Quick answer: Brisbane is a relaxed river city with a growing job market and a building boom ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games; the Gold Coast, an hour south, is beaches, surf and a huge hospitality and tourism sector. Queensland accepts online RSA and RSG, winters are warm, and both cities are the natural start or finish of the east coast trip.
Sydney and Melbourne get the arrivals; south-east Queensland gets the ones who stay. The climate is easier, rents are lower than the southern capitals, and the region is busy hiring for the decade leading to 2032.
Why 2032 matters to you
Brisbane will host the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and the region is already building the venues, transport and hotels to go with it. For working holiday makers that means:
- Construction work in Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich and the Gold Coast, with a White Card as the entry ticket.
- Hospitality demand as hotels open and restaurant precincts expand along the river and the coast.
- Events crews for a growing calendar of international sport and festivals.
You will not be here in 2032, but you are here for the build-up, and that is when casual labour is short.
Brisbane: first 48 hours
- SIM, bank account and TFN, in that order. See the first week checklist.
- Get a go card or use a contactless bank card on buses, trains, ferries and the metro busway.
- Base yourself in the CBD, Fortitude Valley, New Farm or West End.
- Walk South Bank, swim in the free Streets Beach lagoon, catch the CityCat ferry along the river.
Where backpackers live in Brisbane
| Area | Feel | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| CBD | Central, hostels | First week |
| Fortitude Valley | Nightlife, live music | Bar and club jobs |
| New Farm and Teneriffe | Riverside, cafés, expensive | Café work, share houses |
| West End | Alternative, markets | Share houses, café strip |
| Kangaroo Point and Woolloongabba | Near the Gabba and the river | Share houses, event work |
Gold Coast: first 48 hours
- Take the train from Brisbane, then the light rail along the coast.
- Stay in Surfers Paradise for hostels and nightlife, Burleigh Heads for a more local feel, or Coolangatta near the airport and the best surf.
- Learn to surf; it is the local job-interview small talk.
Where backpackers live on the Gold Coast
| Area | Feel | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Surfers Paradise | High-rise, party, hostels | First week, bar work |
| Broadbeach | Restaurants, casino, quieter | Hospitality jobs, share flats |
| Burleigh Heads | Surf, cafés, relaxed | Café work, share houses |
| Coolangatta and Tweed | Surf town, cheaper | Longer stays, surf, airport jobs |
Where the jobs are
- Hospitality: Fortitude Valley, South Bank and the CBD in Brisbane; Surfers, Broadbeach and Burleigh on the coast. Queensland accepts nationally recognised online RSA and RSG training, and CBD College (RTO 91399), which is owned by the same people as KoalaGuide and pays KoalaGuide a commission on bookings made through our links, runs face-to-face classes in Brisbane if you prefer.
- Theme parks and tourism: the Gold Coast’s theme parks, surf schools, tour operators and hotels hire seasonally, with peaks in school holidays.
- Construction: Olympic infrastructure, apartment towers and road projects across the region.
- Farm work: Queensland has the longest harvest calendar in the country, from Stanthorpe near the border to Bundaberg and the tropics. See farm work and the 88 days.
Our job-finding guide has the boards and groups.
Getting around
Both cities are on Translink. Use a go card or tap a contactless bank card on trains, buses, ferries and the Gold Coast light rail. Queensland introduced a flat low fare across the network; check Translink for the current fare and any conditions before you budget on it. The Brisbane–Gold Coast train takes about an hour and a half.
Things to do
- Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane, one of the oldest in the world. See where to see koalas.
- Moreton Island and North Stradbroke Island: sand dunes, wrecks and wild dolphins, a day trip from Brisbane.
- Springbrook and Lamington National Parks: rainforest, waterfalls and glow-worms in the Gold Coast hinterland.
- Burleigh headland walk at sunrise, then the markets.
- Noosa and the Sunshine Coast: two hours north, the start of the east coast road trip.
Tours, theme park tickets and island trips are cheaper bundled. Backpacker Deals
What to do next
- Sort SIM, bank and TFN on day one.
- Book an RSA (online or in Brisbane) and a White Card if you want construction work.
- Choose Brisbane or the coast based on the job you want, and book a few hostel nights there.
- Check the deals page for tours and transport discounts before you book anything.
- Plan the trip north: east coast road trip.
Frequently asked questions
Is Brisbane or the Gold Coast better for a backpacker?
Brisbane for a broader job market, construction work and a cheaper, more local feel. The Gold Coast for beaches, surf and a big hospitality and tourism scene. They are an hour apart by train, so many backpackers do both.
How do I get around Brisbane and the Gold Coast?
Both use the Translink network with a go card or contactless bank card. Queensland has been running a flat low-fare policy across the network; check Translink for the current fare and whether it still applies.
Can I do my RSA online for Queensland?
Yes. Queensland accepts nationally recognised RSA training, including online, and the same applies to the RSG gaming certificate.
What is the weather like?
Subtropical. Warm to hot and humid from November to March with afternoon storms, and mild, dry, sunny winters from June to August, which is when the rest of the country gets envious.
