How To Work Remotely And Travel Australia In 7 REAL Steps

Learning to how work remotely and travel is daunting. You may have heard of ways to earn money online but..

How do you actually do it? What is the first step??

To answer those questions we made a simple 7-step framework. If you want to learn to earn money online and travel Australia this is how you start.

We take you over the exact step-by-step plan that we took. We now run online businesses AND travel Australia full time!

We want to say it’s easy, it’s not, it’s a journey but we recommend you dive in if this is something you are interested in you will be amazed at what is possible.

We’re Chris and Bec, a social worker and a FIFO turned digital nomads

We have 5+ years of experience as digital nomads, living on the road, and travelling full time.

It was always our dream to do this, and it took a leap of faith to get here… Now we are teaching others how it’s done, in a simple step-by-step format.

Read ahead if you want to start your journey with a strong plan, awareness of the skills needed, potential mindset blocks and challenges ahead, this knowledge will set you up for success.

Now, don’t worry we aren’t sugar coating things, setting this up took us more than a year of learning, dabbling and implementing. But it is the best thing we ever did and it could be for you too.

This article will remove the “overwhelm” factor from your journey. Just follow this framework and you’ll be on your way to working and travelling, living by the rhythm of your own schedule.

There’s no more time to waste! Let’s get started:

Key takeaways

Identify your goals and write down your interests
Familiarise yourself with online job/business opportunities
Make a plan and budget
Determine the skills you need to make your dreams a reality
Stay consistent and work through the inevitable mindset blocks
Surround yourself with like-minded people
Go on the journey of self discovery
Be clear on HOW you want to travel Australia
Identify any fears holding you back
Pick a low-risk entry point and take your first step towards the life you want

We earn money online by building websites! Like this one for example. (You can also buy websites if you are cashed up). This course taught us EXACTLY how to do that: The Digital Investors Program.

1) Choose the category that describes you best

Over the years, many people have asked us how we fund our full-time travels. People used to act like earning money online was a big secret…

Spoiler alert: It’s not. Working remotely is a world standard today in this digital world!

As stated above we earn money through websites, we build them up, share content and eventually earn money through ads or affiliate income. What we do is explained here on a free webinar.

However, our strategy is one of hundreds of ways to earn money online.

The real question for you… is to find the right online job or online business that fits your goals.

To figure out what you want to do online, you need to consult your goals. This will choose your next step.

Over time, we started noticing that most people fit into one of these four categories:

You love your job but want to do it online. You essentially want to swap from an in-person to a remote job. You’ll do the same thing, just online. Learn more here.
You want to transfer your pre-existing skills to online work. You have certain skills – from your current job or hobbies – that can be transferred to a new online role. Learn more here.
You dislike your job and/or feel unfulfilled. You need a change, no matter what. You really don’t want to go to work, you may even want to go into a completely different field. Learn more here.
You want to be an online business owner. This is our category. You want all the freedom you can get and are willing to put in the time and effort to get there. Learn more here.

Chris working remotely from our bus home.

Choose the option above which resonates with you the most… This will help you start mapping out a path towards your goals.

2) Map out your plan

There’s many ways to do this:

Write down your 1 year, 5 year and 10 year goals. Getting clear is the key, you might think goals don’t matter, but everything we have written down has slowly come true for us and it will for you too.
Do a mind map. If you are feeling a bit lost, start mapping out your thoughts and ideas in a journal or on a big piece of paper.
Create a vision board. Visually representing your lifestyle on a board and looking at it each day, is an effective way to make that life actually happen for you
Write out your exact plan. Start business planning, budgeting and creating a to-do-list to start your business/dream job.

Starting your side hustle, empire, new job, path to freedom etc is useless without a map. You must write down how you are going to get to where you want to go or you will have no direction.

Some things to consider next are:

What skills do you need to hone in on to make your dreams a reality
Is there a book you should start reading to learn more about your idea
Is there an event/seminar you could attend to bring you forward on your path?
Do you need to start a course?
Should you get a mentor or coach?
Do you need to hand in your notice at work?
Should you start selling your things on Facebook Marketplace etc to start downsizing?
Is it time you registered your own business and started your side hustle?

It’s time to assess your path forward and start putting in the work to make your dream life a reality.

3) Take our free course – 30 ways to earn money online

The best step if you need guidance is to read our guide and take our free course. We give you not 1, but 30 WAYS you can earn money online. Plus in 7 steps we guide you on your way to making your dreams a reality.

