We’ve been back in the UK now for 9 days which means for every day we’ve had back here we’ve had 1 weeks worth of adventuring in Australia. It doesn’t seem real that we’ve been there, done that and locked up the memories in our memory banks. Our 9 week tour has proved that dreams really do come true. Our experiences in Australia which we had everyday are on someone’s ‘To-Do List’ - we lived to tell the tales of what real dreams are made of. People all over the globe have ‘things they’ve always wanted to do’. We’ve gone ahead and done it. And we’ve done it properly.
We’re really proud of ourselves in that with the help of STA Travel we made a plan, had an itinary that worked and we stuck to it. At no point did we backtrack because of a hangover or tiredness and at no point did we mess everything up. There was no tour missed, no bus missed, no party missed and no rock unturned. We explored every avenue we could and we did it our way. The two girls from London have officially backpacked up the East Coast of Australia and honestly had the time of our entire lives.
Now we’re home people keep asking us what the best bit about the trip was – how can we answer that! There were places we loved more than others but the whole experience was so awesome it seems unfair to start mentioning favourites! We would recommend everything to you guys out there who are inspired enough to pack your bags and jump on a plane. Obviously some things we would suggest you avoid… like driving your vehicle into bog, only taking Summer dresses in Winter or even just spending all your time in one place. Some tour companies we would also suggest more than others especially if you want to party and meet like minded people; Groovy Grape, Oz Experience, Koalas etc.
When we arrived at South Molle Island on the Whitsundays our captain said to us, “You have just arrived at the best bar in the world, there are no rules.” IT WAS TRUE. If you are planning to go to the stunning Whitsunday Islands, book to go with Koala’s and book to go on the Pride of Airlie (boat) and book to stay on South Molle Island i.e. not on the boat. And yes, you can book that through STA Travel back here in drizzley England. Koala’s also sort you out with the 4×4 adventure tours to Fraser Island – book this so it’s included in the Whitsunday packagae and save yourself some dollars.
Skydive with ‘Jump the Beach’ and land on Mission beach. This was the best thing I have ever ever done – as you plummet at 157mph and the parachute gently slows you down you really are falling over one of the greatest scenes in the world; the Great Barrier Reef, lush rainforest, tropical islands and golden sands with a few sharks, whales and turtles if you’re lucky!
Go to Ayers Rock and drink champagne watching the sunset. Hike through King’s Canyon. Go to the Domain Chandon vineyards. Climb Sydney Harbour Bridge. Go to a rugby league game in Brisbane. Whale watch in Hervey Bay. Cuddle a koala. Learn to surf. Sleep in the desert under the stars. Sandboard. Zorb (if you’re brave). Fly in a helicopter over the Great Ocean Road. Snorkle on the Great Barrier Reef. Be amazed on Whitehaven Beach. Go to Wilson’s Prom. Do Kangaroo Island. Stay in the Cape Tribulation rainforest. Party on Magnetic Island. Jungle surf. Take a seaplane over Sydney Harbour. Taste it, feel it, smell it and do it. Let your memory banks explode.
You will come back a changed person too. We have. When your breath is taken away, all the luxuries you think you need, all the worries and stresses of home life are suddenly irrelevant. Travelling will put your life into perspective and it will teach you want is important and what really isn’t. It will show you who your friends are, it will make you love people more. We went away city girls, we’ve come home appreciating the countryside, the outback, the desert, the rainforest, the ocean and the islands. We’ve learnt that people can live lives so differently to ours. We’ve met people from all over the world who have also taught us a lot of new things. Our friendship now is stronger than ever too. Open your eyes and experience it all.
So until December you won’t hear much from us. Email us if you have any questions nutley6@hotmail.co.uk because there is nothing more we love than reliving our insane adventure to Australia.
Next stop – 3 nights in Dublin over New Years Eve. 6 girls, one hostel and Temple Bar to play on.
2nd stop – 4 nights in Cologne, Germany where we will be reunited with our great mate Justin and experience the Cologne carnival!!
Next Summer – NEW ZEALAND where we will get our faces known on the Kiwi Experience…
For now.. we’ve rolled straight into Fresher’s Fortnight at Portsmouth Uni. We have a year of hard work and hard play ahead so we can save enough money to start all over again. Wish us luck!
George
