How to Dress for Working in the Australian Outback (For Men)
If you have been looking for a unique working holiday experience without the conveniences of modern life, you should consider the Australian Outback. There are many farms, roadhouses, national parks and ranches (or stations as they are called there) where your help may be needed. Working in the Outback can be a unique experience, you can meet some great people and the wages are usually higher for these remote jobs. Not having many things to spend your hard-earned money on, means that you could save a lot. But be prepared to face amazing wildlife (some of which deadly too) and isolation – you can find yourself maybe even miles away from the bustling cities of Melbourne and Sydney while sharing your life with the other staff that works there. The truth is, the outback can be an unforgiving place but that shouldn't put you off. So if you think that you've got what it takes for this adventure, once you find a job and get your visa (if needed), it's time to start packing.
Clothes and Accessories
As already mentioned the Australian Outback is one of a kind place. When it comes to the clothes it calls for a casual country style clothing that has been specially designed for tough conditions. This type of clothes is functional, practical and will provide you with the comfort that you need. When looking for the right casual country style clothing to pack in your bag, have the following ones in mind.
Covering up is the right way to go. Not only will this protect you from sunburn but it will also save your skin from scratches and bites. Although shorts can work in some instances with long sock protectors (summers can be pretty hot), you'll need a few pairs of quality working pants and jeans. Denim was (and still is) one of the most popular fabric used for making men's workwear. For a very long time blue jeans were considered as the go-to garment for workers doing manual labour. Therefore a pair of Levi's and/or Wrangler will probably get you through your day.
Also, get yourself a few good quality long-sleeved work shirts that can withstand tears. When working in the bush you don't want to end up with a shirt that comes apart at the seams, so pick ones with double or triple stitched seams. The closest store where you can buy a new workshirt may be far away and although many online stores deliver in remote areas it may take longer for your purchase to arrive. Your shirts should come with a high UPF protection factor like 50+. The UPF factor indicates how much UV radiation the fabric allows to get to your skin. A work shirt with UPF 50+ means that it blocks 98% of the sun's rays while the 2% or 1/50th can reach your skin. A few pockets to keep some essentials also come handy.
If you are going during the winter months, (somewhere between May and September) you will also need a fleece for wearing at night. Many imagine the outback to be just a hot and sunny place all the time, but it can be divided into several climatic regions with different temperatures range. In some regions, the temperatures can go as low as -7 and a morning frost is not an unusual thing.
As for the accessories, a broad-brimmed hat can go a long way in protecting your nose, ears and back of the neck from sunburn while a beanie and gloves are great if visiting in winter mounts. To keep your feet dry and comfortable pack a few pairs of bamboo made socks and underwear. Bamboo as a material is very soft to the skin, it's breathable so it can wick moisture away from the skin. It's also anti-bacterial and can eliminate odour.
When it comes to footwear, again, durability and protection is the name of the game. You'll need leather-made ankle boots preferably with a steel toe cap for safety reasons (protect your feet from falling objects) and elastic sides for easy pull-on.
Additional Items
Apart from your work apparel, you should pack your toiletries, a basic lightweight first aid kit, sunscreen and insect repellant. This is important as in remote areas they might be harder to get and pricey. Also, pack anything that can help you make use of your free time after work like books or maybe a big hard drive with movies and series. Being in such a quiet place where phone and Wi-fi signals are luxuries is a great opportunity to learn something that you always wanted but never had the time for. It could be writing, watching movies or maybe reading books.
