Tag Archives: Beach

Byron Bay

Today was a special day for many reasons, and it lived up to all my expectations. First, it’s my 21st birthday, second it’s my last day in Australia, and third we got to visit Byron Bay!

At Last

All semester I had been wanting to visit Byron Bay, a hippie beach town about an hour South of campus. A bunch of my friends went on a trip early on, but I didn’t join the first time since I was a bit overwhelmed with all the different travel options, and every other time just didn’t seem to work out. Somehow, the last week of school I found myself frantically trying to pull strings to make one last trip before leaving Gold Coast, but it was the one thing that just didn’t happen.

However, upon return to Brisbane Tuesday night, we chatted with our Airbnb hosts for a little while, and the women ended up offering to drive us down to Byron and back the next day! Since she works from home she could fit it in her schedule, plus it was a good excuse for a getaway to place she loved as well. One big thing I’ve learned this semester is that sometimes strangers do incredibly nice things for people, and more people should be that way. That evening we had a glass of wine to celebrate 21, and planned on getting up very early to make the day worthwhile. With one open day left in Australia and one destination that had yet to be covered, it’s easy to see that I was over the moon!

Byron Bay

The next morning, after two and a half hours of driving, we arrived in Byron! It was a lovely little place, and just as I imagined it. We parked and took a quick look at the beautiful beach, then headed downtown for some coffee and breakfast at one of the many cafes.

Byron is just about in the middle of the east coast, very close to the north border of New South Wales. In the past, the area has been used heavily for industrial and agricultural production, and while it still continues today, it is also a huge tourist destination. Many different types of tourists visit, including celebrities for the boho-chic escape (Miley Cyrus was there a week ago), everyday tourists, and many backpackers traveling through the area. Most people come to Byron for its laid-back and relaxed spirit, where hippies can gather for yoga, music, and art events on the beach with friends. Sounds pretty good, right?

Lighthouse & Watego Beach

After spending the morning casually exploring the town, we drove up to the Cape Byron Lighthouse and had a stunning view of the beach from above. We read about the history of the lighthouse, spotted dolphins swimming just off the coast, and soaked up the sun. Then we followed the short but steep trail down the from the outlook to Watego Beach below. It always amazes how blue the water is, and what a pristine picture nature creates. Along the way, we also stumbled upon an outlook that is actually the most easterly point of the Australian mainland! A few footsteps, and many photos later, we arrived at the beach, where we met our friend who drove the car down as we walked.

View from the lighthouse observation deck

Most easterly point of Australian mainland

Overlook of point outlook during walk

Coastal view along walk

Although it was cold out (for people like me who hate the cold), we were determined enough to put on our swimsuits and at least put our feet in the water. My mom (brave woman) actually went swimming, but it was just too cold for me!

Watego Beach

Beach Hotel

After driving around the area looking at the beautiful and expensive homes and rental properties, we headed back to Byron for lunch at the Beach Hotel restaurant. Our friend said it’s basically a right of passage to eat there if you’re in Byron, and I can see why. Just across the road from the beach, this lovely pub-style restaurant has two bars, a counter to order at, a large stage, and plenty of outdoor seating. It was a great way to appreciate the area, and a fabulous place to enjoy a glass of wine as a newly legal adult! The atmosphere was so pleasant, and we were thrilled that our friend suggested that we eat there.

Beach Hotel

The Farm

After a bit more shopping, we started to make our way home, stopping at The Farm Byron Bay. This property is about 15 minutes inland of the beach, and is a working farm with added features. They offer tours and workshops to explain how the farm operates, and also have a garden shop, large restaurant, and cafe on site. It looks as though it would be a fantastic venue to rent out for events like receptions and parties! Although nothing was really opened when we stopped by, it looked close to being ready to open to the public.

On the [Plane] Again

On the back, I still couldn’t believe how perfectly the day pulled together. Somehow, even if there was some rearranging needed or stress involved, everything just seemed to eventually work out throughout my entire semester. I practically had tears in my eyes driving back to Brisbane, but the happy and thankful kind. We had plenty of time to clean up from a day at the beach and finish packing, then took all our luggage ourselves to the airport for one last flight itinerary. It was difficult to board the plane leaving Australia, but all in all, I had to smile through the threatening tears at just how lucky I had been. I have not taken single thing for granted, and was incredibly satisfied with the entirety of my stay abroad. And throughout the flights back home, I will have plenty of time to put my thoughts in order and start wrapping up my semester and travels in and around Australia!

Back to Bondi (Sydney Day 4)

Today our friends took us on another short driving tour of the city, exploring a different area.

Centennial Park

First we stopped at Centennial Park, which was designed in 1811 and opened to the public in 1888. This area is unique because it is a beautiful recreational park in the center of busy downtown Sydney. With stunning views, lovely wildlife, and happy people, it is definitely worth a visit!

Centennial Park

Duckling in Centennial Park

Wildlife in Centennial Park

Bondi Beach

Next we headed to Bondi Beach, which I had been lucky enough to visit when I was in Sydney earlier in the semester. Our friends walked with us through the town, and we went into a few shops in addition to taking in the beautiful Bondi Beach views. If you continue along the coast, you can follow the trail to the end destination of Coogee Beach.

