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An American In Brisbane: Australia Working Holiday Visa Month 7 Update

Kevin | Caffeinated Excursions — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 17:00:00 +0000

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
Life in Brisbane
Day Trips
Housing & Job Updates
A Few Restaurant Highlights This Month
Finances
My Plan Moving Forward

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 seventh 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: 4,295 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)

When you add it all up, my net earnings for Months 1 through 7 are -4,050 AUD (-2,835 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 June 2026). This accounts for a discrepancy between my AUD and USD summation.

As you can see, I’m still in the negative by a few thousand dollars. Even while working two jobs, breaking even has been a slow process. If I hadn’t booked a few international flights for an upcoming vacation scheduled for Month 10, I’d be closer to paying off all my expenses from the beginning of my Working Holiday.

With all this in mind, I would reiterate the importance of saving up as much as you can before coming to Australia on a WHV. I’ve generally been able to pay my expenses each month on the income I’ve made here, but I still haven’t made up the initial costs of Months 1 and 2.

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!

Share This Post With Fellow Travelers!

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!

Hi, I’m Kevin! I’m a coffee addict from Seattle, and my life revolves around traveling! Caffeinated Excursions is a record of my trips over the past seven years. Since I started blogging, I’ve lived in Mexico, Vietnam, Brazil, and the US. I just moved to Australia and plan to be here a full year. Thanks for checking out my blog!

Bangkok (Sept)
Istanbul (Sept)

The post An American In Brisbane: Australia Working Holiday Visa Month 7 Update appeared first on Caffeinated Excursions.

An American In Brisbane: Australia Working Holiday Visa Month 6 Update

Kevin | Caffeinated Excursions — Mon, 18 May 2026 17:00:00 +0000

An American In Brisbane: Australia Working Holiday Visa Month 6 Update

Published May 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!

Can you believe my year in Australia is already half over? If you’re new to my travel blog, welcome! My name is Kevin, and I’m an American based in Brisbane on a Working Holiday Visa (WHV). If you’re curious what it’s like to spend a year in Australia on a WHV, you’ve come to the right place! I’ve written a monthly update blog post since I arrived, and this is my sixth post in the series.

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 Five Months in Australia on a WHV
Life in Brisbane
Day Trips
Housing & Job Updates
A Few Restaurant Highlights This Month
Finances
My Plan Moving Forward

Recap of My First Five Months in Australia on a WHV

I came to Australia in mid-November of 2025. After settling in, I applied to quite a few jobs across multiple industries. The job search was tough, but I got a few callbacks and started working as a teacher right after New Year 2026. Since then, I’ve worked a regular teaching schedule during the week, and on weekends I’ve explored Brisbane and its surroundings.

Life in Brisbane

Because Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere, this time of year (April – May) is autumn, and winter is rapidly approaching. Luckily, Brisbane has a very mild winter characterized by cool mornings and evenings. Afternoons in wintertime are usually warm but not hot. I’ve loved not having to bundle up the way I did when I lived in Chicago!

I’m a big foodie, so my main hobby here is trying new restaurants. In addition, I’ve started to get back into running. A friend recommended a run club that offers complimentary beers after their weekly 5k, which has been a great motivator to stick with it!

Day Trips

Time flies when you’re having fun, and I know that six months left in Australia is not actually that long, especially since I’m working Mondays through Fridays. I want to make the most of my time here, so I’ve tried to do some day trips on the weekends to explore more of South East Queensland (and even a tiny bit of New South Wales).

Wynnum, Manly, and Lota

Location: Click or tap for Google Maps link

These areas form part of Brisbane’s Moreton Bay coast. They have a much calmer atmosphere than the city center, which is about 15 to 20 kilometers to the east. This entire coastline is easily accessible via the city’s Cleveland train line, making it an ideal day trip as long as the weather is sunny.

I’m hoping to spend more time out this way in the coming months, and hopefully I’ll explore Wynnum enough that I can write a blog post about the area before I leave Brisbane in November.

