What if you could trade a cramped hostel bunk in Bondi for a sprawling Perth home with a pool, complete with a friendly Golden Retriever to keep you company? What if your biggest expense exploring the Great Ocean Road was petrol, not rent?
This isn't a fantasy. It's the reality of house sitting in Australia, a country seemingly built for this kind of travel. We've spent months crisscrossing this vast continent, living in incredible homes without paying a dollar for accommodation.
In our previous guides, we explored whether house sitting is worth it (our answer: a resounding yes) and demystified the often-confusing question of what food to leave for a house sitter. Now, it's time to get practical. It's time to talk about the 'how'. Specifically, how to find the best house sitting au opportunities in a market flooded with options.
Why Australia is a House Sitter's Paradise (And Why You Need a Strategy)
Australia's travel culture is legendary. Aussies love to explore, whether it's a 'Big Lap' around the country or a trip overseas.
Combine this with the fact that Australia has one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world, and you have the perfect recipe for a thriving house-sitting scene. Homeowners need reliable people to care for their furry (and sometimes feathery) family members, creating a constant stream of opportunities.
But this high demand also means you can't just stumble into the perfect sit. You need a strategy. The digital landscape is packed with various House Sitting Sites, and choosing the right one can be the difference between landing a dream sit in a Sydney harbour-view apartment or endlessly scrolling through listings that are a poor fit.
Unlike the market for the best house sitting platforms available in the United States, the Australian scene has a fantastic mix of powerful local players and global giants.
The Platforms: Our Ranked Guide to Finding Your Dream Aussie Sit
After years on the road and countless hours spent on these platforms, we've figured out what works. We've ranked the top methods for finding a house sit in Australia based on the volume of listings, user-reported success rates, platform reliability, and our own personal experiences. Think of this as your roadmap to rent-free Australian travel.
The Big Three: Australian-Focused Powerhouses
These are the platforms born and bred in Australia. They have the deepest penetration into the local market, often listing sits you won't find anywhere else.
1: Aussie House Sitters
This is the undisputed king of the local scene. If you're serious about finding a sit in Australia, you need to be on this platform.
With thousands of listings active at any given time, its volume is simply unmatched by any other local competitor. For an annual fee of around $89AUD, you get direct access to homeowners across every state and territory.
When it comes to house sitting down under, particularly in Australia, we wholeheartedly champion the experience. Imagine: waking up to the sound of waves at a sun-drenched beach house in Byron Bay, or retreating to a serene coastal haven in Evans Head all rent-free.
The value is simply unparalleled, offering an effortless path to discovering incredible locations. Forget the sterile anonymity of hotels or the hefty price tags of holiday rentals; what you get instead is something far richer: authentic connection with local homeowners and a genuine taste of Australian life. For us, that deeper immersion is precisely what makes it an irresistible adventure.
2: Mindahome
Close on the heels of the top spot is Mindahome. Its standout feature is a fantastic map-based search, which makes it incredibly easy to Find house sitting near you or plan a route. With a membership fee of about $69 AUD per year, it's a strong contender.
Because it’s free for homeowners to list, sits are often added and filled quickly, sometimes within hours. This is great for those who are flexible and ready to move fast.
Why we rate it: The speed. If we're looking for a last-minute sit to bridge a gap in our travel plans, Mindahome is one of the first places we check. It's particularly strong in major hubs like Brisbane and Melbourne.
3: Happy House Sitters
As one of the original Aussie sites (since 1999), Happy House Sitters has built a solid reputation based on trust and secure messaging. It's a favourite among homeowners who prioritize stress-free pet care over flashy platform features. The focus here is quality over quantity, and at around $59-79 AUD per year, it provides excellent value.
Why we rate it: It feels like a community. The homeowners here are often repeat users who have trusted the platform for years. This is a great choice for sitters who want to build long-term relationships and secure return sits.
The Global Giants with Aussie Muscle
These international platforms have a massive global user base, and their presence in Australia is formidable. They often come with slicker apps, more features, and a different pool of homeowners, including many expats.
4: TrustedHousesitters
This is the behemoth of the international house-sitting world, and its Australian footprint is huge. While the membership fee is higher (around $129-399 USD), you're paying for a premium experience. The app is fantastic, the ID verification process adds a layer of house sitting safety, and the review system is robust. We've even detailed our full experience in our Trusted house sitters review.
Why we rate it: For international sitters coming to Australia, this is often the easiest entry point. The platform's global trust factor means expats and city-dwellers in Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth use it frequently. If you're looking for a premium sit in a desirable urban or coastal location, Trusted House Sitting is hard to beat.
5: House Carers
Another long-standing global player, House Carers (established in 2000) has solid coverage in Australia, particularly for longer-term sits.
We've seen sits lasting several months listed here, making it ideal for slow travellers. With a membership of around $50 USD per year, it's a cost-effective way to tap into both the Australian and New Zealand markets.
Why we rate it: It's a go-to for finding extended stays. We've had great success using it to find sits in Perth and Adelaide, allowing us to really settle in and explore a region in depth, one of the key benefits of house sitting.
6: Nomador
Nomador positions itself as a community-based trust network. Its 'Nomador stopovers' feature is unique, allowing members to host other travellers.
While its Australian listings are still growing compared to the giants, the quality is often very high. It appeals to a more eco-conscious and community-minded traveller, and its mutual review system is excellent for building credibility. Membership is around $99-209 USD per year.
