Orlagh Claire

How to Slow Travel the World

How to Make Friends On An Australia Working Holiday Visa

This blog post is all about how to make friends on a WHV.

how to make friends

You’ve just moved to the other side of the world, which is a pretty huge deal and something to be very proud of. But you’re missing friends and family and struggling to meet other people in their 20s or 30s.

So let’s get into the tangible methods of forging connections and how to make friends in Australia.

Here are some tried-and-true avenues for how to make friends on a Working Holiday Visa. Whether you’re looking for casual mates for social outings or deeper friendships that can last a lifetime.

This blog post is all about how to make friends on a Working Holiday Visa.

How to Make Friends on a Working Holiday Visa

Below is a list of tried and tested ways of how to make friends in Australia while on a Working Holiday Visa (WHV).

1. Work

One of the first places you’ll likely meet new friends is through work. This could be anything from an office job in the city to a casual hospitality role on the coast.

The workplace is a built-in environment where you spend significant time each week.

  • Share Breaks: Instead of eating lunch alone, ask your co-workers if they want to grab a bite together.
  • Attend Work Socials: If your company organises Friday drinks or a team-building event, make the effort to join in. You’ll often meet friends-of-friends this way.
  • Be Proactive: If your company doesn’t have any social events, why not suggest one? A simple after-work drinks session could spark new connections.

2. Flat Mates

If you’re on a WHV and renting a room in a shared flat or house, your housemates could become some of your closest friends and is a great example of how to make friends in Australia.

They see you at your best and worst: morning bedhead, late-night dinners, and everything in between.

  • Bond Over Daily Life: Cook a communal meal together, watch TV, or plan a weekend adventure. These simple shared experiences build strong bonds.
  • Housemate Outings: If you’ve just moved in, suggest a housemate trip to the local pub, café, or beach. A change of scenery can help you bond faster than just chatting in the lounge.
  • Communication is Key: Make the effort to learn their schedules, invite them along to social events, and genuinely show interest in their lives.

3. Signing Up to Clubs (Running, Sports, Etc.)

Australia’s love for the outdoors and sport is legendary.

From running clubs to surf clubs, you’ll find plenty of groups that meet regularly to stay active and have fun. This is very popular method of how to make friends in Australia as the wellness culture here is evident everywhere.

  • Running Clubs: Whether you’re a complete novice or an experienced marathon runner, there’s a club for every pace. These clubs often meet in parks, coastal paths, or city running routes. The Croissant Run Club in Sydney is great!
  • Team Sports: Football (soccer), rugby, netball, or basketball teams often look for casual players. Playing in a local league is a fantastic way to establish routine interactions.
  • Surf Lessons: Australians adore surfing. Even if you’ve never ridden a wave before, signing up for lessons can introduce you to other beginners, and you’ll laugh your way through the wipe-outs together.

4. Joining Social Gyms

Unlike traditional gyms where people stick in their own lane, social gyms focus on community-driven fitness classes.

Think F45, CrossFit boxes, or boutique studios offering group classes like spin, barre, or HIIT sessions. The group format is inherently social. You’ll likely strike up conversations with regulars and this is another example of how to make friends in Australia.

  • Benefits: You get fit and meet potential friends. It’s a double win.
  • Tips: Talk to others before or after class. Ask about local healthy eateries they recommend, or see if they fancy a coffee post-workout.

5. How to Make Friends via Facebook Groups

In today’s digital age, Facebook Groups and online forums can be a lifesaver for expats or working holiday makers asking the question of how to make friends on a WHV.

  • WHV Community Groups: Search for “Working Holiday Visa Australia” or “Backpackers in Australia” groups. These are hubs of travellers looking for roommates, travel buddies, and general friendship.
  • Local Interest Groups: Whether it’s music, gaming, hiking, or photography, there’s probably a group for it. It’s a direct route to finding people with shared interests.
  • Events: Keep an eye on local event listings posted in these groups. Everything from pub crawls to beach clean-ups to festival meetups can be on offer.
  • Sydney Working Holiday Girls: I attended a few of their events and made some new friends! Highly recommend, and I think they also have locations around the rest of Australia too.

6. Welcome to Travel Package

Arguably one of the best ways to start your Australian adventure with a bunch of new mates is to join a Welcome to Travel package.

These structured tours are designed for newcomers, all looking for the same thing: epic experiences and instant friendships.

  • Group Environment: You’ll travel with a group of people who, like you, are starting their Aussie journey.
  • Sightseeing with Ease: You won’t stress over logistics, because the tours handle accommodation, itineraries, and activities. You can focus on making meaningful connections instead of reading bus timetables.
  • Bonding Experiences: Group activities, like surfing lessons, wildlife encounters, or city tours, form lasting memories and inside jokes you’ll treasure. By the end of the package, you could have a tight-knit group of friends to continue your travels with.

