I am writing my next blog post after my mid-semester break from university. It was a very exciting prospect as this was the first opportunity I had to plan just some of the trips that one dreams of when coming to Australia. So alongside some of my flat mates, we planned an incredible 2 week adventure – Sydney, Brisbane, Fraser Island, Surfers Paradise and Byron Bay. The trip began on a very positive note as our lovely Australian friends drove us to the airport. This really warmed my heart and made me feel very fortunate to have met such lovely people thus far.
We spent the first week in Sydney, and it was truly unforgettable. The minute I stepped off the plane, I really felt a sense of magic in the air. We arrived at night so the drive to our apartment was dominated by blinding city lights and huge skyscrapers – I was once again in awe of my own life (an emotion I have come to feel quite familiar with whilst living in Australia!!). The rest of the week was full of fabulous food, shopping, sight-seeing, sun and lots of laughter. I have a few highlights from the trip. One has to be, of course, seeing the infamous opera house and harbour bridge for the first time. It really was everything I had ever imagined and more. It was so surreal to FaceTime home from a monument that once seemed like an intangible dream. Looking out onto the glistening water on a busy Sunday afternoon was an experience that I will never forget.
Another attraction that really did exceed my expectations was Bondi beach. Luckily we went on a day that wasn’t overwhelmingly busy so there wasn’t an overly touristic vibe. This day was such a poignant moment for me as despite the temperature, it was the first time that I swam in the Australian ocean, which was so much fun. Australian beaches are so distinct from any other – the sand is so so pure and soft. The beautiful walk from coogee beach to Bondi beach made me even more appreciative of the Coast, which is a luxury one cannot enjoy to quite the same capacity in the U.K.
Our second week began in Brisbane. I hadn’t heard much about it so I had no idea what to expect, but once again I fell in love with this vibrant and buzzy city. We spent every possible minute in the sun and it was so glorious to relax after a week of hectic sight-seeing. The South-Bank area of the city was absolutely fantastic and surprisingly clean despite its overwhelming popularity. I would definitely love to return to what I would regard as an underrated gem.
Fraser Island was our next stop and I can confidently say that it was two of the best days I have experienced thus far on my adventure. My friends and I were joined by 4 people and together we made a lovely group – one of the best ever apparently (according the the group leaders). From start to finish we were accompanied by laughter, good music and good memories. The trip began with a 3 hour trip into Fraser Island, which flew by; before we knew it we were in paradise. We were firstly taken to our campsite which was lovely and then headed straight to the island’s infamous Lake McKenzie, which did not disappoint. This attraction is without doubt the most well known destination on the island, and I can confidently say the it was even more beautiful in person. The water was crystal clear and the sand was as soft as sand can be. All of the females exploited the sand by using it as a moisturiser!! I took this one step further by even washing my hair with it haha, a very weird but wonderful experience. Then we headed to the station rainforest, where it was interesting to learn about the formation of the island itself. This marked the end of the first day’s endeavours but the fun continued back at the camp’s base. The evening was particularly special as our tour guide took us to the beach at night, where the stars were in shining in all of their glory. What a special first day this was! The second day began with another early start but this did not dampen our spirits. We headed straight to Eli creek where the water literally carried you to the edge – a very relaxing experience. The trip concluded with a visit to Lake Wabby. Although this involved a 45 minute walk, the end result was utterly breathtaking. After walking across sand dunes, we were lead to a beautiful lake, where we had lots of fun. As you can probably tell, I really really enjoyed this trip – a definite must see if you ever visit Australia!!
Our penultimate stop was Surfer’s Paradise. The star here was definitely the ocean. I have never experienced such intense waves !!! Many hours were spent having the best time being dragged everywhere by their force. Another beautiful place with a very chilled Aussie vibe as well as vibrant night life.
The trip concluded in Byron Bay – a perfect way to end what was an incredible two weeks. We immediately headed to the beach and enjoyed more fun in the ocean. Although the waves were not quite as intense as Surfer’s Paradise, we still had an absolute blast. The sun shined gloriously and we were really able to relax on the idyllic sand after a hectic trip. The highlight of the trip for us was the walk to the infamous lighthouse, which provided some of the best views I have ever experienced.
Well now it’s sadly time to go back to uni life!! Although it will be tough to get back into the daily routine of doing work, I will be glad to get back to Adelaide and return to normality (for a while).