oceania
5 MUST HAVE EXPERIENCES WHEN TRAVELLING THE NORTH ISLAND IN NZ.
Sunday, 8 March 2020
New Zealand had been high on my list for a long time, although being from Gibraltar means that it isn't the easiest or cheapest place to get to. But after doing a working holiday in Australia, planning a trip to the neighbouring country suddenly seemed a lot more doable. I spent 10 days travelling around the North Island of New Zealand with the help of skip bus. Stopping in Auckland, Rotorua, Taupo and finally the capital, Wellington. These were my favourite 'must do' experiences.
1. Hobbiton Movie Set (Rotorua)
Probably the most visited attraction in the whole of New Zealand, is the Lord of The Rings and The Hobbit movie set. The attraction is in Matamata but there are tours running from Auckland and Rotorua and tickets are priced at $84NZD (£40). This includes transfers to the site and a guided tour around The Shire. Between us, I've only ever seen the first LODR movie so me and my friends just watched the trailers to the rest of the franchise films the night before.
2. White Water Rafting (Rotorua)
This was super fun aside from the 2 minutes I got stuck in a rapid and my life flashed before my eyes. I'd never gone rafting before so I wasn't quite sure what to expect, apart from there was a high chance of us falling into water, in January. The team at Kaitiaki Adventures were so much fun and full of energy and it definitely added to the whole experience. We got to slide down the world's highest commercially wafter 7m waterfall, and none of us fell out of the raft! (the same can't be said for everyone).
3. Tongariro Alpine Crossing (Taupo)
Doing this trek first made Mount Batur in Bali seem like a walk in the park. This trek isn't for everyone, it's challenging and cold but the views are amazing. We made the stupid mistake of only bringing a t-shirt and jumper and forgot to factor in that the top of the mountain was going to be significantly colder. We were walking so fast to warm ourselves up that the 0 degrees temperature didn't hit us as hard. The track is 19.4km long and takes around 6 hours to complete. The best time to visit is between November and April, otherwise you'll need alpine skills to combat the snow, ice and sub-zero temperatures (definitely not for me).
Even if you're not the fittest, you are given plenty of time to complete the hike at your own pace, as you're picked up at 5am. Just make sure you bring at least 1.5 litres of water, layers, a ham sandwich (never has the reward of a ham sandwich tasted so good) and waterproofs.
4. Bungy Jumping (Taupo)
Some people go on holiday to relax by the pool or get a massage done, and others voluntarily throw themselves off a cliff. I don't know if I would have been able to do it if the jump was over ground, instead it was over Waikato River. It's a 47m jump which you can do by yourself or tandem, and although their website states that you can 'touch the water with your fingers' I was dunked like a doughnut. As you can imagine the video was quite entertaining for my friends and family to watch. I think the scariest part was actually jumping off the edge, I felt like Wendy when she's made to walk the plank in Peter Pan but then once that's over you kind of want to get up there and do it again. The Taupo Bungy costs $185NZD.
5. Eat ice cream (Auckland)
I'm not talking about a regular scoop of ice-cream - this is a unique, overpriced and gluttonous experience. Giapo's serves a range of unique ice-cream flavours and there's a variety of ways to have it. Including on a weird octopus chocolate cone, a set of lips and on a 'selfie' cone. There's usually a queue for this place, as once you're in you're talked through the process and get to sample all 12 flavours before you choose which one you'd like to go for. I chose the 'hokey pokey' flavour which is unique to NZ (vanilla ice cream with honeycomb pieces) and had it 'a little bit melted'.
Which of these activities would be up your street? If you've been to New Zealand, what were some of your favourite things to do?
G
TRAVELLING THE EAST COAST WITH GREYHOUND AUSTRALIA.
Wednesday, 8 January 2020
I'm currently sat in the common room at my hostel in Sydney after taking a 13 hour overnight coach from Byron Bay. Since I've still got a good 5 hours until I can check-in, I thought it would be a good time to pour a cup of coffee and start writing about my trip so far. If you follow me on this blog or on my socials, you'll probably know I spent 10 months living in Brisbane, and last week set off on a two week east coast trip from Cairns down to Sydney. I've been very lucky to be able to collaborate with Greyhound Australia who got me across the country in one piece. If you're currently planning your east coast trip and looking for tips, things to do and where to stay, look no further.
