Australian Working Holiday Guide Part 3: Accommodation in Australia

We’ve already talked about applying for your working holiday visa and getting set up in Oz, so now it’s time to talk about finding accommodation in Australia! Whether you’re staying put for your entire stay or travelling around the country, there are plenty of options for places to stay. Be warned, though, that finding accommodation can be tough – housing standards can be low, prices are high, and demand is fierce, so you’ve got to be organised and ready to work to find your Aussie home.

We arrived without a clue of what to do when finding accommodation! We stayed in hostels, guesthouses, a friend’s spare room, a house share, and then house sat before finally finding our own accommodation. So trust me when I say that we have learned a thing or two about house hunting in Oz! I’ll run you through your options for accommodation in Australia and give you some price guides along with a few tips to find the right place quickly.

*My advice here is based on our experience hostelling in Melbourne & Adelaide, house sitting, house sharing, AND having our own place in Melbourne. It might not relate exactly to every single place in Australia but I’m sure some of the advice will be pretty similar all over the country – but prices will vary depending on where you are.

Hostels

Unless you organize accommodation before you leave, you will probably have to stay in a hostel or hotel when you first arrive—especially if you’re not sure exactly where you want to settle and work. Some people on 417 visas even live in hostels for their entire stay in Australia. However if you’re not up for that, hostels can be a good base while you find accommodation elsewhere.

Hotels and guest houses in Australian cities are prohibitively expensive for backpackers, plus it costs a LOT to eat out, so even if you do find a cheap hotel, it’s better to have a hostel with a kitchen so that you can cook your own meals. Hostels in Australia are usually more expensive and of a lower standard than ones you would find in South East Asia. We stayed in ten or twelve-bed dorms in hostels across South Australia and Victoria for twice the price of a private double room in Thailand. As I said, some people can handle this and are okay with living in a large dorm, but if you’re not, then plan to find your own accommodation as soon as you can.

Hostel Recommendations

Here are some hostel recommendations for those looking for short-term accommodation in Australia while they find something betterr.

Adelaide

• Tequila Sunrise Hostel in Adelaide’s CBD area is only $49/£25/ €30 per night for a single pod in a dorm room, breakfast and dinner included.

Melbourne

In Melbourne, we first stayed at Space Hotel, an upmarket backpacker hostel with a cinema room, rooftop hot tub, and small gym. We stayed here after the week in Adelaide when we wanted some comfort. Double rooms start at $129 / £67 / €78  per night, and dorm beds start at $59 / £30 /€35.

Sydney

• Potts Point Hostel is near the CBD district. Beds start at just $45 / €26 / £22 per night, with breakfast and dinner included. There’s a shared lounge and kitchen, along with a terrace. Potts Point isn’t the most amazing location in the city, but at this price, it’s a steal.
• YHA Sydney Harbour:  Has rooftop views of the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Harbour. 10 minutes to the nearest station, private and dormitory rooms, a TV lounge, billiards and a fully equipped communal kitchen. Beds start at $60 / €35 / £30 per night.
• Tequila Sunrise Hostel Sydney is near Chinatown and central station. Due to its central location, it doesn’t have quite as many amenities. It has a large shared kitchen space and a small terrace with street views. Beds start at $115 / €68 / £58 per night.
• Wake Up! Sydney Central is a more lively hostel, with a bar & nightclub on-site. The hostel is in Sydney CBD (Central Business District), a 5-minute walk from Chinatown and a 15-minute walk from Darling Harbour. Beds start from $139 / € 82/ £70 per night.

Hostel Tips

If you do have to spend some time in hostels, here are a few tips:

• • • Make sure the hostel has a nice, large kitchen (check reviews to find out kitchen details)
    • Pick up a freezer bag to store your food in the communal fridge and carry it between hostels.
    • Bring your own pillowcases (read my packing guide to see what I bring)
    • Bring an eye mask and earplugs – hostels here can get very noisy.
    • Read reviews carefully to see if the hostel is right for you. Party hostels get awesome reviews but aren’t great if you’re apartment/job hunting and need sleep, so don’t just trust the review score – check what people specifically liked about the hostel.

