You are travelling Australia and want to top up your money, so you thought you would look for a travel job in Australia. Well you are in luck. Australia offers people travelling around Australia plenty of casual job opportunities. This means you don’t need to spend some of the money you might have saved to travel full-time in Australia. You can make it while you travel.

While some take a business on the road with them, or gain sponsorship from brands, most of us pick up casual work. Whether you only want to work for a few weeks or a couple of months to top up your funds, there is work you can do. And these jobs are not just for backpackers and working holiday makers to Australia. Locals are doing casual work too to fund their travels. In this post I’m going to list some of the best travel jobs in Australia to pick up during your Aussie travels.

Can I say from the outset, I am not a recruitment agent and cannot give you a job. The point of this post is to let you know what travel backpacker jobs are out there and how to find one. Getting a travel job in Australia will help you to continue travelling and enjoying living, working and playing in Australia. The jobs are all physical ones. Though there are some on-line jobs you could do as you travel Australia if you are a digital nomad or online remote worker.

Not everyone hits the road with enough money to fund their entire trip. This is why ‘how do you make money while travelling Australia’ is a question I am often asked. So I’m going to answer it. Read on for some of the best travel jobs in Australia you can do to top up your travel fund.

Travel Jobs in Australia

Looking for jobs in Australia while travelling so you can earn a wage while you wander? You could continue your usual career by taking casual jobs in the field, or you could adapt your skills and try something new. Check these options out. The following travel jobs are listed in alphabetical order. Keep in mind many of the employers like a commitment of a few months or a season.

Au Pair

Getting a job as an Au Pair is perhaps one of the most traditional types of jobs for working holiday makers to Australia. Best news is, you don’t necessarily need to love kids to look after them, but it does help! Even better news is, being an Au Pair is usually live-in meaning, you will have a job and a place to live. This suits travellers. Au Pairs are usually from overseas who want to come and study or learn English. However, many locals get an Au Pair job or child care position to help look after kids. As an Au Pair duties will include caring for and entertaining children, pick-up and drop-off from school and activities and doing the children’s laundry, cooking them meals and tidying up after them. And jobs can be found all around Australia as all types of families require help. So you could get a job in a big city, town or on a farm. To find an Au Pair job register with a local agency or check out job boards on Facebook of the local area.

Backpacker Hostel Jobs + other Jobs in Accommodation

You could say, one of the most fun travel jobs in Australia, particularly for solo travellers can be working in a backpacker hostel. Mainly because of the fun people you can meet. Backpacker hostels and some budget hotels are often staffed by travellers. If you like a place you are staying at ask at the front desk if they are hiring. This is how I got my first hostel job. I liked Darwin and decided to stay a couple of months. Most jobs available are on reception checking in and out guests and as housekeeping staff. Housekeeping involved cleaning and possibly working in the cafe or bar if the hostel has one. I was lucky I was paid a wage and got a free bed in a room. Many travellers will exchange work for a free bed. Though not a job, exchanging work for accommodation means you save on accommodation costs. To find a job in a backpacker hostel, budget hotel or any accommodation like a caravan park ask at reception or visit the HostelWorld site. It should be noted HostelWorld doesn’t offer jobs, but you can use the contact details of the hostel on the site to make contact with the hostel to see if any jobs are available. There are also plenty of resorts like beach resorts, snow resorts and outback resorts that will require staff.

Barista

Who doesn’t love a good cup of coffee? Probably tea drinkers, but that’s another story! Every city, town and service centres along the road has a coffee machine just waiting for someone to order a coffee. And there are some cities with a huge ‘coffee culture’ such as Melbourne. Now if you have barista skills, these will be highly regarded and you could easily pick up a job. So if you know how to make a decent flat, white, cappuccino or latte, consider using these skills to top up your travel funds as you drive around Australia. A great way to find a barista job in Australia is to walk into an establishment armed with your CV and ask if there are any barista jobs going. One of the best things above being a barista is the hours you work. Many cafes are only open in the morning. Even though you may have early starts, more than likely you will finish after lunch time and have the rest of the day to yourself.