Transport
So the easiest way to travel around the east coast of Australia (and some of Northern Territory) is with the Greyhound coach service. I flew from Brisbane to Cairns and then over 8 coach trips have made my way down to Sydney. I was gifted a 15 day Whimit pass which gave me unlimited travel on their coaches within 15 days, in any direction. I was very lucky to have two seats to myself 90% of the time. The longest trip I did was 13 hours and I expected it to be a lot worse to be honest! The coach departed at 7:30pm and I tried to stay awake until 11pm and then sleep overnight just as I would on a bed. With the help of my melatonin tablets, my neck cradle pillow and eye mask it was quite a smooth journey. The coaches are air conditioned, have free Wi-Fi (admittedly a bit on the slow side) and the seats are spacious. If you're going to be making a lot of stops on your trip I'd definitely recommend getting a Whitmit pass as it works out more cost effective than buying individual trips.
To make things easier, here's a map of the main stops Greyhound makes. Don't let the closeness in dots trick you, as some journeys will still be 9 hours! My journey took me from Cairns - Townsville (Magnetic Island) - Airlie Beach - Agnes Water - Hervey Bay - Noosa (different trip) - Byron Bay - Sydney.
* I received a complimentary stay at Gilligan's Resort for review.
Breakfast at Caffeind - try the chilli eggs or homemade banana and walnut bread which comes with caramelised banana, coconut gelato and coconut caramel sauce.
Lunch at Gilligan's - they offer $5 meals (and they're big portions too).
Dinner at Moku Bar & Grill - for some insta-worthy plates and a varied selection of seafood and meat. It's located in the Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort so the views are pretty good too.
Great Barrier Reef Dive - There are tons of companies offering trips out to the Great Barrier Reef and they can range from $150 - $400. If you're paying to go out there then I 100% recommend doing a dive, as you won't see half as much if you must go snorkelling. I booked mine through Visit Cairns and they have a variety of tours on their website for all budgets.
So story time, I'm not usually someone who gets seasick, but man this had to be the worst 3 hour boat journey of my life (and I did the blue lagoon ferry trip in Malta when I was hangover and running on two hours sleep). I'm not sure if it was the waves, or that my stomach was feeling a bit fragile that morning but I threw up a total of 5 times on the day, not fun. That aside, the scuba diving was an insane experience. Breathing through a tube underwater takes some getting used to and your ears can get a bit painful as you descend but 100% worth it. Make sure you do some research into the area the boat goes to, as some will be 'prettier' than others.
Daintree Rainforest - The Daintree rainforest is the oldest rainforest in the world, and it's only 2 hours away from Cairns. I recommend booking a day tour like this Daintree Wilderness tour which will guide you through all the different environments in the rainforest, includes a tropical lunch and a cruise along the river.
If you have spent the weekend partying it up in Cairns, then Magnetic Island is the perfect place to unwind. I slept in a Bungalow and I had the nicest day just chilling on a hammock by the pool reading, getting to know the animals and waking up to two Wallaby's outside my door in the morning. Bungalow Bay has its own wildlife sanctuary so you don't have to go far to cuddle a koala! My Bungalow came with a double bed, a fan, a fridge and tea and coffee making facilities. There's a communal kitchen, bathrooms and a pool on site.
Free Wi-Fi
in reception area ✔️
Breakfast at The Early Bird - filled with all your usual healthy goodies, avocado toast, acai bowls and power smoothies.
Lunch at Cafe Nourish - like the name suggests, this cafe is filled with clean meals and has plenty of vegan options.
Dinner at Sandi's - located along the beach so it's a great place to watch the sunset. Good seafood!
Wildlife tour - Bungalow Bay offers daily wildlife tours where you get the chance to learn about Australia's animals and get to cuddle a koala (the one I met was called Pebbles, cute). I also learnt that Wombats can kill Dingos with their butts, pretty awesome.
Hire a Topless car - I don't have a drivers license so couldn't do this myself, but you'll see these little cars scattered around the island. They're definitely the quickest and most stylish way to get around the island!
