Hey adventurers! Merel here, with what might just be the longest travel report ever on It's Time To Adventure. Michael and I have finally returned from what we call our "once in a lifetime" trip to Australia... although we're already making plans to go back. Because let's be honest: three months was NOT NEARLY enough!
This report is anything but a polished travel guide. It's a chaotic, hilarious, and sometimes embarrassing collection of our experiences. Expect stories about how I nearly had a heart attack when a spider the size of my hand appeared in our campervan, how Michael tried to surf and literally lost his swim trunks, and of course all the magical moments that made us realize why Australia is such a special place.
So grab a cup of tea (or a glass of wine, no judgment here), sit back and enjoy our Australian adventures!
Landing crisis in Brisbane: when jetlag and culture shock collide
If there's one thing I can recommend, it's this: DO NOT start your Australian adventure with a 26-hour flight that lands at 5 AM local time, while your body thinks it's midnight. But of course, that's exactly what we did.
The first impression of Brisbane? Honestly? A blur. I remember looking out the airplane window and thinking: "Wow, this looks exactly like... a random city." Jetlag is a bitch, people. We spent most of that first day as two zombies wondering why we had spent all our savings to feel this miserable.
Our rescue plan: South Bank
After a few hours of trying to sleep in a hotel room that felt like a spinning carousel (thanks, jetlag), we decided we might as well be outside. Best. Decision. Ever.
South Bank became our refuge in Brisbane. For anyone going to Brisbane: GO HERE! It's this beautiful promenade along the Brisbane River with an artificial beach right in the middle of the city. Yes, you read that right: a BEACH in the CITY. Streets Beach is a pool with sand, surrounded by tropical gardens, and it was exactly what we needed.
Michael jumped right into the water, while I lay on a towel like a half-dead starfish trying to pretend it was all part of my plan. A local even asked if I was okay. That's apparently how I looked. 🙈
But after a dip and some (strong) Australian coffee at one of the cafes along the promenade, life began to feel bearable again. We spent the whole day aimlessly wandering around, people watching, and marveling at how relaxed everyone seemed. Oh, and I became obsessed with the ibises walking around as if they owned the place. Michael called them "garbage chickens" because of their habit of diving into trash cans, but I found them charming!
Our Brisbane must-dos (after recovery from zombie phase)
Once we became functioning humans again, we discovered that Brisbane is actually a fantastic city to begin your Australian adventure. It's big enough to keep you entertained, but not as overwhelming as Sydney. Here are our absolute favorites:
Mt. Coot-tha Lookout: Okay, we had to take an Uber to get here (public transport is apparently possible, but seemed complicated), but the views over the entire city are AMAZING. Go around sunset for the best photos! I tried to take an artistic photo of Michael with the sunset in the background, but he ended up looking like a dark silhouette against a bright orange ball. Photography is clearly not my strong suit.
Koala Sanctuary: PETTING KOALAS, PEOPLE! The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is about 30 minutes outside the city and you can actually cuddle koalas there (which is apparently forbidden in many Australian states). They're heavier than you'd think and smell a bit like eucalyptus and... well, animals. Michael tried to act tough, but I caught him making baby voices to a sleepy koala named Buster.
Brisbane City Botanic Gardens: Perfect for a picnic and recovering from jetlag. We bought some bread, Australian cheese (which is surprisingly good!), and local wine and had a little party. Then we both fell asleep on our picnic blanket and I woke up with a sunburn that lasted about three weeks. Australian sun = no joke.
Eat Street Northshore: A food market in containers by the river that's open on weekends. We went there twice because it was so good. I fell in love with a stall selling something they called "Loaded Crinkle Fries" - fries with about a million toppings. Michael tried crocodile bites and claimed they "just taste like chicken," which I think is the standard answer for all strange animals people eat.
The Brisbane blunders (because not everything went perfectly)
Let's also be honest about what DIDN'T work in Brisbane:
Understanding public transport: We bought a go-card (their public transport card) and loaded it with what we thought would be enough for a few days. Wrong. We had no idea the distances would be so big. My card was empty after a day and a half, and refilling it was surprisingly complicated.
