An American In Brisbane: Australia Working Holiday Visa Month 8 Update
An American In Brisbane: Australia Working Holiday Visa Month 8 Update
Published July 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!
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live and work in Australia for a year? If you are, I’m here to tell you all about it! My name is Kevin, and I’ve lived in the city of Brisbane for the past eight months. I can’t believe I’m already two thirds of the way through my yearlong stay here! It feels like it’s gone by in the blink of an eye.
I’m here in Brisbane on a Working Holiday Visa (WHV). As such, I’ve been able to live in Australia as a temporary resident while earning an income. In this post, I’ll share some updates from the last month, let you know how work is going, and more! To skip down to any particular topic, click or tap the corresponding link below.
Recap of My First Seven Months in Australia on a WHV
I first arrived in Australia on my Working Holiday Visa in mid-November of 2025, so I am able to live and work here until mid-November of this year (2026). I first flew into Sydney, where I spent a few days sightseeing. I visited the iconic Opera House and spent some time exploring Bondi Beach.
After relaxing in Sydney for a few days, I flew to Brisbane. It’s Australia’s third largest city after Sydney and Melbourne. For work, I’ve taught at three different schools (read more on my housing and work details below).
On weekends, I’ve often done day trips down to the Gold Coast, which is known for its gorgeous Pacific beaches. A train line with frequent service connects Brisbane and the Gold Coast, but the journey takes about two hours each way. As such, day trips usually involve leaving Brisbane early in the morning and getting back late. Nonetheless, I’ve been trying to go at least once or twice a month.
In addition to the Gold Coast, I’ve explored a few of the suburbs on the outskirts of Brisbane such as Cleveland and Caboolture. In Month 3, I did an overnight trip up to Noosa (part of the Sunshine Coast north of Brisbane). I’m hoping to go back up that way soon to explore in more depth!
Life in Brisbane
In terms of its overall vibe, Brisbane can feel both large and small. The city center is very compact and walkable, but the surrounding suburbs sprawl in all directions. Brisbane has been a great fit for me, especially because of its public transit. I don’t have a car here, but I don’t need one to commute to work or get around the city.
Even though it’s currently the middle of winter here, I’ve still spent much of my leisure time this month enjoying generally sunny weather and clear, blue skies. As someone who lived in Chicago for four years before coming here, I don’t feel like winter in Brisbane is cold at all. Early mornings and evenings can be cool enough to put on a sweatshirt or light jacket, but I’ve never needed a coat here.
Day Trips
As mentioned earlier in this post, I’ve been doing day trips from Brisbane regularly for the past few months. Below are the places I visited during Month 8.
Gold Coast
Location: Click or tap for Google Maps link
This month, I went down to the Gold Coast once. When I was there, I visited the SkyPoint Observation Deck inside Q1, which is the tallest building in Australia at the time of writing. The observatory is on the 77th and 78th floor, and the views were incredible!
After visiting Q1, I went further down the coast to Burleigh Heads. This neighborhood is one of the Gold Coast’s most popular destinations because it’s home to a national park right on the water. There are a few short hikes you can do in the park, and they offer breathtaking views of both the skyline to the north and the shoreline to the south.
Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha
Address: 152 Mount Coot-Tha Rd, Mount Coot-tha QLD 4066
Website: https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/parks-and-recreation/botanic-gardens/brisbane-botanic-gardens-mt-coot-tha
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrisbaneCityCouncil/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brisbanecitycouncil/
Mount Coot-tha is a popular scenic spot that’s approximately a twenty-minute drive west from Brisbane City. There’s a panoramic lookout at the top, and I went there twice (in Months 3 and 5). This month, I visited the adjoining botanic gardens located at the base of the mountain.
It took me quite a few hours to explore all the different sections of the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha. Some of my favorite parts were the Tropical Display Dome, Bonsai House, and Hidden Lake (all pictured below).
North Stradbroke Island
Location: Click or tap for Google Maps link
North Stradbroke Island is one of my top day trip recommendations for anyone staying in Brisbane. I’ve now been there four times, and I have no plans to stop visiting! To get from Brisbane to North Stradbroke Island, you have to take a ferry, but it’s worth the effort!
On this trip, I stayed in the little town of Dunwich, which is where the island’s main ferry terminals are. Dunwich isn’t home to the island’s best beaches, but it does have a quiet charm to it. There are some good dining options there and a historical museum. Plus, the entire island is populated by wild kangaroos! You’re not guaranteed to see them, but they aren’t shy and can often be found grazing in grassy fields.
Housing & Job Updates
My housing situation has remained pretty steady since the beginning of this year (so for about six and a half months). I currently live in a shared apartment near Kangaroo Point and Woolloongabba. It’s a lovely unit in a very convenient location, so I’m hoping to stay here until I leave Australia at the end of Month 12.