So Base was my first shared dorm experience on this trip, and what are the chances that after booking into a 6 bed room, I was the only one in it. My first thought was, omg I'm going to spend Christmas Day alone. Luckily I met a lovely bunch of people in the pool area and spent most of my 3 days with them there. The beds were comfy, clean and there were large lockers provided in each room. The room also had an en-suite bathroom, so no long walks to the shower with all your toiletries. If you're looking to make friends on your trip, this is the hostel for you.
Breakfast at Cafe One 3 - great coffee and range of breakfast options
Lunch at Bohemian Raw Cafe - I was craving an acai bowl and walked 15 minutes up hill in the heat to get to this place, but it was worth it!
Dinner at Boaty's - this pub belongs to Base backpackers and they offer an $18 meal deal which gets you a meal and an alcoholic drink!
Lagoon - from what I heard it isn't really recommended to go swimming in the sea, but Airlie do have a lagoon in the town that's free to go swimming at.
For some bizarre reason, I thought it would be ok to arrive in Agnes Water at 6am, head to the beach all day and then get the next bus at 9pm to Hervey Bay. Luckily my brain realised that that would be an awful idea, especially since it was raining during the morning. So I booked a bed for the day and it was great to catch up on sleep and chat with other travellers. There was definitely a very friendly 'hippy' vibe here and everyone was so welcoming. The hostel offered breakfast and dinner for $5 each, cooked by one of the people staying there.
This was the part of the trip I was dreading because my bus got in at 1am, and I was already imagining the difficulty of getting into my bunk bed and doing the sheets in darkness and as silent as I could. I ended up getting to the hostel at 2:30am because the only taxi company in Hervey Bay took an hour and a half to come pick me up, even though I pre-booked it. Anyway, once I got to the hostel everything went smoothly. There was an envelope waiting for me in the postbox with the key and instructions, and even though I got a top bunk I managed. I practically spent no money here as breakfast was free and in the evening one of the staff members informed me they were having a free 'sausage sizzle'.
This was probably the best hostel location wise, as the main beach was literally attached to the back of the hostel. We stayed in a 4 bed shared dorm and the bathrooms and showers were just one door down from us. The hostel is a 5-10 minute walk from all the shops and cafes in Byron and also has its own restaurant, pool area and volleyball court.
Breakfast at Safya Cafe - good coffee, good avocado toast, what else do you need?
Lunch at Orgasmic cafe - I can confirm, their hummus plate with pita bread was orgasmic.
Dinner at Elixiba - as you can expect in Byron, it is filled with vegan and GF cafe options. The whole menu in Elixiba is plant based. Me and my friend shared the coco-mari tacos and the raw enchiladas and they did not disappoint.
Nimbin - Nimbin is the 'green' capital of Australia, if you get my drift. It's filled with colourful shops, cookies, little boutique stores and a lot of hemp coffee shops. We went with Happy Coach which cost us $55. We had a couple of stops along the way and lunch was included, our guide Princess Fiona was fab and provided all of the happy tunes on the coach tide.
Lunch at Speedos Cafe - make sure to stop here when you're in the Bondi area. Their menu is very instagram-able and it took me a good 10 minutes to decide between the caramelised banana and chia pancakes, the blue bliss bowl and the pitaya chia pot. In the end I went with the latter and it was delicious.
Dinner at Hotel CBD Bar - Australia hasn't got many signature dishes of it's own, but it does pride itself on making a good meat pie. So I opted for the meat pie with mashed potatoes and mushroom gravy and it was sooo goood.
Coogee to Bondi walk - we ended up doing this on the hottest day on our trip, which was great for our tanning and jumping into the water at Bondi. Not so great when you're walking for an hour and a half up and down hills and steps. It was a very pleasant walk and there are a few other nice beaches to stop off along the way, and some will be less crowded than Bondi!
The Rocks markets - on the weekends The Rocks puts on a market full of independent stores and food stalls. Me and Caia got lovely matching necklaces there.
Mrs Macquarie's for best view of Opera House and Sydney Bridge - to get here you walk through the botanical gardens, and when we got there we were sat on a bench looking at the view thinking, wow we're actually in Sydney. If you'd like to get in the photo, they will look very small in the background so just walk round towards the Opera House and you'll get some good, less crowded photo spots.