House Share

House shares are popular in Australian cities, and usually, many rooms are available at any given time. They are easier and quicker to move into than an independent rental, plus they’re a great way to meet new people. They usually work out at the same or cheaper price as a hostel but are a lot more comfortable, private, and quiet. Lots of house shares take couples, so you don’t need to worry if you’re travelling with your partner.

To give you an idea of the price, for our first three months in Melbourne, we rented a double room in a modern two-bed apartment in Melbourne CBD for $1550 per month, all bills included. The apartment had a gym and pool, as well as an en suite bathroom. We found this on Gumtree and stayed here for four months. Currently, in the busier cities, you could pay anything from $1500- $2200 per month, depending on the areas you want.

Gumtree and Flatmates are the top sites with the most listings, and other sites include Easyroomate and FlatmateFinders.

For my fellow Irish travellers, there are also groups on Facebook called ‘Irish around Melbourne’ and ‘Irish around Sydney’ if you are looking for accommodation in Australia  People advertise for everything here! Roommates, jobs, selling furniture, organizing meet-ups and nights out on Irish holidays. There are probably similar groups for other nationalities, too! Definitely join these once you arrive. Another great group is “Fairy Floss Melbourne” which regularly posts house shares all across Melbourne. There are also loads of WhatsApp group chats you can join, which are great for finding accommodation.

Some tips for finding accommodation in a house share:

• • • Set up a profile and email alerts on all of the above websites, and join the Facebook groups above.
    • In Australia, rooms and apartments come unfurnished as standard. If you don’t want to spend money on kitting out your new place, specify that you’re looking for furnished accommodation. Be warned: This will narrow your search significantly.
    • Check the listings first thing each day and reply immediately. Competition is fierce, so you’ve got to be on top of things!
    • Be prepared to travel halfway across the city for a viewing and then get a call to tell you the room has been filled. It’s frustrating, but it happens a lot!
    • Check out neighbourhoods you want to live in first and focus on listings in those areas. Here is a breakdown of the different areas in Melbourne and Sydney

Finding Accommodation through House sitting

After we moved out of our CBD apartment, we spent three months house-sitting at a friend’s place. If you do go to Australia over the winter, check out house-sitting when you are looking for accommodation in Australia. Many people travel looking for sun in the winter and need someone to mind their house. We paid $1600 per month for a three-bedroom house in South Melbourne.

House sitting can be a great short-term option and sometimes costs a fraction of independent rentals (they’re sometimes free!). Some popular sites for finding accommodation through house sitting are Aussie House Sitters, Mind A Home, and House Sitters. 

Tips for finding accommodation through house sitting:

• • • You might need to pay a signup fee for these sites to show you’re serious about house-sitting.
    • There’s no guarantee that you’ll get a house, but if you’re flexible about where you’re going to live, then you stand more of a chance.
    • Because you’re in someone else’s house with all of their things, you might not ever feel *truly* relaxed at home. I was always worried I’d knock something over or scratch something!
    • You’re taking care of someone else’s home, so if you’re not confident that you or your travel buddy can keep the place clean and tidy, then find a house share instead.

Independent Rental

I WISH we had rented our own flat from the beginning as it was cheaper than both house sharing and house sitting. It turned out to be a lot easier than I thought and we felt immediately settled and happier having our own space. While this is the preferred option for most people, it is currently the most difficult due to the housing crisis in the bigger cities.

To give you a guide price, we rented our own one-bedroom flat with a communal pool in South Yarra, Melbourne, for $1520 per month. Internet was $70 / £38 / €43 per month, electricity was $89 / £49 / €55 per month, and gas was $14 / £8 / €9 per month.