Dunwich & Amity, North Stradbroke Island

Location: Click or tap for Google Maps link

North Stradbroke Island is one of the most popular day trips from Brisbane, and after visiting, I can see why. You have to take a ferry from the mainland to North Stradbroke Island, but it only costs about 20 AUD for a round-trip ticket.

North Stradbroke has three main towns: Dunwich, Amity, and Point Lookout. On my day trip, I visited the first two. These two towns face inland towards Moreton Bay, so their beaches have calm and clear waters. I will absolutely be back soon to check out Point Lookout, which is located on the island’s Pacific side. The waves there are known to be rough, but also an incredibly vibrant shade of blue.

Coolangatta, QLD & Tweed Heads, NSW

Location: Click or tap for Google Maps link

The last day trip I took this month was down to the very southern edge of the Gold Coast known as Coolangatta. I also visited the neighboring town of Tweed Heads. The state border between Queensland and New South Wales separates Coolangatta and Tweed Heads, so I technically left Queensland for the first time since November to spend an hour or two on the NSW side!

Coolangatta and Tweed Heads have some stunning beaches and hills that overlook them, but the weather was somewhat overcast on the day that a friend and I visited. I plan to go back on a day with clearer weather to see these ocean waters in their best light.

Housing & Job Updates

Not much has changed in terms of my housing arrangement since last month. I’m still living in the Woolloongabba and Kangaroo Point area, which is absolutely beautiful. It’s right across the Brisbane River from the city center, so it’s about as close as you can be to downtown without actually being there.

In terms of work, I am still teaching at the same school I started working at in January. I also started a second job in the evenings, so my weekdays have been pretty busy. I haven’t gotten my first paycheck from my second job yet, but it should show up in next month’s finance update.

A Few Restaurant Highlights This Month

When I arrived in Australia, I set up “Kev’s AUS Food Diary” on Instagram to post a review of every restaurant I try here. Below are some of my favorite meals from Month 6! The first I’ll mention is the pizza I had at Straddie Brewing Company in Dunwich. You can purchase cans beer from Straddie Brewing at liquor stores throughout Brisbane, but it was cool to try some beers on tap right where they’re produced. The pizza was also delicious, and the meal came with an excellent view of the water from their rooftop balcony.

I’ve tried a lot of Vietnamese food in Brisbane, but HaNoi DnA deserves a special mention. They specialize in Hanoi-style cooking, and the bún chả was incredible! They also make delicious rice paper rolls (gỏi cuốn). I need to go back and see what their phở is like.

Another memorable meal was the Rinderroulade I had at German BierGarten Brisbane in Wooloowin. I hadn’t had German food since arriving in Australia, so this plate was incredibly satisfying! You can’t go wrong with spätzle and red cabbage, and the Rinderroulade was a rich wrapped meat roll in a brown sauce.

The last meal I’ll highlight was the combination rice bowl I had from Jia Ba Way (呷飽沒). Taiwanese food is a little hard to come by, but it’s worth seeking out! I went to Taiwan at the end of last year, and the savory flavors of the snacks and street food there are amazing. The combo bowl from Jia Ba Way includes fried chicken, Taiwanese sausage, and minced pork.

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 6.

TAKE-HOME INCOME: 3,930 AUD (2,790 USD)
Rent: 400 AUD (280 USD) per week, all utilities included; total rent for sixth month of my WHV: 1,715 AUD (1,220 USD)
Restaurants, bars, and cafes: 630 AUD (450 USD)
Groceries and household items: 820 AUD (580 USD)
Miscellaneous (clothes, appliances, transportation): 185 AUD (130 USD)
Bills: 65 AUD (45 USD)
TOTAL SIXTH-MONTH COSTS: 3,415 AUD (2,425 USD)
MY MONTH 6 SURPLUS: 515 AUD (365 USD)

Below is a summary of my cumulative finances for Months 1 through 6.