Mom & I on the coastal walk

Bondi to Bronte

We followed the Bondi to Bronte Coastal Walk trail to Bronte Beach, and the views along the way were just as breathtaking as I remembered. We took plenty of photos along the way, and made it to Bronte all to fast.

Classic coastal walk view

Since we had some extra time, we walked to the coastal lookout on the far side of Bronte, and checked out the original saltwater pool. This pool sits right on the ocean’s edge, and the waves overflow into the pool basin, filling it with nature saltwater. Originally this pool was only open to women for several hours of the day on specific days. Today, anyone can enjoy it free of charge. A more very similar, but more modern day, infinity pool is present at Bondi Beach, called Icebergs. Although it’s mimicked after Bronte’s pool, you must be a club member or pay to swim there!

Original saltwater pool (Bronte)

New saltwater pool (Bondi)

Rock formation near Bronte Beach

To wrap up our day, we had lunch at a café overlooking Bronte Beach, then headed back to our bed and breakfast to finish packing. Before we knew it, we were on the way to the airport for one last day in Brisbane prior to heading home!

Bruny Island (Tasmania Day 1)

Yesterday we arrived in Hobart, Tasmania, and spent the rest of the day exploring downtown and shopping around. Tasmania is located at the Southeast corner of Australia, the only state not attached to the mainland. It is the closest you can get to Antarctica while still in Australia! The town of Hobart is located on the central Southern coast, was founded in 1803 as a penal colony, and is the second oldest city after Sydney.

Today, we took a food and scenery tour of Bruny Island. We woke up to hear the first snowfall had hit the top of Mt. Wellington overnight, quite a cold shock after my days in sunny Gold Coast! After catching the ferry from Kettering, we docked in Robert’s Point, and started our day:

Map of Bruny Island with associated tour stop locations

1. Bruny Island Cheese Co.

This artisan cheese producer provided a fantastic cheese tasting of two hard, one soft, and one fresh cheese. They were all delicious, and the outdoor setup was just charming. We also tasted two craft beers that were available at their shop. After nearly 10 years of making cheese in many different countries, the owner set up shop on Bruny Island, and has been quite successful since then.

Window showcase of cheese wheels

Outside of Bruny Island Cheese Co. tasting setup

2. Get Shucked Oysters

Due to its location, Tasmania is known for its quality fish industry, and oysters are also popular. The owner of this company purchased the business at age of 18, and has thrived. Although I am a vegetarian, I decided prior to traveling that if I came across a cultural food containing meat I MIGHT try it. However, this has been the first time I’ve actually followed through. I tried one oyster, and it tasted like a quality one, but I don’t think I would care to try them again. Most of tour group had the same opinion, but a few people enjoyed the extras!

Oyster tasting

3. Truganini Lookout

Bruny Island is made up of the two islands, north and south, connected by a strip of land called the Neck. We walked up to the lookout, and had a spectacular view of the islands and surrounding waters. It’s the perfect place to see the spectacular white sands, which get their light color from their high silica content.

Panoramic view of Bruny Island

The Neck lookout

This area also contains a colony of little fairy penguins. They are the smallest penguin species in the world, with a 40cm height and 1kg weight maximum. They breed in colonies here, nesting and burrowing in the ground. Like the St. Kilda penguins in Melbourne, they feed during day and come in at night. Unfortunately we didn’t get to see any since we were only visiting during the day!

Penguin burrows (darker holes in ground)

4. White wallabies

You learn something new everyday, and today I learned that wallabies come in white too! Wallabies are typically a brown color, but here on Bruny Island they contain a gene that gives a white color. Since the gene is recessive, they are born either entirely brown or pure white, and at times you will even see a white one in a brown mother’s pouch, or vice versa. We were lucky enough to see two up close (so we know they actually exist and aren’t just ghost wallabies), but not quite quick enough to get a picture!

5. Morning tea

Next we enjoyed a lovely tea at a beachside café off Adventure Bay. The coffee and blueberry muffin was a great little snack to fit into our morning while enjoyed the (finally) beautiful weather.

Teatime view

6. Bruny Island Premium Wines

For lunch, we headed to the island winery, where we tasted two whites and three red wines. I had a mushroom and halloumi (firm white cooked cheese) dish, which was AMAZING. I think it may have been the best dish I’ve have so far in Australia. Definitely a recommend stop on the island.

7. Chocolate Factory Outlet

For desert, we headed to a chocolate producer, where we tasted hazelnut, caramel, and chocolate fudge, and chocolate-covered honeycomb. It was definitely caloric, but a great way to enjoy the holiday! While driving from here, we passed by Satellite Island, which a man inherited from distant family. He built a resort on property, and now you’re able to rent out the entire island, starting at $1200 a night!

Chocolate Factory Outlet

8. Bruny Island House of Whiskey

Our last stop of the day was at the island’s whiskey distillery, where we sampled either whiskey or a gin and tonic. This was a great stop to wrap up the day, and was a stunning property overlooking the water and northern edge of the island.

View off House of Whiskey front deck

Overall, I had a fantastic impression of Bruny Island. The people are lovely, and the scenery is gorgeous. My favorite part is that the buildings look like charming little toy buildings that were dropped throughout the land. It just looks like a peaceful little dream island where people go to relax and escape.

