If you’re planning on working on an Outback Cattle Station, you’re going to be in for something that very few people on this earth ever experience. Most Australians never traveler more than 100 kilometers away from the coast.
Think about that.
If that excites you, you’re going to enjoy this conversation.
Erik and I met on the Gold Coast in Australia and drove 2,000+ kilometers into the outback. Our goal was to attend the Mt. Isa Rodeo and meet some cattle people. We thought they would want to give us a job.
It was a silly plan. The Rodeo claimed to be the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. When we got there, we realized it was smaller than the Reno Rodeo.
We did end up finding a job. It took longer than expected, but the adventure was one that we both cherish to this day.
I hope you enjoy this episode, and I hope it helps you find that station hand position if that’s what you’re shooting for.
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“Even if I get stranded out there & I die out there, it’d be a better life experience than what I’m doing right now.” – Erik Snare (Tweet It)
Outback Cattle Station Topics:
Have you ever dreamed of working on a Outback Cattle Station in Australia?
On this episode of the Love Affair Travel Podcast, I talk with my cattle station companion, Erik Snare about the process of selling all his things, leaving his job in the United States and moving deep into the outback to join me in the hunt for a Jackaroo position on a 500,000 acre cattle station.
While I was in South Africa, Erik and I spoke over Skype about how awesome it would be to work as station hands on an Outback Cattle Station. We came to the conclusion that this would be an excellent career path and decided to make it happen.
I met Erik at the Robina Train Station on the Gold Coast of Australia in my struggling 1984 Mitsubishis Express. We drove for five or six days to the Mt. Isa Rodeo in order to find some work in the most exciting way we could imagine.
Believe it or not, this hair-brained strategy worked out and we had an amazing time. At the end of it all, we came out with a hand full of cash and (for more valuably) a wealth of experiences.
In this Episode You will Learn:
- To avoid the hamburgers and increasing waistline of a desk jockey job
- How much money Erik had when moving to Australia
- How long it took from landing in Australia to getting a job
- That driving in Australia is actually really, REALLY a big deal.
- What it’s like finding work at the Mt. Isa Rodeo
- The best way to find employment on a cattle station in northern Queensland, Australia
- What it was like working as station hands in the Outback
- How much a Station Hand (Jackaroo) position pays in Australia
- The intensity of doing dangerous cattle mustering work
- How learning to canter is like kissing a woman for the first time
Music Credits:
Take Action:
- Check out my blog – Become a Jackaroo
- Australia Working Holiday Visa Overview
- Things you should know about Australia
Hi my name is Libby Fortin and I am a recent college grad from the US that plans to spend the next year in Australia. In the episode you mention making another podcast about the rest of your Australian travels together, is that episode available? I would love to hear more about what other work you’ve done in AUS and recommendations on where to live and work.
Hey Libby,
We never got around to doing round 2, though I often see Erik so we could always do it.
I did do some fruit picking which was fun. If you’d like me to create a Love Affair Travel podcast about fruit picking in Australia, I’m happy to do it.
Outside of that, there are all sorts of opportunities that aren’t so dangerous and physically exhausting. We just chose those because of the adventure aspect. Australia needs hair stylists, technical people and a host of other jobs like bar-tending and that sort of thing. You’ll probably make better money doing these things anyways. The benefit of working these outback jobs is that there is nowhere to spend money so you essentially save everything you make. 🙂
This is a true adventure. Thanks for sharing. 🙂