Instead of bringing you another Top 10 Places post I decided to mix it up a bit this week. Seeing as I’ve been here just over 10 months I thought I’d recap and reminisce on my travels in Australia and bring you my Top 10 Things So Far – one for each month I’ve spent down under. (and yes I know there’s 11…but I did leave mid October!)
October
October was the start of my travels and I spent it in Cairns. I think the highlight here was my PADI dive course on the Great Barrier Reef. Sampling the awesome delights of Oz from the word go. But my favourite moment was partying with the Goon Room Crew in Gilligans!
November
In November I spent a month campervanning the West Coast of Australia from Mragaret River to Darwin. So many highlights here. Activity wise it was swimming in Coral Bay with the Mantas on Ningaloo Reef. Moment wise it has to be cooking on an open fire and sleeping under the stars in the middle of nowhere.
December
From Darwin I flew to Sydney for Xmas and New Year. Un surprisingly the Harbour Bridge and Opera House fireworks take the top place for my favourite activity. But again the great times I had with everyone in Room 702 at WakeUp Hostel are my favourite moments.
January
January saw the start of my campervan roadtrip an in a single month I did so much. I think the Great Ocean Road topped this chapter in my diary. It was epic. My fave moment was catching up with the Coaleys – who I hadn’t seen since they immigrated 5 years ago.
February
By February 14th I’d gone from Melbourne, via Canberra and Bondi all the way up to Byron Bay. My highlight has to be getting back in the water and surfing properly again. But the fact the partying kicked off again in the Buddah Bar and Cheeky Monkeys means my favourite moments were meeting a whole heap of new people
March
By march I’d made it as far as Noosa – and the longboard festival there was my highlight, although the Quiksilver Pro was up there too. The fact I spent ages with the lovely Ben, Sammy, Katie and Frank means epic BBQ’s were my favourite moments!
April
In April I headed back down to Byron where I’d scored press passes to the Bluesfest for me and Kez – so headliners Jack Johnson and The John Butler Trio performing topped this month. Being reunited with mantooth Nic (who I met on my first night in a hostel in Cairns) was awesome and finally surfing with is my best moment.
May
May was the month I officially began to call Byron Bay home. I scored work and accommodation and settled in. I think feeling settled for the first time in months is my favourite moment but my favourite activity was all the surfing me, Nic and Hannes had together – we were in the water as much as the swell would allow,a nd until my board smashed me in the face! The Robina roadtrip to get my hands on an iPad was sweet too!
June
June activity was the epic Toga party me and Kerri had for our birthday – it wins hands down. But my favourite moment was picking the little brother up from Brisbane airport after he flew out to come visit, the first family I’d seen in months, although Jimmy coming out too was a close second!
July
July was dominated by surfing with my brother and Jonesey, which are easily my favourite moments. And I think the mini roadtrips we had are my favourite activities too – Broken Head, The Pass, only short but awesomely sweet. Getting my hands on my new iPhone is up there though!
August
August was pretty mellow, a lot of friends I’d met and lived with in Byron left for home or future travels. My favourite activity was jumping out of a plane with my bro and Jonesey – my second skydive but still thrilling as ever! I think my favourite moments are all the good time sI’ve had in this town – the parties, the BBQ’s, the surf. Byronian living is beautiful.
