Hello
For a three month trip, I wouldn't get a WHV; they're "once in a lifetime" (up to age 31), so better save it for when you can go for 6-12 months. The amount of time needed to actually find work would basically mean that working wouldn't really be worth it anyway.
Both WHVs and s (which is what you'd need if just going as a tourist for up to three months, and is free) are generally approved within minutes to hours, although sometimes they take up to a week. (This is assuming you're from an EU country or Canada. Citizenship matters with visa questions!)
For a budget, count on a minimum of AUD $65/day for the basics, which'd allow you to stay in small dorms in good quality hostels, travel by bus to a next destination about once a week, buy supermarket food to cook your own meals, and do the occasional activity. (Think a daytrip to watch platypuses rather than skydiving.) Going out partying every night and doing more and more expensive activities can easily triple the amount of money you'd need, which is just to say: How much money you really need varies wildly from person to person. Watch your actual expenses when there, and adjust as necessary.
I'd strongly recommend doing everything independently. Not only is it significantly cheaper (for one: you're only paying for the things you really care about and want to do), it also gives ultimate flexibility, and much more of a sense of accomplishment. Basically just turn up in Australia with your hostel for the first few nights booked, and go from there. Have a rough itinerary in your head for what you'd want to do (for example, since you're starting in September, and don't want to be caught up north in the wet season when that starts in December: fly up to Cairns, and make your way down the coast via Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide) so you can fall back on that as a basic plan if you don't know what else to so, and then just go see what things are like. Bring a good guidebook and read up on the surrounding area as you come through it, heading off in random directions on a whim. Talk with fellow backpackers and find out what they liked doing. Discover what you really care about doing when you're freed from all constraints.
ah thank you for your fab reply just how easy is it to make friends when travelling solo?
Im thinking about flying out & booking into a hostel in sydney for a few days, hoping to meet some like minded people & form further plans?
In my head this will be really easy & everyone will be mega friendly & awesome.. is this the reality?!
I think after flights I would be taking about £3000 with me & seeing how far/long it gets me
It's very easy to get chatting with fellow travellers in your hostel; you'll do it all the time. (Especially as a solo traveller.) You can also expect to easily meet people to go out into the city together with for sightseeing or whatever if you're up for that. Beyond that it really depends on your personality; people definitely do head out travelling together for longer stretches all the time, but I personally would never expect myself to be one of those people (I'm a bit of a loner). Also, you'll get along fabulously with most fellow travellers, and will consider them fast friends - but you'll never hear from them again as soon as your ways part. (And in my experience, as soon as you get beyond the superficial with fellow travellers, it's a guarantee that either one of you will head in a different direction the very next day.) These aren't bad things; it's just the way it is. (And there certainly are exceptions. There's still a few people I met during my travels who I keep in vague contact with.) Basically I wouldn't count or rely on finding someone to travel together with right away, but just head out on your own. There's new and just-as friendly fellow backpackers at the next place, too. And chances are that somewhere along the way you'll encounter a few familiar faces at a next hostel or on the bus, and if you enjoy talking with them, can then see about aligning your travel schedules beyond that point.
£3000 to me sounds unrealistically tight for three months. Better to count on two months, or save up more.
[ 12-Jul-2012, at 12:35 by Sander ]
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