Underestimating schedules: Everything closes MUCH earlier than in the Netherlands. We arrived at a restaurant at 8:30 PM and they looked at us as if we had walked in at midnight. "Kitchen's closed, honey," said the waitress. We ended up having McDonald's for dinner, which Michael secretly loved, but I found a bit disappointing.
The coffee culture: I thought I liked strong coffee until I ordered a "flat white" in Brisbane. My heart was beating so fast I thought I needed to go to the hospital. Australians take their coffee SERIOUSLY. Michael, who is normally the coffee geek, was in seventh heaven.
The coastal route to Melbourne: a roadtrip that changed everything
After five days in Brisbane, we decided it was time for the real adventure: our road trip along the east coast that would eventually take us to Melbourne. We rented a campervan, which was about the size of my first student room. Small, but fine for two people... or so we thought.
The campervan: our home on wheels (and source of relationship tests)
Can we talk about how your relationship really gets tested in a space of 5 square meters? Michael and I have been together since university, so I thought we knew each other inside out. But no! I discovered that he talks in his sleep - mainly about football statistics. He discovered that I become a maniacal neat freak when the space is smaller than an average bathroom.
Our campervan was called "Dingo" (all campervans had names of Australian animals) and was bright yellow, so we could always find it at campsites. The first time we tried to set up the bed was a hilarious mess. There are probably images of us, captured by laughing Australians, struggling with what was actually a simple conversion system. But after two glasses of wine and a serious outburst from Michael ("THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE!") we finally slept in what was actually quite a comfortable bed.
The east coast: where each stop became better than the last
I'm not going to describe every stop on our route, because you'd still be reading next week, but here are the absolute highlights:
Gold Coast - where everything glitters
The Gold Coast is exactly what it sounds like: glittering, shiny, and a bit over the top. Surfers Paradise, the main beach area, felt like a cross between Las Vegas and a postcard of a tropical paradise.
We parked our campervan at a campsite just outside the city and took buses to the center (yes, we had learned our lesson about public transport). The beaches are INCREDIBLE - miles of golden sand with perfectly azure blue water. Michael decided this was the perfect place to learn surfing, so he booked a lesson. And yes, this is where the swim trunks incident took place.
About ten minutes into his first surf lesson, he triumphantly stood up on his board, wobbled, fell... and lost his swim trunks in the waves. A group of Japanese tourists who happened to be taking photos at that moment... let's just say Michael might be famous in Tokyo now. Luckily, he has a sense of humor, and the story only got better with each retelling over beers later that evening.
Byron Bay - where we almost decided to stay
Oh. My. God. Byron Bay. If there's one place in Australia where we seriously considered just staying and never leaving, it was here. This small coastal town is so full of laid-back vibes, beautiful beaches, and a kind of magical energy that I find hard to put into words.
We stayed here for a week instead of the planned three days. Every morning we did the walk to the lighthouse at Cape Byron (the easternmost point of mainland Australia) to see the sunrise. Every. Morning. And it never got boring. We even saw dolphins jumping in the morning light, which was such a perfect Instagram moment that I wondered if the Australian tourist board had hired them.
The atmosphere in Byron Bay is impossible to describe without sounding cliché. It's truly a mix of surf culture, hipster coffee shops, spiritual retreats, and pure natural beauty. Michael, who is normally skeptical about anything that sounds "spiritual," even let himself be persuaded to do a yoga class on the beach at sunrise. The photos of this are strictly prohibited on our social media according to his explicit instructions.
Not to be missed in Byron Bay:
- The walk to the lighthouse (Cape Byron Walking Track)
- The Farm - a working farm with an AMAZING restaurant
- Surfing at The Pass (even if you lose your swim trunks)
- The Wednesday market for local products and crafts
- The Balcony Bar for sunset cocktails
The spider crisis of Sydney
After many more stops (sorry, Coffs Harbour and Newcastle, you were great too) we finally reached Sydney. We had decided to turn in our campervan here and rent an apartment for two weeks, because, well, after six weeks in a campervan we needed a real shower and a bed that didn't need to be assembled every evening.