Why we rate it: The community vibe. It feels less transactional than other platforms. It’s one of the best platforms for international housesitting opportunities for sitters who value connection as much as the location.
The Niche & Alternative Routes
Beyond the mainstream platforms, there are other excellent, sometimes unconventional, ways to find your perfect Aussie sit.
7: Facebook Groups (e.g., House Sitting Australia Wide)
Cost: Free. These community-run groups are a goldmine for informal, last-minute, or regional opportunities. You'll find everything from a weekend sit in a suburb to a month-long gig on a rural farm. It's the 'wild west' unvetted and unregulated but the real-time nature of the posts is a huge advantage.
Our take: Use with caution, but don't ignore them. Do your due diligence: video call the homeowner, ask for references, and trust your gut. We’ve found some wonderful short-term sits this way that were never advertised elsewhere.
8: The House Sitters (Agency)
This is a different model. Established in 1993, this service acts more like an agency, auto-matching sitters to sits via email alerts. You don't browse listings; they come to you. At around $60 AUD per year for sitters, it’s a hands-off approach that appeals to those who don't want to spend hours scrolling. It's privacy-focused, with no direct contact until you're a potential match.
Our take: A great option for beginners or those with limited time. It takes the guesswork out of the search, though you sacrifice some control over the selection process.
9: OZ House Sitters
This dedicated Aussie platform shines with its emphasis on secure internal communication and cost-saving travel. For around $20 AUD per year, it provides a solid stream of opportunities, particularly for sits involving more than just cats and dogs (think chickens or 'chooks', as the Aussies say). The reviews often praise the platform for its clear and easy communication tools.
Our take: A reliable and affordable choice that holds its own against the bigger local names. It’s a solid, all-around performer.
10: HouseSitterSearch or Similar Aggregators
These are meta-search engines that scan listings from multiple platforms at once. While they don't replace the need for a membership on the individual sites, they are a phenomenal research tool.
You can filter by dates, pets, and locations across thousands of Australian house sitting opportunities to see which platforms have the most options for your specific needs before you commit to paying a fee. This can save you from signing up to a service with no listings in your target area.
Our take: Start here. Use a free search to get a lay of the land, then invest in one or two of the platforms that show the most promise for your travel plans.
Beyond the Platforms: A Winning Strategy for House Sitting in Australia
Signing up is just the first step. To truly succeed in the competitive house sitting au market, you need to approach it like a pro.
1. Build a World-Class Profile: Your first impression is everything. Your House Sitting Profile needs to radiate trustworthiness and competence. Include clear photos of you with animals, highlight relevant experience, and get some references.
Mentioning experience with things specific to Australia—like secure fencing for dogs or even being comfortable with the local wildlife—can give you an edge.
2. Understand the Financials: Remember that most of these sits are an unpaid exchange of services. You’re not typically looking for a paid house sitting job; you’re bartering your care for accommodation.
Understanding the various Your Essential Guide to Housesitting Fees associated with platforms is key to maximizing your savings. For managing money across currencies while travelling, a digital bank like N26 can be a lifesaver.
3. Be Flexible and Look Beyond the Obvious: Everyone wants to house-sit in Sydney for New Year's Eve. The competition is fierce. Look for incredible opportunities in less-famous spots.
Tasmania is a house-sitting paradise, Western Australia offers epic coastal sits, and regional towns provide a genuine taste of Aussie life. Flexibility is your superpower.
4. Know the Rules: For international visitors, it's vital to be on the correct visa. House sitting is generally considered unpaid work and is usually permissible on a tourist visa, but always check the latest regulations with the Australian Department of Home Affairs.
Being aware of potential house sitting legal issues and considering Insurance Coverage with House Sitters is just smart travel.
Ultimately, Australia offers a world of house-sitting possibilities. By choosing the right platforms and presenting yourself professionally, you can unlock a style of travel that is richer, deeper, and infinitely more affordable.
The initial membership fee is a tiny investment for what you get in return: a home away from home in one of the most beautiful countries on Earth.
Good luck with your Aussie adventures!
Caro & Konrad 🐾🚐
DM us @housesittersguide if you have questions — we answer everyone!
What is the best house sitting website for Australia?
Based on the sheer volume of listings and local focus, Aussie House Sitters is often considered the best dedicated platform for finding sits exclusively within Australia. For those seeking international options or a more premium app-based experience, TrustedHousesitters also has a very strong presence in the Australian market.
Is house sitting popular in Australia?
Yes, house sitting is extremely popular in Australia. A culture of extensive travel combined with high rates of pet ownership creates a constant and high demand for reliable house and pet sitters across the entire country, from major cities to rural areas.
Do you get paid for house sitting in Australia?
Generally, no. The vast majority of house sits in Australia operate on a non-monetary exchange model. The sitter provides pet care and home security in exchange for free accommodation. While some paid opportunities exist, they are the exception rather than the rule on most platforms.
How much does it cost to join an Australian house sitting site?
Membership fees for sitters on Australian platforms typically range from approximately $50 to $150 AUD per year. Local-focused sites like Aussie House Sitters or Mindahome are often in the $50-$79 range, while international platforms like TrustedHousesitters tend to be more expensive.
Can foreigners house sit in Australia?
Yes, foreigners can house sit in Australia, typically while on a tourist visa (like an ETA or eVisitor visa). As it's an unpaid exchange, it doesn't usually constitute 'work'. However, it is crucial to check the latest visa conditions with the Australian Department of Home Affairs before making any arrangements.
