No matter where you are in the world, backpacking is great fun, whether on your own or with a friend or partner. But along the way, you may find that you are running low on funds or that you just want a little bit of extra cash to live it up. Whether you’re in a Sydney hostel or a backpacking lodge in Western Australia, there are lots of casual, backpacking jobs that you can take on, both in the cities and in rural areas. So if you are stuck for a bit of dosh or you’re just keen to get some work experience abroad, here are a few job ideas to keep you motivated – and cashed up!

Bar Work

If you have previous bar experience, a license to serve alcohol or even waitering experience, working in a bar, cafe or restaurant is a great way to increase your cash. It’s casual, which means you can make your own hours and if it’s located near to where you live, it can be as easy as pie (particularly if you live in some Sydney share accommodation near the beach!). It’s also a fun way to meet locals and find out more about the city you’re in.  If you’re looking for something more remote, a bar outside of the major city areas is also a great way to work while seeing the country.

Fruit Picking

As if anything could be easier than picking fruit! If you’re keen to experience the more rural areas of Australia, fruit picking has many perks – it means you spend your work days outdoors, in the sun and fresh air, you get to meet new people, you stay on your feet (to keep you fit) and you get to see some of Australia’s best scenic areas.  If you’re looking for something a little more “physically challenging,” working on a farm or a cattle station is also a good option and it’s a great way to learn what Australian country life is really like!

Oyster Pearling

Oyster, what?! Oyster Pearling is a booming trade in Australia and many travelers from all over the world take on jobs as Oyster Pearlers because it gives them the opportunity to travel and work on the ocean. Pearling work is mainly situated in Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory and is at its peak from April to October each year. Be ready for early mornings and lots of hard work, but if you love boats and being out on the ocean (you can go fishing, swimming and see marine life in your time off!) consider earning some money through pearling. 

Tour Guide

If you’re based in a major city and have some tourism experience, being a Tour Guide is a wonderful and career-widening role where you’ll get to learn all about the city’s historical niches and impart your knowledge and passion onto others. Your English-speaking skills need to be up to scratch for this one, as does your entertaining skills and your enthusiasm! Tour Guiding is also great for casual work and you can search for guide jobs that are only based in the daytime or at nights or on weekends.

Charity Promotions

Promoting a charity for work is rewarding, fun and most of all – challenging! Lots of Charities will hire backpackers and travelers for casual and part-time roles to promote their charity to the general public. You usually need to be bubbly, highly motivated and of course, you need to love talking and interacting with people. Most of these jobs will pay by the day or week and if it’s commission based (and you’re good at your job) you can make a fair bit of cash.