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)

When you add it all up, my net earnings for Months 1 through 6 are -5,460 AUD (-3,880 USD). Note that conversion rates have fluctuated slightly since I arrived. This accounts for a discrepancy between my AUD and USD summation.

As mentioned above, I just started working a second job to help pay for some upcoming travel expenses, so hopefully I’ll keep working towards breaking even in Months 7 and beyond. Given the high cost of living in Australia, I would recommend that anyone considering a WHV be realistic about how much you can earn and save here. I think I’ll break even before I move away, but probably not by much.

My Plan Moving Forward

At this point, I can say with some certainty that I’ll stay in Brisbane for the second half of my Working Holiday Visa. I feel pretty settled here, and I’m not interested in starting over from zero in another Australian city with less than six months left before I need to leave the country.

Another major update is that I’ll have to leave my morning teaching job in early July. This is due to a rule that Working Holiday Makers (WHMs, or WHV holders) can generally only work at one location for a maximum of six months. In June, I’ll have to apply to some new jobs and see if I can find another school to teach at. If I can’t, I may have to work at a restaurant, cafe, bar, or retail store instead.

By mid-November of this year, I’ll have to depart from Australia. Unfortunately, I’m not eligible for a second Australian WHV due to my age. With that in mind, my top choices right now are to move to either Vietnam or Taiwan to teach English as a Second Language (ESL). I actually spent most of 2019 teaching ESL in Vietnam, and I have really fond memories of my time there. I’ve never lived or worked in Taiwan, but I’ve been there twice on vacation. I could definitely see myself living there, in part because I speak some Chinese.

As soon as I finalize where I’m going next, I’ll be sure to post it here on my blog.

Stay Up to Date on My Working Holiday!

Thanks for checking out my WHV Month 6 update post! Remember to check out the other posts in this series if you haven’t already, and keep an eye out for my Month 7 post coming soon!

Share This Post With Fellow Travelers!

This post was published on May 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!

Bangkok (Sept)
Istanbul (Sept)

The post An American In Brisbane: Australia Working Holiday Visa Month 6 Update appeared first on Caffeinated Excursions.

An American In Brisbane: Australia Working Holiday Visa Month 5 Update

Kevin | Caffeinated Excursions — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 17:00:00 +0000

An American In Brisbane: Australia Working Holiday Visa Month 5
Update

An American In Brisbane: Australia Working Holiday Visa Month 5 Update

Published April 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!

Living in Australia for a year on a Working Holiday Visa (WHV) is the adventure of a lifetime, and I’m here to tell you all about it! My name is Kevin, and I’m a US citizen currently living and working in Brisbane, Queensland on a WHV. I’ve written an update post every month since I arrived in Australia at the end of last year. This post will cover what I was up to during my fifth month on a WHV!

Below are all of the topics I’ll be discussing in this post. To skip down to any particular one, click or tap the corresponding link!

Recap of My First Four Months in Australia on a WHV
Life in Brisbane
Day Trips
Housing & Job Updates
A Few Restaurant Highlights This Month
Finances
My Plan Moving Forward

Recap of My First Four Months in Australia on a WHV

I first arrived in Australia in mid-November of last year (2025), so my Working Holiday Visa is valid until mid-November of this year. Unlike most other Working Holiday Makers (WHMs), I am ineligible to apply for a second-year WHV due to my age. I’ve been based in Brisbane since I arrived, and I started working at the beginning of January.

It took me a few months to feel truly settled here, but things have been going well since I started earning an income! Brisbane is gorgeous, with a river that winds its way through the heart of the city. Because of this geography, Brisbane has dozens of centrally-located riverfront neighborhoods, and all of them have their own unique personality. I’ve explored many of them, but I still have a long list of neighborhoods I want to visit.

Life in Brisbane

As mentioned above, life in Brisbane centers around the Brisbane River. I cross the river on a daily basis, and there’s nothing more relaxing than walking along its banks. I’ve also been riding the CityCats and river ferries more than ever! Taking a boat is such a scenic way to commute (although it is slightly slower than taking buses or trains). With that said, in some instances, it is the most direct route. They also run frequently from early in the morning until late in the evening, even on weekends.

