The Best Places to Live in Queensland for Working Holiday Makers

Thinking of a working holiday in Australia? Australia’s borders are open to holidaymakers once again and the job market is in full swing, which means there are endless opportunities awaiting travellers on working holiday visas.

With nearly 7,000 kilometres of spectacular coastline, world-famous cities like Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Noosa and Cairns, one of the most desirable climates anywhere on the planet and a reputation for friendly locals and laidback lifestyles, it’s only natural that many so travellers head to the ‘Sunshine State’ to live and work. But where are the best places to live in Queensland? This short guide will help you discover the best beach and country towns to live and work in Queensland on a working holiday visa.

1. Gold Coast Working Holidays

Naturally, surfing enthusiasts flock to the beaches of the Gold Coast but you don’t have to be a keen surfer to find ample reasons to call the Gold Coast home during your time in Australia. Whether you’re thinking of Surfers Paradise, Burleigh Heads or Coolangatta, you’ll find the Gold Coast delivers a lifestyle like few places on earth.

Not only are there endless spectacular beaches and around 300 days of sunshine every year, there’s also a young and outdoor lifestyle-focused population, loads of cafes, bars, restaurants and fun things to do all-year-round. Plus you’ve got Brisbane a short drive to the north and Byron Bay to the south. And there are always heaps of employment opportunities — even for those with little work experience — so you won’t have any issues finding work during your time here!

You’ll meet heaps of your fellow travellers at the local backpackers along the Gold Coast, like the Coolangatta YHA, which is only a 5 -10 minute walk from the Gold Coast Airport, Surfers Paradise YHA and Backpackers in Paradise in the heart of the action at Surfers and Aquarius Gold Coast in Southport. These are all great spots to base yourself while you get a feel for the local area and look for work, especially if you’re looking for a hospitality gig as there are plenty of jobs on offer!

2. Brisbane Working Holidays

One of the most affordable and safest capital cities to base yourself in while working in Australia and right at the top of the list for climate and weather, Brisbane ticks a lot of boxes for travellers on working holiday visas. Not only is ‘Brissie’ an increasingly cosmopolitan city with a seemingly endless list of shows, gigs and events but it’s also a much smaller city than Sydney or Melbourne with a grid-like layout and excellent public transport that makes it super easy to explore.

Brisbane’s got a heaving music scene and nightlife for a city its size, with Fortitude Valley — known locally as the ‘Valley' — West End, South Brisbane and the CBD providing heaps of options for nights out. Not to mention hospitality gigs when looking for work. Brisbane isn’t a coastal city but living here places you halfway between the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, not to mention Stradbroke and Moreton Island which are even closer, plus you’ve got mountains and national parks right on your doorstep.

If you’re looking for a bustling city surrounded by nature to base yourself in, definitely consider Brisbane. Many travellers base themselves in the centrally-located Nomads Brisbane, home to the famous ‘Down Under Bar’, Brisbane City YHA or another of the backpackers near Roma Street or across the river in alternative West End.

3. Sunshine Coast Working Holidays

There’s heaps happening on the aptly-named Sunshine Coast, making it an exciting place to base yourself during your working holiday in Australia. With its exquisite beaches, gorgeous rainforest and bustling Hastings Street, Noosa is hard to top and a great place to stay at a hostel like Nomads Noosa or Halse Lodge while you’re getting your bearings and exploring the area, but there are more affordable and equally fun places to call home on the Sunshine Coast. Like the popular seaside towns of Caloundra and Mooloolaba, both of which deliver an outstanding balance of affordability, lifestyle and employment opportunities. Not to mention stunning beaches, striking coastal scenery and great entertainment.

Public transport isn’t as comprehensive as the Gold Coast so you’ll need a car to get around in, but that’s the case with most of Australia when living and working outside of the capital cities and you can easily pick up a reliable set of wheels to make exploring the local area a breeze.

4. Fraser Coast Working Holidays

For a seachange and the opportunity to get a real feel for some of Australia’s most-visited heritage-listed jewels, the Fraser Coast delivers in so many ways — not only is the region home to K'gari (Fraser Island), the world’s largest sand island and Hervey Bay, the world’s first whale heritage area, it boasts a variety of stunning landscapes ranging from endless stretches of sandy coastline to lush riverine rainforests.

