An American woman, 21 years old, relocated to Australia on a working holiday visa and explains how her life has improved since then.

In 2022, Bella Robben, 21, resided in St. Louis, Missouri, and worked as a barista in the morning and a waitress at Outback Steakhouse at night.

Robben reveals to CNBC Make It that he would primarily spend his time at home saving money for travel.

Since she was 19 years old, Robben has been backpacking and has visited 19 countries in two years.

In May 2023, Robben embarked on a journey to Australia from St. Louis, where she spent three weeks backpacking in Peru. She then traveled to Colombia for six weeks before flying to Europe. Robben lived in Barcelona for a month, London for another month, and Lisbon for three weeks.

Robben has always known that he enjoys doing it.

In September 2023, thanks to her growing social media presence on TikTok, Robben was given the opportunity to take a brand trip with Australia's Northern Territory Tourism Board. Her flights were covered by Student Universe, a travel company for students and young people.

Before leaving for Australia, Robben changed her plans and applied for a working holiday visa.

"If I were granted a visa, I could remain in the country for an extended period, earn income, and go backpacking in the South," she states.

She was approved just a few days later.

"I didn't plan on moving to Australia when I left, but now I prefer staying here because I enjoy my life more outside the U.S."

Individuals aged 18 to 30 years old, or 35 from certain countries, can apply for Australia's working holiday visa to have an extended holiday and work in the country to fund their 12-month stay. If granted the first visa, applicants can apply for a second and third visa after meeting specific requirements. Each new visa grants an additional 12-month stay and costs 650 AUD or $425 USD.

Robben remained in Australia's Northern Territory for approximately one week before departing for Melbourne, where she resided in hostels for several months while searching for an apartment. In November, she discovered an apartment situated above a nightclub and rented it with two new acquaintances she made at the hostel.

According to CNBC Make It, Robben's monthly portion of the unit's rent was $523 AUD or $347 USD.

""The apartment was the best known to man, perfect for backpackers, located in the heart of everything, with great neighbors and frequent gatherings," Robben declares."

Gumtree, a free marketplace in Australia, was used by Robben and her roommates to furnish their apartment.

In Melbourne, Robben worked as a waitress in a small café.

Seven months after moving into the apartment, Robben and one of her roommates purchased a car and relocated to Port Douglas, a coastal town in Queensland's northeastern region.

Eventually, Robben secured employment as a hotel receptionist in Far North Queensland.

One advantage of the hotel job is affordable lodging on the premises. Robben pays $98 USD per week for her share of a house she lives in with two roommates. Based on CNBC Make It's review of documents, Robben earns $682 USD weekly and her rent is automatically deducted from her paycheck.

'It's very hard to pull myself away from here'

In Far North Queensland, Robben's routine involves morning beach walks, managing her social media and responding to emails before beginning her noon shift. After work, she heads to the grocery store for dinner ingredients or goes out with friends. On her days off, the 21-year-old takes day trips across the country.

""I never imagined staying here for this long, but now I have great friends, a good job, and a comfortable lifestyle. The abundance of activities and nature makes it hard to leave," Robben says."

In America, Robben believes she would not be able to make enough money to have a comfortable life and save. However, in Australia, she is able to achieve both goals.

"I chose to stay in my parent's house because I knew that all I would be doing is working to pay rent, which wasn't something I wanted to do," she says. "I gave up the opportunity to live in the city and make friends in order to travel."

After nearly a year in Australia, Robben admits she has undergone a transformation since her initial arrival.

"I can't believe it's been a whole year since I moved here. It was so daunting at first, and I had a moment when I didn't want to be here," Robben says. "Now, looking back, it's genuinely wild to think how far I've come."

Robben, the youngest in her family, was always protected, so moving far away has helped her learn to rely on herself and trust her own abilities.

"Growing up, I moved around a lot and didn't have many friends in America," Robben says.

Robben returned to St. Louis to be with her family, but she was eager to return to Australia as soon as possible.

Robben immediately felt an intense feeling upon returning to the US because of the career-focused culture.

"While I admire ambition, it can sometimes feel overwhelming."

When Robben completes her first working holiday visa's 88-day work requirement, she plans to backpack through Southeast Asia.

She says, "I hope for an opportunity or a country to attract me in a specific way."

Robben is considering applying for a second working holiday visa in Australia, but not immediately: "I'm keeping that option in my back pocket for when I run out of money and need to come back and work," she says.

Robben advises that it's acceptable to be slightly delusional for those seeking to live and work on a boat.

"Clearly, things didn't go as planned for me, and not everything was ideal, but I believed it would work out. I think it's okay to be delusional because you never know," she remarks.

""I want to live in the present moment and fully appreciate what's happening," Robben stated."

The OANDA conversion rate of 1 Australian dollar to 0.66 USD on August 9, 2024 was used to convert all amounts to USD. All amounts are rounded to the nearest dollar.

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