Many Irish newcomers to Australia are able to dig up a distant relative or two that they can stay with while they’re getting settled. But if not, then a hostel should be your first port of call.
Australia’s hostels are highly regulated so the vast majority are clean and comfortable, and while the prices may not compare to the guesthouses of South-East Asia, they are still pretty reasonably-priced at around $20-30 a night per person.
Unofficial hostels are common in high-density backpacker areas like Bondi but these should probably be avoided as most aren’t fitted with smoke alarms and are usually overcrowded and unsanitary. You are better off staying in hostels that are listed in the travel guides or as recommended by friends and fellow travellers.
Generally, hostels require a deposit for a room key, averaging at $10, and in some cases a deposit for cutlery use is compulsory.
To save money on dining out, stay in a hostel with a clean and large kitchen. While many travellers prefer to sleep in their own sleeping blanket, it is note-worthy to remember that many hostels do not allow them.
Most dorms are mixed but if you’re female and travelling alone, you might feel more comfortable in an all-girl dorm. Couples who are travelling may find that booking a double room works out just as cheap as a dorm but early booking is advisable. Reduced weekly rates are also offered.
Long-term deals (up to three months) are available, while some hostels offer free accommodation if you agree to take on house duties like  cleaning and cooking.
SOME hostel chains have a membership scheme where you pay a fee to get discounted rates. Membership to YHA for example entitles you to discounts on accommodation, trips and activities. Some hostels offer storage facilities free of charge for short stays but often charge for longer stays so it may be worth checking out alternative locations such as train stations or travellers’ centres.
Hostels are a great place to meet people and swap traveller’s tips. Quite often they have a jobs board where local employers advertise vacancies suitable for backpackers. Many also have travel desks on site where you can book trips in the area as well. Notices are also regularly placed seeking shared lifts, with petrol costs divided for the entire journey. There are also regular advertisements for cars and camping equipment for sale.
MOST recently arrived ex-pats find shared accommodation the best option. Quite often, the house or flat will have all the main household items – fridge, furniture, TV – so you will just need to furnish your own room.
A shared room in a house can cost anything from $80–$150 per week. For your own room, you can pay up to $200 weekly. You will have to pay a bond – usually four weeks rent – to the person whose name is on the lease. You will also have to pay your share of household utilities.
The main advantage of shared accommodation is that it’s a great way to meet the locals and you’re not tied to a lease. You’ll find share accommodation for each city advertised in the papers, local websites and on shop windows and lamp-posts.
IF you are planning to spend from three to six months or more in one city, then getting your own place is advisable.
Most travellers are dismayed to discover that the vast majority of Australian houses and apartments come unfurnished, but there are businesses that specialise in renting furnished apartments or houses to short-term residents.
Alternatively, furniture can easily be rented, or bought even cheaper at the frequent garage sales that take place all over the cities. Online boards such as Gumtree advertise cheap furniture for sale in your area and, unthinkable as it may be at home, you can often pick up tables and sofas of fairly good quality that have been left on the side of the street.
The Irish Australian Welfare Bureaus in both Sydney and Melbourne also operate a free furniture-lending service for backpackers and it is worth calling them to see what they have in stock.
Unfortunately, there is a rental crisis ongoing in most Australian capitals at the moment and finding accommodation, particularly in the summer months, can require a bit of time and patience. With over 1000 people arriving every week in both Sydney and Melbourne, space is tight and you may have to be prepared to pay a bit more and live a little further out of the city than you envisaged.
With competition so high, arm yourself with as much ammunition as possible to impress estate agents and convince them you will be a model tenant.
Dress as if you are going for a job interview, bring references from previous landlords and if possible, someone you have stayed with in Australia.
If you don’t have a job, bring a bank statement showing how much cash you have in the bank. You may still be asked to pay a few months’ rent in advance as well as your bond (usually one month’s rent – see panel) if you’re unemployed – weigh up the rental situation in the area and decide whether it is worth it.
Groups of guys will have the hardest time convincing estate agents that they are a safe bet as girls and couples are considered less likely to party hard and trash the place.
Sometimes it is a good idea to tell the agent you are considering permanent residency and bring job references that are a testimony to your good character.
You’re generally better off house-hunting mid-week if you can, and even then it’s not unusual to see twenty people queuing up to view the same property. Pick an area and visit the estate agents in person.
Websites such as www.domain.com.au will show all the properties listed in your area. View as many as you can and don’t be too picky or you’ll find yourself homeless for longer.
The main advantage of shared accommodation is that it’s a great way to meet the locals and you’re not tied to a lease. You’ll find share accommodation for each city advertised in the papers, local websites and on shop windows and lampposts.
IF you are planning to spend from three to six months or more in one city, then getting your own place is advisable.
Most travellers are dismayed to discover that the vast majority of Australian houses and apartments come unfurnished, but there are businesses that specialise in renting furnished apartments or houses to short-term residents.
Alternatively, furniture can easily be rented, or bought even cheaper at the frequent garage sales that take place all over the cities. Online boards such as Gumtree advertise cheap furniture for sale in your area and, unthinkable as it may be at home, you can often pick up tables and sofas of fairly good quality that have been left on the side of the street.
The Irish Australian Welfare Bureaus in both Sydney and Melbourne also operate a free furniture-lending service for backpackers and it is worth calling them to see what they have in stock.
Unfortunately, there is a rental crisis ongoing in most Australian capitals at the moment and finding accommodation, particularly in the summer months, can require a bit of time and patience. With over 1,000 people arriving every week in both Sydney and Melbourne, space is tight and you may have to be prepared to pay a bit more and live a little further out of the city than you envisaged.
With competition so high, arm yourself with as much ammunition as possible to impress estate agents and convince them you will be a model tenant.
Dress as if you are going for a job interview, bring references from previous landlords and, if possible, someone you have stayed with in Australia.
If you don’t have a job, bring a bank statement showing how much cash you have in the bank. You may still be asked to pay a few months’ rent in advance as well as your bond (usually one month’s rent – see panel) if you’re unemployed – weigh up the rental situation in the area and decide whether it is worth it.
Groups of guys will have the hardest time convincing estate agents that they are a safe bet as girls and couples are considered less likely to party hard and trash the place.
Sometimes it is a good idea to tell the agent you are considering permanent residency and bring job references that are a testimony to your good character.
You’re generally better off house-hunting mid-week if you can, and even then it’s not unusual to see 20 people queuing up to view the same property. Pick an area and visit the estate agents in person.
Websites such as www.domain.com.au will show all the properties listed in your area. View as many as you can and don’t be too picky or you’ll find yourself homeless for longer.