Bartender

Working behind a bar is a great travel job in Australia mainly because there is a pub in every town and they often require help to serve drinks to the locals and visitors. Being a bartender is one of those jobs you can get without having had much, or any, experience. Though to serve alcohol in Australia you must have completed a Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) training. This training can easily be done online and only takes a few hours to obtain. With one, you can walk into any bar in Australia, in the cities, road houses and country towns and hopefully get a job behind the bar.

Busker or Street Performer

Not your typical backpacker job in Australia. But, if you have a special artistic skill you could busk or street perform. Can you sing? Play an instrument, juggle, dance, mime, be a statue or draw? Then consider busking or street performing to make money to help you travel around Australia. You could even ask in the local pub if you could ‘sing for your supper’ with a bit of extra cash thrown in! Before you busk outdoors, check if any permissions are required. Sometimes you may need to obtain a permit from the local council or town hall. Then, choose your spot where there is a lot of foot traffic, lay out your hat, and ply your trade.

Caravan Park Jobs

Unlike the backpacker hostels where young backpackers often get a job, caravan parks are often staffed by ‘older’ travellers, particularly couples. But many solo travellers and young travellers also work in caravan parks. You may be required to commit to a season. That’s OK, as you will get to know the region on your time off. Most caravan parks will require reception staff for checking in and out guests. Also a cleaner to clean the ablutions blocks and tidy up the cabins after guests have left. Sometimes a maintenance or handyman is needed to fix those things that need fixing. As well as a small wage a free site to park up your van is often included. To find a caravan park job just ask in reception if any jobs are available. Also check out Facebook pages and groups.

Fruit and Vegetable Picking – The Harvest Trail

Many travellers make money travelling Australia by picking fruit and vegetables. There is a specific harvest trail in Australia you can follow so you can follow the harvest work around the country while sightseeing as you go. While fruit and vegetable pickers are in demand, there are other roles in the industry you can find. This includes machine operators who will be moving produce around and shed workers who will be sorting the produce. To find picking fruit and vegetable work there are a number of websites you can apply to and also check out backpacker job boards. Finding this type of work is popular and because workers are often needed, farms have teamed with local backpacker hostels. Together they offer travellers a job and a place to stay for the picking season. Many of these live and work hostels are in Queenslands.

House and Pet Sitting

House and pet sitting isn’t actually a travel job in Australia, but it is a great way to save money as you travel around Australia. This is why I have included it in this list of backpacker travel jobs. When you house and pet sit you get free accommodation in exchange for looking after someone’s house and pet/s. Sounds pretty good doesn’t it! So if you want a break from living in your van, try house and pet sitting. House and pet sitting can be anywhere. I have done it a few times. My first time was in a beach house in Gerroa, then in the mountains outside Mansifeld. You can find a house through a house and pet sitting Facebook group or the best way I find them is through TrustedHousesitters. You will need to pay a joining fee, but once you have joined, you can find pet and house sitting gigs all throughout Australia.

Labourer

Getting a job as a labourer is a popular working holiday maker or travel job in Australia. It can be quite easy to get even when you have no experience but are willing to work hard. Tasks may include anything from working on a construction site to gardening in a park. You may need to obtain a ‘White Card‘ or General Construction Induction Card before being allowed onto a work site. The card verifies the holder has completed a general induction training course on workplace health and safety requirements. It takes a day usually to obtain so I suggest you obtain it before you go travelling if you want to pick up labouring work as you travel around Australia.

Mine Work

Mine work sounds hard and inhospitable to me, yet, many choose to work in this industry. There is plenty of mine work available that is spotted around the country, particularly in Western Australia and Queensland. It is not always an easy industry to get into. However, if you already have got the qualification and tickets required, work can be found. Many of the jobs are fly in fly out (FIFO) and a commitment of a few months may need to be made. But the money can be great and is a great way to top up the bank account. During my travels around Australia I met a number of people who did mine work. There were examples of people leaving their family set up in one location while the worker flew in and out of the workplace. During their off-time which was usually 2 weeks, they would move to a new location for a couple of weeks. But sometimes, you got to do it for the money so you can continue travels around Australia.