But before we returned Dingo, we had to clean it. And that's where the Spider Incident took place. I was emptying the cupboards when I saw A HUNTSMAN SPIDER AS BIG AS MY HAND. What followed was a scene straight out of a comedy: I screamed so loudly that I think they could hear it in New Zealand, jumped out of the campervan and refused to go back.
Michael, my brave hero, tried to catch the spider with a bowl and a piece of paper. The spider, a true Australian, didn't like this at all and decided to JUMP. Yes, these things JUMP. Now we were both outside the campervan, looking through the window at the beast that had now ruined our last day in our mobile home.
Eventually, a friendly campsite manager saved us ("Ah, you've met Wallace! He's been living here for a while") and caught the spider with his BARE HANDS. Australians are a different breed of people, truly.
Sydney: where we could finally shower normally again
After the Spider Incident, we were more than ready for our apartment in Darlinghurst, a hip neighborhood just outside the center of Sydney. Two weeks in Sydney is barely enough to scratch the surface of what this city has to offer, but we did our best.
The classics (yes, we were total tourists and we're not ashamed)
Sydney Opera House: Yes, it's a cliché. Yes, it's on every postcard. And yes, it's still BREATHTAKING when you see it in person. We made the rookie mistake of trying to "casually walk by and act cool," but I couldn't contain myself and burst into a kind of hysterical squeal when I first saw it. We booked a tour of the building, which I would recommend to everyone - the architectural stories are fascinating!
Harbour Bridge: We didn't do the bridge climb (have you seen what that costs?!), but we did walk across the bridge, which is free and still offers fantastic views. Michael kept stopping for "one last photo," until I threatened to throw his phone into the harbor.
Bondi Beach: As a beach lover, I HAD to go to Bondi. It was exactly as I had imagined: beautiful, busy, and full of people who look better in swimwear than I ever will. We did the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk, which must be one of the most beautiful city walks in the world. Halfway, we stopped at a small café in Bronte Beach where we had the best avocado toast ever (sorry for such a millennial cliché, but it's true).
The hidden gems (where we felt cool and local)
Newtown: This neighborhood became our favorite place to eat. It's a kind of alternative, hipster-like area with fantastic street art and eateries from all world cuisines. We became addicted to a small Ethiopian restaurant called Alem's House where you eat with your hands and share everything. Michael got so excited about it that he tried to cook Ethiopian food in our rented apartment. Our fire alarm can confirm this was not a success.
Manly Ferry: The locals told us that the Manly Ferry is the cheapest harbor tour, and they were right. For just a few dollars, we took the ferry to Manly Beach, enjoyed the views of the harbor, and spent a fantastic day on a beach that felt less touristy than Bondi.
The Rocks Markets: We wandered around this market for hours, buying souvenirs that we absolutely couldn't fit in our suitcases (including a didgeridoo, what WERE we thinking?), and tasted local street food. I became obsessive about a stall selling handmade soap, and now our bathroom at home smells like eucalyptus and peppermint.
The Sydney fuck-ups (because we remain ourselves)
Underestimating the weather: We visited Sydney during what the locals called the "wettest week of the year." One day it rained so hard that we literally waded through ankle-deep water. Michael's shoes were so soaked that we had to blow-dry them in the apartment, which led to an interesting burning smell.
Wrong ferry terminals: It wouldn't be me if I didn't go to the wrong ferry terminal. We waited 30 minutes for a ferry that would never come, because we were at Barangaroo while we should have been at Circular Quay. Rookie mistake.
Confusing time zones when calling home: I called my mother at 3 AM Dutch time because I had calculated the time zones incorrectly. She answered in panic, thinking something terrible had happened. Sorry, mom!
Melbourne: hipster heaven (and where I raised my coffee standards forever)
After Sydney, we flew to Melbourne, because the thought of more days in a campervan made us shudder (sorry, Dingo, we loved you, but we have our limits). Melbourne and Sydney are as different as two cities in the same country can be, and I immediately fell in love with Melbourne's street art, coffee culture, and slightly cooler weather.
A caffeine crisis a day
If there's one thing you need to know about Melbourne, it's that they are OBSESSIVE about coffee. And now I am too. Every morning was a new opportunity to discover another hipster coffee shop. My favorite was Patricia Coffee Brewers, a tiny café without seating where the baristas treat your coffee like a work of art.