The Grounds of Alexandria - another instagram spot for you ladies. The cafe here is in a sort of observatory filled with pretty plants and flowers.
Manly - a lot of people say they prefer this beach to Bondi as it tends to be a lot less crowded. You can catch the ferry from Circular Quay and it will cost you around $10.
Visit the free museums - both the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Art Gallery are free to enter and so are most of the exhibitions. They're also within a 20 minute walk of each other.
The Route
To make things easier, here's a map of the main stops Greyhound makes. Don't let the closeness in dots trick you, as some journeys will still be 9 hours! My journey took me from Cairns - Townsville (Magnetic Island) - Airlie Beach - Agnes Water - Hervey Bay - Noosa (different trip) - Byron Bay - Sydney.
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| Photo Credit |
CAIRNS
Where to Stay: Gilligan's Hotel and Resort
Can you believe I went to one of Australia's biggest party hostels and didn't party? In between my flight being 4 hours delayed and arriving to Cairns at 11pm, and then my sea sickness dilemma the day after I think I was pretty satisfied with just having a good rest and a cup of tea. I had my own private deluxe room and I was surprised by how modern it was. Gilligan's offers shared dorms but if you're travelling in a couple or fancy your space then booking into a private room means you get your privacy but also all the social aspects of a hostel. If you are planning on partying then Gilligans nightclub is two steps from the hostel, and there are also a ton of other activities going on in the hostel every day.
Free Breakfast ✔️
Free Wi-Fi ✔️
Free Shuttle from airport ✔️
Free Shuttle from airport ✔️
* I received a complimentary stay at Gilligan's Resort for review.
Where to Eat:
Lunch at Gilligan's - they offer $5 meals (and they're big portions too).
Dinner at Moku Bar & Grill - for some insta-worthy plates and a varied selection of seafood and meat. It's located in the Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort so the views are pretty good too.
What to Do:
Great Barrier Reef Dive - There are tons of companies offering trips out to the Great Barrier Reef and they can range from $150 - $400. If you're paying to go out there then I 100% recommend doing a dive, as you won't see half as much if you must go snorkelling. I booked mine through Visit Cairns and they have a variety of tours on their website for all budgets.
So story time, I'm not usually someone who gets seasick, but man this had to be the worst 3 hour boat journey of my life (and I did the blue lagoon ferry trip in Malta when I was hangover and running on two hours sleep). I'm not sure if it was the waves, or that my stomach was feeling a bit fragile that morning but I threw up a total of 5 times on the day, not fun. That aside, the scuba diving was an insane experience. Breathing through a tube underwater takes some getting used to and your ears can get a bit painful as you descend but 100% worth it. Make sure you do some research into the area the boat goes to, as some will be 'prettier' than others.
Daintree Rainforest - The Daintree rainforest is the oldest rainforest in the world, and it's only 2 hours away from Cairns. I recommend booking a day tour like this Daintree Wilderness tour which will guide you through all the different environments in the rainforest, includes a tropical lunch and a cruise along the river.
Practical Advice:
- If you are planning on scuba diving, make sure you're not planning on flying for 48 hours after. As the pressure could mess with your little ears!
TOWNSVILLE (MAGNETIC ISLAND)
Where to Stay: Bungalow Bay Koala Village
If you have spent the weekend partying it up in Cairns, then Magnetic Island is the perfect place to unwind. I slept in a Bungalow and I had the nicest day just chilling on a hammock by the pool reading, getting to know the animals and waking up to two Wallaby's outside my door in the morning. Bungalow Bay has its own wildlife sanctuary so you don't have to go far to cuddle a koala! My Bungalow came with a double bed, a fan, a fridge and tea and coffee making facilities. There's a communal kitchen, bathrooms and a pool on site.
Free Wi-Fi
in reception area ✔️
* I received a complimentary stay at Bungalow Bay for review.
Where to Eat:
Breakfast at The Early Bird - filled with all your usual healthy goodies, avocado toast, acai bowls and power smoothies.
Lunch at Cafe Nourish - like the name suggests, this cafe is filled with clean meals and has plenty of vegan options.
