An American In Brisbane: Australia Working Holiday Visa Month 4
Update
An American In Brisbane: Australia Working Holiday Visa Month 4 Update
Published March 19, 2026
This blog post was proudly created without the use of generative AI. It was 100% written and edited by a human, for humans. Enjoy, and thanks for your support!
My name is Kevin, and I recently finished up my fourth month in Australia on a year-long Working Holiday Visa (WHV). I’m originally from the US, and in November of 2025, I moved from Chicago to Brisbane, where I plan to live and work until late 2026. I’ve been writing monthly update blog posts of my experience here, and this is my fourth installment in the series!
Below are all the details of my fourth month in Australia, which went from February 16, 2026 to March 15, 2026. To skip down to any particular topic, click or tap the corresponding link below!
Recap of My First Three Months in Australia on a WHV
Immediately after moving from Chicago to Brisbane, I had to start looking for a job and a place to live. My first six weeks here really felt like a whirlwind, especially since they coincided with Christmas and New Year. With that said, I started working as a teacher in Brisbane at the beginning of 2026, and that allowed me to establish a routine around work.
Throughout my first few months in Brisbane, I also got to know my new home city. I tried lots of restaurants, walked around various neighborhoods, and did a couple of day trips to the nearby Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.
To learn more about what it was like to move to Brisbane on a Working Holiday Visa, be sure to check out my first three posts in this blog series!
Enjoying Brisbane
During my fourth month in Australia, I continued to explore my home base city of Brisbane. I love to walk, and my favorite way to explore is to wander on foot. I sometimes combine that with a bus or train ride, but most of my walks so far have still been in the heart of the city. In the coming months, I’ll try to branch out a bit more to explore some suburbs that are farther away.
As you can see in these pictures, Brisbane has a lot of waterfront. That’s because the Brisbane River runs right through the center of the city. I cross bridges on a daily basis to commute to work, and they offer some of the most impressive views and photo ops of the city skyline.
Housing & Job Updates
I’m happy to report that I’m still living in the same apartment and working the same job I was last month! Finding a suitable place to live and a good job were the biggest challenges of my first few months in Australia, so I’m glad to be past those initial hurdles. In terms of accommodation, I’m living near Kangaroo Point and Woolloongabba, which are directly southeast of the city center. These neighborhoods are beautiful, convenient, and safe, so I’m happy with where I ended up!
In terms of work, I was hired as a teacher in January. I’m lucky to have found a job in my field here (I’ve worked in education for about seven years now). Under most circumstances, WHV holders are only allowed to work for one employer for a maximum of six months, so because I started in January, I’ll hit that deadline in July. At that point, I’ll probably have to look for another job, but I’m hoping to remain in the classroom in some capacity for my full year here.
A Few Restaurant Highlights This Month
I’ve long considered myself a foodie, and one of my favorite things to do in Brisbane is try new restaurants! My favorite cuisine here is Vietnamese. It’s authentic, affordable, and delicious! This month, I tried Vietnamese Garden Restaurant in Yeronga, AJ Vietnamese Noodle House in Brisbane City (I’ve become a regular there), and Viet Rolls Corner in Greenslopes. To read complete reviews of all of these and more, take a look at Kev’s AUS Food Diary on Instagram!
In addition to those sit-down restaurants, I’ve also ordered a fair amount of takeaway food in the city center, especially for breakfast and midmorning snacks. I really like the pastries and sandwiches at Goldfinch, and I highly recommend the mixed filling rice paper rolls at Saigon Alley Cafe.
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
Address: 708 Jesmond Rd, Fig Tree Pocket QLD 4069
Website: https://lonepinekoalasanctuary.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lonepine.koala.sanctuary/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lonepinekoala/
My favorite outing this month was to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, which is about a twenty-minute drive west from the center of Brisbane. I had seen koalas briefly on a previous visit to Australia, but this was my first time seeing so many of them up close! They are adorable, and the way they move while eating eucalyptus leaves is mesmerizing to watch.