We cover the most popular ways to earn online, plus some you may never have thought of. It is one of the most comprehensive guides you will come across to help you on your journey.

As you go through the guide, write down each job opportunity that resonates with you. Don’t give it too much thought, use your gut.

The goal is to give you an overall idea of the things that may interest you, so you have a few options to explore later!

Also, keep in mind that what you end up doing online might not be clear at first. You may start with some small interim ways or jobs, before you start making semi-passive income to sustain yourself in future.

Sometimes it takes a bit of dabbling to find what interests you online.

4) Take a deep dive into understanding your interests/ideas/dreams

It’s time to look at your interests… It’s no use working in random jobs for the rest of life which don’t light you up. The key is to do work that doesn’t feel like work to you.

So for example, we are OBSESSED with travelling, and now we get paid to do that. Sounds crazy, but whatever it is you love, there is a way you could be paid to do that.

It’s called finding your intrinsic motivation. When you know what drives you, what you’re naturally gifted at or passionate about… and then you combine that into your work?

You will make the most money you ever have in your life!

It makes the entire journey much more pleasant, which in turn ensures you can actually do it in the long term.

Here’s an exercise to help you identify your interests

Start by writing down 3-5 things that you’re interested in.

Your interests are the things you read about, that you do in your spare time, that you help others with, that you’re naturally skilled at and/or passionate about.

In regards to your interests, answer:

Why do you enjoy doing it?
What do you get out of it?
Do you know more than the average person on this topic?
What specific things are you good at doing?
What could you offer people in this space?
Do you have an idea that might be of use in this space?
Can you reframe this interest into an online role or business?

This information is powerful. It changed our lives and it can change yours too.

If you are feeling pretty clear on what you want to do, then read our guide 7 quick wins to start earning money online and travelling Australia. It takes you over the nitty gritty tasks of getting started.

5) Set your travel goals – how will you travel around Australia?

This will determine the type of online work that’s best for you.

For example if you plan to hop in a van and drive around Australia getting jobs as you go then a strong resume will be key!

But if you plan to work an online job with set hours, then a good internet and workspace will be key for you.

Living on the road (Like us!)

This is what we do! We live in Bunji, our ’93 Toyota Coaster.

We converted it into a home so we could live on the road and travel anywhere we want to, whenever we want.

We work online earning money through websites. Bus life needs some preparation, but it’s an incredible lifestyle and we wouldn’t trade it for the world.

To make money online while constantly changing location, it’s essential our internet connection is strong. This is why we use Starlink (satellite internet).

Vanlife takes an investment upfront, as you have to purchase a vehicle and possibly renovate it plus save money if you have no income lined up. You also have to do a bit of planning.

We recommend saving at least $20,000 to get you started for your Australia trip on top of the van/bus/caravan costs.

We had no plan of where we were going just how much we were saving before we left, what we were bringing and how we would earn money around Australia.

You can do pretty much any online work you want, from freelancing to owning a business. You’ll also meet other digital nomads along the way!

“Traditional” travel – a couple weeks at a time to start

You can start smaller than that. Fly somewhere or go on a road trip for a couple weeks. Maybe camping or staying in hotels/hostels, doing some tours then heading home back to work.

Travelling Australia this way will give you a balanced work schedule:

Work as you travel – e.g. if you work online, do a few hours in the morning and explore in the afternoon.
Take a couple weeks off – so you don’t have to work during your visit.

To do this, it may be best to find online jobs with flexible schedules that allow time off – content writing, building websites, etc. That way, you can work whenever you want as long as you meet your deadlines.

Backpacking

This is a whole experience in itself, and the best way to save money while travelling.

However, it may not be a good idea to bring your laptop during your rougher trips…

Not only because of the added weight on your backpack but also because you risk damaging your computer or someone stealing it. Depending on your itinerary, it can also be challenging to find spaces to get work done.

So, if you want to backpack through Australia, we’d recommend leaving the laptop at home. For you, freelancing may be best.

You could work per project, so once it’s finished, go backpacking for a few weeks. Then go back home and work on other projects to save for your next adventure!

You can backpack as a digital nomad but it will be harder and you will need to be very disciplined and switched on.

