Packing list for a working holiday in Australia: what to bring and what to leave

Quick answer: Pack for one 20 kg bag. Bring layers rather than bulk (Melbourne winters are cold, Cairns summers are steamy), one black hospitality outfit, decent walking shoes and a Type I plug adapter. Leave the heavy coat, the second pair of jeans and anything you can buy at Kmart for less than the excess baggage fee. The most valuable thing in your bag is a documents folder — physical and digital — with everything you need in your first week.

Start with the bag

• Main bag: 50 to 65 litre backpack or a medium wheeled suitcase. Check the airline’s weight limit before you fill it; 20 to 23 kg is typical on international fares.
• Daypack: 20 to 30 litres for the plane, day trips and the walk to your job trial.
• Packing cubes: they make living out of a bag in a hostel dorm bearable.
• Padlock: hostels have lockers; most do not supply the lock.

Clothes

Australia is a continent. In one year you might do a Melbourne winter, a Sydney spring and a Darwin wet season. Pack for layers:

• 5–7 t-shirts and tops, at least two quick-dry
• 2 pairs of shorts, 1 pair of trousers, 1 pair of jeans (only one)
• 1 warm fleece or hoodie, 1 light rain jacket
• Swimwear and a quick-dry towel
• Underwear and socks for a week
• Comfortable walking shoes or trainers, thongs (flip-flops), and black closed shoes for hospitality
• One plain black outfit (black shirt or top, black trousers) — most café and bar trials ask for it
• A hat and sunglasses; the Australian sun is serious

Buy in Australia if you need them: steel-cap boots and hi-vis for construction work or farms, a heavy jacket for winter, and gumboots for wet farm work. Kmart, Big W and Bunnings are cheap and everywhere.

Tech

• Unlocked phone — essential for an Australian SIM or eSIM
• Type I plug adapter (the same as New Zealand; 230 V)
• A small power board so one adapter charges phone, laptop and headphones
• Power bank for bus days
• Laptop or tablet if you will apply for jobs, do your tax return and keep your 88 days evidence organised
• Headphones — dorm rooms are loud

Health and toiletries

• Prescription medicine in original packaging with a doctor’s letter in English
• A small first-aid kit: plasters, painkillers, antihistamines, rehydration sachets
• Sunscreen — buy it in Australia; local SPF 50+ is cheap and made for the sun here
• Insect repellent for the north

Australian pharmacies are excellent, so keep this small. If you want a first-aid certificate for work, it can be done in one day: see First Aid & CPR.

The documents folder

Make two copies: a slim physical folder in your daypack and a cloud folder on your phone. Include:

• Passport (and a photocopy kept separately)
• Visa grant letter with your visa grant number
• Insurance policy and emergency number
• Bank confirmation letter from your Australian account if you opened it before arriving
• Proof of funds (recent bank statement) in case Home Affairs asks at the border
• Return or onward ticket, or funds to buy one
• Driver’s licence and, if you plan to drive, an International Driving Permit (rules vary by state)
• Education certificates and a short CV in English
• Vaccination records and any medical letters
• Passport photos (a few, for certificates and forms)
• Hostel booking for your first nights

In your first week you will need the passport, visa letter and an address to apply for your TFN, activate your bank and enrol for certificates like the RSA. Having it all in one place turns a stressful week into a checklist. See the first-week checklist.

What not to bring

• A big heavy coat — buy a cheap one in Australia if you hit winter.
• More than one pair of jeans.
• Towels bigger than a quick-dry.
• Lots of toiletries, sunscreen or vitamins — cheap here.
• Food, seeds, wooden souvenirs or muddy hiking boots without declaring them. Australian biosecurity fines are real; declare everything and let the officer decide.
• Drones or knives without checking the rules.
• Cash in large amounts. Bring a card, and transfer money cheaply.

What to do next

1. Weigh your bag and cut it back to your airline’s limit.
2. Build the documents folder — physical and cloud.
3. Book your flight and first-week hostel.
4. Save the first-week checklist offline.
5. Download the free KoalaGuide for the plane.

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