So I just got back from reading that article about Australian working holidays and was wondering if anyone here has done VisitOz. It sounds really cool, but...is it really worth the $1,000?

Seems quite pricey. Two of my friends both got work on a cattle ranch as Jilleroo's in the outback without paying this much money!

How do you look for jobs like that? I have this weird vision of CraigsList for cowhands...

Under normal circumstances, I'd say you should just go and handle everything yourself. But right now, with the unemployment on the rise (gone from just over 4 percent to just under 6 percent in less than a year), Australia is full of backpackers unable to find any kind of jobs at all. You'll find them in every hostel in every town and city looking gloomy while watching TV and eating noodles.

If someone right now can guarantee you jobs that will pay more than their job-finding fee and what it costs to stay alive in that spot, maybe it's not a bad deal.

Try searching at http://www.tntdownunder.com/jobs-search.html to get an idea of what kind of jobs you can realistically find on your own.

Happy trails,

Bjørn
http://bjornfree.com/