What to pack for a working holiday in Australia

The short answer

Pack light and buy the bulky stuff when you land. Take one carry-on-sized day bag, one main backpack you can lift easily, and clothes for hot weather plus one warm layer. Australia has all the shops you need, and secondhand gear is easy to find.

Documents and money

• Passport valid for the whole trip, and a copy of your visa grant email saved offline.
• Travel insurance details and an emergency contact.
• A debit or credit card with low overseas fees, plus a backup card kept separately.
• Driver’s licence (check the state rules on overseas licences and translations).
• Proof of qualifications or references if you’re after skilled work.
• Printed or saved copies of anything your bank or employer might ask for.

Clothes

• Quick-dry T-shirts and shorts. Cotton is hot and slow to dry.
• One pair of long trousers and one long-sleeve shirt for farm, sun and mosquitoes.
• A light rain jacket and a warm fleece. Nights in the south and the mountains get cold.
• Swimmers, a sarong or quick-dry towel.
• Comfortable runners and sandals (thongs, as locals call them).
• Work boots are cheaper to buy once you’re here and know your job.

Sun and bush

Backpack and organisers

Tech and power

• Australia uses 230V sockets with a three-pin slanted plug (Type I). Bring an adapter if you need one.
• Unlock your phone and set up an eSIM before you fly so you have data on arrival.
• A power bank and a good set of earbuds help on long bus legs and in noisy hostels.

Leave at home

• Food, plants, seeds and wooden items. Australia has strict biosecurity rules and you must declare these on arrival.
• Too many shoes, big towels and heavy jeans.
• Anything you can’t afford to lose.