Australia take on New Zealand - Anzac Test Match Rugby, Sunday 3rd May

After our not very successful first attempt at going to watch the Anzac Test Match between Australia and New Zealand the previous weekend having been cancelled due to the most horrendous rain storm(YES RAIN IN AUSTRALIA, The roads were basically rivers!!)we made our way to the Suncorp stadium for round two.

The pre match kick started at 2pm between the Aus' and NZ girls teams with the Aussies leading the way to win the match. 

For me this was my first ever rugby match and despite only paying $50 for our seats we had a really great spot right by the goal with a perfect view. The mens teams came onto the pitch with NZ performing their traditional Haka, something that i had wanted to say i'd seen, with the match starting at 4pm.

Australia took the lead but quickly started to fall behind with NZ taking home the title and winning 26 - 12, the first Anzac test match win since the 1950's. My first experience of rugby was great fun and even though AUS' lost it was a fun way to tick it off the bucket list and a great way to spend the evening with my friends from the Hostel, Hannah and Jess. 

Australia Zoo

I had wanted to go to Australia zoo ever since I arrived in On and Monday 20th April myself and my friend Jade caught the early 7:45am Greyhound coach and headed to the zoo.

After an hour and a half bus ride we arrived and headed straight for the crocs and alligators(naturally)and there was definitely plenty of them. I had never of guessed how big they actually are. Scary!

CRICKEY!

The weather wasn't great but we still managed to get round the whole zoo and see all the animals, Kangaroos, Koalas, Tigers, Reptiles, Birds, Camels amongst a few. Mid-day we went along to the 'Wildlife Warriors' show in the Crocseum, the main arena for all the animal shows and demonstrations. They started off with a reptile talk followed by birds and then onto the crocodiles.

The keepers gave a talk and demonstration as to how they catch their food and educated us that most people only come into contact with crocs if their too close to croc infested water or their just being idiotic and asking for something bad to happen. 

My favourite part was feeding time and the time when you were able to see just how powerful these animals really are and certainly not to be messed with!

Towards the end of the day we made our way round to the far side of the zoo where we went to the Tiger talk. Again, the keepers were super hands on and were actually in the enclosure with the tigers. They talked us though the enrichment tasks they do how this helps them to maintain the animals are ok and healthy. 

Rather them than me for sure. 

Despite the weather being pants it was a great day and a good insight into how hands on the keepers are with all the animals no matter how big or small.

Surfers Paradise - 08/04/15 - 10/04/15

By this time on my trip up the East Coast there was now just myself and Linda travelling together and after leaving Byron we made our way further along the coast to Surfers Paradise.

It was only a two night stop which was enough because although the beach was pretty amazing it was more of a holiday destination than that of a cultural stop. 

The first day we both chilled by the pool which was something of a luxury for hostel accommodation and then ventured out in the evening for food only because the kitchen was pretty rubbish to say the least and it was easier to eat out. 

Short stop at Burleigh Head National Park for the view overlooking the Gold Coast

Surfers Paradise - Too bad I can't surf:(

The following day we ventured along to the Skypoint Tower which was opposite our hostel. 

The sky was blue and the sea was blue, we couldn't have picked a better day and the views were unreal and it only cost $22 to take the lift up to the observation deck which works out at only £11! In the evening we went along to the evening market along the beach front where I went and got myself a henna tattoo. Small bucket list moment. 

View from Skypoint Tower

Byron Bay - 05/04/15 - 08/04/15

Today was the day we made it to Byron Bay instantly i knew this was my favourite stop of the trip so far. A relatively small beach side town filled with bars, cafes quirky shops and a bustle  of street musicians. 

On the first day we all headed up to the lighthouse which is the most easterly point of mainland Australia and the views were pretty impressive overlooking the town and beaches below. 

For the rest of my time in Byron I mostly chilled on the beach in a desperate attempt to improve on my non-existent tan, fixed up my RSA, Did a barista course which was amazing as i was the only one in the class, met up with friends I had met in Sydney and said goodbye to those moving up before me on their east coast trip. 

For me it was nice to be off a busy schedule and a place where I could chill and sit back before I moved further up the east coast to Surfers Paradise.

