You must also be a citizen of a country that is eligible for the Working Holiday Visa. Currently the working holiday visa is available to citizens of Belgium, Canada, Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.
Step 3: Book your ticket
You’ve visited the Australian Government Department of Immigration website, successfully applied and received the electronic copy of your working holiday visa. It’s time to take the plunge and buy your ticket. There are heaps of websites that offer great airfare to Australia. Just check out CheapFlights.ca or any website that will scan multiple airlines to find you the best price. I ended up booking a direct flight with Air Canada from Toronto to Sydney for around $1400 .00CAD. I met many Canadians, more specifically Torontonians, down under who booked flights out of New York City and saved a considerable amount of money. If you have any interest in visiting the Big Apple for a few days before you leave you may want to consider also looking at flights that depart from the states. A return ticket is not required if you hold a valid working visa. If you are unsure about where you will be going after you leave Australia book a one way flight and then work your way back to Canada through other countries. My return path was quite different as I explored some of the United States on my way home.
Step 4: Choosing a bag.
- MEC Fast Track Rolling Duffel Bag
You’ve booked your ticket. You’ve got your Visa. It’s time to pack. Your packing list will depend mostly on how long you are going to be away for. You will also want to pack some clothes depending on the work you are going to be pursuing. Choosing a bag is also important .Lets cover that first. Australia is a developed country with lots of roads and sidewalks. Unless you are planning on doing bush walks or nature hiking a back pack may not be the best choice. I myself opted for a rolling duffel bag. Aside from being easier to pack than a top loading backpack it was much easier to travel with. As my travel companions complained of long walks to bus stops and hostels with their heavy back packs I strolled along dragging my bag behind me. Most of your bag transport in Australia will be from bus or plane to taxi or shuttle to hostel at which point you will lock up your bag and be done with it. Most people who say they are going to be “backpacking” Australia instantly run out and buy a giant back pack without realizing how heavy it will be once it is loaded up and strapped to your back. As I mentioned earlier unless you are planning on doing long excursions where you will be carrying around a fully loaded pack go for the rolling duffel bag. You and your back will be thankful. You will also be the envy of your travel companions who will be wishing their backpacks also had a set of wheels! Mountain Equipment Co-op makes an excellent rolling duffel bag but there are many options. Try and pick something that is moderately large, but keep in mind that most airlines limit you to 20kg of check-in luggage. If you pick a bag that is too small you will not be able to get everything inside. If it is too big you may end up having to pay extra each time you fly. I found my 110L bag was perfect and it always met the 20kg or less required by the air line.