An American In Brisbane: Australia Working Holiday Visa Month 7 Update
An American In Brisbane: Australia Working Holiday Visa Month 7 Update
Published June 18, 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!
Hello, travel enthusiasts! I recently finished my seventh month in Australia on a year-long Working Holiday Visa (WHV), and in this blog post, I’ll be sharing what I’ve been up to and how things are going. Ever since I arrived in Australia, I’ve been based in Brisbane, so this post will highlight some of what the city has to offer in terms of attractions, food, and more.
Below are all the topics I’ll discuss in this post. Click or tap any link below to jump down to the corresponding section!
Recap of My First Six Months in Australia on a WHV
I flew to Australia in November of last year (2025). I spent a day or two in Sydney, where I relaxed and recuperated from the long flight. Then, I flew a few hours north to Brisbane, where I’ve been ever since! After getting settled in, I had to look for a job and a place to live. Both searches took about a month, and I started working after Christmas and New Year.
By mid-January of this year, I had a pretty regular weekly routine. I also had a good friend come and visit from overseas during Month 3. Since then, I’ve tried to do at least a few day trips each month, mostly to South East Queensland’s beautiful Pacific coast.
Life in Brisbane
Brisbane is one of the most comfortable and liveable cities I’ve ever been fortunate enough to call home. That’s largely because there is so much green space in and around the city center! I also love walking along the banks of the Brisbane River, which runs through the heart of the metro region.
On days when I’m not working, I often take trains, buses, and ferries to nearby destinations like the Gold Coast and North Stradbroke Island. When I stay in Brisbane, I spend a lot of my leisure time in the city’s lush public parks. I also like trying new restaurants, which I’ll discuss in more detail below!
Day Trips
This month, I did four day trips to the Gold Coast metro area and North Stradbroke Island. Read on to learn more about each place I visited!
Gold Coast
Location: Click or tap for Google Maps link
This was my fourth day trip down to the Gold Coast region since moving to Brisbane. On this trip, I enjoyed the beach in Surfers Paradise, a neighborhood that’s home to the Gold Coast’s tallest skyscrapers. I also got lunch at a delicious Brazilian restaurant, then went to a huge shopping mall in the city called Pacific Fair.
North Stradbroke Island
Location: Click or tap for Google Maps link
I first visited North Stradbroke Island during Month 6, but it’s such a beautiful spot that I had to come back twice in Month 7! On my first visit, I stayed on the island’s western (Moreton Bay) side. For my second and third visits, I made my way by bus over to the eastern (Pacific) side. The main town there is called Point Lookout, and it really does offer stunning views of the open ocean.
If I’m being completely honest, I think the beaches at Point Lookout are prettier than the beaches I’ve seen on the Gold Coast. If you’re visiting Brisbane on vacation, a day trip to North Stradbroke Island (and Point Lookout specifically) is an absolute must.
Coolangatta, QLD & Tweed Heads, NSW
Location: Click or tap for Google Maps link
Coolangatta (also called “Cooly”) is the southernmost tip of the Gold Coast, and it lies directly north the border between Queensland and New South Wales. The town on the NSW side is called Tweed Heads. I first visited this area in Month 6, and it was nice to return a second time in Month 7.
Coincidentally, I happened to visit Coolangatta this time during the Cooly Rocks On Festival. It’s a nostalgia-themed event with a focus on “motors, music, and lifestyle,” according to the festival’s website. The most impressive and prominent part of the festival was the vintage car show. I’m not into cars at all, but the collection was still incredible to see!
Housing & Job Updates
I’m still living in the same apartment I found at the end of December, and I think I’ll probably stay here until I leave Brisbane. It’s a great place to live near Kangaroo Point and Woolloongabba, two inner suburbs that are a short distance from Brisbane City.
The biggest update I have with regard to work is that I picked up a second job teaching classes at night. However, it was a short-term arrangement that only lasted for three weeks, so I’m already done with it and am back to my regular schedule of just teaching classes during the day.
A Few Restaurant Highlights This Month
In my last few WHV monthly update posts, I’ve featured some restaurants that stood out to me. Below are this month’s top picks! If you’re looking for additional food reviews in and around Brisbane, be sure to check out “Kev’s AUS Food Diary” on Instagram! On that account, I’ve written up a brief review of every restaurant I’ve tried since moving to Australia.
The first restaurant I’m mentioning is Burger Urge. I visited the location in Nundah, but there are lots of locations throughout Queensland. They serve creative and indulgent burgers like the “El Diablo” pictured below! In addition, this chain was originally founded in Brisbane, so it’s about as local as you can get!
