Hello! I’m from the UK and planning to come to Australia on a working holiday visa later this year. I’m trying to decide between two options:
1. Arrive with an au pair role already lined up
Pros: accommodation sorted, food included, less pressure when I first land, more stability while I settle in. I know I’ll probably already feel overwhelmed, so not having to stress about where to stay or spending loads straight away sounds appealing.
2. Arrive with no fixed plan, travel first, then look for an au pair role once I’m there
Pros: freedom to explore first, meet people, get a feel for different cities.
My worry with option 2 is I’m not really a hostel girl as I like my privacy, but I’d still want somewhere social where it’s easy to meet people. Are there good short-term options like hotels, aparthotels, guesthouses, or Airbnbs where you can stay for a couple of weeks with others without the hassle of signing up for a rental/share house?
I’m pretty set on Melbourne as a starting point, but I’d also love to see other parts of Australia eventually.
If you were in my position, what would you do? Is it smarter to line something up before arriving, or better to go with no plan and sort it once there? Would love literally any sort of tips or advice, especially from solo female travellers or former au pairs!