A very worthwhile and enjoyable day!

The Great Ocean Road (Melbourne Day 2)

Our second day started with breakfast at the b&b, followed by a drive to a national park. This is the only location of the trip that I failed to take note of the name, but it was a great stop! We took a walk through the forest, which our guide said reminded him of the Blaire Witch Projects due to its eerie look with the dry and twisted trees, and paused at a spectacular lookout of the beach below.

East side of lookout

West side of lookout

Teddy’s Lookout

We Here we took a short walk through the woods in the town of Lorne, where we saw a few different birds. Our guide then gave us directions to take a short hike down the mountain, while he drove the car around to meet at the bottom. We hiked down a very steep track to the base of the mountain, at the river lookout. It was neat to see the Saint George River from above, then hike down and along it as well. We ate lunch in the nearby town of Marengo, enjoying delicious food at the General Store café.

Teddy’s Lookout

Beachwalk

One of my favorite stops of the day was a short beach walk we took near this area. We walked out on rock platforms, and using binoculars you could see a few seals on nearby rocks! It was a stunning beach, and a beautiful change of scenery from all the bushwalking.

Rocks platforms on the beach

Panoramic view of the beach

Maits Rest

The next stop, Maits Rest rainforest, was also a fantastic find. Part of the Great Otway National Park, this is a must-do. This national park was declared in 2004, and overall includes a variety of landscapes including beaches, forests, a significant koala population (obviously important) and the Cape Otway Lighthouse. We took a relatively short but awesome walk through through one of the only rainforests left standing in Southern Australia, on the wooden boardwalk track that carves through the ancient forest.

Tree in Maits Rest Rainforest

The 12 Apostles

It’s easy to see why the 12 Apostles are a popular tourist attraction, but was strange to enter such a busy area after bushwalking with only a few people for a day and a half straight. Rock cliffs in the area are made of soft limestone, which the Southern Ocean (combined with harsh weather conditions) gradually eroded to form caves and steeper cliffs. Those cliffs became arches, which eventually collapsed leaving rock stack formations.

Until 1922, the formation was called the Sow and Piglets, with Muttonbird Island as the Sow and the smaller rock stacks as the Piglets. However, the name was changed a number of years ago to increase tourism to the area, and the 12 Apostles was selected simply because it sounded more appealing. There were never actually 12 rock stacks, only nine, and in 2005, the 9^th stack collapsed leaving the currently standing 8 Apostles.

The 12 Apostles lookout (west)

One downside is that the soft limestone landscape makes it susceptible to further erosion and collapse. Studies are currently being conducted to make predictions of changes, but currently the rate of cliff erosion is 2cm per year. Existing headlands to cliff faces are expected to become new rock stacks in the future, and sinkholes more inland are becoming more of a problem. Although sinkholes evolve over time and do not collapse suddenly (unlike cliffs could), they still present infrastructure problems.

Loch Ard Gorge

This lookout gets its name because the Loch Ard boat ran aground here years back, near Muttonbird Island, while traveling from England to Melbourne. Two out of 54 passengers survived, including Tom Peace (age 15) and emigrant Eva Carmichael. Tom saved Eva after hearing her cries for help, and they were taken in by a random passerby (although several versions of why these people where in the undeveloped area at the time exist). Later the arch of the nearby island collapsed, leaving two unconnected pillars which are now named Tom and Eva respectively.

Loch Ard Gorge

Loch Ard B&B

For our evening accommodation, we stayed at an absolutely charming dairy farm bed and breakfast. The property was set just behind the Great Ocean Road, with the ranch-style house sitting atop of the hill. We could see kangaroos and cattle roaming through the hills, and were close enough to still see the sea spay coming up the cliff edges. The couple that owns the bed and breakfast are lovely, and estimated they’ve had over 4000 people stay there in the past 10 years. Overnight, we had massive thunderstorms come through, which made us feel quite in touch with nature (luckily from inside). They made us a homemade dinner and we had a fantastic night enjoying their (Australian) Southern hospitality!

The Great Barrier Reef (Cairns Day 3)

Today I got to check off another major life bucket list item, visiting the iconic Great Barrier Reef!

Based on square meters, the Great Barrier Reef is the most diverse ecosystem in the world. The reef is located about an hour and a half off of the coastline, and is made up of coral cays, which are essentially semi circles of reef formations, with the more built up areas on the southern side. As the currents push water and sand south, it builds up into these formations. The reef has over 2,900 reef cays, and stretches over 1,400 miles of the Coral Sea. This area is so large that it is the only living thing on planet Earth that can be seen from outer space, and is the world’s largest single structure made by living organisms. It is categorized as one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Combined with the Whitsunday Islands, it generates $3 billion of tourism revenue per year.

Unfortunately, human activity on the reefs has drastically impacted the health of the ecosystem. The coast of downtown Cairns is essentially a contaminated mud flat where boats dock, leaving a not so attractive view. However, the reef protects the ocean closer to land, therefore providing a natural barrier, which makes the water relatively calm. Unfortunately the windy and rainy weather the past few days has made the visibility in the water not very good, but there is also a problem with coral bleaching. Tragically, over 50% of the reef has already been killed off, so it is extremely important to make sure products being used are environmentally friendly.

