Working Holiday in Australia January 2018- Where to start?

I am beginning to plan my working holiday to Australia, where I want to travel up the east coast, which i have decided i am leaving from the UK for in January 2018. I have saved enough money that I do not need to jump into work straight away, so i want to travel around a bit first before I decide where to settle and work for a while. However, I am struggling to decided where to start, Melbourne or Sydney? I have done some research and a lot say it depends on my interests, I like adventurous stuff and activities like water sports and generally chilling on beaches, although I am mostly up for doing anything. I'm also aware that i will be arriving during the summer months and it be very hot. I am planning on booking my first weeks accommodation so i can get myself set up with things like bank account, phone, tax number etc. beyond that i don't have much else planned.

It may be also worth mentioning that i have never traveled for any extended period of time (more than 2-3 weeks)before and i will arriving in Australia on my own. If there is anyone in the same position as me, or has been in the past, do you have any general advice for a working holiday up the east coast of Australia?

You will also arrive during the peak of the Australian holiday season, so expect higher than usual accommodation and travel costs.

There are dozens of blogs out there by people who have done what you will do. I suggest that you use Google to find them.

• Here are some examples

One concrete piece of advice that I will offer is that you can open a bank account before you arrive. This might save you some time and/or give you something to work on in the meantime. The following are three of the major Australian banks, and there are others that provide similar services. I don't make any recommendations regarding any of them.

• http://movingtoaustralia.anz.com/global/en/why-open-a-bank-account/benefits/

• https://www.nab.com.au/personal/international/move-your-banking-to-another-country

• https://www.westpac.com.au/personal-banking/bank-accounts/moving-to-australia/

However, when the time comes to transfer money from the UK to Australia, don't do it directly with any bank (unless you are moving money from a Citibank account in the UK to one in Australia). Instead, use a service such as Transferwise to get a better exchange rate with minimal fees.

• https://transferwise.com/

thanks a lot for your advice, i will be sure to open an account before i leave, this was something i was undecided about but you have really helped so thank you. Since this post i have booked my flight to Melbourne and my first week in a hostel there, i haven't got much planned after that other than i would like to travel up the east coast.

@Dannyp646 Hi Dan, did you end up travelling to Oz? If so, how have you got on with your travels? I am thinking of doing something similar

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