Australia

Australia is the largest of the countries that make up Oceania. Situated below Indonesia and Papua New Guinea and to the west of New Zealand, Australia is the 6^th largest country in the world.

Prior to the western civilizations the aborigines inhabited the land. The western world arrived in the 18th century, bringing heavy conflict with the native aborigines.

Thankfully, whilst progress is slow, the western-descended people of Australia are learning more about what the land means to the indigenous people, and are becoming schooled in how this land should be used. The way of life of these people is now being recognised and whilst there is a long way to go, there are large steps being made towards a harmonious relationship with between old and new, such as Uluru now being protected and the sacred site not being allowed to be climbed.

So, What's Special?

Australia is not only famous for its natural beauty, like Uluru and the Great Barrier Reef, along with all the outstanding wildlife on land and sea, but for its man-made structures. The Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge are amongst some of the most recognisable sights the world has to offer. People flock from around the world to gaze at these staggering architectural masterpieces, and so they should.

Australia is however far more than just what you can see, it’s how it makes you feel. This great nation has everything; from beautiful islands formed from golden beaches, beautiful weather, lush rainforests, spectacular wildlife and much more.  Never before have we seen such a range of animals not only surviving but thriving on these beautiful lands.  

The main cities that line Australia’s beautiful coast include Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Darwin, each completely different from the last and all amazing in their own right. Whilst the cost of living in these main cities can be high, you will receive a very good wage should you decide to work, which you can do easily with the correct visa.

Our Experience

Both of us have spent time in Australia, as you can see from the amount of dots on the below map.

Greg spent a year living in and travelling the circumference and through the enormous Red Centre.  Whilst spending a good 3 months of that time in Melbourne, he managed to visit a number of local attractions; from Ned Kelly’s gaols to the set of Neighbours, and watched the incredible Australian Grand Prix.

Australia was far too grand on every level to relax in one amazing city. Bucket list items were ticked off around the country, including spending New Year sat between the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

Cruising the Great Ocean road, cage diving with great whites, running 10.2k around the base of Uluru, and diving the Great Barrier Reef were all ticked off, and days were spent savouring the most incredible sunsets, wildlife, beaches and loving every second in every state or territory.

A good chunk of time was spent over in Tasmania, a couple of days in the Capital Territory and countless months in the other states. One day we'll be back and Australia will be home again.

Charlie spent a month touring with some local friends, really getting to know Queensland. Time was spent walking the rainforests in the far north and coming face to face with funnel web spiders, blasting a 4x4 across the beaches of the worlds largest sand island, and tucking into incredible food after exploring caves, coasts and mountains.

Our Advice

The only advice I can really give about Australia is get out there and see it for yourself at your own pace. You will not realise how big it is until you fly across, looking down on dusty outback for hours upon hours even when travelling at 500mph. Due to its size you will have to take at least 3 months if you hope to see all the country has to offer. Don't just stop at the first place you fall in love with, trust us here. There will be many others.

We fell in love with it and we are sure you will too.

Whilst Australia has some excellent transport links, due to the sheer size of the country transport can be difficult. If you want to see it all, we would advise grabbing a campervan and just heading off into the sunset yourself. You will find little gems as you slowly make your way around the country. Just make sure you are prepared for the environment and the vast distance you will have to cover.

If you don’t fancy driving yourself you will find a lot of Australia is now covered by companies such as the Greyhound, which is basically a hop on hop off bus you can use as little or as often as you like based on your ticket.

We feel it’s important to learn from the indigenous people and find out about the past, there is so much to learn and it’s not all old stories. You can engage with their culture and learn form them in a hands-on way, such as learning the didgeridoo, or how to throw a boomerang.

To Summarise...

Australia is simply a mix of beauty, passion and pride. There aren’t many countries where local authorities supply BBQ’s on most beaches, complete with gas, and allow the public to use them free of charge. In the UK they would be vandalised, stolen and left to rust. However, the respect people have in Australia for what they have and what surrounds them is phenomenal. That is what makes the country great: it has everything and the locals look after it and are proud to be Australian, and that pours over to those who are only visiting.

You will be stunned and amazed. You will love and you will eventually leave, but Australia will always have your heart.