House Sitting in Australia

House sitting in Australia has plenty to offer

The true spirit of house sitting is a free exchange of services that benefits both side – house sitters get free accommodation in exchange for the caring for homes, pets and gardens, whilst homeowners can rest assured all is being looked after whilst they are away.

The search for reliable house sitters for house sitting and pet sitting assignments is aided by pet sitting sites like Oz House Sitters, which facilitate a safe meeting place for pet house sitter and home owner.

Located in the Southern hemisphere and home to wonders, such as the Great Barrier Reef, Wave Rock, Ayers Rock, the Devil’s Marbles and the legendary Outback, Australia offers adventure and excitement to all who visit.

With fantastic beaches, first-class wineries, unique wildlife and great rock art, there is something for each and everyone to discover. Whether your thinking of house sitting in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia, the Northern Territory, or the Australian Capital Territory, Australia offers house sitters an electrifying experience.

Where can I House Sit in Australia?

Australian Capital Territory

ACT is home to Canberra, the capital of Australia. Located approximately 3 hours south west of Sydney, the population is near 396,000 people primarily in the government, and military sectors. The city is surrounded by the Namadgi National Park and Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve to the west and world class wineries to the north.

New South Wales

The laid-back outdoor lifestyle and natural beauty of New South Wales makes it a great place to do some house sitting! The South coast provides unspoiled beauty and the North Coast provides top surfing locations with top national parks.

Among top tourist attractions are the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Blue Mountains, the Snowy Mountains, Byron Bay and Bondi Beach – attractions made famous all around the world. There are many site seeing attractions in Sydney, places such as the Rocks, the Zoo, the Botanic gardens, Bondi Beach, Fort Denison and Kings Cross.

Northern Territory

The Northern Territory is the base of the Australian Outback, offering an unforgettable experience and relaxed lifestyle. The multicultural city of Darwin is a great place to go and relax, see plenty of crocodiles or take one of the many tours on offer.

Queensland

Queensland, is the second largest state in the country as well as the third most populated. Brisbane is the capital city and home to more than one third of the entire states population, meaning there are plenty of house sitting opportunities within Brisbane and it’s surrounding suburbs. A few hours south of Brisbane is the Gold Coast, which is full of excellent surfing beaches, theme parks, luxury houses and resorts. Further to the north, you’ll find Townville, a cosmopolitan city, in the heart of the tropics with the Great Barrier Reef on its doorstep. In the Far North of Queensland is Cairns, a tropical city of over 150,00 residents and a hub for tourism to northern Queensland and the Outback.

South Australia

South Australia is a well kept secret situated along the southern coast of Australia. The South Australian Coastline is exceptionally beautiful, varying from pristine beaches to high cliff sides. Popular attractions include: Kangaroo Island, Flinders Ranges, Yorke Peninsula, Murray River and the Limestone Coast. The capital of South Australia is Adelaide. Adelaide is known for its old style culture and ancient looking stone buildings that give the city a prestigious nature. Just an half hour drive from the city center are picturesque hills and beaches to enjoy.

Tasmania

Tasmania is a small island that is located south of Australia, approximately 200 kilometers south of Victoria. Tasmania is the smallest of Australia’s states. Dense rainforests, mountain peaks, alpine meadows, great lakes, eucalyptus stands and fertile stretches of farmland are all easily accessible. Hobart, the capital city, offers plenty of house sitting opportunities.

Victoria

Despite being the second smallest state of Australia, Victoria is one of the most populated states in Australia. Melbourne, the capital of Victoria and about 75% of the state’s population call the city home. Melbourne is a buzzing metropolis with a distinctly multicultural flavour and a vibrant arts and cultural scene. The city centre is intertwined with a maze of narrow laneways brimming with intimate cafes (Melbourne is also famous for good coffee), bars and boutique stores.

Western Australia

Western Australia is about one third of the size of the country and is Australia’s largest state. It has a total size of close to 2,500,000 square kilometers and takes up a whopping third of the entire country. The capital city Perth is said to be the most beautiful city in the country.

How to Get Started

Getting started is simple. Just head over to our membership page. You will then be directed to registration and the membership fee payment page (we often run promotions as well, so you may score yourself free membership, or a discounted membership!). You will see a notice to activate your account once you have logged in. It’s important that you do this as this will activate your membership. Once that’s done you can go ahead and create your house sitter profile.

What is expected of me as a House Sitter?

As a house sitter, you will be expected to perform agreed tasks that involve caring for a home owners property and pets. This includes taking care of all the usual daily tasks involved with running and maintaining a home such as house cleaning, garden maintenance, pool maintenance, general house security, forwarding or collecting mail, caring for pets and the occasional odd job. House sitters are expected to bring their own food and some may prefer to bring their own linen and cooking utensils. All this needs to be discussed prior to acceptance of the house sitting position.

Do I need References and Experience in House Sitting?

References are a major advantage and are therefore we say it’s a must for all house sitters. Obviously the best type of reference would be from someone you have house sat for, however even a character reference/s from people that have known you for a reasonable amount of time are acceptable. These may include your landlord (if you have rented in the past), your employer, friends or people you know with an advanced standing in the community. Your reference/s can be written and or verbal, with the referrer agreeing that you can provide their phone number to home owners.

Why do people house sit in Australia?

People choose to house sit for a variety of reasons. Many do it whilst travelling, to meet new people and explore new places. Others do it to save money on rent.
However, what they generally all have in common is a love of caring for animals and taking care of peoples homes in exchange for the unique opportunities that house sitting provides them with.

How do I find a good house sitting job in Australia?

Patience is the key!

Write up your profile carefully!
When setting up your profile, make owners feel like they’d like to get to know you. Give details and describe who you are, your experiences (including pet care) what you do for a living e.g.
Make sure to upload nice clear photos that catch home owners attention.
If responding to a house sitting position, explain what you like about the home owner’s proposal and why you’d be the right person. Don’t hesitate to provide a link to some references and other relevant documents (such as a police check) uploaded to a third party such as eg.Dropbox, OneDrive, CloudMe.

Request a FREE account verification
Requesting a free account verification will display a tick on your profile, and helps establish more trust between you and the home owner. To find out more about the free account verification, please visit our FAQ’s and scroll down to the section labelled “FREE ID Verification”.

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