Michael, who normally drinks his coffee "with enough milk to make it drinkable," suddenly became a coffee snob who used words like "mouthfeel" and "finish." I have it all on video as blackmail for later.
We did a self-made coffee tour through neighborhoods like Fitzroy and Carlton, where each café has its own specialty. By the end of our time in Melbourne, I could taste the difference between coffee beans from Ethiopia and Colombia, which is both impressive and slightly disturbing.
The foodie capital of Australia
Melbourne is MADE for foodies. We tried something new every day, from dumplings in Chinatown to Italian dishes in Carlton and modern Australian fusion in hip restaurants. Highlights were:
Queen Victoria Market: We went here three times for the fresh produce, cheeses, and the American donuts (which ironically have nothing to do with America but are HEAVEN - warm jam-filled balls of happiness).
Lune Croissanterie: We stood in line at 7 AM for what many consider the best croissants in the world. Was it worth it? YES. Michael ate three in a row and called it "a religious experience."
Chin Chin: This Southeast Asian restaurant had a line outside, but the wait was worth it. We ordered so much that the server asked if we were sure we could handle it all. (We couldn't, but took the rest for a midnight snack).
Exploring outside the city
We rented a car for a few days to explore outside Melbourne:
Great Ocean Road: One of the most beautiful coastal routes in the world, and it was breathtaking despite the rainy weather. The Twelve Apostles (rock formations in the ocean) were impressive even in the mist. I tried to take artistic photos, but the best I got was Michael holding his raincoat over his head, looking like an angry turtle.
Yarra Valley: Australian wine! We did a wine tasting in the Yarra Valley and ended up with six bottles of wine that we somehow had to get home. Michael, who claims to be an "experienced wine taster," was so tipsy after the third winery that he used the spittoons as regular cups. The bus driver found it hilarious, the other tourists a little less so.
Phillip Island: We went here specifically for the Penguin Parade, where you see little penguins waddle out of the ocean at sunset. THE CUTEST THING EVER. I almost cried. Michael denies that he also got emotional, but I secretly saw him wiping his eyes.
The Melbourne peculiarities we learned to appreciate
Four seasons in one day: The locals joked about this, but it's REAL. We literally experienced sunshine, rain, cold, and heat within 24 hours. You always need to have a jacket with you, even on days that start at 30 degrees.
Tram culture: The tram network in Melbourne is amazing, and the Free Tram Zone in the center means you can travel around for free. But we quickly learned that there are unwritten rules - like that you have to hurry when getting on and off, and that you should NEVER stand in the middle of the door. A local woman gave Michael a deadly look when he did this, and he's been having nightmares about it ever since.
Street art as navigation: The graffiti in Melbourne is so good that we used it as navigation points. "Turn right at the big blue octopus" became a normal sentence in our conversations.
Perth: the underrated beauty on the west coast
After Melbourne, we flew all the way to the other side of Australia to Perth. Honestly? We had no idea what to expect. Many people skip Perth because it's so far from everything. But WOW, what a surprise!
The most isolated major city in the world
Perth feels totally different from the east coast. It's quieter, more relaxed, and has a kind of "we-don't-need-the-rest-of-Australia" vibe that we immediately loved. Plus, the beaches here? INCREDIBLE. And much less crowded than Bondi or St. Kilda.
Cottesloe Beach: Perhaps the most beautiful city beach I've ever seen. Crystal clear water, white sand, and the perfect place to watch the sunset as the sun literally sinks into the Indian Ocean. We sat here every evening with a bottle of wine and local cheese, and I almost got philosophical about how perfect life can be in such moments.
Kings Park: A huge park with views over the entire city and the Swan River. We did an aboriginal tour here that taught us more about the original culture and land use than all our school years combined. Michael became obsessed with bushtucker (native food) and tried to identify what we could eat if we ever got stranded. As if that would happen in the middle of a big city.
Elizabeth Quay: This newly developed waterfront area has cool modern architecture and bridges. We took a boat trip on the Swan River from here and saw the city from the water, which gave a completely different perspective.
