Britpop

You'll find plenty of companions when you land. Just make sure you're in a decent hostel in Sydney and don't be afraid to speak to people. Even if you just ask some rubbish like 'where can I get a decent beer around here' or 'can you tell me where the supermarket is', more than likely that person will arrange to go with you and you'll be out with a bunch of people before you know it. Or put a sign on the notice board that you're looking for travel companions. If all else fails do a backpacker specific trip and your defiantly meet people and probably go for a drink with them when you get back?

Remember that all of SA and NT count for regional. If you're based in one of these, you can look at all types of qualifying work as we found it harder to find construction work in 'regional' areas. If you're in adelaide for instance then you have the option of farm work of labouring good luck! oh, and if you're worried still, Peter Pans can give you advice about what counts if your say booking your bus ticket with them

Jackaroo is great for location and cleanliness and it's pretty sociable but it's expensive. Maze is super cheap, sociable, walkable to anywhere central but a bit scummy round the edges. It's cleaner than other pricier places I stayed though so for the price it's acceptable. Heard good things about Jolly Swagman too. Im sad to say that it's unreal how much these places can charge given the level of cleanliness. It's not a case of getting what you pay for always but generally the more expensive places are a bit tidier. You just have to adjust your levels of what's acceptable lol

I know plenty of people who have got the second year after doing construction labouring - what they called themselves on their forms I can't say for 100% but half of Darwin is lads labouring for their 2nd year.

Look here and click on the visa applicants tab for a full description of what counts http://www.immi.gov.au/Visas/Pages/417.aspx

Sorry, one question,would my Medicare still be valid as a tourist? Thanks

Thank you. I'm not in Aus at the moment so applying for a tourist visa to override the remaining WHV and just travel on that will be the answer then.

Hi, please can anyone tell me if once the WHV is finished of you can stay as a tourist without actually applying for a tourist visa or leaving and re-entering in the county? It looks as though tourist visas are only granted outside Aus so is there another option? Can you enter on a tourist visa if you already have a WHV as the tourist visa would run out later than the WHV? Finally I understand there is a visitor visa that is more than 3 months, rather 6 or 12 but I can't seem to understand in what circumstances these are available? Many thanks

Check gumtree everyday, consider advertising yourself if you have a specific skill (and don't mind a few weird replies), keep your eye on notice boards etc and talk to other travellers, word of mouth is key. Peter Pans, Wicked travel etc can also sometimes help or check their notice boards. Get your CV up to scratch so you don't have to try messing around with it on public computers and consider printing some off before you come to avoid paying a fortune to print at Internet cafes, drop into shops etc. also email it to yourself in a blank email so it's easily accessible and forwardable from anywhere. Finally, no one is likely to employ you unless you can say you're going to commit to at least 3+ months or it's a short term contract.

You are automatically insured to drive with your rego but as you say, you would be right to get additional insurance as if you damage someone else's property you wouldn't be insured, as far as stories I've heard, travellers give fake details and do a runner! Your age more than residency would be the issue. Try coles, aami, allianz, progressive, racq.... Also, it's quite common to get an estate car with room in the back for a mattress, poor man's camper! It may be cheaper to insure a car than a camper so maybe look at that option.

Make sure you use the immi website, they should just need the number.

I know this is old but looks like you're still undecided so for what it's worth, I'd say absolute minimum of £1000-£1300 a month to not feel like you're missing out entirely but compromising a few things. Ie, go to to sydney zoo but give Melbourne's a miss, go to GBR for a day trip rather then an overnighter etc. Pick your 'must dos' and take into account distance/cost will prevent you from doing everything so knock it down to the top ten. Think about things like special events in cities, while it'd be nice to be there for them, it will cost you much more. You can get it all worked out if you have a route planned and get say a greyhound flexi ticket or can check flights for your specific dates, check prices online, which actually will be quite a task, but you'll want to be doing it if you're only there for a short time anyway get the best out of it! The key to staying on budget is planning and while on a WHV you have the time to wait for a cheaper option to come up (cheaper flight, lift share) for a shorter time you need to plan ahead. I don't think It'd be a bad thing to go for a holiday, but just bear in mind that it'd put you back to square one for the WHV saving. There are plenty of backpackers on tourist visas. The down side is that if you get somewhere, meet a great bunch and love it you have to leave and get on with the trip, the plus side is that you see it all in one go, just as much if not more than someone on a WHV (because they often end up staying put for money or they love where they are) they've just stopped to work. You don't get to experience living there day to day obviously but in terms of seeing the country it's no different. And, if you do go back for WHV you'll be better prepared and know where you want to head etc.

Keep an eye on hostel and supermarket notice boards and look at gumtree searching 'short term' and you should find a decent room share, should be cheaper in the long run but staying in a hostel to start is a good way to meet people. Before you arrive just make sure to book a good few nights in a hostel, get your insurance sorted and possibly set up your bank account. Also check if your hostel does airport pickup and get their address, map and number so your ready for a taxi/train if not.

I agree that Men seem to settle easier than women. I think, as I have heard it say, it's more of Man's country. I'm not even sure why!

Getting work as and Electrician on a WHV I don't think will be too difficult from the experience of people we know who've done it, but on the mines is very unlikely. Also, while you bring home the big bucks there, your essentially packing two weeks work into one so you're earning quicker but do the same amount of work (more hours per day 7 days a week) Our friend here who is a sparky just spent thousands to get his Aus qualifications as his UK ones weren't relevant so can now charge the kind of money people talk about. If you're just here for a year, it would probably be a false economy to do that so you wouldn't be one these $40-60/hr people quote as being sparky wages. You don't need skills assessment for WHV so I'd say come on that and see how you go but be prepared that you're not going to command a high wage initially and you're highly unlikely to get on the mines.