Australia Working Holiday

Beaches for days, friendly culture, relaxed vibes and jaw-dropping scenery? There’s nowhere like Australia; discover it all through our Australia Working Holiday Programs.

Why do a Working Holiday in Australia

On a working holiday in Australia, you can trade unpredictable Canadian weather for year-round summer. Canadians have the unique opportunity to experience living and working in Australia for up to three years. This gives you time to properly explore this vast and diverse continent.

Australia is a popular place for Canadians to have their first experience abroad. It’s beautiful, fun, English-speaking, and has a solid infrastructure for youth travel. It is a great place to meet other young travellers and build lasting friendships with people from all over the world.

Whether you start your Australian working holiday in a large city like Sydney or Melbourne, or a smaller city like Perth or Adelaide, Stepabroad will help you make the most of your experience of a lifetime Down Under.

Requirements

The Australian government charges $635 AUD to apply for the Australian Working Holiday Visa. They have a number of requirements you must meet in order for your application to be approved. Your personal Stepabroad travel advisor will walk you through the application steps in complete detail and will ensure you provide the correct documentation. The requirements are as follows:

  • Hold a valid Canadian passport
  • Between 18 and 35 at the time of application
  • In good health and fit to travel
  • Do not hold a criminal record and be of good character
  • Can prove the Canadian equivalent of $5,000 AUD or more readily available in support funds
  • Planning a trip of up to 12 months which can be extended to 3 years
  • Have never previously held an Australian Working Holiday Visa

Australia Working Holiday Programs

Year-round

1 - 36 months

C$399

Australia Send-Off

Our most affordable support package helps Canadians get started on their Australia Working Holiday. Our team of experts guides you through your visa application and provides real support on finding a job, a place to live, opening your bank and tax accounts and meeting new friends.

Year-round

4 days

C$899

Melbourne Discovery Experience

Begin your Australia Working Holiday in Melbourne, with a personal airport pickup, your first three nights of accommodation taken care of and our team to show you the ins and outs of this trendy and culture-filled city, you’ll be buzzing around the caffeine capital of the world in no time!

Year-round

4 days

C$899

Sydney Discovery Experience

Want to start your Australia Working Holiday adventure in beautiful Sydney? Our Sydney Discovery Experience will give you a fun introduction to this iconic city, allow you to meet new friends, and provide you with the local support you need to begin living, working and travelling in Australia.

Year-round

8 days

C$1,599

Melbourne Adventure Experience

Start your Australian Working Holiday by checking off every item on your bucket list with our Melbourne Adventure Experience! Learn to surf, see koalas and kangaroos, and taste Australian wine right from the vineyard… all within your first week of being in Australia.

Year-round

8 days

C$1,599

Sydney Adventure Experience

Dream of swimming with wild dolphins or cruising through the famous Sydney Harbour? This eight-day program has one adventure after another, including an epic beach-bound road trip. Start your Australia Working Holiday adventure in Sydney off with a bang!

Year-round

5 days

C$799

Surf Camp Add-On

Add a 5-day surf camp to your Australia Working Holiday for the ultimate Australia bucket-list experience and learn to surf in no time! Our Sydney-based surf camp is all-inclusive, meaning all of your surf lessons, gear, transportation, beach-side accommodation and meals are included!

FAQs

Is Sydney or Melbourne better for a working holiday?

That is the ultimate question! Australians have been arguing this point for years and at the end of the day, it comes down to personal preference. For beach lovers, Sydney is the place to be. The weather rarely drops below 15° celsius, and with more than 100 beaches to choose from this is the perfect place to learn to surf. Not to forget the iconic Sydney Opera House for those envy-inducing selfies! However, for party animals, Melbourne might be the spot for you. With countless sports and live music events, there is always something to see or do. Winter in Melbourne can be chilly – with a similar climate to Vancouver – and the city does get occasional snow. If you need to warm up, the food scene is really top-notch and there are countless incredible restaurants to try as you shelter from the cold.

Where should I stay on a Working Holiday Visa in Australia?

There is no wrong choice when it comes to Australia! Brisbane benefits from consistent year-round sunshine while Cairns is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest. Darwin and the Northern Territory offers a true ‘Crocodile Dundee’ experience for those who want to do their working holiday in the Australian outback. Every fall, Adelaide has one of the world’s largest comedy festivals and Hobart is surrounded by stunning hikes and nature. Western Australia and Perth have vast open spaces and pristine, unspoilt beaches – while being far less crowded than the East Coast. The options are endless!

How does the second and third-year visa work?

In order to apply for a second or third-year Australia Working Holiday Visa, you must complete a specified amount of time working in a regional role (otherwise known as farmwork). More than 80% of Australians live on the coast, however, the vast majority of farms and food production occurs in the Outback where land prices are cheaper. The Australian government designed the second (and third) year visa scheme to incentivize working holidaymakers to leave the main cities and head inland to fill seasonal labour shortages. Farm work can be a great way to save money as accommodation is often cheap (or free) and as the positions are remote, other expenses are minimal. We can give you advice on finding jobs and completing your days as part of all of our packages.

When is the best time to Australia?

As Australia is such a large landmass, it has a huge range of climates. Generally, northern Australia (such as Cairns, Darwin & Broome) is hot year-round with a wet season and a dry season that affects the humidity. Southern Australia (such as Sydney, Melbourne & Adelaide) has the more traditional seasons of spring, summer, fall and winter. Remember that Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere, so the seasons are reversed compared to Canada! Many people like to visit Australia as the weather begins to cool down back home so that they can experience 12 consecutive months of great weather. Others decide to travel during the offpeak season to save money on accommodation and transport, and to have less competition for jobs. Regardless of when you decide to depart, Australia will always be warmer than most parts of Canada. Average winter temperatures in Sydney and Melbourne still reach 5-15° celsius on most days.