Two years in Australia | 24 pictures | This is what it looks like!
On July 1st, 2021 it was exactly two years since I first arrived in Australia on a Working Holiday Visa. This collection of 24 photos, one for every month, marks an absolute adventure that shattered all my expectations. I never imagined stretching beyond that initial one-year plan, yet here I am, starting my third year. I can only thank the incredible combination of unforgettable people, jobs, and landscapes for where I am today. Each snapshot marks a chapter in the journey that wouldn’t exist without the fantastic friends I’ve made; I’m so lucky and thankful for every one of you, and I truly hope we all stay in touch as the next chapters unfold.
July 2019: arriving in Melbourne:
After an incredible backpacking journey through Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and even parts of Australia already, I touched down at Avalon Airport in Melbourne feeling both exhilarated and exhausted. My budget was nearly wiped out after six straight months on the road, so I craved some real stability to properly kick off this new chapter in my travel career. Even though it was chilly Melbourne winter, the city embraced me right away; my first job at a bustling CBD hostel traded cleaning shifts for free accommodation, and I quickly made lifelong friends while living steps from the iconic Shrine of Remembrance where this photo was snapped.
August 2019: working as a barista:
My hostel gig only covered my bed, so with savings completely drained by the end of July, I had to hustle hard for food and basics. I dove headfirst into barista work around mid-August, and Melbourne—the undisputed coffee capital—completely changed my mind about coffee, turning me from a non-fan into someone who genuinely appreciated a perfect flat white or latte art masterpiece. Those long shifts not only kept me financially afloat but also introduced me to a vibrant community of caffeine lovers and coworkers who became part of my early Aussie family.
September 2019: visitors from Belgium:
My initial travel budget was set for just seven months, with plans to fly home by August for my mum’s remarriage—a big family moment I hated missing. Choosing the working holiday visa meant staying put, but my tight finances made a round-trip ticket impossible. Luckily, Mum and her new husband Gert decided to weave Melbourne into their honeymoon itinerary, which turned what could have been regret into one of the most special family reunions of my life, complete with city explorations and heartfelt catch-ups.
October 2019: less working – more travelling:
By September, the shine had worn off with a nightmare boss who constantly shorted my pay and refused time off for Mum and Gert’s visit. Luckily, my colleagues were absolute legends who made every day bearable. Once I scraped together enough savings to survive another six weeks, I finally quit on principle and rediscovered freedom, hitting the trails for the full Great Ocean Walk in Victoria—those rugged cliffs, crashing waves, and coastal solitude were exactly the reset my soul needed after months of grind.
November 2019: leaving Melbourne:
After five transformative months, Melbourne had become my very first home abroad, etched forever in my heart with unforgettable memories and friends I’ll cherish always. I originally planned just one year total in Australia, but to keep options open for a second Working Holiday Visa, I started scouting remote jobs that could extend my stay. By the end of November, with bags packed and horizons calling, it was bittersweet goodbye to the city that launched it all.
December 2019: arriving on King Island:
King Island in remote Tasmania marked the start of my longest chapter yet: a whopping 13 months working at King Island Dairy, which became both challenge and anchor. The first weeks were tough adjusting to island life and the job, but as soon as I connected with some incredible friends, everything clicked—we hit the beaches, started saving properly again, and December felt like pure magic under the summer sun.
Januari 2020: sunset at Currie Lighthouse:
January hit me with the milestone of one full year traveling, and reflecting on 2019, I knew I’d lived it better than I could’ve dreamed, with solid savings building and exciting plans taking shape. I spent the month slowly circling the island, soaking in moments like this golden sunset at Currie Lighthouse, which perfectly captured the contentment and optimism bubbling up for whatever came next.
February 2020: Festival of King Island
This was supposed to be my last month on King Island, but the reliable job, tight-knit friends, and my growing ties to the local music scene—like assisting Wade from King Island Radio with FOKI festival parties and other events—made extending another month an easy call. February pulsed with energy from the island’s festival vibes, local hangs, and those first tastes of performing that hinted at bigger things brewing musically.
March 2020: Enjoying the weather
At the start of my final planned month, a few of us friends moved in together, kicking off nonstop backpacker parties, cozy movie nights, and endless garden chills under the most glorious weather imaginable. When the first COVID-19 stories started trickling in, extending yet again felt like the smartest move—why leave our safe, isolated island paradise for the chaos of potential mainland lockdowns?
April 2020: horse riding with Avalon:
Luckier than most, our remote dairy backpacker team stayed intact through the pandemic’s early waves, letting our friendships deepen into something like family. On top of full-time shifts at King Island Dairy, life overflowed with horse rides alongside Avalon, laid-back hangs with the crew, and even teaching music lessons—marking the first time since leaving my music career back home that I felt genuinely busy and alive in every sense.