Snorkel Trip One

To explore the reef, we took a 60-person tour with Ocean Freedom. The crew was extremely knowledgeable, very friendly, and helpful. After our boat ride out, we docked and went for a half hour snorkel. Although visibility was low, we still were able to see a lot of wildlife! Our first friend was a barracuda over a meter long that likes to hang out around the back of boat (according to the staff). Although this wasn’t particularly my favorite sighting, it was still a story that I survived to tell! We also saw sea turtles, which are gorgeous and impressive creatures. One of our guides explained to us that most wildlife on the reef gets their name because it literally looks like what it’s named after. For example, brain coral looks like a brain, and boulder coral looks like a boulder. To follow this story, I saw a unique fish that was yellow with black dots, and was shaped sort of like a box. When I later looked it up, it was in fact called a “yellow box fish,” creative! I also saw a humphead wrasse fish, which is basically a large dark-colored fish with a bump-like structure on its head. I didn’t know what it was at the time, but it was massive, probably about three feet long!

Bumphead Parrotfish (picture from http://www.swissnomads.com/2014/09/best-dive-sites-lhaviyani-atoll-maldives/)

Bumphead Wrasse (picture from http://www.swissnomads.com/2014/09/best-dive-sites-lhaviyani-atoll-maldives/)

Parrotfish (picture from https://phishdoc.com/2015/09/14/parrotfish-i/)

One of my favorite fish was the parrotfish, which males are a rainbow of colors, and females are beige and brown. They are absolutely beautiful, but also contribute to a large portion of bioerosion on the reefs. They consume microscopic organisms that live on an in coral rock by using their beak-like teeth, and in the process destroy the coral. This natural devastation of the reef actually accounts for a large portion of the ecological loss. Parrotfish also do this cool thing at night where they spit out a large cocoon of balloon-like skin, which they swim inside of it and sleep there for the night. The properties of this sticky skin make it so that other sea creatures cannot sense its presence by its electrical impulses. If a predator were to attempt to break this casing, it would be repelled my the thickness and stickiness of it. Our tour guide said he was once on a dive where a friend picked up the bubble with the parrotfish asleep inside, and it didn’t even wake up!

My mom and I before snorkeling

My mom and I post snorkeling

Glass Bottom Boat

Next I took two back to back trips in the glass bottom boat, because you never know what you’re going to find in the big blue sea at any given moment! We saw countless sea cucumbers and blue starfish, and got briefed on many different types of coral and fish. After returning to the boat, we enjoyed a fabulous lunch, then headed to the second snorkeling location. This was just a short distance away, on the other side of the cay. Marine life there was about the same as the previous location, but it was great to see two different areas on the same trip.

Snorkel Trip Two

Since there was more of a current in this area, we took the smaller boat out ahead of the cruise boat, then jumped into the water and followed the current back to the main boat. A staff member swam with us, teaching us about various ocean facts. She also led us to a sort of coral cave where there were often sharks. Lucky for us, they were hiding out there! You had to dive down a little and look under a ledge, but we did get to see a few incredible black-tipped sharks. About the only “big” thing we didn’t see was a manta ray. Small blue-spotted rays are very common in the sandier areas where we were, I just didn’t happen to see any. I also got to see my other favorite fish, nemo’s! Or, “clownfish,” if you want to be technical. They are definitely the other most adorable thing I’ve see in Cairns, in addition to the aforementioned baby crocodiles. Despite the cloudiness of the water and roughness of the waves, we were able to see quite a satisfying amount of ocean life!

Enjoying the Great Barrier Reef

Tour Advice

Overall, I would say that our tour was extremely successful! If you are looking for what tour to do here, I would recommend Ocean Freedom for several reasons. Their company is one of the few family-owned businesses left, and they truly do act like a family. All staff was very well educated, and everything on the boat was clean and organized. Their was plenty of food throughout the day and it was always good, and staff was quite accommodating. I didn’t bring along any sort of underwater camera, but if you have one, bring it! When the water is clear, the footage is great, especially with a mounted GoPro. However, if the water quality isn’t very clear, you’re honestly better just enjoying the trip and not bothering with trying to get decent photos. If you get seasick or motion sick easily, and find yourself here during rough weather, definitely take something prior to heading on the boat. Additionally, when the weather is more rough, snorkeling in the ocean is also a little more difficult that you may imagine. Pretty much anyone can do it (they even will personally take you out with a life guard ring and guide if you’re elderly etc), but you do need to be aware of strong currents and larger waves. It’s a little different than snorkeling in calm water, but far worth it! If you are nervous about trying it out, there’s a huge scale of beginner to advanced options, so definitely go for it!

Cairns

After docking at the marina, we walked to the lagoon pool and took a few photos in the beautiful infinity pool built right on the beach. Cairns has fun things like giant stinging jellyfish and plankton that don’t hurt you but make your skin tingle, so the lagoon is a great option for when these creatures are in season! We got back around dinnertime, still feeling somewhat like we were on a boat, and had a relaxed evening. Cairns still gives me a slightly weird feeling that I haven’t gotten anywhere else in Australia, I am 100% glad to have come and that I was able to do everything on my Cairns bucket list! However, I think if I come back for this sort of trip, I will try somewhere new, like farther up North (where snorkeling is supposedly even better), the Whitsunday Islands, or Fiji. Tomorrow we will head to the airport in preparation for Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road!

