account
Walk into a branch with passport and hostel address; no fees for backpackers.
FreeVisit a Post Office to Register a Mailing Address
Set up a PO Box or use your hostel address for official correspondence.
AUD $10–20/monthExplore The Rocks Historic District
Walk Sydney's oldest neighbourhood; free museums and harbour views included.
FreeWalk Circular Quay and Opera House Exterior
Tick off the landmark, photograph the harbour, and check ferry routes.
FreeWhere to eat
Hostel kitchen
Cook oats; save money daily here.
Market City Food Court, Haymarket
AUD $10–14 Asian meals, massive portions.
Coles Supermarket Self-Cook
Pasta or rice, under AUD $5.
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RSA Certification and Hospitality Job Prep
Complete NSW RSA Course Online or In-Person
Book with Allara Learning or CTA Training; NSW RSA is state-specific and legally required.
AUD $35–65Build Australian-Format CV at Library
Use the State Library's free computers to reformat your CV for Australian employers.
FreeRegister Profiles on Seek, Indeed, and Backpacker Job Board
Post your CV and set job alerts for hospitality and bar roles in Sydney.
FreeWalk Darlinghurst and Oxford Street Bar Strip
Scout venues in person; note which bars are busy and look independently owned.
FreeWhere to eat
Hostel kitchen
Toast and eggs, under AUD $2.
Pho Nom, Surry Hills
Bowl of pho for AUD $13.
Supermarket self-cook
Stir-fry vegetables and rice noodles.
Walk-In CV Drops and Hostel Notice Boards
Print 20 Copies of Your CV
Use Officeworks on George Street; cheap printing and lamination available.
AUD $5–10Walk-In CV Drop — Newtown Cafe and Bar Strip
Hit King Street independently-owned cafes and pubs before midday shift starts.
FreeCheck Hostel Job Notice Boards
Return to base and check boards at Wake Up!, YHA, and Base for posted roles.
FreeWalk-In CV Drop — Surry Hills Hospitality Belt
Crown Street has dense cafe and bar concentrations; target lunch and dinner venues.
FreeCheck Gumtree and Facebook Groups for Flat Shares
Search Sydney backpacker housing groups for rooms under AUD $250/week.
FreeWhere to eat
Hostel kitchen
Cook before heading out.
Newtown street food
King Street bakery sandwiches, AUD $8.
Supermarket or hostel cook
Save every dollar before income starts.
Housing Research — Is Sydney Right For You?
Research Regional vs. City Housing Costs
Compare Sydney AUD $250+/week rooms vs. regional towns under AUD $150 with free camping nearby.
FreeVisit Glebe and Newtown to Assess Flat-Share Scene
Walk the streets and view notice boards at cafes and co-ops for subletting opportunities.
FreeInspect a Flat Share (via Gumtree Booking)
Attend a pre-arranged inspection in person; confirm bills-included pricing before committing.
FreeExplore Bondi Junction as an Affordable Alternative Base
Junction (not Bondi Beach) has cheaper rooms and better bus links for job hunters.
FreeBondi Beach Sunset Walk
Walk the coastal path south to Tamarama; decompress after a high-admin week.
FreeWhere to eat
Hostel kitchen
Oats again; routine saves money.
Glebe Markets area cafes
Cheap wraps on Glebe Point Road.
Bondi local takeaway
Fish and chips on the beach, AUD $12.
First Follow-Up Calls, Superannuation, and Manly Day Trip
Follow Up on CV Drops by Phone
Call every venue from Day 4 drops; persistence separates hireable candidates in hospitality.
FreeSet Up a Superannuation Fund
Open an Australian Super or Hostplus account online; employers require this before paying you.
FreeManly Ferry from Circular Quay
Take the 30-minute harbour ferry to Manly; one of the best value trips in Sydney.
AUD $8.70 each wayManly Beach and Corso Walk
Walk the Corso from ferry wharf to beach; browse the laidback cafe and surf scene.
FreeManly to Shelly Beach Coastal Walk
Short cliff walk south to sheltered Shelly Beach; great snorkelling and dramatic views.
FreeWhere to eat
Hostel kitchen
Last free hostel breakfast; make it count.
Manly Wharf Fish and Chips
Classic harbour lunch, AUD $14.
Chinatown BBQ restaurants, Haymarket
Duck rice or char siu, AUD $13.
Reflect, Replan, and Decide Your Next Move
Budget Review and Week Assessment
Tally spending against your £5–6k budget; adjust your city vs. regional strategy accordingly.
FreeWalk the Royal Botanic Garden
Free sprawling harbour-side garden; great place to think and recover from admin-heavy week.
FreeVisit Service NSW Centre if Needed
Resolve any ID or documentation issues in person at the Kent Street service centre.
FreeExplore Paddington and Five Ways
Upscale neighbourhood with pubs and restaurants — scout more hospitality CV drop targets.
FreeDecide: Stay in Sydney or Head to Brisbane or Regional?
Compare your job prospects, budget burn rate, and housing leads before booking onward travel.
FreeWhere to eat
Hostel kitchen
Cook big; long planning morning ahead.
Paddington markets or Oxford Street cafes
Budget AUD $12 for a good sit-down.
Celebrate or cook in based on week outcome
One beer at the pub if job landed.
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