May 2020: Hunting
As pandemic realities sank in, we all realized we’d be island-bound for months, potentially until January 2021 to hit the six-month mark for my third Working Holiday Visa qualification. Instead of moping, I threw myself into helping on local farms, fully embracing the rugged country boy experience—from hunting trips to hands-on rural work—that made the extended stay feel like an adventure rather than a lockdown.
June 2020: backpackers:
June 2020 was the least exciting month I had on King Island. My roommates all left the island, forcing yet another house move amid relentless winter rain that matched my mood. The only highlights were those wild, illegal backpacker parties we threw—since we all worked the same dairy grind, it didn’t matter. I was just pushing through to reach the halfway point of my second working holiday visa, which hadn’t even started yet.
July 2020: living on an island:
Midwinter suddenly delivered beautiful sunny days that reignited my passion for King Island life just when I needed it most. A hard-earned pay rise made the dairy job more bearable, helping me rebuild savings almost back to my pre-2019 travel start levels, while the music project I’d been rehearsing with friends finally shaped into a real playlist—dreams of future travels felt closer than ever.
August 2020: first Yentl As Anything gig:
With restrictions finally easing in August 2020, Yentl As Anything took the stage for our very first gig—sure, everyone had to sit spaced apart and stay seated, but that electric buzz signaled more to come and opened a thrilling new chapter. I stopped seeing myself as just a traveler saving for the next leg; I was now fully living, creating, and thriving right there on the island.
September 2020: Cape Wickham Lighthouse:
As summer crept in and all restrictions vanished, peak season ramped up the dairy weeks, but weekends exploded with camping adventures, epic barbecues, and band rehearsals. Trips like this one to the dramatic Cape Wickham Lighthouse let us reclaim the island’s wild beauty, balancing the hustle with pure, unrestricted freedom.
October 2020: rehearsals at Wade’s:
October stood out as the most musical month of my entire two years in Australia, with summer events in early planning stages all clamoring for live music. We rehearsed multiple times a week at Wade’s to nail our expanding playlist, and I pushed my guitar skills to new levels—blending my travel saga with creative highs that felt destined.
November 2020: playing with The Lanky’s:
This shot captures me drumming with The Lanky’s, a super talented family band from a dairy farm that directly supplies milk to King Island Dairy where I worked. I’d often head there for farm shifts, but more often, we’d ditch the chores for music sessions that fused our daily grind with pure joy, creating rhythms as unique as island life itself.
December 2020: road-tripping around the Island:
Haha, this picture isn’t the sharpest, but it perfectly encapsulates a few unforgettable road trips around King Island with a mix of backpacker mates and local friends. We hunted down secluded beaches, historic sites, fresh seafood spots, and every hidden gem, turning a simple drive into a full-blown celebration of the island’s rugged charm and unbreakable crew bonds.
January 2021: my last month on King Island:
This underwater shot of me swimming in King Island’s crystal seas symbolizes those final, refreshing plunges before bidding farewell to my island home. My days filled with intense travel planning—sketching Tasmania hikes, crunching budgets for mainland loops, and locking in the second Working Holiday Visa extension—shifting from stable routines to the thrill of open-road uncertainty.
February 2021: travelling around Tasmania:
Standing at Tasmania’s historic Cape Bruny Lighthouse—Australia’s second-oldest—I took in jaw-dropping 360-degree views of sheer cliffs and playful seals below, fresh off hitchhiking escapades and wild camping. It spotlighted my early Tasmania triumphs: spotting rare albino wallabies, conquering Fluted Cape trails, and embracing that pure backpacker freedom.
March 2021: more travelling in Tasmania:
Perched at the top of Freycinet National Park overlooking the flawless curve of Wineglass Bay amid the granite giants of The Hazards, I celebrated hard-earned trail victories rewarded by pristine beaches, curious wallabies, and east coast magic. Those hikes fueled my budding travel video series, capturing Tasmania’s raw beauty in every frame.
April 2021: travelling in Victoria:
At Split Point Lighthouse in Aireys Inlet—the famous Round the Twist lighthouse from my childhood TV dreams—I channeled pure nostalgia while climbing for sweeping ocean vistas dotted with dolphins and whispers of shipwreck history. Our full travel video we made there brought the quirky coastal lore, climbs, and vibes to life for everyone back home.
May 2021: travelling in South Australia:
Spotting this koala peacefully munching eucalyptus high in a tree during my Adelaide Hills walks highlighted the area’s lush greenbelt. Adelaide served as the ideal recharge spot—blending serene trails, vibrant city energy, and strategic plotting for the massive outback adventures ahead.
June 2021: travelling in the Northern Territory:
Fresh off conquering the grueling 240km Larapinta Trail through the West MacDonnell Ranges, Jesse and I posed in front of Kata Tjuta’s surreal red domes (The Olgas) near Uluru, still buzzing from Valley of the Winds and sacred outback vibes. This triumphant duo shot capped two life-changing years with spiritual power and unbreakable companionship.
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