Cairns boardwalk

Terra Australis Incognita (Cairns Day 2)

Today we got to explore one of the oldest and most impressive parts of Australia, the Daintree Rainforest. Covering about 460 square miles, this national park layout is unique because is consisted of small irregularly shaped areas, rather than one large block of land. This rainforest is the largest continuous area of tropical rainforest on the Australian continent, with the rainforest extending all the way to the edge of the sea.

One unique story we were told tells the history of the Idiospermum australiense species, more commonly known as the idiot fruit. Essentially this tree was thought to have gone extinct many years ago, then was accidently rediscovered in 1970 by a farmer who was confused why his cows were dying from consuming this tree’s fruit. Named one of Australia’s most significant discoveries, this find identified that the Daintree Rainforest was far older than recorded, dating back 110 million years. Since evident of this species exists from that long ago, and it only grows in very specific and limited environments, this discovery was a huge mile marker for Australia.

Daintree River

Our day with Tropical Horizons tour group started with an hour and half drive to Port Douglas, following the edge of the ocean since only one main road links the two areas. Inland of the coastal area is very mountainous, so it makes sense that only main road runs along the edge. Despite what you might think, the road is very well kept and the drive is quite lovely with oceanfront views the entire way. After picking up the rest of the guests in Port Douglas, we drove through a residential area that was home to hundreds of wallabies and kangaroos, then headed to the first main stop at the Daintree River.

Here, we experienced the incredibly diverse ecosystem of the river. Within the first five minutes of our river cruise, we saw a saltwater crocodile and three baby crocodiles that were only 6-8 inches long! It was probably one of the cutest things I’ve seen on this trip. Although called saltwater crocodiles, majority of the species lives in freshwater. They get their name simply because they also have the ability to survive in saltwater. Later on we saw a larger crocodile, as well as a small snake in a tree, and a variety of birds. We learned about mangrove trees, which have vast root systems creating a swamp-like environment and wildlife haven among the water’s edge. Providing shelter and warmth, this creates the perfect living grounds for all sorts of flora and fauna. With only a little rain, our boat ride through the river was quite successful! We got off the boat upstream and on the other side of the river, where the bus picked us up again.

Baby crocodile (on center of lower half of branch)

Alexandra Lookout

Our next stop was Alexandra Lookout, also referred to as Walu Wugirriga by aboriginals. As you can see in the picture, it is absolutely stunning (sarcasm)! It was more than a little foggy due to the unfortunate weather, but you could still sort of make out the outline of the landscaping. With a clear view, this lookout offers views of the Daintree River mouth and it’s surrounding environment. We had just enough time to attempt a picture through the raindrops, then jump back on the bus.

Alexandra Lookout

Rainforest Lunch

For lunch, all we were expecting was “lunch in a rainforest setting,” which in Australia is an extremely vague description, considering detailed descriptions here are often to be taken loosely. However, we enjoyed an absolutely beautiful lunch at a restaurant that is tucked away in the middle of nowhere in the rainforest. This small property also houses a resort, and has a restaurant literally set in the rainforest. It is built next to the river, and you can look over the edge and down onto the river right next to the dining tables. The staff was very friendly, and it was a fantastic meal! To make it more quaint, this restaurant was established a long time ago, before Cairns tourism developed, and was a typical spot for locals to stop by and enjoy a meal.

Cape Tribulation

Our second to last stop took us to the beach, at a point that was named by James Cook after his ship ran into some trouble there. Although his voyage was delayed, it was not ended, and he therefore named the point something representative of its nature, Cape Tribulation. By this point in the day, it was starting to just about pour buckets, so if anyone didn’t know how the rainforest got it’s name by then, they learned quickly. After a short walk on the beach learning the history of the point, we walked through the forest to a lookout point. Again, it was a bit foggy and rainy, but at least it felt appropriate to have this weather when visiting the rainforest!

Cape Tribulation lookout

Going off of that story, in case you’re wondering, here’s how Australia got it’s name. A long time ago, people knew the mapping of the North and South America’s, as well as the large European and Russian landmasses, so they assumed that in order for the world to balance out (in regards to land verses water masses), there had to be another land mass countering South America. When James Cook set out on his voyage from England, they had the idea that this land mass was wider and skinnier than it is now, and therefore he was sure to run into it when heading South. Although he did end up reaching what is now Australia, he had many unexpected adventures along the way that lead to many new discoveries. In the process though, Australia was originally named “Terra Australis Incognita,” or more simply and appropriately put, “the great undiscovered land.”