Fremantle: the perfect blend of history, art and foodie culture
Fremantle (or "Freo" as the locals call it) is a port city just outside Perth and became our favorite place in the west. It has this perfect mix of historic buildings, trendy cafes, and maritime vibes.
The hippest prison you'll ever visit
The Fremantle Prison tour was one of the most fascinating things we did in Western Australia. This prison was operational until 1991 (yes, that recently!) and some parts of it are downright creepy.
We chose the "Tunnels Tour" where you actually descend into the underground tunnels that prisoners dug beneath the prison. Part of the tour is in a small boat through narrow, dark tunnels. Michael, who claims to have no claustrophobia, held my hand so tightly that I had bruises later.
Our guide, a local named Dave with a mustache that seemed to have a life of its own, told the most bizarre stories about escape attempts. My favorite: a prisoner who tried to hide himself in a large papier-mâché padlock to escape in 1960. He was discovered when he had to sneeze.
The foodie scene that bankrupted us
Fremantle Markets were our first introduction to the local food scene, and WOW. It's a large covered market where you can find everything from fresh fruit to gourmet street food. We played a game we called "extreme tasting," where we took turns choosing something the other had never tried before.
That's how I ended up eating crocodile jerky (surprisingly tasty!) and Michael tried a honeyant (literally an ant full of honey that explodes in your mouth - his face was PRICELESS).
Besides the market, we discovered a café called "Bread in Common" with homemade sourdough bread that was so good I considered smuggling a loaf home in my suitcase. We ate there three times in one week, and each time I had to stop Michael from talking to the baker about his yeast cultures. Apparently, "chatting about yeast cultures" is a thing when you've had a sourdough starter at home for three years.
Street art tour that dominated our Instagram feeds
Fremantle has a thriving street art scene, and we decided to do a self-made tour using a map we got from the tourist office. What started as "just checking out a few murals" turned into a four-hour obsessive quest to find EVERY MURAL THAT EXISTS.
We took hundreds of photos and I think my Instagram followers are still recovering from the flood of street art content I shared. My favorite work was a huge whale on the side of a building in the center, while Michael couldn't stop talking about a piece that showed a crocodile seemingly breaking through the wall.
The real highlight? We saw an artist working on a new mural and stopped to chat. She even let Michael paint a small part (a simple blue background, but still). He was so proud that he took a selfie with "his art" which he used as a profile picture until I forced him to change it because he started calling himself an "emerging street artist."
Perth: the city where we almost stayed
Perth surprised us perhaps the most of all Australian cities. We honestly didn't have super high expectations (sorry, Perth!), but it completely stole our hearts. It has this perfect balance between big-city amenities and a relaxed, almost village-like atmosphere.
The best public barbecues in the world (yes, really)
One thing we quickly learned: Australians take their public barbecues SERIOUSLY. In parks throughout Perth there are free electric barbecues that are CLEAN (I repeat: CLEAN PUBLIC BARBECUES), and locals use them constantly.
We became friends with a group of locals during a barbie in Kings Park, when Michael played the classic Dutch tourist by asking if there were "dangerous animals" in the park. They laughed so hard that they invited us to share their sausages and beer, and we ended up with an impromptu party until sunset.
One of them, a retired miner named Bruce (of course his name was Bruce), told us all about Western Australia's mining industry while expertly turning sausages as if he was a BBQ Olympian. He consistently called Michael "Mick" and me "Tulip" (because I'm Dutch, get it?), and nothing we said could convince him to use our real names.
The Swan Valley wine region - where we almost stayed
Did you know that Perth has its own wine region, just 30 minutes' drive from the center? We didn't either! The Swan Valley was a great surprise, especially because it meant we could taste wine without having to drive for hours.
We rented bikes and did the "wine bike route" along various wineries. Let me tell you: cycling and wine tasting is a DANGEROUS combination. Halfway through the second winery, Michael decided he was Dutch enough to take a "shortcut" through the vineyards, resulting in him getting stuck in the mud between the vines. The owner found it hilarious and took photos of it that, as far as we know, are still hanging in their tasting room as a warning to other tourists.