Dinner at Sandi's - located along the beach so it's a great place to watch the sunset. Good seafood!
What to Do:
Wildlife tour - Bungalow Bay offers daily wildlife tours where you get the chance to learn about Australia's animals and get to cuddle a koala (the one I met was called Pebbles, cute). I also learnt that Wombats can kill Dingos with their butts, pretty awesome.
Hire a Topless car - I don't have a drivers license so couldn't do this myself, but you'll see these little cars scattered around the island. They're definitely the quickest and most stylish way to get around the island!
Practical Advice:
- Where the Greyhound coach drops you off, you will find the ferry terminal in Townsville to Magnetic Island. If you buy your ticket online in advance you will save $4.
AIRLIE BEACH
Where to Stay: Base Backpackers
So Base was my first shared dorm experience on this trip, and what are the chances that after booking into a 6 bed room, I was the only one in it. My first thought was, omg I'm going to spend Christmas Day alone. Luckily I met a lovely bunch of people in the pool area and spent most of my 3 days with them there. The beds were comfy, clean and there were large lockers provided in each room. The room also had an en-suite bathroom, so no long walks to the shower with all your toiletries. If you're looking to make friends on your trip, this is the hostel for you.
Lockers in room ✔️
Free Wi-Fi ✔️
Where to Eat:
Breakfast at Cafe One 3 - great coffee and range of breakfast options
Lunch at Bohemian Raw Cafe - I was craving an acai bowl and walked 15 minutes up hill in the heat to get to this place, but it was worth it!
Dinner at Boaty's - this pub belongs to Base backpackers and they offer an $18 meal deal which gets you a meal and an alcoholic drink!
What to Do:
Sail the Whitsundays - the main reason people stop at Airlie is to get the boat to Whitsundays from the port. The most common trip for backpackers is to do a 1 or 2 night tour and you spend most of your time on the boat dancing and drinking. Since I was doing this trip by myself I didn't want to take the risk of being sat in the corner of the boat by myself with a drink and throwing up over the boat. So instead I went for the half day tour to Whitehaven beach and admittedly it was a bit rushed, I could have stayed there for a good 5 hours and we only got 1 and a half on the beach.Lagoon - from what I heard it isn't really recommended to go swimming in the sea, but Airlie do have a lagoon in the town that's free to go swimming at.
Practical Advice:
- If you're looking to see the iconic Whitsundays 'swirls' of sand and sea then make sure you book on to the full-day tour, as you won't have time to see it on a half-day tour *cries*.
AGNES WATER
Where to Stay: Backpackers at 1770
For some bizarre reason, I thought it would be ok to arrive in Agnes Water at 6am, head to the beach all day and then get the next bus at 9pm to Hervey Bay. Luckily my brain realised that that would be an awful idea, especially since it was raining during the morning. So I booked a bed for the day and it was great to catch up on sleep and chat with other travellers. There was definitely a very friendly 'hippy' vibe here and everyone was so welcoming. The hostel offered breakfast and dinner for $5 each, cooked by one of the people staying there.
Lockers in room ✔️
Free Wi-Fi in reception (500mb per day) ✔️
What to Do:
Surf - the beach at 1770 is pretty good if you want to try your hand at surfing. The hostel I stayed at allowed you to rent a surfboard for $15 which is a pretty good deal.
Skydive - I didn't quite pluck up the courage to do this (or have the money for it) but Agnes Water is a great place to skydive as you'll get views of the Fraser Coast and the Great Barrier Reef. You can get a skydiving deal for $299.
Surf - the beach at 1770 is pretty good if you want to try your hand at surfing. The hostel I stayed at allowed you to rent a surfboard for $15 which is a pretty good deal.
Skydive - I didn't quite pluck up the courage to do this (or have the money for it) but Agnes Water is a great place to skydive as you'll get views of the Fraser Coast and the Great Barrier Reef. You can get a skydiving deal for $299.
Practical Advice:
- Agnes Water (1770) is a more chilled out spot. I wouldn't recommend spending more than 1 night here unless you really need to replenish your body and just do nothing for a couple of days.
