At Leading Out, we’re dedicated to making living abroad as easy as possible for you. We can help you get your visas, find home sweet home, and (of course) dream job placement. We can link you up with locals, and we’re always available for questions!
Still, in this digital era, we’re not the only hands that are ready to help. There are some great apps out there that can help smooth the way to success in your new life. Whether it’s keeping in touch with loved ones back home, learning a new language or scoring a couch, the apps of today are ready to help you do it all—for free.
Here are four of our favourite free apps to keep living abroad fun and breezy!
To pick up the language… Duolingo
Australia is primarily and English-speaking country, but it’s also conveniently close to places that are not, like China or Thailand. If you’re thinking another country where you’re not fluent in the language on your next holiday, Duolingo is the app for you! It’s designed to teach you language basics that will help get you by in only minutes per day.
You can do a few lessons relatively quickly in local transit, and build up your skills on your way to or from work. That’s right, learn Mandarin waiting for the tram. Game-ify your learning, pick up a new language, and feel like less of a tourist on your next vacay. Plus, who doesn’t want to put an extra language on their resume?!
To stay in touch… WhatsApp
We know it’s exciting to move away… BUT it’s also important to keep in touch with your people back home! (Also, to tell them how exciting everything is. This is 100% key in convincing them they need to pay you a visit!)
WhatsApp is the perfect app for this purpose. It uses WiFi to send messages across the world and back again, and can even do voice or video calls. For. FREE. (We don’t even use texting anymore, TBH.)
To book a vacay… Skyscanner
So you’ve nestled nicely in Oz and you’re wondering what you should do over summer holidays or winter break! Maybe you want to but your new language skills to the test by adventuring out to a new country. One of the best ways to search for inexpensive flights is with the Skyscanner app.
It will help you find the trip your looking for at a price you don’t totally hate. Woo! Time to get your travel on!
To find a new coffee table for cheap… Gumtree
Sure, your accommodations are sorted, but maybe you want to make it feel like home without spending big bucks. You need a new coffee table, or maybe you want to search for a used bicycle to get around.
Gumtree is basically Craigslist—so you can buy/sell just like you would elsewhere. Having it on your phone means having maps and convenient access as to whether or not you snagged that cool lamp for your living space instantly.
What are YOUR favourite free apps for living/working/travelling abroad? Shout them out in the comments section below!
Welcome to part two of our blog series, “23 Amazing Places to Visit in Australia”!
We’re giving you the insider track on vacation destinations and little-known locales in Oz—all based on our personal experiences and those of our friends across the country! Forget the Sydney Opera House or Great Barrier Reef (both amazing, of course), and get up close and personal with the REAL unseen beauty of Australia. Travel guides can only dream of this kind of insider info! In part one we snorkelled with whale sharks, tanned beachside with some kangaroos, and took a sunrise hike through the Olgas. This week, we’re dropping even MORE knowledge, so make yourself a flat white, sit back, and read on to discover your future favourite travel destination and/or totally life-changing experience. You won’t regret it!
7. Witness Alternative Culture in Nimbin
Sometimes it’s better to just sit back and take it all in, rather than rush from place to place. This laid back philosophy will probably be the feeling you get from the villages of Nimbin, just 70km west of Byron Bay. While the counterculture of these hippie towns is illegal, they thrive and remain undisturbed by the outside world. Nimbin is widely-known as Australia’s “alternative lifestyle capital.”
Although it might seem more like a social experiment, it’s worth a day’s visit! We recommend camping at Granny’s Farm and taking a tour through the local-made museum. There are also a few beautiful hikes in the area, if that tickles your fancy. Whether you want to BE a hippie for the day or just stare at them, Nimbin is a stop you can’t miss.
When To Go
Anytime
Location
Nimbin, Northern Rivers, New South Wales
8. Wet Your Whistle at an Authentic Historic Outback Pub
The desert is dry—why suffer when there are local watering holes just off the main highway? The Larrimah and Daly Waters are two must-stop pubs in the Northern Territory! Larrimah Pub not only cracks a VB or XXXX Gold for you, they also have an array of local wildlife wandering around the property. Hand-feed kangaroos or check out venomous snakes (in tanks) while sipping your favourite brew.
On the other hand, Daly Waters Pub—established in 1930—provides amazing service, excellent food, and really funky décor (we found Canadian Tire money decorating the walls). Despite that small piece of Canada, we guarantee you’ll feel out of place in the best way possible!
When To Go
Anytime
Location
Stuart Highway, Larrimah, Northern Territory
Stuart Highway, Daly Waters, Northern Territory
9. Catch Crabs—for Lunch—at Port Parham
If you’re looking for a quick bite, this is the place to do it—just make sure your lunch doesn’t bite you first! Wade out here at low tide, and wear your shoes or rubber boots, as the Blue Swimmer crabs love nibbling at your toes. Walk out about 200 meters with a rake to search for these tricky little guys. With a little bit of patience, and some friendly local advice, you’ll be able to feed everyone in your entourage in no time!
P.S. Camp for free here!
When To Go Anytime; go at low tide and check for size and limit regulations
Location
Port Parham, South Australia
10. Take a Ride on Australia’s Biggest Pest in Broome
Take in one of the country’s best sunsets while riding high on Australia’s biggest pest: a camel! Surprised? In the early 1800s camels were imported from India, Afghanistan, and Arabia as a means of cheap and hardy transport—aptly nicknamed “ships of the desert.” Now, Australia has the largest population of wild camels on the planet!
With a small amount of predators on the continent, camel populations have continued to explode. One of their friendly uses is to take you along the stunning Cable Beach as you watch the sunset over the Indian Ocean. Romance! Adventure! Humps for DAYS! Can you ask for more than that?
When To Go
April – June
September – November; avoid the wet season and cooler winter temperatures
Location
Broome, Kimberly Region, Western Australia
11. Witness the Most Spectacular National Park in Oz
Just north of the Tropic of Capricorn is Australia’s best-kept secret—Karijini National Park. About 1,055 kilometres from Perth, Karijini is often overlooked.
Its rugged and spectacular scenery offers a variety of recreational experiences, including hiking endless gorges, cooling off in pristine waterholes with cascading waterfalls, exploring 10-foot termite mounds, colourful cliffs, and chasms, and meeting wild horses (aka brumbies). While it’s hard to narrow down, our top spots in Karijini are: Hancock Gorge, Fortescue Falls, Weano Gorge, Hamersley Gorge, Circular Pool, and Fern Pool. It’s one best-kept secret you won’t want to keep to yourself!
When To Go
April – November; avoid the summer heat and cyclone season
Location
Karijini National Park, Pilbara Region, north Western Australia
With that, we’ve reached the end of this week’s instalment. We hope you’ve got some new adventure fuel in the tank, and tons of fresh ideas for your next vacation. Click back here next week for part three in the series, and more great things to do and see down under!
