Couple dispel Aussie travel myth by saving $34,000 in weeks
When Gabby and Charlie moved to Australia from the UK, they aimed to do it differently. And now they're encouraging others to do the same.
When British couple Gabby and Charlie set out for their great Aussie adventure, they'd planned to do it differently from most.
Despite farm work no longer being a visa requirement for expats hoping to extend their stay in Australia, they decided to do it anyway — and it's something they'd "100 per cent" recommend to others, dispelling the myth that expats making a life in Australia can't save much money due to the rising cost of living.
The couple from Essex arrived Down Under in October last year and instead of heading to Sydney, like many expats choose to do, they stayed three months in Newcastle, a smaller harbour city in NSW. After a short stint in Melbourne, they made their way to rural Victoria where they worked for 20 weeks on a dairy farm.
"It was a decision we made before we even left because we knew it'd be an amazing experience, it's something different. Something that we would never even think about doing back home," Charlie told Yahoo News Australia.
"We also used it as an opportunity to save for our future travels around Australia too," he added, revealing they were able to save over $34,000 during their 20-week stay. And it's something they admit all expats should still consider to get ahead.
Farm work no longer a requirement for working holiday visa holders
As of 1 July 2024, changes to the Australian working holiday visa meant UK travellers no longer have to complete three months of farm work to extend their stay in Australia after a year. Previously, many expats relied on fruit picking at farms across the country to complete the mandatory work.
But that wasn't an option for the young couple, aged 24 and 26, who said they didn't want to work on a fruit farm mostly because "we've heard some really bad stories," alluding to poor pay and tough conditions.
"The reason we went for dairy farming is because of the experience and getting to be with the calves and the cows," they said. A typical day involves milking cows, cleaning stalls and birthing calves before enjoying quiet nights at home.
They found the gig in Yanakie, Victoria after posting on Facebook Marketplace and were approached by a local farmer. "They had never had backpackers before. They didn't know anything about our visa or anything like that," they said.
"They were actually looking for people who didn't have any farming experience because they wanted to teach people to do things their way. We were very fortunate because we didn't have to do it for our visa, so we were able to be quite picky with [who we chose]."
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Breakdown of costs working on the dairy farm
Breaking down their pay, the couple revealed that 50 hours of work per week earned them each $1275. Being a rural area, "there wasn't much to do" in terms of fun, so they didn't spend a lot of money socialising.
Their total weekly spend on rent and expenses totalled $791.18 between them, which allowed them each to save almost $900 a week. This likely wouldn't be possible in major cities, including Sydney," they said.
Comparing their own experience to others living Down Under, they say this work allowed them to experience something different while funding their future travels. They're now planning an epic three-week holiday travelling across Queensland, including Brisbane, Cairns, Port Douglas and the Great Barrier Reef — a trip they say likely wouldn't have otherwise been possible.
"A quarter of the money we've saved is funding that trip," they told Yahoo. "We've worked hard these past five months and we've saved a lot of money, so now we don't have to worry."
A typical day on the farm started at 5am and ended at 6pm.
How farm work compares to city jobs
Others living in Sydney or other cities often rely on hospitality or retail work to get by while some opt for office work including recruitment. A British man previously revealed his major gripe with the working holiday visa. Those staying on the visa can only work for the same employer for a maximum of six months before being forced to find another role. Plus, there's often a shortage of jobs, he said.
Like most, Charlie and Gabby tried their hand at a range of roles while living in Melbourne and Newcastle including labouring for Charlie and hospitality for Gabby. But nothing compared to the work they did on the farm, and what they got paid.
"For me personally, the money is a bonus," said Charlie. "But the experience on the farm is just one of the things you have to do. It's just different and we absolutely loved it."
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