At Sandalford Wines, we got talking to the sommelier who told us that many Europeans are now moving to the region to work in the wine industry. On the way out, Michael whispered: "We could live here and MAKE WINE." For about 48 hours, our plan was to give everything up and move to Perth to grow grapes. Luckily, this idea disappeared after our next hangover.
Rottnest Island and the quokka obsession
If you go to Perth, you MUST take the ferry to Rottnest Island. This car-free island is known for two things: beautiful beaches and quokkas. Quokkas are these small marsupials that look like they're constantly smiling, and they have NO fear of humans.
Of course, we had to take the famous "quokka selfie" - they're so photogenic it's ridiculous. Michael literally spent two hours trying to get the perfect selfie, while I watched from a distance as he crawled on his stomach across the ground to get at eye level with the creatures.
We rented bikes to tour the island, and it was one of the most beautiful days of our entire trip. Crystal clear bays, white beaches, and hardly any other people. At a bay called Little Salmon Bay, we went snorkeling and saw so many colorful fish that it felt like swimming in an aquarium.
Michael got all excited about a "huge fish" he had seen, until a local told him it was "just a small baby shark." His face when he heard the word "shark" was priceless - he didn't go back in the water after that.
Our top 10 Australia moments (that aren't in travel guides)
Since this is It's Time To Adventure, and not a boring travel guide, I want to conclude with our top 10 most memorable moments that you probably won't find in a Lonely Planet:
The day Michael accidentally high-fived a kangaroo at a wildlife park in Queensland. He was trying to take a selfie, and BAM, kangaroo paw against his hand. He was so startled that he almost dropped his phone into the enclosure. The ranger couldn't stop laughing.
When we got lost in the Blue Mountains and decided we would be "adventurous" by taking a "shorter route." Three hours later, after what seemed like a survival trek, we ended up at... the parking lot where we started. Michael has refused to turn off navigation apps since, even for a 5-minute walk.
The spontaneous karaoke night in a pub in Canberra where I was persuaded to sing "Land Down Under" with a group of Australian grandmothers who were celebrating a bachelorette party. They called me "Dutch Spice" for the rest of the evening and we're still friends on Facebook.
The time we had planned a nice beach day in Noosa and were surprised by a sudden downpour, ending with us running through the streets, soaking wet, with Michael dramatically singing "I'm singing in the rain" while tourists filmed us. We're probably viral in Japan now.
Our attempt to make our own tim tams in our Airbnb in Adelaide because we had become addicted but the local supermarket was closed. The result looked more like chocolate pancakes, but we ate them all while watching Netflix.
When we spotted a whale during a ferry trip in Sydney Harbour and I got so excited that I threw my ice cream over a fancy businessman next to me. He was surprisingly nice about having vanilla ice cream on his designer suit.
The night we camped in the Outback and Michael woke up in the middle of the night, thinking there was a snake in the tent. He jumped up so fast that he tore the tent fabric. It turned out to be a sock I had taken off in my sleep. We still laugh about it (well, I laugh, he still doesn't find it funny).
Our mini-adventure with a horde of crabs on a remote beach in Western Australia. We were the only ones on the beach until... suddenly hundreds of small crabs emerged from the sand. Michael, Mr. "I'm not afraid of critters," literally jumped into my arms like in a Scooby-Doo episode.
The time we helped an older man who was lost in Melbourne and he took us to his favorite hidden gem restaurant that isn't in guides as a thank you. We ate the best Thai curry of our lives in a basement under a laundromat, and the owner treated us like family when he heard we were friends of "Uncle Barry."
The last night in Sydney when we decided to sit on the rocks by the harbor with a bottle of wine, looking at the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge, and got completely emotional about how incredible this trip had been. We made a promise there to come back for our 10-year anniversary. And maybe even stay longer someday.
What we'll miss (and what not)
While packing our suitcases (a real challenge, because how do three didgeridoos, eight bags of coffee, twelve bottles of wine, and a collection of opal jewelry fit into two suitcases?), we reflected on what we would miss most about Australia:
Things we'll miss:
- The incredible coffee everywhere, even in the smallest cafes
- The carefree "no worries" mentality
- Brunch as a national sport (avocado toast for the win!)