Mossman Gorge

Our last main stop of the day was Mossman Gorge, where we first enjoyed tea at the visitor’s center, then a short presentation by an Kuku Yalanji aboriginal. We took a shuttle to the park entrance, then followed the rainforest track walk to Mossman Gorge, passing over a suspended bridge along the way. Mossman is also known for its sugar cane farming, as many areas around Cairns are as well. Due to the fitting environment, sugarcane grows extremely well in this area, contributing to make Australia the world’s fifth largest producer of the sweet stuff. While harvesting used to be gathered by hand, now it is all processed by machinery to avoid infection by toxic waste products of rats living in the area. This change in methods caused the time limit of transporting the cut cane from the field to the mill from two weeks to a mere 14 hours. For this reason, small train lines run all across the countryside, because it is faster than transporting it on the limited roads with such a large volume of cane. Recently though, a successful sugar mill was bought by another company with the intention of solely trading ownership, then completely shut down after two months. This was done through the eyes of the competitor as a means to regulate the price. However, this devastated the town, which prided itself on the sugar mill business, and impacted a lot of lives and related businesses. This is just one example of how politics happen all over the world.

Mossman Gorge

Another interesting story of the day was learning that the company Palmolive started in the Daintree regions. Essentially, palm tree oil was mixed with olive oil, which was used as a base to make soaps. Two inventors, William Colgate and B.J. Johnson, joined forced to create a company for which they could both benefit from the credit and sales of a product. Therefore, Palmolive is not a name, but rather simply an addition of the words palm and olive.

Overall, we had a fantastic day learning about and exploring the incredible world of the ancient Daintree Rainforest!

‘Til I See You Again

This last week has been filled with bittersweet goodbyes and checking off the last of items on my study abroad bucket list. Additionally, it was also finals week for Bond, at the end of which was move out.

A Last Weekend in Paradise

Last weekend all of my study abroad friends and I got together at one of our apartments, and had a goodbye dinner. People would be starting to leave throughout the next week, so we all decided to have one last cookout by the pool to wrap up the semester. The following day we went to Burleigh beach, and I finally got to explore the other side of Burleigh Heads National Park. A short walk around the edge of the park will take you to a beautiful lagoon area on the other side.

Southside of Burleigh Heads National Park

In the evening we all enjoyed Surfer’s Paradise one last time for our semester abroad. We attempted to stay out and watch the sunrise on the beach, although most people couldn’t quite make it and we headed in early. I also had quite the adventure losing my FitBit (again) that night, and over an hour later found it innocently lying unharmed on the ground. For someone who is addicted to their FitBit (and already had it replaced once), it was a not so good moment that ended well. However, it was a lovely way to spend our last full weekend in Gold Coast. It definitely proved how amazing my semester has been here, with the friends I’ve made, places I’ve been, and things that I’ve gotten to do.

Finals Week

The earlier part of last week was spent mostly in the library becoming an expert on all things class-related. Although I only missed one class (to make a flight) this semester, and did stay on top of all my academics, I still had quite the game of catch up to play before exams. After my Wednesday and Thursday 8am exams, to say I felt home free was an understatement. However, on Thursday it dawned on me that finishing my last exam (in my terms) meant that I am officially a senior. How this crazy thing happened, I’m not quite sure. Regardless, it also meant that the studious part of my travels had concluded and it was time to enjoy the rest!

Springbrook

After my Thursday exam, one of my local Australian friends was kind enough to drive a couple of my friends and I to Twin Falls in Springbrook National Park. This had been one of my bucket list items since the very beginning of the semester, and during the last week I was still determined to get there!

The circuit we walked lead down the Currumbin mountains to the base of Twin Falls, around and behind another waterfall, back up the mountain, then along the top ridge to the starting point. When we reached the top of the mountain, the first lookout had a view of the other side of cliff so that you could see Twin Falls from across the mountain gap. It was a great little circuit through the rainforest, and took about an hour, definitely recommend it! Unfortunately it was a little cold when we visited, but I’d imagine the best part would be swimming in the rock pools at the base of Twin Falls!

Twin Falls

Walking behind the second waterfall

Top ridge lookout

Panorama of top ridge lookout

View of Twin Falls from across the mountain valley

Later that evening, I did one last run around Lake Orr, the lake surrounding my apartment complex and campus.

Lake Orr

Burleigh Heads

On my last day in Gold Coast, a few of my friends and I made the trip down to Burleigh, which had become somewhat of a tradition. We spent the better portion of the day on the beach, enjoying the beautiful weather. Saying goodbye to my friends was sad, but I was also exited for the travels ahead. While I do have to wave farewell to Gold Coast, luckily I still have two weeks of traveling in Australia before heading back to the states!

North side of Burleigh Heads

Enjoying an acai bowl on the beach

See Ya Later

As I finished packing up my apartment after returning from the beach, I couldn’t believe that it really was my last day of study abroad in Gold Coast. When originally coming, I was under the impression that because it is so far and I got to live here for a decent period of time, that I more than likely would not be back again. In reality, I know now that thinking like that was completely naive, and I will most definitely back again someday.

Despite all the incredible places I got to visit, interesting people I met, and amazing memories I’ve created, there are still so many items I didn’t get to do. I did a LOT while studying abroad, so that just goes to show how many places there are to explore and things there are to do over here. When saying goodbye here, to friends or someone you just met, a lot of people use the phrase ‘see you later,’ even if they are a complete stranger that most likely will never see you again. However, I like to think with the mentality that you might someday see them again, even if it’s 25 years from now. With that being said, it’s not goodbye, it’s ‘til I see you again, Gold Coast.

