SEEING AUSTRALIA
While in the lab 9 to 5 Monday through Friday, I got to travel throughout Australia on the weekends. The following page documents my experiences and photographs. All photos were taken with my iPhone 8 Plus.
MANLY BEACH
May 27th, 2018
One Sunday, I took a ferry to Manly Beach. When the boat docked, I realized that I picked the most ideal day to visit Manly.
"A Taste Of Manly" took place that day. It was a beer, wine, and food festival with a theme of sustainability. I am very passionate about preserving the environment (and food), so the festival added a wonderful element to a typical day on the beach.
WHALE WATCHING
June 9th, 2018
I lived in a hostel for my first two weeks in Sydney, so I had the opportunity to make friends with other young adults who had similar interests as me. A couple girls and I set out whale watching on a small boat one morning. We saw glimpses of whales in the distance and dolphins swam very closely to our boat. Being on the water and getting to see the harbor from another perspective was a treat all in itself. I got awesome shots of the overcast day as well.
BLUE MOUNTAINS
June 10th, 2018
Every local told me that the Blue Mountains were a must see for a nature lover. I took a train (for the first time) three hours west to Wentworth Falls in order to hike the mountains and see the magnificent waterfall. The locals were right. These mountains were grand and serene and I had to chance to see some of the most amazing views I have ever seen.
BONDI BEACH
June 11th, 2018
On this Monday, I was off in the lab because of the Queen's birthday, a public holiday. I took the time to visit Bondi Beach for a picnic. Bondi is one of the most famous beaches in Sydney and it exceeded my expectations. The water was beautiful and surfers lined the shores and water. There were vivid murals painted along a wall that stretched across the shore. The day started out beautiful, but a storm crept over the shore towards the end of the afternoon. The dark skies actually made for spectacular photographs. I am extremely glad I spent the public holiday on the beach at Bondi.
PALM BEACH
June 24th, 2018
The lookout from the Barrenjoy Lighthouse at Palm Beach was by far my favorite view from my trip. The lighthouse is at the end of a peninsula, so two sides of the beach are visible. It was absolutely breathtaking. The hike up to the lighthouse was long and steep, but it was very relaxing and well worth it.
BYRON BAY
June 29th, 2018 to July 1st, 2018
Chase Weiland, a fellow W&J classmate and a good friend of mine, is studying abroad at Southern Cross University in Lismore, New South Whales for the fall 2018 semester. She arrived at the end of June, so I took a weekend to visit. We went to Byron Bay, an absolutely breathtaking area with surreal views. I woke up to watch the sun rise and explore the bay a bit. Overall, it was an amazing weekend and it was extremely nice to see a familiar face.
CRONULLA TO KURNELL COASTAL WALK
July 8th, 2018
A housemate and I decided to do the Cronulla Beach to Kurnell coastal walk one morning. We did not realize how long the hike was when we decided to do it. It was a little over 12 miles long and it took us about 4 and a half hours to complete. It did not even feel that long because of how beautiful the scenery was. I felt like I was on another planet. The rocks were very unique and we were practically walking on the edge of cliffs the whole hike. This coastal walk was definitely one for the books.
COOGEE TO BONDI COASTAL WALK
July 21st, 2018
This time Chase came to Sydney to check out my home for the summer. Six other students from Southern Cross University joined her. I took them on a coastal walk from Coogee Beach to Bondi. Although this wasn't my first time visiting Bondi, I had never been to Coogee before and this beach was truly a pleasure. The water at Coogee was remarkably blue and we couldn't have picked a better day to go. The sun was shining very bright which made the water glimmer. Everyone loved Bondi and Coogee and expressed how much they enjoyed Sydney. I'm very happy that I had the opportunity to play tour guide and show others the beautiful city I stayed in.
FITZROY ISLAND
July 28th, 2018
After being in the chilly winter months in Sydney, I decided that it was time to take a weekend trip to the Tropical North and check out Cairns, Queensland. On that Saturday, I spent my entire day on Fitzroy Island. It was surreal. I took a boat out to the island at 8 am and had the entire day to snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef, paddle board, jump on an ocean trampoline, lay on the beach, and so much more! Getting to experience one of the Seven Wonders of the World was amazing. The reef was beautiful and it makes me sad that it has already died so much. Overall, Fitzroy Island is the definition of paradise and I am so glad I had the opportunity to get a taste of it.
KURANDA TROPICAL RAINFOREST
July 29th, 2018
On the Sunday I was in Cairns, I woke up early to take a bus up a mountain to the Kuranda Village. There, I took walking tracks that led me within the rainforest. The serene sounds of nature were very relaxing and the river I walked along was very interesting. After my hike, I took the Kuranda Skyrail back down the mountain. The Skyrail took me above the trees and allowed me to see the rainforest from a completely new perspective. This was an incredible experience that was perfect for a nature lover.
PALM COVE
July 29th, 2018
Sunday afternoon in Cairns, I took a bus to Palm Cove, a famous beach in the area. Again, this was a tropical paradise. I laid under palm trees and on the beach all afternoon. There was a swimming warning sign bringing attention to the possible presence of crocodiles in the water, so I stayed out of the water this time. This was a great way to wrap up my time in Cairns. Once I got back to Sydney, I immediately missed my relaxing tropical Sunday afternoon at Palm Cove.
PORT STEPHENS
August 4th, 2018 & August 5th, 2018
My second to last weekend, my house mate, Juli, took me camping. On that Saturday, we hiked up Tomaree Mountain which was a huge treat. I felt like I was in Hawaii. After returning down the mountain, we watched the sun set on Shoal Beach and set up camp. We had a pleasant sleep and woke up to watch the sun rise on Zenith Beach. Both the sun setting and the sun rising were magical! Next, we continued to Anna Bay where I played in the sand dunes and see camels. After that, we caught a train to Morisset, NSW, where we went to a park that doubled as a Kangaroo reserve. Surprisingly, this was my first time seeing kangaroos and it was amazing! They were friendly and made for an awesome experience.