6) Identify things that hold you back (tackle your fears)

Being a digital nomad is life-changing, but some people don’t take the first step towards it because of “what ifs” and fears, such as:

What if…

…I fall for a remote work scam?
…I can’t earn a stable income?
…I have to sell to my friends and family?
…I don’t have the skills required to make it happen?
…I choose the wrong remote job?
…I don’t want to own a business?
…I don’t have a reliable internet connection?

You are not alone – we feared the same things too. It was paralyzing at times, but it wasn’t until after we faced those fears that we were able to move forward.

Prove to yourself little by little what you are capable of and watch while your life transforms.

We bust each one of those fears and give you tools to face them in this article: 7 Common Online Work Myths Debunked.

7) Be aware of the challenges that may come up

Don’t get discouraged by the challenges that may arise, you can overcome them!

Like anything, going after your dreams of online work and travel has its unique set of challenges and disadvantages.

Here are a few difficulties you might face when going after your dreams:

It doesn’t happen fast and you must stay consistent
You will need to work hard through your own mindset blocks
You will be constantly learning and putting yourself out of your comfort zone
Times financially, emotionally will be tough sometimes
Life doesn’t suddenly become perfect because you work and travel. Problems still happen but in a different setting.
People may discourage you, more so if you want to become a business owner.
It forces you into a sedentary lifestyle. You can counteract this with exercise and work/life balance.
Travelling full time affects your community and routine. You are no longer part of a consistent neighbourhood which can be challenging.

Being aware of these things beforehand gives you the advantage. In relation to people discouraging you on your journey we have some advice.

8) Let go of the things holding you back and embrace the things moving you forward

As you embrace a lifestyle where you stop partying, start focussing on yourself and your goals some people won’t necessarily understand.

They might try to talk you out of it. They may not support you or even belittle you for your dreams.

This is tough because one of the important steps next is to surround yourself with like-minded people.

For example, if you can spend time with other business owners you WILL learn from them. Or if you have friends that are excited for your achievements, they will help motivate you!

But if you have people making you feel bad about your plans then it may be time to put distance between you and them, and spend more time where you feel inspired.

This is actually a huge step and comes under the skill of networking and partnerships too. Surround yourself with the people that you want to be like in future.

On your journey it will be essential that you create partnerships, meet people, go to events and start getting your name out there. Especially if you are looking to run a business.

9) Choose a low-hanging fruit to get started

Now that you have the whole picture, it’s time to kickstart the journey!

Here are a few low-hanging fruits that can get your engines going:

Create a profile on Airtasker or Upwork for your first paid online gig.
Go to an online networking event to meet other online business owners.
Start a course and start honing your skills to earning money online.

For more ideas, here are 7 quick wins to start working online while travelling!

FAQs

Is it possible to work online and travel?

Yes! It is possible to work online and travel. You can do this from the comfort of your laptop, with a good internet connection. Satellite internet like Starlink can connect even in the most remote places.

There are several online work opportunities including starting your own online business to fund your travels. People earn money through content creation, virtual assistant work, social media management, graphic design and even creating websites for people.

However, working online requires discipline and time management to strike a balance between work and play.

Can I work online from any other country?

Yes, you can work online from other countries. However, working online abroad requires careful planning. Here are some things to consider:

– Is there a stable internet connection in your destination?
– What is the political situation there?
– Where and when are you going to work?
– Are there time zone differences?
– How are you going to communicate with your team? Through chat, video calls, emails…?
– Check on any visa and tax requirements.

How can I work online on a road trip?

You can work online on a road trip by planning your itinerary carefully. You don’t want to work the whole time.

Here are some things to consider:

– Bring a reliable mobile hotspot, satellite internet like Starlink or check for internet coverage along your route.
– Check for spots where you can stop and work – cafes, co-working places, etc.
– Prioritise tasks and set realistic work hours, so you have time for both work and exploration.
– Keep your essential work tools, such as a laptop and power banks, readily accessible.
– Be flexible to adapt your work schedule according to the demands of the trip.

The bottom line

Working remotely is not a “one-size-fits-all” kind of thing.

It has to be customised to your needs, goals, passions and interests. But once you have those things clear, the starting point becomes much more obvious.

The possibilities are endless. But, it’s key is to understand what you want and your WHY to identify the online work lifestyle that aligns with you best.

Remember, the path to remote work success may have its challenges, but with determination and perseverance, you can conquer any obstacle that comes your way.