Another restaurant worth trying is Casa Brasil on Chevron Island in Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast. The prato feito with picanha (combo plate with steak) I ordered here was a truly nostalgic meal for me! That’s because I lived in Brazil from 2020 to 2021. In Brisbane, O Brasileiro is my go-to Brazilian spot. On the Gold Coast, Casa Brasil was just as delicious.
I also eat a lot of Vietnamese food here in Australia because it’s authentic and affordable. This month, I tried a restaurant in Sunnybank, a suburb that’s home to a large Vietnamese diaspora community. The restaurant was called That Viet Place, where I got a satisfying, spicy bowl of bún bò Huế and a dumpling appetizer.
I also tried a Vietnamese spot in Wynnum called Viet Food. Here, I ordered rice paper rolls and a bowl of phở. This spot had delicious food, generous portions, and friendly service. Wynnum is sort of off the beaten path, so this restaurant felt like a nice local gem.
Finally, I want to give a shout-out to Six Beaches Fish Grill and Bar in Point Lookout on North Stradbroke Island. This slightly upscale restaurant was the perfect place to stop for lunch! I think it’s also named for Point Lookout’s six different beaches, all of which I’ll try to showcase in an upcoming blog post. The pork belly burger I ordered here was absolutely phenomenal! The meat was so tender and marinated in a delicious sauce. It was filling, but also very refreshing.
Finances
On each of my WHV monthly update posts, I’m including a monthly review of my finances and a rolling cumulative total of my earnings and expenses. Here is the breakdown for Month 7.
- TAKE-HOME INCOME: 6,960 AUD AUD (4,870 USD)
- Rent: 400 AUD (280 USD) per week, all utilities included; total rent for sixth month of my WHV: 1,770 AUD (1,240 USD)
- Restaurants, bars, and cafes: 760 AUD (530 USD)
- Groceries and household items: 840 AUD (585 USD)
- Miscellaneous (clothes, appliances, transportation): 95 AUD (70 USD)
- Bills: 135 AUD (95 USD)
- Travel expenses for an upcoming trip: 1,950 AUD (1,365 USD)
- TOTAL SEVENTH-MONTH COSTS: 5,550 AUD (3,885 USD)
- MY MONTH 7 SURPLUS: 1,410 AUD (985 USD)
Below is a summary of my cumulative finances for Months 1 through 7.
- 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)
- Month 5 Income: 4,615 AUD (3,325 USD); Month 5 Expenses: 4,280 AUD (3,080 USD); Month 5 Net: 335 AUD (245 USD)
- Month 6 Income: 3,930 AUD (2,760 USD); Month 6 Expenses: 3,415 AUD (2,395 USD); Month 6 Net: 515 AUD (365 USD)
- Month 7 Income: 6,960 AUD (4,870 USD); Month 7 Expenses: 5,550 AUD (3,885 USD); Month 7 Net: 1,410 AUD (985 USD)
When you add it all up, my net earnings for Months 1 through 7 are 355 AUD (250 USD). Note that conversion rates have shifted since I arrived (from 0.65 USD = 1 AUD in November 2025 to 0.70 USD = 1 AUD in June 2026). This accounts for a slight discrepancy between my AUD and USD summation.
I’m happy to report that I’ve finally broken even! It took over half a year to earn back all the money I spent without working in Months 1 and 2. It also took me getting a second job and essentially doubling my working hours for three weeks. If I hadn’t booked a few international flights for an upcoming vacation scheduled for Month 10, my surplus would be a little bit more.
As you can see here, I have not made heaps of money during my time on a WHV so far. Income obviously depends on the industry you work in, but if you’re considering a Working Holiday in Australia, I would recommend approaching it as an extended trip with the opportunity to support yourself financially. Personally, I’m not expecting to leave Australia at the end of Month 12 with thousands of dollars leftover.
My Plan Moving Forward
My plan is to stay in Brisbane until my one-year WHV expires in November. I love it here, and I still want to spend Months 8 through 12 living and working in Australia’s third-largest city.
The biggest change that will be coming in Month 8 is that I’ll have to leave the teaching job I started in January. That’s because many jobs are restricted to a maximum of six months for Working Holiday Makers (WHV holders). I need to find another day job to replace this one, which I’ll really miss! It’s been a great fit, and I’ve loved working as a teacher in the city. I’ll see if I can find another teaching job, but if not, I’m flexible to work in other industries.
I’ll also continue to do as many day trips from Brisbane as I can! I haven’t seen as much of North Stradbroke Island or the Gold Coast as I would like to, so I want to go back to both. Destinations like the Sunshine Coast to the north and Byron Bay to the south are also on my wish list, so I may eventually do some day or overnight trips to those seaside towns.
Thank you for checking out my Month 7 Australian WHV update! Be sure to read my other posts in this series if you haven’t already, and keep a lookout for my Month 8 post soon!
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This post was published on June 18, 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!
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