
If you flip through the pages of my passport you will see that I have 6 entrance stamps for Australia and now I am going back again for the 7th time. The first time I visited Australia was in April of 2008 after meeting 30 Australians that I was stuck with on a bus for two weeks on a Contiki tour that previous winter. While there, I spent some time in Sydney and I took another Contiki tour along the East Coast of the country from Hamilton Island to Sydney and I immediately fell in love with this country that had long been a place to cross off of my bucket list.
Contiki Class Photo, I’m on the right in a green-ish hoodie.
That quick 3 week trip wasn’t enough and I found myself back again in November of 2008 where I explored more of Sydney, climbed the harbour bridge, visited the Blue mountains and the famous Jenolan Caves. On that trip I also left and visited New Zealand for 8 days and then returned giving me 2 more passport stamps. Back home the winter was getting me down and by the end of January 2009 I was back again this time getting to explore Melbourne as well as more of Sydney, I visited New Castle and celebrated Australia Day almost as if I was a true Aussie. On that trip I also spent some more time in Surfer’s Paradise where I happily got to stay in a second cousins “pricey” condo on the beach, with a friend, no complaints here.
At this point my family was curious about my obsession with this country and they flew over for a visit during this trip and I showed them around Sydney like a local. I sadly left with them and didn’t make it back again until that following February 2010 when I hung out in Sydney with friends and visited Fiji during the middle of my trip giving me my final two passport stamps for Australia.
It is now more than 2 years since I have visited Australia and I am finally going back again! Yay! The last time I went I had just begun traveling and unless you call THIS a good travel video I have never really made any “real” travel videos in Australia so this now makes me even more excited to go back.
I am planning on going around the beginning of April and visiting places I haven’t been yet like Tasmania, Perth, Alice Springs, Uluru, and even Adelaide to possible take “The Ghan” all the way to Darwin in the Northern Territories. I will be in Sydney from April 15th – May 7th happily house sitting for a friend and may go somewhere else after those dates. I’m dying to get back to Fiji… hmmm.
My big question for you is what videos would you like to see from my trip to Australia? Ideas to get you started might be a video on how many different ways can you cook and eat kangaroo? Documenting my train journey on the Ghan, a “Sydney in a Minute” video, “How to do Australia for cheap“, “How to Surf” things like that. Let me know what YOU would like to see.
Have you ever been to Australia? What is your favorite thing to do there?
30 Comments
Things I love about Australia | Cailin Travels
May 26, 2012 at 4:12 pm[…] you my more pleasant post “Things I love about Australia”. As I have said before I have been to Australia many times and of course its quite simply because I love this place (aside from the expensiveness of it), I […]
Don Faust
April 10, 2012 at 12:34 pmI would love to visit Australia! Which did you like better – Sydney or Melbourne?
Cailin
September 12, 2012 at 7:53 pmI’ve only spent 3 days in Melbourne and I’ve spent A LOT of time in Sydney so I’m partial to Sydney. I’ll have to give Melb another chance some day haha :)
Tammy
April 6, 2012 at 12:48 pmHi Cailin, I am an Aussie, living in the Whitsunday’s, I have travelled Australia extensively, and can truly say that I nowI live in paradise, Have you thought of coming back to the Whitsundays to visit the rest of the Islands, Hamilton island is the busiest of all the Islands and the islands are all so very different, and there is so much to do in Airlie beach on the mainland as well, Did you see the Great Barrier Reef and go snorkelling or diving, the Whitsundays are the closest vantage point, there is also the iconic Heart Reef and Whitehaven beach, boasting some of the whitest most pure silica sands in the world, you can Sail, take a cruise, or catch a sea plane to see them. The Whitsunday’s are famous all over the world for it’s romantic Island and Beach weddings, not surprising though, it is so picturesque and we are all so friendly here because we are so happy to be here.
Cailin
September 12, 2012 at 7:54 pmIt is such a gorgeous place and I have not spent enough time in the Whitsundays! I hope to make it back there on my next visit :)
Things I hate about Australia | Cailin Travels
April 6, 2012 at 10:35 am[…] am currently in Australian for the zillionth time and I LOVE THIS PLACE. However I’ve never found the perfect destination where there […]
Candice
April 3, 2012 at 9:29 pmWhat you DIDN’T mention is that you left me. Damn you.
Come back. :(
BUT HAVE FUN!
Cailin
April 6, 2012 at 5:38 amummmm you left me in Halifax! hahaha I’m going to have sooooo much fun :)
Andrea
April 3, 2012 at 5:49 pmSeven times! Wow – fantastic. I became an Australian citizen after living there for several years (my husband is Aussie). Still have more exploring to do though – we travelled a lot over the years but there is so much to see. HAve a great time! I highly recommend Tasmania.
Cailin
April 6, 2012 at 5:39 amThanks Andrea! I would love to marry an Aussie, let me know if he has any single brothers ;) I don’t know if I will get to Tasmania this time but I have been dying to visit there! :)
Abby
April 3, 2012 at 5:43 pmI’ve never been. :(
Cailin
April 6, 2012 at 5:39 amCome visit me! You would love it here!
Christy
April 3, 2012 at 3:05 amGeeze girl. That’s a lot of trips to OZ! I’m looking forward to some video of Tasmania.