Employment opportunities are largely agricultural (not only fruit picking) and trades-based but there are hospitality jobs to be found in towns like Rainbow Beach, Hervey Bay and Maryborough. What’s more, the cost of living here tends to be lower than other coastal locales so you may find yourself setting aside more from your earnings for future travel when calling the Fraser Coast home on a working holiday. Pippies Beachhouse and Woolshed Eco Lodge are two of the many popular hostels to base yourself at while arranging work and exploring the region.

5. Whitsundays Working Holidays

Have your heart set on escaping to a tropical paradise where the work is plentiful and the fun neverending? Set your sights on Queensland’s Whitsunday Islands. Widely recognised as one of the most beautiful parts of Australia, this archipelago of 74 tropical islands is a true heaven on earth, a place defined by endless stretches of white sand beaches fringed by tropical rainforest with turquoise waters and vibrant coral reefs teeming with marine life.

The Whitsundays region offers plenty of work opportunities, most notably in hospitality but also trades, beauty and agriculture, with accommodation provided with many jobs, especially on islands like Hamilton Island and Whitsunday Island, the largest island in the archipelago. The lifestyle is the key drawcard here — where else in the world can you start the day with a swim in pristine waters and party at night with locals and your fellow travellers while earning a good living?

With myriad backpackers like Airlie Beach YHA, Nomads Airlie Beach, Base Airlie Beach Resort and Backpackers By the Bay, Airlie Beach is by far the most popular place to kickstart your Whitsundays working holiday, but you’ll find ample accommodation options right across the region.

6. Cairns Working Holiday

The northernmost city in Queensland but with a small town vibe courtesy of its laidback population, Cairns is so much more than the capital of the Queensland tropics — this regional centre delivers all the benefits of city living along with unparalleled access to superlative natural surroundings, including the Daintree Rainforest and Great Barrier Reef.

One of the top reasons to consider Cairns over other locales for a working holiday in Australia is that once you’re here, there’s very little reason to leave. Not only is there everything most travellers could possibly want in terms of beaches and natural attractions right on your doorstep, but there’s also a strong job market, affordable accommodation, excellent shops, restaurants and nightlife, and for a city its size, Cairns bats well above average in terms of arts and culture. And if you want to get out and explore other parts of Australia on a break from work, Cairns Airport services all major destinations nationwide.

While you’ll probably kickstart your time in Queensland’s Tropical North in a backpackers like Global Backpackers Cairns, Cairns Central YHA or Cairns Sharehouse after getting off the Greyhound at The Pier, Cairns, there’s always the opportunity to call a place like Kewarra Beach, Holloways Beach, Trinity Beach or Palm Cove — or even Port Douglas which is just an hour’s drive north — home during your time here.

7. Outback Queensland Working Holidays

For a truly unique experience on your Australian working holiday, there’s the Queensland Outback. Few places in the world offer the kind of experiences the Outback delivers in a big way, from the awe-inspiring vistas to the laidback lifestyle, community spirit and the extensive job opportunities.

Many travellers head to the Outback for the abundant fruit picking jobs on offer which are, incidentally, the easiest job you can get that covers the second-year visa extension. However, there are heaps of hospitality jobs and if you’re a qualified tradesperson or have in-demand skills, you’ll find there are ample opportunities stretching right across the Queensland Outback. What’s more, many jobs offer free accommodation and if you’re working a hospitality job in a regional town the accommodation provided is usually quite comfortable.

The Queensland Outback is huge — well over 900,000km2 — and there are job opportunities awaiting travellers in regional centres like Mount Isa, Roma, Longreach, Boulia and Charleville, along with the many smaller towns that dot this vast and unique region. It’s advisable to start looking for work before heading to the Outback but chances are you’ll be able to find work quite quickly while staying at a backpackers like Travellers Haven Backpacker Hostel, Roma Mid Town Motor Inn, Hotel Cunnamulla or Longreach Tourist Park. 

Considering other Queensland destinations? There are job opportunities awaiting travellers on working holiday visas right across Queensland, including Tropical North Queensland, Southern Queensland Country, Townsville, Mackay, Capricorn, Gladstone and Bundaberg.