Below are some individual attractions around Brisbane that I visited this month.

Return to Mount Coot-tha

Location: 1012 Sir Samuel Griffith Dr, Mount Coot-tha QLD 4066

I first visited Mount Coot-tha in Month 3 of my WHV, and it’s one of the best places to see the Brisbane city skyline! Mount Coot-that is on the western edge of the city, about a twenty-minute drive away from the downtown core.

Mount Coot-tha has an outdoor observation area, a restaurant and cafe, hiking trails, and a botanical garden. This time, I tried a full meal at the restaurant. It was alright, but not anything spectacular. On my next visit to Mount Coot-tha, I’ll make it a point to check out the botanic garden.

Museum of Brisbane Clock Tower Tour

Address: Level 3, Brisbane City Hall, 64 Adelaide St, Brisbane City QLD 4000
Website: https://www.museumofbrisbane.com.au/whats-on/clock-tower-tours/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MuseumofBrisbane/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/museumofbrisbane/

Did you know that you can tour the inside of Brisbane’s iconic clock tower? I actually got to do this on a work outing, and it was a lot of fun! Tours are done in small groups every fifteen minutes during opening hours, and they need to be booked in advance. You can do it in person at the Museum of Brisbane reception, but it’s probably more convenient to do it online and guarantee a time slot that works for you.

From inside the clock tower, you’ll get to look out over Brisbane City. You’ll also see the face of the clock from the inside, plus get a glimpse of the mechanism that keeps it running. Because I did this tour as part of my job, I had the chance to go up a few times, each with a different guide. They were all friendly and welcoming, and no two guides gave the exact same commentary. In other words, you’ll learn something new every time you go up, even if you’ve done this tour before!

Art Museums

QAG Address: Stanley Pl, South Brisbane QLD 4101
GOMA Address: Stanley Pl, South Brisbane QLD 4101
Website: https://www.qagoma.qld.gov.au/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/QAGOMA/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/qagoma/

This month, I visited two of Brisbane’s main art museums: the Queensland Art Gallery (QAG) and the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA). Together, they’re referred to as QAGOMA. Both galleries are at the northern edge of South Bank, a trendy arts and entertainment district on the riverfront. Aboriginal art is prominently featured at QAGOMA. Entrance to both museums is free, although certain exhibits may require an admission fee.

Day Trips

This month, I did a few day trips (on weekends with decent weather). Since I’m already approaching the halfway point for my year in Australia, I’ve tried to explore more of the Brisbane metro area, as well as the neighboring Gold Coast.

Caboolture

Location: Click or tap for Google Maps link

Caboolture sits at the northern edge of Brisbane. It’s far enough away from Brisbane City that it feels more like a separate town than a neighborhood within the city. Caboolture has a bit of a rural feeling to it. When I visited, I got lunch at a local restaurant and strolled through Centenary Lakes Park and the Caboolture Arboretum.

Gold Coast

Location: Click or tap for Google Maps link

This was my second time visiting the Gold Coast (my first was during Month 3). On my first visit to the area, a friend and I spent a morning and afternoon in Surfers Paradise, and we also ventured up north towards Main Beach for dinner. On this visit, I headed south towards Broadbeach and Mermaid Beach.

The Gold Coast south of Surfers Paradise is fairly quiet and residential. Broadbeach has beautiful green parklands right along the water, and I basically had a long stretch of Mermaid Beach all to myself. Next time I visit the Gold Coast, I’d love to go even further south to Burleigh, Currumbin, and Coolangatta.

Wellington Point

Location: Click or tap for Google Maps link

The Eastern part of Greater Brisbane is known as Redland City (or the Redlands). Unlike Brisbane’s city center, the Redlands have an actual coastline. However, the Redlands Coast isn’t on the open ocean, but rather Moreton Bay. As such, the water is shallower, calmer, and a lighter shade of blue. Moreton Bay waters are nothing like the often rough, dramatic waves on the Gold Coast.

