Hi all. I apologize if this is a long post but most of the information is germane to the topic.

I've made some major life changes lately and and planning on heading to Austrailia under the Work and Holiday Visa (462), hopefully around December of this year. For reference I am an American in my early 20s with no major health issues or criminal record.

I really would like to go to school here, in the field I want to go into Austrailia has several great universities and would allow me to complete a Bachelor's in three years rather than the American standard of four.

Before I take the leap and start applying to schools and/or accruing a bunch of debt, I want to see the country and travel around. As a lifelong motorcyclist I would like nothing better than to see the country by bike.

My vague plan involves working alot for a month or so, saving a good deal of the money I make, then using it to buy a bike a travel for a bit, then working hard for about a month again, and so on. I would also want to hit some universities on the way and talk to some students, professors, admin and so on to find out from the horses's mouth what I would be going to. Ideally I would be able to see all the major cities on the Eastern side in the course of a year, more if possible.

I have $13k USD in savings available to me, but that's a total budget without having booked a flight or submitted the visa application, so it will go down a bit before I even get there. I also don't want to drain my savings completely for when I get back to the states.

However, I have worked for five years (I graduated high school at 16) and have no fear of hard work. I can also drive anything up to a dually-size truck, operate forklifts, and do basic mechanical work easily.

I am a rube when it comes to international travel, about to get my passport on Thursday for the first time. Then I'll be taking the big leap and submitting the Visa application.

I have been looking at Travelers at Work (TAW). Is this a good service or am I better off with something else?

Has anyone else done something like this? Or am I just crazy?

I need some real advice from people on the ground, like how possible it is to get a job in "x" industry that I can put in plenty of work with, enabling me to buy a bike and coast on the funds while I travel for a few weeks. And also the basic stuff like establishing a bank account, switching SIM cards, getting a TFN, where to stay, etc.

Usually I'm pretty self-reliant with these things but there's so much to figure out at once it becomes overwhelming.

What I can't afford to do is fly over there, be unable find employment, drain my savings and then book a flight back with my last $1000.

PS- Last questions, I promise.

I love all bikes, big and small. But Oz is a big country with big distances between cities. If it's anything like the US, not only will traveling those distances on a 250 or smaller bike be harrowing enough since you're revving the piss out of the motor at 70mph, but other drivers will be constantly careening past you at 90+ on long rural stretches. If I'm wrong and other drivers are okay with a little Honda CM250 puttering at 55 down the motorway, I'll be happy to travel on that and save money. If not though, don't I need at least a 500cc bike to make it? How badly will a 500cc+ bike hurt my pocketbook to purchase, register and insure compared to a little 250?

Do my driver's license, motorcycle endorsement, and forklift operator's card apply here or will I need to take tests before driving? Also, my driving record is spotless here in the states, but I don't know if that would be considered when getting insurance over there.

Thanks all!