Aussie Talk
Australia Guides
Guides to the country itself: the places, the culture, and insights into Australian life.
Heading to Australia?
Learn the slang before you land.
Visas
Which Australia tourist visa to apply for
Your passport decides it. Subclass 651 is free, subclass 601 is AU$20, and everyone else applies for subclass 600.
Work
How to find work in Australia fast (for backpackers and international students)
How backpackers and international students find work in Australia: a resume that fits, the job sites that actually get used, asking businesses directly, and the usual jobs in hospitality, retail and construction.
Moving
What to do before you move to Australia
A checklist from Alba Juan, who moved from Spain to Sydney: insurance, a room, a resume, a driving permit, and papers to print.
Wildlife
Best places to see kangaroos in Australia
Five places to get close to kangaroos, from Cleland Wildlife Park in the Adelaide Hills to Cave Beach in Jervis Bay, the Australian Reptile Park, Currumbin, and Wildlife Habitat in Port Douglas.
Melbourne
Best hostels in Melbourne
Ten Melbourne hostels, from the CBD to St Kilda and Windsor. What each one is good for, and where the dorms get noisy, cramped or short of kitchen space.
Gold Coast
5 Best Hostels on the Gold Coast: Surfers Paradise & Coolangatta
Five Gold Coast hostels: Bunk, Budds, Tequila Sunrise and Surf Inn in Surfers Paradise, plus YHA Coolangatta by the surf. Pools, meals, and the catch.
Visas
Working holiday visa Australia: subclass 417 and 462
Subclass 417 or 462 depends on your passport. Most applicants must be 18 to 30. A first visa is AU$840 from 1 July 2026. A tourist visa will not let you work.
Heading to Australia?
Learn the slang before you land.