East Coast Adventure - 02/04/15 - 05/04/15

On the morning of 2nd April with an early 8am start myself and five others who I had made friends with on from my first week in Oz set off from Sydney for the start of our east coast trip.

After a fairly long 3 hr coach journey through torrential rain we arrived at our first stop Barrington Tops nr Gloucester having wound up a narrow cliff top road which was practically in the middle of nowhere. 

We dropped off our belongings and headed down to the river below for tubing and riding the rapids.

That evening we headed back to our mountain lodge for homemade pizza and beer pong along with the best nights sleep i'd had in a while.

03/04/15 We made our way from Barrington Tops to Spot- X surf camp with a short stop at Port Macquarie Koala hospital. That evening after a surf lesson where I finally managed to stand on the board we slept in tipis.

04/04/15 Was the day of our trip to the remote river camp were we went kayaking. We stopped off along the river boat to spot soldier crabs and then headed up the river to make way for camp. We stayed in tipis and had a camp fire meal as well as toasting marshmallows. 

Surf Camp

My second week took me 2 hours south of the city to Surf Camp set in Gerringong (23rd - 27th March) with a small group of people I had met in my first week where we met up with 40 others who had also signed up for the week ahead all with different nationalities, travelling backgrounds and stories. We stayed in Surf shack style accommodation and had two two hour lessons of surfing a day. I had never imagined how much harder it would be to learn how to surf than i had initially first thought. Just trying to stay on the board whilst trying to catch the perfect wave and balance at the same time was near enough impossible for me. I think I had underestimated how much physical strength you need to have in order to even stay on the board without even standing up. 

Regardless of the fact I have little hope in me actually ever being able to surf properly the experience was something I will only ever get to do once and more than likely only whilst i'm here in Oz. 

Sunset over Seven Mile Beach

Our last night at surf camp

On the last night the 50 of us all went down to Seven Mile beach to watch the sunset. One of the best i've ever seen and the perfect end to a fun filled week living by the perfect beach. 

Surf babes

My First Week In Sydney

After the longest journey of my life I arrived in Sydney on the 15th of March, tired, anxious, and excited to start my year long trip in Australia. 

After a good nights sleep I was ready to start my first week with my Ultimate Oz group with the first day being a city walk past the Opera House, through the Botanical Gardens, Hyde Park and then lunch at Circular Quay. My first expectations of Sydney reminded me of New York crossed between London with an English feel. I was so far away from home but in some ways it felt like home already.

Later that evening we all met up and headed to Side Bar under Wake Up hostel for free food(a must for travellers on a budget).

After initially being quite anxious and unsure about coming to Sydney on my own after the first day of meeting the others on my group I realised I had nothing to worry about. I was taken aback by how much people talk to each other in hostels and how friendly everyone is. I initially went from worrying about being on my own to realising I was in the same boat as everyone else. 

Day two we all went out on a Catamaran boat trip around the harbour where we stopped on a private beach for a bbq and the chance to brave jumping off the boat into the water. I even got to drive the boat all the way back into harbour! 

Our next port of call was basecamp, a two and a half hours drive away from SYD to Port Stevens for two nights stay in a tent under the stars practically in the middle of no where(Golden Orb spiders EVERYWHERE!. 

Whilst we were here we partied on the beach late at night, went sand boarding, a Bush walk through Tomaree National Park, BBQ, Dolphin Cruise finished off with what claims to be the best Fish and Chips in the whole of Oz. Sorry England but it definitely was! For me Basecamp was the best part of the whole week and where we all started to bond and build friendship groups. 

Basecamp beach party

Dolphin Cruise - Port Stevens

On the Friday after two days at Basecamp we headed back to Sydney to finish off our Ultimate Oz week with a coastal walk from Coogee to Bondi. My first week had been packed full with different experiences and things I would never have imagined I'd have ever seen. My absolute highlight was the Dolphin cruise having never seen them before, to find our boat surrounded by them in the wild was quite something and made me realise how lucky I was to be living in Oz. I initially thought the week would go quickly but if anything it went slowly and was a perfect mixture of different activities and ways to get to know everyone in our travel group. 

Next stop Surf Camp!