My First Days in Sydney Were Pure Chaos (Aus Part 1)

Introduction

I arrived in Sydney a few days ago, and this Sydney working holiday diary begins exactly how I never imagined: with chaos. My backpack didn’t make it past Singapore, and my prepaid card didn’t work, so I had no money, no clothes, no essentials.

To make things worse, I had never written down the code for my new Visa card. The bank had sent the code to my home address in Belgium, which meant I couldn’t activate the card or pay for anything. I was basically stuck with a useless card on the other side of the world.

Luckily, I was traveling with an organization called AIFS, and they set me up to stay at Wake Up! Hostel. That’s where I met Maxie, who ended up paying for my food and clothes for five days, something I’ll never forget.

Main Adventure

Those first days were mostly disorienting, but looking back, they’re one of my favourite memories from this Sydney working holiday diary. I stayed at Wake Up! Hostel, where nights out were free, but everything felt slightly unreal, like I was there without fully being there. Almost everyone in the group was German, and I was the only one who didn’t speak the language.

Still, I quickly bonded with a few girls from the organization, including Mara, an Austrian girl and the only other non-German in the group. The four of us quickly became close, and we eventually moved hostels together. Mara would later become one of my main travel companions for a big part of my Australia journey.

After five days, I decided to go back to the airport myself to look for my backpack. And there it was, just sitting there. The staff told me they were “short-staffed” and hadn’t been able to process everything. Simple as that. Once I finally set up a bank account and transferred money to my Australian card, Sydney started to feel real.

We moved to Hump Backpackers in Kings Cross, not the best decision. There were cockroaches in the kitchen and rats digging through the trash. Still, it somehow brought people together. The other two German girls stayed there with us for a few days before continuing their own travels, while Mara and I decided to stay a bit longer.

That’s also where I met Luke, a chef, who actually cooked for us one night. We played cards, talked, and just… existed together.

Fun Outings

During my stay at Wake Up!, I went on a couple of incredible walks:

The Bondi to Coogee walk -> breathtaking views of the coastline and beaches.
A walk from the Botanical Garden to the Opera House -> truly stunning, with so many photo moments along the way.

I also went to Manly with Mara and Julia. Getting there was super easy: a beautiful ferry ride from Sydney that only costs about $7, giving you incredible views of the harbour. That evening was Taco Tuesday: order a drink, get tacos for $2, free nachos, and a ridiculous sombrero. Completely silly. Exactly what I needed.

Taco Tuesday in Manly with friends during my Sydney working holiday in Australia

We also went to the Blue Mountains with a random French guy I met in the hostel. He turned out to have a crush on Mara and invited her to a French island, backpacker life logic at its finest. Luke cooked pasta again that night, and it was amazing.

Tips & Tricks

Go with an organization that suits your language, if you don’t speak German, try WelcomeToTravel or just book a few hostel nights and make friends along the way.
If you’re getting a credit card for traveling, memorize the PIN, don’t do what I did.
If your backpack doesn’t arrive, stay calm and check the airport, chances are it’s just sitting there.
Make friends and enjoy the chaos! Some hostels seem sketchy at first, but can turn out to be full of amazing people.
Take a small daypack for daily adventures.
Trust locals and hostel staff, they often know the hidden gems.
Capture the moments, but don’t forget to live them too.

Reflection

Looking back, this first chapter of my Sydney working holiday diary reminds me that the best travel memories often start with complete chaos. Because even with all the chaos, life felt kind of beautiful. I laughed, got lost, met amazing people, and learned that traveling on your own can be wild, messy, and unforgettable.

Wherever I am next, I’m learning that even chaos can feel like a beginning.

Liked this story? Read Chapter 2. Because trust me… it didn’t end there.

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