Backpacking in Melbourne: The beginning of the Australian adventure

Melbourne March 2019

Arrival in Melbourne

The arrival in Melbourne was long; The flight took me more than 14 hours. Many thoughts were in my mind: Am I doing it right? Am I making bad decisions? However, there I was, crossing the ocean near Antarctica with a mix of feelings that only those who make the decision to migrate know.

Starting out alone and leaving my comfort zone at over 30 years old, I faced the conservative expectations of my family, who expected me to already be married with children, in addition to the uncertainty of having given up a stable career.

I arrived in Melbourne after noon, an unknown city. Asking where to take transportation to the city, it was hot and I felt sweaty after traveling for so many hours. The only goal I had in mind was to get to the hostel, shower and rest. I arrived at the place asking with my basic English for directions to find the street I needed. They told me that I should take the Tram, a small tram that is free in the city. Not paying for the tram was WOW, you can tell I'm not in my country.

First Days at the Hostel

My first destination was a hostel in Melbourne, where I paid for a shared room with five other women. Upon arrival, I met several girls from different Asian countries, all friendly and welcoming. After a quick shower, I ate something light and fell asleep, only to wake up at 3 a.m., feeling the weight of the time change, the new food, and the different air.

Adapting to New Life

The next day was exhausting, but there were things to do. I went to the bank to open my first Australian account in the Commonwealth, signed up for a cell phone plan and bought my transport card, the Myki. I also called to get my TFN (Tax File Number), essential for working and paying taxes in Australia. During this week I met many other travelers, especially a group of Argentinians who gave me valuable advice on how to adapt.

Freedom and happiness those were my feelings living in Melbourne

I defended myself with my English, but sometimes I felt like Tarzan. However, instead of getting frustrated, I laughed. I asked a lot, I read a lot, and a new person was born in that city. Australia was teaching me to find my own personality, which had been dormant for many years.

I lived for more than two months in Melbourne, in a hostel where I met many people, who became my multicultural family. I realized that I was not the only one who had the dream of traveling and seeing the world. No matter where I was on the planet, there was always someone who was in the same situation.

Discovering the streets of Melbourne

Preparing for Work

After exploring various places in Melbourne, it was time to apply for jobs. I sent several resumes, however, with no response. I was totally wrong with my resume; I had to create one that fit what I was applying for. Check out this post on how to find a Working Holiday job Australia .

In Melbourne I realized that there are several places that offer free talks, that teach you how to write a resume and what jobs I could apply for. There were talks in English, Portuguese and Spanish, so they gave me a lot of good ideas. However, my goal was not to stay in the city.

This talk was delivered by a study agency, Spiible, which helped people with studies and migration. Apart from going to the talk, I took a barista course. In my life I had seen so many styles of coffee; For me it was water and coffee ready, but not here. There is a coffee culture, they serve them in different ways, milk, foam, it's a whole world. I didn't drink coffee in Chile and I wasn't interested either, but I paid for the course to learn how to make coffee with the machine. Additionally, there is a course for serving liquor in bars and restaurants. Australia has strict rules regarding alcohol that don't exist for us. I think I paid about 100 Australian dollars between the two courses.

Responsible Service of Alcohol - RSA

Another important thing in Melbourne was going to the embassy to translate my driver's license in case I had to drive. Consulate General of Chile in Melbourne .

So the weeks went by until I made the decision to go north. The idea was to continue the summer. An American friend recommended that I escape the cold of winter and take advantage of traveling with a work visa. I think it was the best thing I did at that time. After some conversations, I was finally going north with a Chilean friend to Cairns, without having a job, however, we would make do along the way. So I said goodbye to Melbourne for a few months.

Tips and Mistakes

Successes:

• I only paid for 3 days of accommodation in a central hostel that allowed me to meet people and get around.

• MAPS.ME offline map

• Force myself to speak in English, even if it was improvised, at all times. I forced myself to hang out with people who only spoke English.

• Bring only my backpack.

• Translate my driver's license, check if your visa gives you free translations.

Mistakes:

• Contract a telephone plan for a year without knowing my options. It all depends on where you want to live and work.

• Loading the public transport card without knowing if I was going to use it every day.

• Not having an address from a friend/acquaintance so that the bank could send me the letters.

• Do not bring pisco.

Exploring Interesting Places

Recommended places:

• Westgate Park : Known for its pink lake, a natural phenomenon that occurs during the summer months.

• The Heavenly Queen Temple : A beautiful Chinese temple located on the banks of the Maribyrnong River.

• Saint Kilda Beach : An iconic beach with a historic pier, ideal for strolling and enjoying the scenery.

• Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria : Large, well-maintained botanical gardens, perfect for a relaxing walk.

• The Shrine of Remembrance : An important war memorial with stunning views of the city.

Final reflection

Melbourne was the first chapter of my Australian adventure. It gave me the opportunity to reconnect with myself, make new friends and enjoy a vibrant city full of life. In the end, I made the decision to continue my journey north, escaping the cold and taking advantage of my work visa. If you're looking for an authentic Australian backpacking experience, Melbourne is the perfect place to start.

Don't miss the opportunity to live this incredible adventure! Explore, learn and grow as you discover everything Melbourne has to offer.