Welcome to Travel is a great organisation to help you get started with your move to Australia.

They offer group trips along the East Coast, days exploring Sydney and Melbourne and administrative help to get you set up for success once you arrive.

If you’re interested in doing one of the tours, make sure to use the relevant code below for some discount!

7. More Examples of How to Make Friends in Australia

Beyond these main avenues, there are countless other ways to expand your social circle:

  • Meetup Events: The Meetup platform hosts a variety of interest-based gatherings: wine clubs, hiking weekends, language exchange, coding bootcamps, and more.
  • Volunteering: If you have time between work stints, consider volunteering at a local charity, festival, or community event. The shared goal makes it easy to connect with your fellow volunteers.
  • Backpacker Hostels: Even if you’re not staying in a hostel long-term, dropping by for trivia nights or bar crawls can connect you with other travellers.
  • Language Exchanges: Learning or practicing another language? Australia’s multicultural scene means language exchanges are popular. You’ll find Spanish-English, French-English, or even Korean-English meetups in bigger cities.

Practical Tips on How to Make Friends

Below are some more practical tips for how to make friends on a WHV.

Balancing Your Social Life with Alone Time

While it’s important to put yourself out there and be social, don’t forget to schedule downtime.

Moving abroad can be emotionally exhausting, so having a few evenings to yourself is healthy. Balance is key. Push your comfort zone without burning out.

Dealing with Awkward Moments

No matter how confident you are, some social encounters might feel awkward. Maybe you join a group activity and don’t click with anyone, or you fumble through small talk at a pub.

Understand that this happens to everyone, and one awkward moment doesn’t define your journey. Keep trying, and you’ll find the people you resonate with soon enough.

Staying True to Yourself

In your eagerness to make friends, avoid changing who you are just to fit in. Authenticity wins in the long run.

If you’re not a big drinker, you don’t have to pretend you love pub crawls. If you prefer a quiet night in, propose a movie night or a board game session instead. Be genuine about your interests and values; you’ll attract people who truly get you.

Leveraging Social Media

Australia has a large transient population. Travellers come and go frequently, chasing the sun or following seasonal work.

Keep in touch with the people you meet on social media. Even if they move on to another city or region, you might cross paths again or swap travel recommendations.

How to Make Friends: A Word on Safety and Boundaries

Building friendships doesn’t mean you have to drop all your defences. Trust your gut, especially when meeting new people through online platforms or in unfamiliar settings.

Share personal details gradually, and if you ever feel uncomfortable or unsafe, remove yourself from the situation.

  • Meet in Public: For first-time meetups, choose a café, a busy park, or somewhere with other people around.
  • Inform a Friend: If you’re heading out to meet someone from Facebook or an online group, let a housemate or another friend know where you’ll be.
  • Listen to Instincts: If something feels off, it probably is. It’s okay to decline invitations or leave early.

Your Roadmap of How to Make Friends in Australia

  1. Adopt the Right Mindset: Be open, say yes, and put yourself out there.
  2. Tap Into Existing Networks: Work colleagues and flat mates can be your first port of call.
  3. Join Clubs and Gyms: Embrace Australia’s active culture: running clubs, team sports, or social fitness classes.
  4. Explore Facebook Groups: Find like-minded people or local events in your new city.
  5. Try a Welcome to Travel Package: A brilliant way to start your Aussie journey with a ready-made group of new mates.
  6. Think Outside the Box: Volunteering, hostel events, and Meetups can all lead to unexpected connections.
  7. Stay Safe: Trust your instincts and set boundaries, even as you branch out socially.

How to Make Friends: It’s Easier Than You Think

Making friends in Australia as a working holiday maker might seem intimidating, but you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Once you settle into your new environment, you’ll discover that Aussies are warm, your fellow travellers are eager to connect, and there are countless activities to bring people together.

Your WHV is a fantastic opportunity to reinvent yourself, try new hobbies, and form friendships that might last well beyond your year (or two, or three) in Australia.

If you’re still feeling shaky about it all, remember that everyone was once the “new kid.”

The difference between those who build strong social circles and those who feel isolated often comes down to the willingness to take that first step. Start a conversation, join a club, or book that Welcome to Travel tour.

Give it a shot, and soon enough, you’ll be sharing laughs, planning weekend getaways, and maybe even calling Australia your second home.

Your new friends are out there, waiting to meet you. Embrace the excitement, the early awkwardness, and the joy of how to make friends in one of the most beautiful countries on the planet.

RELATED How to Make Friends in Australia blog posts to read:

Tweet
Share
Pin
Share
0 Shares

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Sign up for new updates