Wellington Point is a narrow peninsula in the northernmost part of the Redlands Coast. There’s also a sand bridge that connects Wellington Point with nearby King Island, a conservation park. I’m not sure if the sand bridge (pictured above) gets submerged during high tide, but luckily it was easy to cross when I visited.

Cleveland

Location: Click or tap for Google Maps link

Within the Redlands, Cleveland is a large suburb not far from Wellington Point. Both are easily accessible on the Cleveland Line, a busy train route that connects the north Redlands to Brisbane City.

In addition to a beautiful coastline and numerous parks, Cleveland also has a picturesque lighthouse at the end of a long pier. I’m hoping to revisit Cleveland (and the Redlands in general) regularly in the coming months. It’s the closest portion of Moreton Bay to my home, and it’s also the jumping-off point for North Stradbroke Island, one of two large bay islands near Brisbane (the other being Morton Island). I’ll update my future WHV posts about any return trips to the Redlands!

Housing & Job Updates

I’m currently living in the same apartment I found right around the end of 2025, and things are all good in terms of accommodation. The rental market in Brisbane (and in Australia in general) is brutally competitive, so I don’t have plans to move for now. Things could always change, but I generally am very pleased with the living arrangement I found, located in the vicinity of Woolloongabba and Kangaroo Point.

When it comes to work, I’m still teaching at the same school I started working at back in January. I took on a few extra shifts this month that involved traveling around the city with my students. I enjoyed acting as a tour guide for a few weeks, and I found it amusing that I was showing them around a city that I myself am still getting to know! Nonetheless, I had a lot of fun on those outings, and my regular teaching hours were good as well.

A Few Restaurant Highlights This Month

As a foodie, one of my favorite things to do is try different restaurants in Brisbane and on my day trips! This month, I had a standout meal from Shiraz Restaurant + Bar. It’s a fabulous Persian restaurant in the southern part of Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast. I ordered a lamb shank that was so juicy and tender! This restaurant was a bit pricey, but it was a worthwhile splurge.

I also really loved the massive slab of fried fish I got when I ordered fish and chips at Oxley’s On The Bay in Wellington Point. It was flaky, crispy, and freshly deep-fried, while the white fish inside was tender and juicy.

I also tried two memorable Vietnamese restaurants this month: Quan Thanh in West End and Phở Phố Cổ in Brisbane City. At the former, I ordered a delicious vermicelli salad bowl with mixed meat, and at the latter, I ordered a bowl of phở. Some sources online indicate that Phở Phố Cổ specializes in Hanoi-style Vietnamese food. As much as I love Vietnamese food, I’m not an expert enough to be able to tell the difference. Nonetheless, the broth had rich, bold flavors that I really appreciated.

For those who don’t know, I’ve been writing in-depth restaurant reviews of every place I try over on my “Kev’s AUS Food Diary” Instagram account. Follow me there to stay up to date on all my restaurant reviews!

Finances

On each of my WHV monthly update posts, I’m providing a monthly review of my finances and a rolling cumulative total of my earnings and expenses. Here is the breakdown for Month 5.

TAKE-HOME INCOME: 4,615 AUD (3,325 USD)
Rent: 400 AUD (285 USD) per week, all utilities included; total rent for fifth month of my WHV: 1,770 AUD (1,275 USD)
Restaurants, bars, and cafes: 685 AUD (495 USD)
Groceries and household items: 1,025 AUD (740 USD)
Miscellaneous (clothes, appliances, transportation): 70 AUD (50 USD)
Bills: 155 AUD (110 USD)
Travel expenses: 575 AUD (410 USD)
TOTAL FIFTH-MONTH COSTS: 4,280 AUD (3,080 USD)
MY MONTH 5 SURPLUS: 335 AUD (245 USD)

Below is a summary of my cumulative finances for Months 1 through 5.

