Working Holiday: through a third party like SWAP or on your own? New Zealand or Australia? Looking for personal stories/advice/pros.vs.cons/etc. TIA!

Hey everyone, not sure if this post is allowed in this forum but, I've been wanting to do a Working Holiday to either New Zealand or Australia for the last year on my own. Planning on finally going forward with it and hoping to be abroad by August 2025 for around a year. In the middle of saving and planning for it!

I'm F/26, just looking for some general advice, personal stories, or tips and tricks (if any). I'm thinking about using SWAP, but it's pricey, so also wondering about doing it on my own.

Does anyone have experience using SWAP, and did you find it useful? Pros or Cons?

I find myself a bit worried that they recommend waiting until you arrive to both job hunt and find accommodation. My one other experience going abroad was doing an internship in South Africa, and my work and accommodation were figured out before I arrived.

What about the 8-Day or 4-Day Welcome Week? Is this worth it? The extra travelling? What about the access to the Whatsapp Group? Did this make it easier to connect with people? I am on the shyer side, meaning the prospect of having these things in place sounds like an advantage. But then again, I'm sure I will meet people anyway through work etc.

Working Holiday on your own: Pros and Cons?

The biggest pro is, of course, saving on cash. But did you find it made things more rewarding, more difficult? I went through a third party when doing an internship in South Africa, and there were times when I regretted it and wished I had gone out on my own.

New Zealand or Australia?

I know this comes down to preference at the end of the day, but just looking for insight anyway. I'm drawn to both places, though admittedly, Australia has been top of the list until just recently. I have people I can connect with in both places once I arrive too.

What is the job atmosphere like in both places? I have a Bachelor's degree in the arts, and my ideal would be to be hired on by a non-profit. But essentially, I am willing to find work doing whatever (barista, tourism, working with animals, etc. literally anything!)

What are the costs like? Living expenses? Is it easy to travel within the country?

Are there any questions I'm not asking that I should be asking?