Cailin
April 6, 2012 at 5:40 amI can promise you lots of video! Not sure if I’ll make it to Tasmania now though :(
Alexa Meisler
April 2, 2012 at 4:21 pmI would definitely go back there again and again just to see the koalas! Haha I am not surprised that you fell in love with this place because I am too and I wish I could go there more often. Great post!
Cailin
April 6, 2012 at 5:40 amthanks Alexa!
Luke
March 21, 2012 at 6:33 pmHey Cailin,
No one has mentioned the Great Ocean Road yet. That’s where I am from (now living in Canada ironically enough). The whole Vic coastline is amazing from Warrnambool to Malacoota and Melbourne is a great city for both living and visiting. Be happy to offer you some great local advise if you make your way down there.
Cheers
Luke
Cailin
April 6, 2012 at 5:41 amOooohh I have yet to do the Great Ocean road, that is on my list as well! Good one :) I’ll let you know if I make it that way I still have a week of my trip not figured out yet. :)
Audrey | That Backpacker
March 18, 2012 at 9:21 amSounds like such an exciting trip! The most I’ve ever visited one country is five times, so it sounds like Australia made quite the impression on you! I’d love to see videos from Uluru and the more remote destinations. :D
Cailin
April 6, 2012 at 5:42 amThanks Audrey! What country was it that you visited 5 times? I think I’ve been to the UK now about as many equal times as Australia now if not more and I think the US is where I’ve visited the most. :)
Christine
March 15, 2012 at 11:02 ambah JUST missed you..yet again! When are our paths going to cross??!!? But yay so excited that you’re going to Oz–hit up Tasmania! It’s incredible!
Cailin
March 15, 2012 at 11:36 pmI know Christine! Maybe we will never meet? hahaha
I hope I make it to Tasmania this time! :)
Beverley | Pack Your Passport
March 15, 2012 at 3:07 amSo excited for you!!! I’m so sad that I have to leave Australia in June – been travelling/working/living here since June 2010 but my visa runs out in 3 months :-/ Still in Sydney if you happen to be around in the next few weeks :-)
Cailin
March 15, 2012 at 11:37 pmHey Beverley! I wish I could spend as much time there as you! Someday maybe :)
I will be in Sydney for at least three weeks from April 15 – May 7 lets meet up for sure!
jan
March 14, 2012 at 10:06 pmHi Cailin, I am Australian and live in far North Queensland – further north than Hamilton Island. I think that Australia on the Cheap would be good because the only complaint I have heard about Australia by travellers is that it is expensive. Which of course it is. But there are always cheap eats, drinks, experiences and places to stay.
I have lived in Perth for two years. As Gev says it is a fantastic place, and I also love Broome as well. Darwin is good and hot! I haven’t done the Ghan trip but would like to!
One thing I have never done is eat kangaroo. My son has though and really liked it. It is a very low fat meat. But kangaroos are so cute!
Have you thought of going to Cairns and the Daintree River. Cross over the Daintree into the wilderness of Cape Tribulation. There are lots of boat trips to the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns and Port Douglas. Port Douglas is an appealing small town with a Marina full of big boats (for the Reef) and although it is very touristy has a nice vibe to it. Think Palm Trees, untouched beach, icecream, beer gardens, good food, Sunday market and reef trips!
Let me know if you come up our way (Townsville).
Cailin
March 15, 2012 at 11:43 pmThanks for the comment Jan! Great suggestions for things to do too :)
I can’t believe you haven’t eaten Kangaroo yet! I have had it more than once now. There is a place in the Rocks in Sydney called the Australian hotel and they have a delicious kangaroo pizza! Its true they are very cute though haha.
I hadn’t looked into the Daintree or Port Douglas but you are making it sound very appealing, I will let you know if I make it up that way. :)
Caroline Eubanks
March 14, 2012 at 8:49 pmSo excited for you! Wish I was still there. I didn’t make it to Tasmania, Darwin or Perth so I would love to see footage from there! Have fun girl.
Cailin
March 15, 2012 at 11:44 pmYou were there forever and you never made it to those spots? haha I need to make it to Uluru too!
Will definitely make videos of whatever I can :)
Gev
March 14, 2012 at 10:09 amI lived in Australia in total for over two years on two separate trips. Have you thought about a working holiday visa or sponsorship? So you can spend a lot of time in this wonderful country. I love Aus and we last lived in Melbourne, however it wasn’t my Australian dream. I love Western Australia, I think it has everything; sunshine, beaches, great food and drink (especially the wine region of the Margaret River), I would really recommend a trip from Perth to Broome. I saw the most amazing scenery and wildlife, it was such a highlight for me.
Two things I haven’t done is visit Tasmania and the Ghan, I can’t wait to hear about you travels, these are definitely on my list for my next trip.
You mentioned ‘Sydney in a minute’ and ‘cheap things to do’, one of my favourite things about Sydney is all the free stuff to do in this great place!
Cailin
March 15, 2012 at 11:48 pmI honestly should think about a holiday visa or sponsorship, just hasn’t fit in my schedule / plan for life yet, but I can see it happening in the next couple of years. :)
Let me know your suggestions of free and cheap things to do in Sydney :)