HERVEY BAY (FRASER ISLAND)
Where to Stay: Flashpackers Hervey Bay
This was the part of the trip I was dreading because my bus got in at 1am, and I was already imagining the difficulty of getting into my bunk bed and doing the sheets in darkness and as silent as I could. I ended up getting to the hostel at 2:30am because the only taxi company in Hervey Bay took an hour and a half to come pick me up, even though I pre-booked it. Anyway, once I got to the hostel everything went smoothly. There was an envelope waiting for me in the postbox with the key and instructions, and even though I got a top bunk I managed. I practically spent no money here as breakfast was free and in the evening one of the staff members informed me they were having a free 'sausage sizzle'.
Lockers in room ✔️
Free Breakfast ✔️
Free Breakfast ✔️
Free Wi-Fi ✔️
Free Greyhound pick-up and drop-off ✔️
Free Greyhound pick-up and drop-off ✔️
* I received a complimentary night stay at Flashpacker's for review.
What to Do:
Fraser Island - again the main reason people go to Harvey Bay is to access Fraser Island. I was pressed for time so only did a day tour, and whilst most backpackers do a 2 night trip and end up meeting lots of other young folk and drinking. I ended up in a small coach with a family of 10 Slovenians with 6 loud children. I did meet a very friendly elderly couple though who shared a few interesting stories with me. The skies were pretty grey but Lake McKenzie was still beautiful.
Practical Advice:
- If possible try and plan your trip so your greyhound arrives into Hervey Bay before 11pm. My bus got in at 1am and I was left waiting at the stop in the dark for an hour and a half for my taxi to arrive even though I had pre booked it. The reviews seemed to say they had had similar experiences. Sadly this is the only taxi company in Hervey Bay so you don't have much choice but to wait.
BYRON BAY
Where to Stay: Backpackers Inn on the Beach
This was probably the best hostel location wise, as the main beach was literally attached to the back of the hostel. We stayed in a 4 bed shared dorm and the bathrooms and showers were just one door down from us. The hostel is a 5-10 minute walk from all the shops and cafes in Byron and also has its own restaurant, pool area and volleyball court.
Lockers in room ✔️
Free Wi-Fi ✔️
Where to Eat:
Breakfast at Safya Cafe - good coffee, good avocado toast, what else do you need?
Lunch at Orgasmic cafe - I can confirm, their hummus plate with pita bread was orgasmic.
Dinner at Elixiba - as you can expect in Byron, it is filled with vegan and GF cafe options. The whole menu in Elixiba is plant based. Me and my friend shared the coco-mari tacos and the raw enchiladas and they did not disappoint.
What to Do:
Byron Bay Lighthouse - my dumb self thought we could walk from Byron Bay up to the Lighthouse, which would have probably taken us 2 and a half hours. Luckily one of us drove up and then we walked around the area and down to the edge of the cliffs. It does give some great views of Byron.Nimbin - Nimbin is the 'green' capital of Australia, if you get my drift. It's filled with colourful shops, cookies, little boutique stores and a lot of hemp coffee shops. We went with Happy Coach which cost us $55. We had a couple of stops along the way and lunch was included, our guide Princess Fiona was fab and provided all of the happy tunes on the coach tide.
Practical Advice:
- When having cookies, always listen to what the chef recommends.
SYDNEY
Where to Stay: Asylum Seekers Backpackers
When finding somewhere to stay in Sydney for 5 nights, I expected to pay anything starting from $200, even in hostels. After a bit of searching the world wide web, I came across Asylum Hostels and we paid a total of $160 each for 5 nights. The hostel is small and in a heritage building, so you really get a home away from home feeling. The staff are friendly and you get used to seeing the same faces at breakfast every morning. The hostel is on the more peaceful side, and they have 3 dogs on the premises (one being a rescue dog) and they encourage guests to take them for a walk if you want to. The hostel is a 2 minute walk from Kings Cross train station, and Coles and Woolworths are also a stones throw away. The room with a fan got quite hot, so if they have availability in the air conditioned room, go for this!
