I lived and worked in Cairns, Queensland, Australia for 3.5 months. My job as a bartender was a Casual Position and counted for my 88 days of specified work that will allow me to apply for another year of the Australian Working Holiday Visa. I absolutely adored living in Cairns. With so many things to see and do, this was definitely the perfect spot to get those 88 days done. Read further for a day in my life living and working in Cairns!
Check out my Cairns travel itineraries HERE
Find Work Exchange resources HERE
Learn more about the Australian Working Holiday Visa HERE
Some background information: After spending a month in a hostel, I decided that I could not live the hostel life while living and working longterm. So, I decided to move into a sharehouse (a full sized house where I pay for one room in the house). This was a much better and cheaper option for me.
My work schedule was relatively inconsistent so some days I would open and others I would close the bar. When I opened, I would wake up around 8:00 am, get ready and walk 10 minutes to work to start my 9:00 am shift. A 10 minute walk honestly felt long in Cairns as it is such a small and walkable city. My shift consisted of serving and chatting with locals, cashing out pokie wins, and keeping the bar clean. My favorite part of bartending at the pub was undoubtedly meeting all the locals. Some of them could be rough around the edges, but for the most part, I met some of the sweetest and most giving people through this job.
By 3:00 pm my shift would be coming to an end so I’d clock off and have a free drink while chatting with my coworkers. Once my glass found itself empty, I’d collect my belongings and head to the Esplanade to lay by the lagoon. Cairns is a small city and on nice days you almost always run into people you know at the lagoon. So sometimes I’d read or journal on my own, but a majority of the time I was able to find some friends to swim and suntan with.
As the day would cool down and the sun began to set I would sometimes go play volleyball with whatever friends happened to be going that evening. Beach volleyball was always a great way to bond with old friends or make brand new ones and it was always such a fun, nonjudgemental vibe!
Cairns is known for its constant nightlife but I would normally only go out once a week as I was trying to save money. Nights I went out I would normally find myself at Gilligan’s, Salt House, or PJ O’Brien’s until it was time to call it a night and walk back home.
Cairns really tested my ability to live a slower paced life. I learned to be happy with simply working, laying in the sun, and going to different cafes with friends when our time off lined up. Some days I stayed in bed reading or binging Netflix while other days I would rent a car or go on some random adventure in the rainforest. The balance was healthy even though some days I got so bored with just working and going home.
My expenses while in Cairns (in AUD):
PER WEEK
Budget: $150
Groceries: $60
Rent: $190
Eating Out: $50
PER MONTH
Budget: $2,000
Phone Plan: $50
Petrol: $70
OVERALL (3 months)
Overall: $6,500
Activities: $1,600
Eating Out: $800
Sylvia's Gap Year 