Australia - one of the most diverse, developed, and beautiful places in the world, Australia is catnip for the young and bold, the newly graduated and the in-transitions out there looking for an adventure.

The perfect launchpad for a year of work and travel in Australia is through the working holiday visa, and an ideal gap year destination for experienced travelers and newbies alike. No matter who you are though, you probably have a few questions on how to prepare for a working holiday in Australia, what to do once you're there, and how to wrap it all up.

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After spending a year in Australia working and traveling. Make sure you don't leave home without this essential guide to work and travel in Australia on the working holiday visa:

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Pre-Departure: Sort out Your Papers, Plan, and Save

If you're heading to Australia, make sure you're going to actually get through immigration. Get your entry requirements sorted out well before you go. In fact, plan to start on this at least 3 months before you head out -- just in case there are any complications. You'll need a few things.

 

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The working holiday visa

Maybe this is an obvious one, but step one to a working holiday in Australia is getting the working holiday visa! It's an electronic visa (which means that you won't need a paper in your passport), but I'd bring a printed copy of the confirmation to the airport just in case.

All in all, it's super easy to apply for. The online form on Tourism Australia's working holiday maker program took me less than an hour to complete.

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Finances

Technically, in order to enter Australia on a working holiday visa, you're required to have one of three things:

• A bank statement proving access to a minimum $5000 AUD

• A credit card with a limit of the same.

• A booked flight back out of the country.

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What jobs can you work on an Australian working holiday visa?

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Once you're all set up in the country, you can focus on working in Australia. Technically, your visa will allow you to work any job that hires you, but in practice, most businesses are well aware of the mercurial nature of travelers and are some are hesitant to bring them into the fold. As such, most travelers take on work in a few different areas:

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• Restaurants and Bars - These places are always hiring, and it's one of the few places where your accent is actually a bonus, as talking to the guests will usually net you some decent conversation and maybe some tips (note: tipping isn't a requirement in Australia).

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• Retail - While many bigger shops are just as hesitant to hire travelers as any corporation, the more heavily trafficked tourist shops are cool with a constantly rotating roster.

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• Hostels - Jobs at a hostel will usually involve either reception or house keeping, but be careful. Many work arrangements will involve a few hours of work a day in exchange for free rent, which isn't really conducive to actually making money. It's a good option if you're looking for other work in the meantime, however.

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• Sales/Fundraising - Be it telemarketing or door-to-door, these places love travelers. Just watch out for people that promise a commission-based salary, as they often take advantage of people desperate for work. Sure, if you're the guy from Wolf of Wall Street you'll make a killing, but for the rest of us, you're going to want a base wage.

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• Flyering - This is the ultimate "just passing through" job, and usually involves just passing out papers in exchange for free drinks at the club or a free nights stay. You won't make it more than a few days doing this.

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• Seasonal/Farm Work - These jobs cater to the people trying to get their second year, and specifically seek out backpackers to fill the positions. It's grueling work, so you may not be interested if you can't get that next visa, but they can also pay out a lot include room and board.

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When you do settle in to work in a particular city, you should try to commit to a few months' work. It shows good faith with the employers, who might otherwise be hesitant to hire travelers after you. It also gives you a good chance to earn enough money to travel, as Australia is pretty expensive to begin with.

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How can you find a job?

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Occasionally, actually landing work can be difficult. There are always going to be other travelers going for the same positions, just like in the real world. Here are the best ways to find work, ranked from best to worst:

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• Recommended by a friend - This is why it's sometimes better to travel when you first arrive. You'll meet people who have been in the country longer than you, and who can recommend you to their previous workplace. This way, you're not only getting a leg up on the others applying, but you're also getting insight into the workplace to see if you'd enjoy working there before you sign any contracts.

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• Using a working holiday program - There are programs that you can apply for before arriving in Australia that will help you find a job, get a tax number, open a bank account, and more. They house you for around a week and help you get to know your new country, but their job placement services are available throughout your entire stay. You pay an up front fee, but you'll basically have a guaranteed job a few weeks after you get to Australia.

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• Handing out resumes - This is the old-fashioned way to go if you don't have any other advantages. Simply hitting the pavement and making your name in the neighborhood to see who's hiring. This is especially good for restaurants and retail, which would like to see your face before they think about bringing you on (and usually only consider applicants who come during "down hours" -- when the place isn't busy).

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• Looking for work classifieds - You'll find these all over the place: street posts, your hostel job board, and online job boards like GumTree... and they may be tempting. But think before you leap. If they advertise, it means that they (most likely) have an extremely high turnover rate, or seriously short-staffed. This often - but not always - means that they don't offer fair compensation, or their workplace atmosphere isn't stable.

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Pay particular attention to these last opportunities, which tend to prey on travelers, knowing they can get them to work for at least a week or two before giving up in frustration. They feed off the constant rotation of fresh faces. You're worth more than that, and you'll find a good job eventually.

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Another option, of course, would be to go through a program provider who can help you out with your working holiday visa and set you up with a job. Though they charge a fee, this is worth it for travelers who want a guarantee on work, or for people who want to do something more resume-oriented than bar work. Program providers can help you work within your degree or skill set, which is often difficult work to find in a new country on a generic working holiday visa.

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How much will you make?

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Australia is an expensive country, yes, but it also has very fair compensation for work. The minimum wage in the country is currently $16.87 AUD an hour, and you can expect to earn more than that depending on where you work. For a full-time job with an hourly pay, expect to earn anywhere from $18 - $23 AUD. Part time jobs may pay less, but you'll have more opportunities to hold down multiple jobs if you're not working a steady 9-5.

Again, be careful when dealing with companies hiring on commission-based wages, especially third party sales companies that sling Energy packages. They often advertise on being able to earn up to $1,500 AUD a week, without telling you that these kind of earnings are based entirely on unrealistic sales goals, and the base wage may be far lower than initially advertised.

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What's the best way to travel in Australia?

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Australia is a pretty huge country, and a lot of that space is wide open. Getting around can be a bit of a chore, but you've got options (and time!).

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• Flying isn't always the best budget option, but obviously necessary for getting there and if you're trying to make it somewhere quick. We recommend using Virgin Australia. It's not all that expensive, but it doesn't give you a lot of chances to explore, and if you plan things right, your destinations will be close enough to drive anyway.

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• Open buses are a good idea. You buy a ticket to a destination, and you'll get a certain number of times you can hop on and hop off along the way. You just need to let them know when you'll be on the bus, and you're free to explore the route they take. However, these routes are restrictive by their very nature. If you're trying to see everything, then you should...

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• Rent or buy a car. This is the best way to see the country. You'll be able to stop anywhere that looks appealing, and if you get a van with a bed in the back, you won't even need to book accommodation. Bring friends along and you won't even spend much more than you would on any other mode of transportation.