I don’t know why, but as much as I love Sydney, years always seem to pass between my visits to this beautiful city. Sydney was actually the reason I wanted to move to Australia in the first place. In my early twenties, I had pictures of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge all over my bedroom walls, dreaming of the day I would finally see them for myself. As soon...
Wallabies and kangaroos on the beach at sunrise… even after 20 years in Australia and more kangaroo sightings than I could possibly count, this was still something I had always wanted to see. It took me years to finally make it to Cape Hillsborough. But was it actually worth the trip? We had a long weekend and, as usual for us, long weekend = exploring somewhere new...
The Warrie Circuit is another hike that has been on our hiking wish list for years. Every time we’ve visited Springbrook National Park in the past, the trail was closed, either from heavy rain, storm damage, or ex-cyclone recovery. But persistence pays off, and after almost five years of waiting, we finally got to experience it for ourselves. Taking a Chance on the...
Carnarvon Gorge has been on our “one-day” list for way too long. You know those places that always sound amazing, but are just far enough away to make you say, “Maybe next year”? Well, this was that place but no longer. A sunrise to remember! At about 9 hours’ drive from the Sunshine Coast/Brisbane, it’s not your average weekend getaway, but that’s also part of its...
Ever since exploring the stunning Binna Burra section of Lamington National Park, I’ve been itching to visit the park’s lush Green Mountains section. While both areas are part of the same national park, visiting them in one weekend is quite a trek—so despite our best intentions, it took us a while to finally make it to O’Reilly’s. Life has a way of getting in the...
Esk is a quaint little country town in the Somerset region, which is nestled between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast. Because it’s so close to both the Wivenhoe and Somerset dams, Esk is the perfect getaway for water sports enthusiasts. But even if water sports aren’t your thing, there are plenty of other amazing things to do in the area. The beautiful scenic drive...
During our stay in Ballina over Christmas, we drove an hour south to the picturesque town of Yamba, another delightful seaside town in northern New South Wales. Set right at the mouth of the Clarence River, Yamba is a little gem that is well worth visiting. Like Ballina and Byron Bay, Yamba is known for its beautiful beaches and great surf, as well as for the...
The coastal town of Ballina is a short 30-minute drive from the famous Byron Bay. While the hipster town of Byron Bay attracts hordes of backpackers and tourists every year, Ballina is the perfect, quieter alternative. We don’t like crowds, traffic or sharing a beach with thousands of others, so Ballina was perfect for us. Basing ourselves there to explore this...
On our recent trip to Cairns, we decided it was time to finally pay a visit to Fitzroy Island, one of the islands close to the city. Fitzroy Island is one of the best things to do while visiting Cairns but somehow, even after a couple of trips up north, we still hadn’t visited it! Our state is so big, it’s hard to fit everything in! This beautiful tropical island is...
With its squeaky-clean, white sandy beaches and its sparkling-blue water, Great Keppel Island is a paradise on earth. Only a 30-minute ferry ride from the coastal town of Yeppoon, it is one of the easiest Great Barrier Reef islands to get to. It’s also one of the most affordable. Being so close to the mainland, it is the perfect island for day trips, which are easily...