A Long & Winding Road (New Zealand Day 6)

This morning we took a local’s advice (front desk receptionist at Woodlyn Park), and embarked on an adventure to find a few natural attractions in the area. She warned us to make sure we had a full tank of gas (we didn’t), and we set off!

Mangapõhue Natural Bridge

Following one long road the entire time, our first stop was at Mangapõhue natural bridge. Just a five minute walk down through the bush, you stumble upon a huge rock formation, with water flowing underneath it creating a cave as well as a huge rock arch above you. In contrast to what we originally thought, we ended up viewing this natural bridge from underneath, instead of overtop. We explored the countryside for a little, then returned back to the road to continue to our next stop.

Suspended bridge walking to the natural bridge

Natural bridge from north side

Natural bridge from south side

Marokopa Falls

A few miles later we pulled off the road at Marokopa Falls, allegedly the biggest waterfall in New Zealand. After another five minute speed walk through the bush, we found ourselves near the base of this huge and absolutely beautiful waterfall. It was a little too wet/muddy to try and risk hiking down to the bottom of the falls, but we still had a breathtaking view from where we were. Definitely a fantastic find!

Marokopa Falls

Marokopa

Our final destination took a few more miles of driving along the long and winding Te Anga road, but we made it there successfully (aka with plenty of gas)! Referred to something like Coffee Coast by the hotel receptionist (could not find this name anywhere), we arrived in the tiny town of Maropkopa, where we followed a short trail down to the black sand beach. As you can imagine, we lost phone service around the natural bridge area, and although I forgot to take a picture, at the trail entrance there was a sign posted that read, “in case of emergency, dial 911 from the nearest house or public facility.” So that gives an idea of how isolated we were. There was a huge inlet that clearly would completely flood during high tide, but was only about half full at the time we were there. We took a few pictures and moments to take in the incredibly peaceful scenery, then got back in the car for the trek back. I also took a small flat black rock along, to represent the black beach and surviving the trek out to the coast!

Black sand beach

Panoramic view of Marokopa Coast

After arriving back to the tiny town of Waitomo, we grabbed lunch, filled up on gas, and headed towards Auckland to drop our car off by 5pm. We checked into our hostel, took a short walk around the city, joined a friend for dinner, and got to bed early in preparation for our early morning flight. Overall, New Zealand provided so many incredible experiences, and I have come to the conclusion that one week is not NEARLY enough to explore just part of only the North Island. With that being said, I guess I will have to come back someday. Until that day, Kia Ora, New Zealand!

Scenic New Zealand countryside

B-R-I-S-B-A-N-E

Aloha Bar & Dining

On Friday night, my friends and I checked out a pop-up bar in Broadbeach, temporarily creating a fun business secretly (sort-of) tucked away in an unassuming alleyway. This restaurant is inspired by Hawaiian, Caribbean, and Asian cultures, which is represented in the atmosphere and menu. The restaurant itself is located in a garage-like building, with graffiti painted on the outside. It has an almost hidden jungle-inspired entrance, with pineapple and pin-up girl wallpapers, cane and bamboo furniture, and a faux palm tree in the middle of the main room.

Aloha Bar & Dining venue

As you can imagine, most people come once for the picture-taking experience, but it was definitely a worthwhile evening! There were a few minor mishaps, like most of my friends were not too crazy about the food or drinks, service was a bit slow, and orders were messed up three times, so it was more boutique dining than an actual meal. Overall, I would still recommend dropping in for the experience (just make sure you have time)! If you’re interested, check out their Facebook page!

Dinner at the Aloha Bar

South Bank, Brisbane

On Saturday, we took a day trip to Brisbane, an hour and a half train ride north of Gold Coast. Our intention was to take a ferry to Moreton Island, but unfortunately we were not prepared for the limited options, and all ferries were booked full, so we resorted to plan B.

We found a café to enjoy a light brunch and coffee while we tried to figure out what our game plan was. A few locals had suggested visiting South Bank, so we decided to head there. This area is located on the southern banks of the Brisbane River, and is inclusive of 17 hectares of parks, restaurants and cafes, a beach-inspired pool, and many public events. With beautiful waterfront views, it’s a perfect place to spend a relaxing day! We walked through the area to see what was around, then spent an hour at the pool, a lagoon-like water area with real sand to mimic a beach, right up against the river. It was pretty crowded since it was a hot day, and with it being exactly 99 degrees, we only stayed for a short while! With the strong sun (and the fabulous ozone hole over Australia), we chose to head out to the next adventure!

Beach/pool area in South Bank

After walking through some street markets and stopping at an acai bowl restaurant, we visited the colorful BRISBANE letters and took a few fun pictures. We walked along the river to the ferry stop, and took the ferry along the river for a little while, ending up on the other side at a restaurant for dinner. After a little bit of refreshing, we walked to the train station, and headed back home. Although it was a day without a plan, we enjoyed what we stumbled upon exploring the area, and had a lovely day becoming familiar with South Bank. However, stay tuned in the next couple weeks to hear about our visit to Moreton Island, as we are planning on making it happen a different day!