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)

When you add it all up, my net earnings for Months 1 through 5 are -5,975 AUD (-4,300 USD). Note that conversion rates have shifted since I arrived (from 0.66 USD = 1 AUD in November 2025 to 0.72 USD = 1 AUD in April 2026). This accounts for a discrepancy between my AUD and USD summation.

I’m glad I had another month of modest savings, but as you can see, I still haven’t broken even from my initial costs of settling in. I am probably going to have to find a second job in Month 6 to start saving up a bit more. As long as that happens, I’m hopeful I’ll break even sooner than later. Since I need to leave Australia by November, it’s already time for me to start preparing for moving expenses.

My Plan Moving Forward

As mentioned above, my biggest goal for Month 6 is to find an evening and/or weekend job to supplement my current income. Although the cost of living in Australia is a slightly lower than in the US, it’s still pretty high overall. I’m also nervous that flights out of the country are going to be pretty expensive by November due to the war in Iran, so I’m trying to budget more than I otherwise would for that airfare.

If you’re wondering what my plans are for the end of this year and 2027, I’m still not sure! I’m most likely to move directly from Australia to a country in Asia to start a new job teaching English, but nothing is set in stone yet. Vietnam is my most likely destination at the moment, and Taiwan is probably second on my list. Thailand and Japan are also countries I’m considering moving to.

Stay Up to Date on My Working Holiday!

Thanks for reading the fifth installment of my Working Holiday Visa blog series! If you’re curious about how the other months of my year-long stay in Australia went, be sure to check out the full list of posts here. Wish me luck, and check back regularly for updates!

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This post was published on Apr 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!

Bangkok (Sept)
Istanbul (Sept)

The post An American In Brisbane: Australia Working Holiday Visa Month 5 Update appeared first on Caffeinated Excursions.

An American In Brisbane: Australia Working Holiday Visa Month 3 Update

Kevin | Caffeinated Excursions — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 18:00:00 +0000

An American In Brisbane: Australia Working Holiday Visa Month 3 Update

Published February 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!

If you’re curious what it’s like to move to Australia on a Working Holiday Visa (WHV), I’m here to tell you all about it! My name is Kevin, and I recently finished my third month living in Brisbane on a WHV after moving here from Chicago in November of 2025. My visa is valid for a year, which means I have nine months left to live and work in Australia. I can’t believe my time here is already 25% complete!

This month’s highlight was having my friend Ismael visit from overseas! We spent most of our time in Brisbane, but we also left the city a few times to visit other parts of Queensland’s coast. This post will include all the details of where we went and what we did.

Below are all of the things that happened during my third month in Australia, which ran from January 16, 2026 to February 15, 2026. To skip down to any particular topic, click or tap the corresponding link below!

Recap of My First Two Months in Australia on a WHV
Housing & Job Updates
My First Visitor in Brisbane
Finances
My Plan Moving Forward

Recap of My First Two Months in Australia on a WHV

To make a long story short, I spent my first two months in Brisbane getting to know the city and settling into a routine. I found a place to live and a job, but having to look for both at the same time was kind of chaotic. If you want to know more about my job and apartment hunts, check out my update posts for Months 1 and 2!

Housing & Job Updates

In terms of housing, I’m still living in the same shared apartment near Woolloongabba that I moved into between Christmas and New Year. It’s been a great fit for me, and I’m hoping to stay here for at least the next few months. In terms of work, I’m still in the teaching position I started after New Year! I’ve worked as an educator for many years now, so I’m really grateful that I was able to find a job within my field.

My First Visitor in Brisbane

The best part of my third month here in Brisbane was having a friend visit! Ismael and I have known each other since middle school, and we’ve hung out all over the world together since I started my blog back in 2018.

Things We Did in Brisbane

During Ismael’s visit, we toured some of my favorite spots around the city, but we also explored a lot of places I hadn’t been before. Read on to learn more!