I want to highlight that finding accommodation in Australia has always been tough, particularly this year (2024). Try to get something sorted before you arrive, as horror stories have circulated about people struggling to get anything. I don’t mention this to scare you, only to inform you that it can be a daunting process initially.

Sign up to the following websites to find accommodation for rental properties: RealEstate, Domain, and Gumtree. Make sure to set up daily email alerts and book a viewing (they call them ‘inspections’ in Oz) as soon as you see something you like. Flats snap up so quickly it would make your head spin.

Rental agencies hold open inspections for apartments where everyone can see the place. However, due to the demand for housing, most agencies will only do group inspections now. You may struggle to find an individual inspection. You can schedule inspections directly through the RealEstate website. Prepare to arrive at a viewing with 70 other people!

If you’re interested after the inspection, you’ll usually be told by the agent to apply using 1Form.  This is a property application form that most big agencies use. You save all of your details, rental history, references, etc, on the site and use your profile to apply for any properties you like. It takes a bit of time to set up, but you only have to do it once, making it so easy to apply for properties. If you want to move with someone, then you both create a 1Form profile and link the two.

1Form asks for a lot of details that you might not have if you’re new to the country. I spoke to an estate agent about this and they said to fill out what you can. They deal with people on working holiday visas frequently.

Tips for finding private accommodation in Australia in 2024:

• • • Set up your 1Form profile ASAP so you are prepared when you see a place you like
    • Create a profile and set up alerts on rental websites and check/reply to these first thing each morning
    • Go to any / all inspections in the areas you’re looking in. That way you can meet the agents and get a card to stay in contact.
    • Prepare to bid $20-30 higher than what is listed; this is what most people did when we arrived. Note that this is not encouraged by rental agencies, but through speaking to people, this seems to be the most common way to secure a place!
    • Specify that you want a professional cleaning at the start of the tenancy. Our place was filthy when we moved in, but the agents wouldn’t do anything about it because we hadn’t requested it specifically. The rental process isn’t the same as in the UK and Ireland. Make sure you ask for everything you want before you move in.
    • Broadband is quite expensive in Australia. Connections may be limited to a set amount of data unless you pay through the nose for an unlimited connection. Being from Europe, this came as a bit of a shock! Most providers also require you to buy a compatible Wi-Fi router from them for $100. Some allow you to provide your own—we picked up a really good one for $20 on Gumtree.
    • Have references before you arrive! Your 1Form will want you to upload these, and it’s easier to sort before moving. Let a few people at home (or people here) know you will use them as a reference. Some agencies reach out to people as soon as you apply for the rental.
    • Have proof of funds for your deposit and a month’s rent in your Australian Bank account. They will check this!
    • Write a short cover letter about who you are and why you specifically should get the property. There will be lots of other good candidates. Make this personal to each rental if you can.

Work Away

All over the country, people are looking for help with their farms, houses, or pets. This is usually in exchange for free bed and board, so it’s a great option for those looking to find accommodation in Australia. Workaways are super popular in Australia and New Zealand and are a great way to travel the country cheaply. They often take couples and friends. It’s a great way to see bits of Oz you wouldn’t usually see on a holiday.

We didn’t get the chance to do a workaway, but you can read some experiences here. The type of work people do varies; you can do computer work, gardening, housekeeping, or helping with animals. You work around 4-5 hours per day. You may also be working with other work-awayers so you can meet new people.

Check out Workaway.info for finding accommodation in Australia. Create a strong profile and check the site regularly to keep up with listings.

That’s pretty much everything we’ve learned about finding accommodation in Australia! I hope it helps you to find the right place for you. In the next (and final) post in this series, I’ll tell you all about finding your perfect job in Australia!

And don’t forget to check out the other parts too:

• • • Part 1: Getting Your Visa. A step-by-step guide to applying for your 417 visa – and a few things to watch out for before you do.
    • Part 2: Setting up your new life in Australia. From creating your bank account and choosing a phone plan to getting tax-ready. And, anything else you need to work in Australia.

Thanks for reading!
Steph
X