For work, I do have a big update! I’ve been a teacher here ever since I started working, but I had to change employers this month. That’s because WHV holders are generally not allowed to work for more than six months at one location. There are some exceptions to this rule, but they didn’t apply in my case.
I was sad to leave the school that I taught at from January until July. It was an amazing place to work, and I’ll remember it fondly. With that said, I was able to quickly find a new school to work at, and things are going decently well there! I hope I’ll be able to teach there for the rest of my time in Brisbane.
A Few Restaurant Highlights This Month
Every month, I feature a few restaurants I went to that really stood out. The first I’ll mention is Bali In Paradise. This Indonesian restaurant in Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast serves an absolutely amazing grilled chicken that’s so juicy and flavorful! I really recommend getting one of their combo plates to try a variety of Indonesian flavors.
This month, I also got a meal at Felons Brewing Co. It’s a massive brewery right on the Brisbane River next to the iconic Story Bridge. I had ordered drinks and snacks here in the past, but I figured it was finally time to try a meal here. The burger I got was indulgent and delicious with some hot chili jam on it, but prices here are higher than at many other pubs in the city. I guess it’s not surprising given the location and waterfront views.
Another restaurant I really loved was Fishlass | Perry’s Seafood. You can find it in Dunwich on North Stradbroke Island, and they offer excellent food at a cheaper price than most other restaurants nearby. The plate shown below with prawns, calamari, and fish was less than 30 AUD!
Finally, I’ll briefly mention a meal I had that wasn’t at a restaurant. During my final few days on the job at my first workplace in Brisbane, I was invited by some former students to attend a barbecue picnic. They grilled some sausages and made some delicious sandwiches! I had a lot of fun, and it was a nice way to celebrate and say goodbye to them.
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 8.
- TAKE-HOME INCOME: 4,025 AUD AUD (2,820 USD)
- Rent: 400 AUD (280 USD) per week, all utilities included; total rent for eighth month of my WHV: 1,715 AUD (1,200 USD)
- Restaurants, bars, and cafes: 705 AUD (495 USD)
- Groceries and household items: 835 AUD (585 USD)
- Miscellaneous (clothes, appliances, transportation): 80 AUD (55 USD)
- Bills: 585 AUD (410 USD)
- Travel Expenses: 105 AUD (75 USD)
- TOTAL SEVENTH-MONTH COSTS: 4,025 AUD (2,820 USD)
- MY MONTH 7 SURPLUS: 0
Below is a summary of my cumulative finances for Months 1 through 8.
- Month 1 Income: 0; Month 1 Expenses: 4,295 AUD (2,835 USD); Month 1 Net: -4,295 AUD (-2,835 USD)
- Month 2 Income: 1,400 AUD (940 USD); Month 2 Expenses: 3,565 AUD (2,390 USD); Month 2 Net: -2,165 AUD (-1,450 USD)
- Month 3 Income: 3,930 AUD (2,790 USD); Month 3 Expenses: 4,380 AUD (3,110 USD); Month 3 Net: -450 AUD (-320 USD)
- Month 4 Income: 4,195 AUD (2,980 USD); Month 4 Expenses: 3,595 AUD (2,555 USD); Month 4 Net: 600 AUD (425 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 (2,790 USD); Month 6 Expenses: 3,415 AUD (2,425 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)
- Month 8 Income: 4,025 AUD (2,820 USD); Month 8 Expenses: 4,025 AUD (2,820 USD); Month 7 Net: 0
When you add it all up, my net earnings for Months 1 through 8 are -4,050 AUD (-2,535 USD). Note that conversion rates have fluctuated since I arrived (from 0.66 USD = 1 AUD in November 2025 to 0.70 USD = 1 AUD in July 2026). This accounts for a discrepancy between my AUD and USD summation.
I’m a little disappointed that I didn’t save any money this month, but I had a few unexpected bills that really couldn’t have been put off or avoided. I’ve written on many of my recent monthly update posts that I’m not finding it that easy to save a lot of money during an Australian Working Holiday. Cost of living here is high; there’s no way around that. As such, I would advise anyone considering this visa to come here primarily for the cultural experience, not necessarily as a way to earn or save thousands of dollars.
My Plan Moving Forward
At this point, I’m planning to stay in Brisbane for the remainder of my Working Holiday. I haven’t been guaranteed regular full-time hours at my new job yet, but I hope I’ll be able to keep teaching at this new school. I can switch employers if necessary, but it’s always more work to onboard and learn a new system, even if the basic mechanics of teaching are the same from one school to another.
Thank you for checking out my 8th Australian Working Holiday Visa update post! Keep an eye out for the next post in this series coming soon! And if you have any questions or comments, feel free to submit them down below! I’d love to know if any of you are also considering coming to Brisbane!
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This post was published on July 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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