Streets Beach in South Bank

Location: Stanley St Plaza, South Brisbane QLD 4101

This man-made beach is one of Brisbane’s most popular tourist destinations because it offers beautiful blue waters, real sand, and a great view of the city skyline! It’s also completely free and open to the public.

The Wheel of Brisbane

Location: Russell St, South Brisbane QLD 4101
Website: https://thewheelofbrisbane.com.au/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrisbaneWheel/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/channel7wheelofbrisbane/

A short walk north from Streets Beach is the Wheel of Brisbane. We visited the wheel on a weekday, so we didn’t have to wait in line to get on. This Ferris wheel offers unobstructed, elevated views of Brisbane’s skyline as well as a recorded narration pointing out important landmarks.

Mount Coot-tha

Location: 1012 Sir Samuel Griffith Dr, Mount Coot-tha QLD 4066

Mount Coot-tha overlooks Brisbane from the west and is a popular spot to watch the sunset. I had never seen the city from this vantage point, so I really enjoyed coming out this way. Mount Coot-tha also has a botanic garden and numerous hiking trails, but we took an Uber straight to the summit lookout. I’ll have to go back sometime soon to explore more of Mount Coot-tha.

Restaurants

Ismael and I are both enthusiastic foodies, so we tried as many restaurants in Brisbane as we could! We ate at some casual spots, but I think the culinary highlights were two of Brisbane’s best-rated restaurants: Rogue Bistro and Agnes.

Both Rogue Bistro and Agnes were delectable fine dining restaurants with pretty distinct atmospheres. I’d say Rogue Bistro offered classic courses that felt very balanced overall, while Agnes offered a more adventurous meat-heavy menu.

If you want to know more details about both of these restaurants, be sure to follow “Kev’s AUS Food Diary” on Instagram! I’m writing reviews there of every restaurant I try in Australia during my Working Holiday!

Day Trip to the Gold Coast

Queensland’s Gold Coast is famous for its waves, surfing, and stunning skyline right next to the beach. The Gold Coast takes about two hours to get to from Brisbane on public transit, and the route involves both a train and a light rail/tram. It is possible to do as a day trip, but prepare to be gone from morning until night (especially if you plan to eat dinner on the Gold Coast).

We spent most of our day on the Gold Coast in Surfers Paradise, one of the main tourist and commercial hubs along the beach. The waves here were pretty powerful, so the lifeguards only allowed people to swim in a specific area. The water was nice and warm, but not calm enough to really relax in.

The Gold Coast’s skyline is incredible, but the city honestly had an unusual vibe that was hard to pinpoint. Maybe it felt quieter than we expected? There’s also no real downtown, which is sort of odd. Don’t get me wrong, I had a great time there, and I plan to go back very soon! Nevertheless, something about this city sets it apart from other famous oceanfront cities like Miami and Rio de Janeiro.

Weekend Trip to Noosa

Noosa is a popular resort area north of Brisbane. Noosa is part of the Sunshine Coast, which to me felt less built-up and more tropical than the Gold Coast. Technically a train line does connect the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane, but most locals will tell you that it’s not very convenient. The main issue seems to be that the train runs parallel to the coastline, but about 15 kilometers inland. With that in mind, Ismael rented a car for a few days and we drove up.

Noosa has undeniably beautiful beaches and cute little neighborhoods. We swam, hiked a little bit, tried a few local restaurants, and generally had a great time! The only issue we ran into here was traffic and parking. I suspect that a lot of people from Brisbane drive up to Noosa each weekend (like we did) and clog up the town’s roads.

In Noosa, we stayed for one night at South Pacific Resort. I loved all the lush palm trees in the central courtyard here! The pools here also looked very inviting, but we were so busy exploring the beaches that we didn’t have time to swim at the resort.

Between Noosa and the Gold Coast, I’d have to say that I liked Noosa just a bit more. The only thing is that I don’t have a car here, so it’s a lot easier for me to visit the Gold Coast than the Sunshine Coast. Regardless, I’ll return to both areas as soon as I can! Brisbane is a beautiful city, but the one thing it’s missing is an oceanfront beach.

