Have you ever dreamed of visiting Australia but found it too expensive for your backpacker budget? What if we told you there's a secret that allows you to travel long-term in Australia without breaking the bank? In this article, we'll share how we spent two weeks exploring Australia while keeping our expenses under US $250.
How We Traveled for Less Than $250
You're probably wondering how we managed to travel through Australia on such a tight budget. The answer lies in a combination of Workaway and Couchsurfing!
What is Workaway?
Workaway is a platform that connects travelers with short- and long-term job opportunities where you exchange a few hours of work for meals and accommodations. The jobs vary from farm work and animal care to teaching, babysitting, and much more.
The Secret to Low-Cost Travel in Australia
We first discovered Workaway while in Sri Lanka, discussing budget travel with other backpackers. Someone mentioned they had been traveling for over two years thanks to Workaway, which immediately sparked our interest. We signed up for a joint account, although we weren't sure when we would use it.
Fast-forward to a few months later in Bali. We were planning our next move and found that the cheapest flights out were headed to Western Australia. Australia had always been on our bucket list, but we had avoided it due to the high costs. That's when we remembered our Workaway account and explored options in Australia.
To our surprise, plenty of hosts offered work, and we quickly came across Pam and Murray's organic vineyard, Oranje Tractor, which caught our attention. We sent them a request with nothing to lose and were thrilled to receive a positive response within two hours.
Read about our work experience on the organic vineyard in Western Australia here.
What is Couchsurfing?
Couchsurfing is a platform where travelers can find free accommodation by staying with local hosts. Typically, you sleep on a couch or wherever there's space in the house.
Our Couchsurfing Experience in Perth
After our incredible Workaway experience at Oranje Tractor in Albany, we spent a weekend in Perth before heading to New Zealand. To keep our expenses low, we turned to the free accommodation option, Couchsurfing.
We were already familiar with Couchsurfing, as we had hosted a few guests while living in El Paso, Texas, back in 2016. However, this was our first time Couchsurfing as guests ourselves, and our experience in Perth exceeded our expectations. Our hosts were incredibly welcoming, offering us a private room that felt more like an Airbnb than a typical Couchsurfing stay.
One evening, our hosts even organized a barbecue in a nearby park, and their kids joined in, making us feel like part of the family. It was our first Couchsurfing experience, which couldn't have been better. Like at the Oranje Tractor, we felt at home, even though we were far from home.
Conclusion - Travel Australia on a budget
Thanks to Workaway and Couchsurfing, we managed to experience Australia without the big price tag. If you're looking to travel on a budget, these platforms offer incredible opportunities to exchange a few hours of work or simply connect with locals for free room and board. Not only do they help you save money, but they also allow you to immerse yourself in local culture and make lasting connections.
Would you consider trying a work exchange or Couchsurfing to travel on a budget? Let us know in the comments below!
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