Lockers in room ✔️
Free Wi-Fi ✔️
Free Breakfast ✔️
Free Breakfast ✔️
Where to Eat:
Breakfast at Oracle - we had originally planned to go to Joseph Hyde but ended up here instead. They're both located on a narrow alley way on Llankelly Place so you've got a couple of options there. I had eggs Benedict whilst my friend had the overloaded croissant with scrambled eggs and bacon.Lunch at Speedos Cafe - make sure to stop here when you're in the Bondi area. Their menu is very instagram-able and it took me a good 10 minutes to decide between the caramelised banana and chia pancakes, the blue bliss bowl and the pitaya chia pot. In the end I went with the latter and it was delicious.
Dinner at Hotel CBD Bar - Australia hasn't got many signature dishes of it's own, but it does pride itself on making a good meat pie. So I opted for the meat pie with mashed potatoes and mushroom gravy and it was sooo goood.
What to Do:
Free walking tour of Sydney - whenever I travel to any new city I always check to see if they offer any free walking tours, as they're a great way to get your bearings and learn a bit of history behind the landmarks that you're looking at (and burn off all the extra calories you've been eating). The I'm Free tour takes you from Town Hall all the way to Circular Quay, and our guide Aida made the tour interesting and entertaining. Note the tour is free but you are expected to tip something.Coogee to Bondi walk - we ended up doing this on the hottest day on our trip, which was great for our tanning and jumping into the water at Bondi. Not so great when you're walking for an hour and a half up and down hills and steps. It was a very pleasant walk and there are a few other nice beaches to stop off along the way, and some will be less crowded than Bondi!
The Rocks markets - on the weekends The Rocks puts on a market full of independent stores and food stalls. Me and Caia got lovely matching necklaces there.
Mrs Macquarie's for best view of Opera House and Sydney Bridge - to get here you walk through the botanical gardens, and when we got there we were sat on a bench looking at the view thinking, wow we're actually in Sydney. If you'd like to get in the photo, they will look very small in the background so just walk round towards the Opera House and you'll get some good, less crowded photo spots.
The Grounds of Alexandria - another instagram spot for you ladies. The cafe here is in a sort of observatory filled with pretty plants and flowers.
Manly - a lot of people say they prefer this beach to Bondi as it tends to be a lot less crowded. You can catch the ferry from Circular Quay and it will cost you around $10.
Visit the free museums - both the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Art Gallery are free to enter and so are most of the exhibitions. They're also within a 20 minute walk of each other.
Practical Advice:
- You can use your debit or credit card to tap on and off when using the public transport in Sydney (trains and buses). Just make sure you use the same card throughout the day as after a certain amount it will cap off, so the rest of your trips will be 'free'. I believe the amount is $16 on weekdays and $3 on Sundays.
- If you're getting the train to the airport, you can pay half the price by getting the train 1 stop earlier to Mascot, and then take a bus from there to the airport.
I've also got travel guides for Brisbane, Melbourne and Surfers Paradise (Gold Coast). I also recommend stopping by Noosa, we spent a weekend there and the vibe was great. If you have any questions for any of these places just drop me a message or email!
G
10 ALTERNATIVE THINGS TO DO IN BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA.
Tuesday, 3 December 2019
My 10 months in Brisbane will be shortly coming to an end, and I thought now would be a good time to share with you guys what my favourite activities and ways to spend time in the city have been. Granted, Brisbane hasn't got a lot of things to do and see, but there is no shortage of good places to eat in Brisbane, nightclubs and bars, and alternative things to do with your time whilst you are exploring the city. So here it is, 10 alternative things to do whilst you are in Brisbane.
1. Kayak down the Brisbane river.
This is such a great experience and you don't really need any experience to do it. I used to row and somehow I kayaked all the way up the river with my oar upside down, so my arms were definitely aching for the next 3 days! Riverlife offer a range of activities along the Brisbane river and I experienced the 'paddle and dip' one. We saw the sunset over the city which was beautiful, and then after an hour and a half of kayaking the group had some drinks and dips on a marquee by the river. 100% recommend!
* I received this activity on a complimentary basis for review
* I received this activity on a complimentary basis for review
2. Have a sunday session on a YOT.
Sunday sesh's are a big thing in Australia - because who cares if you're hungover at work on a Monday? The YOT Club host a series of classy boat parties along the Brisbane river during the spring and summer months. I worked at a similar boat (different company) as a VIP waitress and it was so much fun just wish I could have been on the partying side of things!