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 3.

TAKE-HOME INCOME: 3,930 AUD (2,790 USD)
Rent: 400 AUD (285 USD) per week, all utilities included; total rent for third month of my WHV: 1,770 AUD (1,255 USD)
Restaurants, bars, and cafes: 1,925 AUD (1,370 USD)
Groceries and household items: 600 AUD (425 USD)
Miscellaneous (clothes, appliances, transportation, misc. bills, etc): 85 AUD (60 USD)
TOTAL THIRD-MONTH COSTS: 4,380 AUD (3,110 USD)
MY MONTH 3 SURPLUS: -450 AUD (-320 USD)

Below is a summary of my cumulative finances for Months 1 through 3.

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)

When you add it all up, my net earnings for Month 1, 2, and 3 are -6,910 AUD (-4905 USD). Fluctuations in the conversion rate account for a slight discrepancy between my AUD and USD summation.

I spent a little bit more than I earned this month, but I came decently close to breaking even, as you can see in the data above. Since Ismael and I tried some fancy restaurants in Brisbane, that portion of my budget was higher than it would normally be. In Month 4, I’ll try to save more and come out with my first surplus!

My Plan Moving Forward

My plan for Month 4 is to just keep doing what I’m doing! If I’m being honest, I feel like finding genuine stability in Brisbane on a WHV (with regards to the job search and housing) took about a month and a half to two months. As such, I want to enjoy my time here now that I’m truly settled in!

The trips Ismael and I took to the Gold Coast and Noosa inspired me to do at least a few weekend trips per month moving forward. I’ll provide an update on how that’s going in my Month 4 blog post. I’m also determined to start saving more of my earnings now that I’m fully settled here.

Stay Up to Date on My Working Holiday!

I hope this blog post provided lots of insights for all of you out there curious about living in Australia on a WHV! If you’re also on a Working Holiday or preparing to embark on one, leave a comment below and let me know how the process is going! I’ve definitely had my ups and downs here, but overall it’s been a great experience! Keep an eye out for my Month 4 update in mid-March!

Share This Post With Fellow Travelers!

This post was published on Feb 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!

Bangkok (Sept)
Istanbul (Sept)

The post An American In Brisbane: Australia Working Holiday Visa Month 3 Update appeared first on Caffeinated Excursions.

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An American In Brisbane: Australia Working Holiday Visa Month 7 Update

Recap of My First Six Months in Australia on a WHV

Life in Brisbane

Day Trips

Gold Coast

North Stradbroke Island

Coolangatta, QLD & Tweed Heads, NSW

Housing & Job Updates

A Few Restaurant Highlights This Month

Finances

My Plan Moving Forward

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An American In Brisbane: Australia Working Holiday Visa Month 6 Update

Recap of My First Five Months in Australia on a WHV

Life in Brisbane

Day Trips

Wynnum, Manly, and Lota

Dunwich & Amity, North Stradbroke Island

Coolangatta, QLD & Tweed Heads, NSW

Housing & Job Updates

A Few Restaurant Highlights This Month

Finances

My Plan Moving Forward

Stay Up to Date on My Working Holiday!

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An American In Brisbane: Australia Working Holiday Visa Month 5 Update

Recap of My First Four Months in Australia on a WHV

Life in Brisbane

Return to Mount Coot-tha

Museum of Brisbane Clock Tower Tour

Art Museums

Day Trips

Caboolture

Gold Coast

Wellington Point

Cleveland

Housing & Job Updates

A Few Restaurant Highlights This Month

Finances

My Plan Moving Forward

Stay Up to Date on My Working Holiday!

Share This Post With Fellow Travelers!

Recent Posts

Meet Your Caffeinated Blogger: Kevin!

Where I Am Now

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Support the Blog!

Subscribe Via Email

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An American In Brisbane: Australia Working Holiday Visa Month 3 Update

Recap of My First Two Months in Australia on a WHV

Housing & Job Updates

My First Visitor in Brisbane