A seaside is a seaside, proper? Sorry I wasn’t sorry, it simply didn’t sound that particular.
As a southern California native who has lived in Barcelona and Rio, seashores are a prerequisite to my residential preferences. In fact, I like the seaside, however I would like greater than that out of my travels. Admittedly, I used to be in no rush to go to Australia. Lengthy-term work and vacation in Oz felt like a sensible, possible vacation spot for expat life. However simply visiting Australia… nah!
Like many vacationers, I’d been drawn to “unique” locations. I glorified overseas pure wonders – – Macchu Picchu, Iguazu Falls, Patagonia, and the Amazon. I most well-liked Thai meals, tigers, temples, and elephants of Chiang Mai, Siem Reap, and Halong Bay. I used to be enticed by Cyprus, Turkey, Serbia, Croatia, Hungary, and Romania. However one other land of English-speaking, Billabong-wearing, fist-pumping, dirty-blondes was going to be all the pieces I had already skilled within the Metropolis of Angels.
I prevented the Land of Oz, the UK, Canada, and the united statesA. like a plague of boredom. They didn’t meet my requirements of scream-out-loud journey and cultural curiosity. Quietly, I used to be an “unique” vacation spot snob. In reality, so comforted was I by the Aussies I’d met abroad whereas touring that my one-way-ticket Down Beneath had been presumed as a secure alternative and calculated threat.
I sort away with the famous disgrace at my as soon as unsophisticated, callow, even ignorant portrayal of Western trip locations. We’ve got romanticized bucket record checks of swimming with elephants and trekking 100 and sixty foot glaciers to the purpose the place the typical traveler frames Instagrammable sights as a “hit it and stop it.” I solely spent two days at Iguazu Falls, two days at Halong Bay, and maybe a weekend at Machu Picchu. Given monetary limitations and home windows of allotted free time, there’s some motive to the insanity of taking a shot and shifting on to the subsequent one like a bachelor at a strip membership.
And whereas I can’t low cost the worth of exploring cultures alien to our personal, dwelling and touring in Australia taught me that we shouldn’t have to step too removed from our consolation zone for a brand new vantage level to the world.
Between instructing Sir-Combine-A-Lot lyrics on sixteen hour drives, catching taking pictures stars whereas crusing, and setting ourselves up for a scenic dawn, Australia turned greater than a secure haven of individuals I like. 9 months Down Beneath and 4 caravanned street journeys later, I can earnestly say that Australia’s pure magnificence is as extraordinary as its loving, attention-grabbing, funny-to-the-point-of-ridiculous folks. I like the land as I like its peeps!
Who wants “unique” seashores when seashores in Australia seem like this:
1. From Melbourne, Victoria onto the Nice Ocean Street.
A jagged shoreline with a group of scattered islets, the Twelve Apostles is a singular surprise. En route from Melbourne, Australia’s most European metropolis characterised by avenue artwork, hipsters, and occasional outlets, I leaped for the love of Bells Seaside, Bay of Islands and Port Fairy.
Pictured: 12 Apostles by @StephBeTravel
2. From Bondi to Palm Seaside, New South Wales.
Strolling alongside sunny Coogee’s shores, I usually caught a dwell band at Clovelly or BBQ at Tamarama. We dip into celeb famend Bondi or dance at considered one of many Sydney harbor bars and lounges. Alternatively, a Sunday pub crawl within the Northern Seashores of Manly had me saying “my shout.”
Pictured: Bondi Seaside – @laurenepbath
Image: Crescent Head – @thewaveprovocateur
3. The Gold Coast’s Byron Bay and Surfer’s Paradise, Queensland.
Chillin’ for the killin’ Byron Bay is your go-to for a surf earlier than some fish and chips. Low key with a Corona and lime vibe, the Aussie seaside of Byron is a haven for wave riders. Whereas Byron’s Bay is an aquatic boulevard for paddle boards, surf, and starfish, Surfer’s Paradise resembles Sin Metropolis, Cabo, and Miami. Store, drink, gamble, and dance after a morning of baking within the solar.
Pictured: Surfer’s Paradise by @laurenepbath
Pictured: Byron’s Bay by @JewelsZee
4. Cape Hillsborough Nature Resort and Fraser Island, Queensland
Regrettably, as backpackers on a price range, we missed Cape Hillsborough resort and headed straight to Hervey Bay for a ferry to Fraser Island. Fraser Island is a rainforest meets lake and seaside escapade. A photograph would deceive you into considering that we had been within the Sahara Desert. The Champagne Swimming pools, the Maheno Shipwreck, and the Indian’s Head Cliff overlooking Pleased Valley’s majestic seaside left me wanting for extra.
Pictured: Maheno Shipwreck, Fraser Island @StephBeTravel
Pictured: Cape Hillsborough by @JewelsZee
5. Whitsunday Islands and White Haven Nationwide Park
Crusing, snorkeling, and permitting the glow of the solar to kiss our pores and skin, we embarked from Airlie Seaside on Avatar – a former race boat turned sail boat – for our Whitsunday Islands tour. Greeted by a skipper and deckhand wanting like fashionable pirates, we made strategy to the silica sand seaside of White Haven Nationwide Park.
Pictured: Whitsunday @StephBeTravel
6. Cairns and the Nice Barrier Reef
With magnificence so grand, a self imposed “you’re not going to not dive the Nice Barrier Reef” enabled me to beat my biggest worry – – drowning. Cool Cairns and deep dives wrapped up an expertise of a life-time!
Pictured: Cairns by @JewelsZee
Australia modified my life! Thanks to my Oz associates whose images have been featured on this put up and to everybody I met alongside my travels. Get your Aussie on!
Present me your images #TravelBreak and point out @TravelBreak
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