- The beautiful beaches that never end
- Random conversations with strangers who become friends
- Tim Tams (we literally half-filled a suitcase with these cookies)
- The safety and friendliness everywhere
Things we will NOT miss:
- The constant sunburn on Michael's forehead (sorry honey, but it became a problem)
- The price of everything (seriously, €7 for a cup of coffee?!)
- Huntsman spiders appearing out of nowhere
- The feeling of sand EVERYWHERE, even weeks after a beach visit
- The 24+ hour flight back to the Netherlands (I get nightmares thinking about it)
- People saying "how ya going?" as a greeting and then walking away while I was actually telling them how I was doing
The emotional last evening (in which we both absolutely did NOT cry)
On our last evening, we decided to go back to where our Sydney experience began: the Opera House. We booked a table at Opera Bar with a view of the harbor at sunset, ordered ridiculously expensive cocktails, and toasted to three months of adventures.
We made a list of all the places we had been, all the bizarre things we had eaten (kangaroo, crocodile, Vegemite), all the new words we had learned ("arvo," "thongs" for flip-flops, "esky" for cooler), and all the new friends we had made.
And no, we absolutely did NOT both cry a little when the lights of the Harbour Bridge came on and we realized this was the end of our Australian adventure. Those were just... um... ants in our eyes. Or something like that.
What we've learned (about travel, Australia, and ourselves)
This trip has taught us so much:
About travel:
- Slow travel is so much better than rushing from one place to another
- The best experiences come from meeting locals
- Sometimes the "mistakes" (like getting lost) are the most memorable moments
- A campervan is great, until you have rain for three days in a row
- You always need fewer clothes than you think, and more space for souvenirs
About Australia:
- It's ENORMOUS and three months is still not enough
- The reputation for deadly animals is mostly exaggerated (but those spiders are really big)
- It's a country of contrasts: deserts and rainforests, modern cities and ancient cultures
- The coffee culture is no joke, it's a national obsession
- "No worries" is more than an expression, it's a lifestyle
About ourselves:
- Michael has a hidden talent for making friends with literally EVERYONE
- I'm much more adventurous with food than I thought
- We're both surprisingly good at adapting to unexpected situations
- Traveling together has brought us closer, even when we sometimes wished we had more than 5 square meters to get away from each other
- We've both developed a deep love for Tim Tams, and that's a problem for our health
Our tips for your Australia trip
If you're considering going to Australia (and you ABSOLUTELY should), here are our top tips:
Take your time. Three weeks is the absolute minimum, and then you'll only see a fraction. Three months was perfect for us, but even then we couldn't see everything.
Rent a campervan for at least part of your trip. It gives you so much freedom and you see parts of the country you would otherwise miss. But choose one that's a bit bigger than you think you need (trust me).
Talk to locals. Australians are incredibly friendly and will give you the best tips about hidden gems that aren't in travel guides.
Be prepared for the costs. Australia is expensive, especially in the big cities. Budget more than you think you need.
Protect yourself from the sun. The Australian sun is merciless, even on cloudy days. Trust me, a sunburn that makes your eyebrows peel is NOT a good look (sorry again, Michael).
Learn the local slang. Australians have a vocabulary all their own, and it's super fun to learn to use it. Plus, locals find it hilarious when you say "g'day mate" with a Dutch accent.
Do the touristy things, but also look further. Yes, the Opera House is a must-see, but the small cafes in Surry Hills, the hidden beaches just outside the city, and the conversations with locals in a pub are what really make your trip special.
Be flexible. Our favorite experiences were often the ones we hadn't planned. That extra week in Byron Bay? Best decision ever.
Finally: is Australia worth it?
If you haven't noticed from this gigantic travel report: YES, ABSOLUTELY, 100%, WITHOUT A DOUBT.
Australia has stolen our hearts, and a piece of us has been left behind there. We're already saving for our next visit, because there's still so much we want to see: the Outback, Tasmania, Darwin, the Whitsundays... the list goes on.
So pack your bags, book that ticket, and go on an adventure in the land down under. You might see a kangaroo giving out high-fives or a boyfriend losing his swim trunks in the waves of Surfers Paradise. And if that happens, think of us and laugh just as hard as we did.
Until next time, adventurers!
Love, Merel and Michael