In addition to koalas, Lone Pine also has kangaroos and other Australian animals. Understandably, most of the reptiles are kept behind glass. However, adventurous visitors can pet the kangaroos or purchase food pellets for a few dollars and feed them.
A Smashed Phone Screen
My low point this month was accidentally smashing my phone screen. I had gone for a jog, tripped on an uneven sidewalk, and completely fell on my hands and knees while holding the phone. Even with a case, the screen couldn’t handle my body weight landing on it. I brought my broken phone to a repair shop authorized by the manufacturer, but they were sort of disorganized. Getting it repaired took multiple days. I spent a few hundred AUD on repairing it, and I also bought a cheap backup phone in case something like this ever happens again.
Finances
On each of my WHV monthly update posts, I’ll provide a monthly review of my finances and a rolling cumulative total of my earnings and expenses. Here is the breakdown for Month 4.
- TAKE-HOME INCOME: 4,195 AUD (2,930 USD)
- Rent: 400 AUD (280 USD) per week, all utilities included; total rent for fourth month of my WHV: 1,600 AUD (1,120 USD)
- Restaurants, bars, and cafes: 370 AUD (260 USD)
- Groceries and household items: 820 AUD (575 USD)
- Miscellaneous (clothes, appliances, transportation): 85 AUD (60 USD)
- Bills: 60 AUD (40 USD)
- Phone repair and backup phone purchase: 660 AUD (460 USD)
- TOTAL FOURTH-MONTH COSTS: 3,595 AUD (2,515 USD)
- MY MONTH 4 SURPLUS: 600 AUD (415 USD)
Below is a summary of my cumulative finances for Months 1 through 4.
- Month 1 Income: 0; Month 1 Expenses: 4,010 AUD (2,835 USD); Month 1 Net: -4,010 AUD (-2,835 USD)
- Month 2 Income: 1,400 AUD (985 USD); Month 2 Expenses: 3,510 AUD (2,480 USD); Month 2 Net: -2,110 AUD (-1,495 USD)
- Month 3 Income: 3,930 AUD (2,780 USD); Month 3 Expenses: 4,325 AUD (3,060 USD); Month 3 Net: -395 AUD (-280 USD)
- Month 4 Income: 4,195 AUD (2,930 USD); Month 4 Expenses: 3,595 AUD (2,515 USD); Month 4 Net: 600 AUD (415 USD)
When you add it all up, my net earnings for Months 1 through 4 are -5,915 AUD (-4,135 USD). Note that conversion rates have shifted since I arrived (from 0.65 AUD = 1 USD in November 2025 to 0.70 AUD = 1 USD in March 2026). This accounts for a slight discrepancy between my AUD and USD summation.
On the one hand, I’m happy to finally have a month where I was not in the red. On the other hand, my surplus would’ve been a lot bigger if I hadn’t broken my phone. I’m hoping that in Month 5, I’ll be able to save even more and continue working towards breaking even.
My Plan Moving Forward
My plan for the second half of March and April is to continue living in the same place and working at the same job. I’ve been meaning to do more day trips, but it’s rained a lot the past few weekends. Locals have told me that Brisbane’s winter is sunny and dry with moderate temperatures, so hopefully I’ll be able to go back to the Gold Coast and explore more of South East Queensland in the coming months.
Stay Up to Date on My Working Holiday! 🇦🇺
Overall, my fourth month in Australia on a WHV went really well! Thanks for checking out my fourth monthly update post. I hope this blog series serves as a resource for travelers considering applying for an Australian Working Holiday Visa. If that’s you, or if you are already in Australia on a WHV, leave a comment below and let me know how things are going! Be sure to check back next month to see how things are going!
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This post was published on Mar 19, 2026
This blog post was proudly created without the use of generative AI. It was 100% written and edited by a human, for humans. Enjoy, and thanks for your support!
Meet Your Caffeinated Blogger: Kevin!
Where I’ve Been
