Quick answer: Book a hostel for your first week, start looking at share houses on day two, and move as soon as you find a room you have inspected in person. Expect to pay a bond of two to four weeks’ rent, which in most states must be lodged with a government authority and is refunded when you leave. Never pay a cent for a room you have not seen.
Week one: the hostel
A hostel is the right call for your first days. It gives you an address for forms, people to ask questions, and often a jobs noticeboard.
How to choose:
- Location. Close to the centre or to a train line. You will be walking into cafés with your CV and going to your RSA course; cheap hostels far out cost you in transport and time.
- Kitchen. A proper kitchen saves you serious money. Check photos and reviews.
- Dorm size. A 4- to 6-bed dorm is worth the small premium over 12 beds if you need to sleep for a job trial.
- Lockers and a padlock. Bring your own lock.
- Reviews from the last three months, not the overall score.
Book seven nights, not a month. Prices in the big cities rise steeply over Christmas and during events, so book early if you land in December.
We use Hostelworld for hostels and Booking for the odd private room or motel on the road.
Working hostels
In regional towns, “working hostels” place guests with local farms and packing sheds for 88 days work. Some are excellent; some are not. Before you commit:
- Ask in the community for recent experiences by name.
- Never pay a large upfront “job guarantee” fee. Reputable hostels charge rent, not placement fees.
- Confirm that the farm pays through payroll with payslips.
- Check what the weekly rent includes (transport to the farm, Wi‑Fi, linen).
Finding a share house
Share houses are where you will live for most of the year. A room in a shared flat with two or three others, bills split, often furnished.
Where to look:
- Flatmates.com.au — the main site. Set up a profile with a photo and a short honest description; you are being chosen as much as choosing.
- Facebook groups — search for your city plus “rooms”, “flatmates” or “share house”, and groups in your own language (Italian, Spanish and Taiwanese communities are active in every capital).
- Hostel noticeboards and reception.
- Gumtree, with more caution.
What to check at the inspection:
- Who lives there, how many people, and whether anyone is hot-bedding or sleeping in the living room (a sign of an overcrowded, possibly illegal setup).
- Whether bills are included, and what the internet is like.
- Minimum stay and notice period, in writing.
- Whether you sign a lease directly, sub-let from a head tenant, or just pay cash to a “manager”. Direct or documented sub-lets protect you; cash to a stranger does not.
- Distance to public transport and to the areas where you want to work.
Rent is usually quoted per week, not per month. A room advertised at 300 a week costs about 1,300 a month.
Bond: how it works
A bond is a refundable security deposit, normally two to four weeks’ rent depending on the state (the maximum is set by state law — check the tenancy authority for your state).
- In most states and territories, a landlord or head tenant must lodge the bond with the government bond authority (for example Rental Bonds Online in NSW, the RTBA in Victoria, the RTA in Queensland). You receive a lodgement receipt. If they cannot show you one, ask why.
- Take dated photos of the room when you move in and when you leave.
- Get a receipt for every payment, including cash.
- At the end, you claim the bond back through the authority. If the landlord disputes it, there is a free tribunal process.
Informal share house arrangements do not always follow these rules. That is a reason to prefer documented ones, not a reason to skip the paperwork.
Scams to avoid
Backpackers are targeted because they are new, in a hurry and often searching from overseas.
- Paying before seeing. The classic: a beautiful room, a “landlord overseas”, a deposit to hold it, then nothing. Never pay a deposit or bond for a room you have not inspected in person or had a trusted friend inspect.
- Prices too good for the suburb. Compare with other listings. If it is half the going rate, it is bait.
- Pressure. “Three other people want it, pay tonight.” Walk away.
- Payment by gift card, crypto or transfer to a personal account for a “company” listing.
- Copied listings. Reverse-image search the photos.
- Bond with no lodgement receipt in states that require one.
- Passport photos sent to strangers. Show your ID at the inspection; do not email scans to a listing you have not verified.
If you are scammed, report it to the police and to Scamwatch. Tell the community so the next person avoids it.
Deals we used
- Hostelworld
- Booking.com
What to do next
- Book seven nights in a central hostel with a kitchen.
- Create your Flatmates profile before you fly.
- Start inspecting rooms on day two of the first week.
- Learn your state’s bond rules before you pay anything.
- Budget for the bond in your first-month plan.
Frequently asked questions
How long should I stay in a hostel?
One to two weeks. It is the best way to meet people and learn the city, but a month in a dorm costs far more than a room in a share house.
Where do backpackers find share houses?
Flatmates.com.au, Facebook groups for your city and nationality, hostel noticeboards and word of mouth in the KoalaGuide chats.
What is a rental bond?
A refundable deposit, usually two to four weeks' rent, held as security against damage or unpaid rent. In most states it must be lodged with a government bond authority, and you get it back when you leave if the room is in good condition.
What is the most common rental scam?
Being asked to pay a bond or deposit before you have seen the room in person, often for a listing that looks too cheap. Never pay for a room you have not inspected.