Brisbane letters

Trips & Cliffs (Bali Day 2)

Morning Downtown

A couple friends and I started off the day by finding a small café in the downtown Seminyak area, where I enjoyed eggs benedict. I had a few minutes to check out the downtown area, and soon we were all headed out on the road again.

Typical roadside shop

Banana shop

Excursion Adventures

Our first stop was suggested by our villa driver, a snorkel trip in the Tenjuang Benoa area with Pandawa Marine Adventures. We were all very excited for the opportunity to snorkel in Bali, but unfortunately did not receive the experience we were hoping for! The “snorkeling” turned out to be just about a two minute boat ride off the coast, surrounded by lots of other boats, and we were only allowed to swim within an approximately 50 square foot area. The water was also VERY murky and polluted, and we saw approximately three different kinds of fish and two coral formations (which you had to swim down to, and couldn’t really see anything even if you did). The water was the saltiest water I have ever tasted in my life, and I can only imagine what beyond boat fuel was in that water. However, they gave us bread to feed the fish (not sure if that’s supposed to be in their diet..) but it was neat to have the fish swim right up to you and beneath you.

Boat ride to the snorkeling area

Turtle Island

After about a 10 minute boat ride, our next stop on the excursion was Turtle Island. Now, this sounds amazing, but it might as well have been called “Animal Cruelty island.” Let’s just say this place would never make it through OSHA or conducting business anywhere in the US. Stepping off the boat into dirty water with trash floating in it and grimy beaches was not ideal, as we were told to leave our shoes in the boat.

This was probably one of the most depressing parts of trip because the turtle were collected in small sectioned-off areas with little amounts of very dirty water. There were also cages for several other animals like bats, birds, and a snake that literally had it’s mouth taped shut (the tape was coming off) in a glass case with disintegrating cardboard pieces on the bottom. After ten minutes max we felt as though we might contract some sort of illness if we stayed any longer, and requested the boat drivers to take us back. Upon return to the starting point, we spent some time trying to get a refund for false advertising and due to the extremely poor conditions we were taken through. Now, most of my friends and I on the trip are very modest and would only do something like that if it was absolutely appropriate. Trust me, it was (that’s why there are very few pictures). However, we ended up receiving about half the cost in refunds, and left to turn our day around!

Turtle pool at Turtle Island

Afternoon Pick-Me-Up at Nusa Dua

Our villa driver suggested an alternative place for lunch (since our plans had gone awry), and we headed to the nearby area of Nusa Dua. Here, we found lovely beach club restaurants lining a decorated boardwalk right beside a beach that was pristine compared to our prior adventures. We selected a restaurant called The Bay, which had beautiful seating, covered and uncovered, a concert-like venue with a DJ, as well as a lovely pool that we could use. We happily ate lunch there, and enjoying pad thai and happy hour as we tried to get over what happened that morning.

Beach boardwalk by The Bay restaurant

Enjoying the beach life!

Panoramic view of Nusa Dua beach

After eating, we took a short walk along the beach, through a park at the point of the beach, and found a secret passageway out onto the edge of the cliff. We found perfect flowers that had fallen off the trees, and put them in our hair!

Pathway through the park

A secret passageway we found leading from the park to the edge of the cliff lookout

Enjoying the park by putting flowers in our hair

Uluwatu Cliff Temple

Prior to departure, Uluwatu Cliff Temple had been on my list of things to do in Bali. This temple is perched right on the very edge of an incredibly tall cliff, with stairs leading all around the perimeter of the surrounding cliffs. As with any temple, you will be given a sari to wear upon entrance, as you must have your knees covered. The point we first came out at after going through the entrance was about in the middle of one section. To the right you could see a wedding, with the couple taking photos literally on the edge of the cliff. Look closely for the white spec in the photo! To the right, you could see the temple.

View to the left of center, Uluwatu temple on the top edge of the cliff

View to the right, stairs leading along the edge with a wedding on the far point cliff

After walking through and seeing the beautiful architecture we followed the path through another cliff section, coming to a point where monkeys commonly gather. This sounds fun, but beware monkeys can be dangerous. Typically, they are non-intrusive and will not bother you if you don’t bother them. However, don’t look them directly in the eyes, as this is a sign of aggression, or to have any lose items on you (sunglasses, water bottle, tissues etc). They will, and did, take these items off people and eat them, and if you try to get it back you will regret it. My first thought was that I do NOT want to get anywhere close to them, and my second was that it cannot be healthy for them to consume all these synthetic and material items. Regardless, the Uluwatu is a famous and beautiful temple, and I definitely recommend checking it out if you’re ever in Bali.

Monkey on the railing, no camera zoom used!

They aren’t kidding!

One of my favorite spots on the property was the last lookout point, where you can go right up to the edge of a massive cliff, look over, and see the straight drop below. Creepy, yes, but nonetheless breathtaking.

Favorite lookout point, recorded looking out over the cliff

Group photo at the same lookout point as the video above

Evening

Later that evening, we went to dinner at a restaurant called Mosaic, where I got mushroom and black truffle oil risotto. We eventually went back to the villa and stayed up decently late figuring out are villa bill, packing for the flight the next day, and talking about what all we were planning on doing the next day. While the morning started out a little rough, our day came together quite well and once again offered us a few amazing experiences.