Professional Roles + Office Admin

If you already have a university degree or a relevant qualification in a specific industry you may be able to find work on a casual or temp basis doing that work. Work such as accounting, banking, office based (reception, data entry, administration), marketing, IT, etc. There are many recruitment agencies that specifically hire casual and temp workers to fill short-term jobs. Jobs could be for a day, week, month or longer. Check out large agencies with offices Australia-wide such as Adecco, Hays, Robert Walters and Randstad to name a few. There are also many smaller agencies specialising in placing staff in specific industries.

Scuba Diving Instructor

Australia has some of the best scuba diving sites in the world. And many people who come to Australia like to learn to scuba dive so they can experience spectacular underwater Aussie sites. You will need to gain your scuba diving instructor qualifications but hey, once you have them, you can live the dream, doing something you love doing for a living. Although you could get a job anywhere along the Australian coastline or rivers, popular areas to gain scuba diving work are in major towns and cities (Cairns, Townsville, the Whitsundays) near the Great Barrier Reef. And in Western Australia around Shark Bay and Ningaloo Reef.

Snow Resort Jobs

Come the winter months there is are dumps of snow in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. If you love the snow, why not work a snow season. Ski resorts require a lot of staff so they run efficiently. Jobs can be found in food and beverage, in hospitality, in hotel reception, in ski rental and outside ploughing the snow or maintaining the equipment. Most jobs include accommodation which you share with other workers doing a season. One of the best reasons to work in the snow is so you can ski and snowboard during your down time. Read my post on how to work and ski in an Australian snow resort.

Station Work

Another great opportunity for earning money while travelling Australia, and a unique one to many of us, is to take a job as a station hand. The type of ‘station’ I am referring to is a cattle station. Now if you are worried you cannot ride a horse or pilot a helicopter don’t worry, there are many positions on a station. Jobs include, cook/chef, nanny, cleaner, machine operator, fencer, caretaker/gardener, mechanic and animal husbandry. Jobs will include a wage and accommodation or a place to park up your van. To find a station job check out websites like AG Workforce, search cattle station jobs on Seek, Indeed, Gumtree and Jora.

Waiting

From small cafes by the beach or in a small town or roadhouse to five star restaurants with fabulous views, Australia has establishments that need waiters. Waiters to take orders, serve orders and generally keep the serving of food to patrons running smoothly. Many places don’t require experience as they are happy to show you the ropes while other places may not want to do that so require you to be experienced. It is worth your while to travel with a pair of black slacks and a white shirt if you hope to get waiting jobs. Waiting jobs are best found by walking in to establishments and asking if a job is available.

How to find a Backpacker Travel Job

Now you know some of the types of work you could do as you travel Australia, you will want to know how to find such work. If I’m looking to get a travel job I consider the following things:

1. Look at the area you are in and adapt your skills accordingly. Are you in a tourist town, then there will be waiting work in cafes and restaurants, bar tending in bars and work in hostels and small hotels on reception or cleaning. Are you in a farming area, work may be available as a farm hand or picking fruit and vegetables.
2. Ask at your accommodation if any work is going, particularly if staying in a hostel. You may be able to work for your accommodation. Caravan Parks may also need casual staff for maintenance work and cleaning cabins. There are jobs that include accommodation as part of the employment package. 
3. Offer your professional services at your accommodation or on the side of the road. * Are you a hairdresser? Offer haircuts. * Are you a mechanic? – offer to fix cars as there are plenty that need a little maintenance while travelling Australia. * Are you a masseuse? Offer massages to relax those muscles after a hard day of sightseeing. * Can you teach yoga? Offer classes. * Are you a teacher? Maybe do some tutoring of home schooled kids staying caravan parks.
4. Register with an agency of the type of work you are seeking, ie. nursing, accounting, farming, office administration, etc.
5. Check out hostel notice boards and community notice boards. You never know what job you may find on one of these boards.
6. Search Internet on-line recruitment sites of the country you are in such as Seek, Indeed, Gumtree,.
7. Join Facebook groups of the local area you are in that advertise jobs. For instance, Jobs in Melbourne.

Are You Ready to work your way around Australia?

I hope this post helps to alleviate any stress you may be feeling about how you will fund your travels around Australia. Do you know of other work I can add to this list. Let me know in the comments.