3. See how much food you can stomach at EatStreet.
Everytime I come here I say I'm just going to pick one thing. I end up having my meal, plus a sample honey donut, bubble tea and a marshmallow and fruit stick. This place is only open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays but it's definitely worth a visit. There are over 50 stalls and there's also live music and shows.
4. Start your night with some crazy golf and cocktails.
Holey Moley is Brisbane's crazy gold and cocktail bar in Fortitude Valley. So it's a great place to start your night if you want to venture into one of the clubs nearby after! This was actually my first time put put-ing and admittedly, I sucked. Maybe because I was three cocktails in or because my hand eye coordination is just terrible.
5. Find some second hand gems at a suitcase rummage.
My only regret is that I didn't sign up for this myself before it sold out, because I have accumulated a lot of stuff that I don't really want to take back home with me! The Suitcase Rummage takes place in Brisbane City the first and third Sunday of every month, and it's exactly what it sounds like. People bring their clothes, shoes, books, jewellery etc that they no longer want, in a suitcase to sell. You'll also find a lot of small businesses too selling their handmade crafts.
6. Go on a pub crawl with other backpackers.
If you read my other travel guides then you'll be used to this by now as 9/10 times I always add a pub crawl to the list! If you're not a drinker or like socialising with random people then go ahead and move on to number 9. If you are, Base Backpackers put on a Pub crawl every Thursday at 7pm that takes you to several bars and then their own nightclub Downunder Bar (definitely an experience in itself). I actually met one of my best friends here at one of the pub crawls!
7. Have a very instagramable picnic on Kangaroo point.
Kangaroo Point has one of the most picturesque views of the city - especially at sunset! There are lot of electric bbq's set up along the area so all you need to do is bring the food and drinks. If you fancy something a bit more special, then Picnic Co set up beautiful picnic spreads for all occasions, and they can be customised depending on your preferences.
8. Have a swim at Streets Beach.
To get to a decent beach in Brisbane you'll have to drive for an hour or more to get to Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast. Or you could walk across the bridge from the CBD and go for a swim at Street Beach, Southbank's 'fake beach' complete with sand and a pool. It can get pretty crowded on the weekend so make sure you get there early. It's pretty interesting being on a beach but still seeing all the skyscrapers behind it!
9. Watch a free comedy show at the Powerhouse.
To be honest this is something I wish I would have done more of whilst I was here, because I really enjoyed myself. Every Friday the Brisbane Powerhouse put on a free stand up comedy show, and well some of the acts are pretty funny.
10. Have a tour of Brisbane on an electronic longboard.
Since you are just visiting, I guess you should go and check out some of the sights hey? If walking is too boring for you, then try exploring the city on an electronic longboard with EskateAU. They offer a River City Tour and a Park Adventure, or you can customise your ride! The group size is pretty small (up to 4) so you get a personal experience too.
Have you ever been to Brisbane? Which one of these activities is most up your street?
G
A FIRST TIMER'S GUIDE TO THE FIJI ISLANDS.
Wednesday, 4 September 2019
Fiji is one of those places that I never thought I'd actually get round to visiting. It's just so far away from Europe and I don't think I could have justified spending £1000 on flights just to go relax on a beach. Luckily, me currently living in Australia means a birthday trip to Fiji only set me back $500 (flights and accommodation) and there are always a couple of ways to cut costs when travelling. I've met lots of Australians who take yearly trips here as it's only a short 3 hour flight away. If like me this will be your first time visiting the archipelago of more than 300 islands, here's my advice on where to stay, what to do and of course, where to eat!
NADI
When you're flying into Fiji you will most likely arrive at Nadi International Airport, which is a short 10 minute drive to the centre of Nadi and where you will find most of the hotels. I'd recommend staying in Nadi 2 nights and having that as your base for your excursions and tours.
Where to Stay
Budget - Bamboo Backpackers
We stayed here on our last night in Fiji and we were pleasantly surprised. We opted for a private bunk bed room with a shared bathroom (as we were getting up at 5am) but the hostel also offers shared dormitory rooms. The hostel is located right on the beach, and hosts kava ceremonies every evening. The hostels restaurant is backpacker price friendly and was probably one of the best meals I had in Fiji.
3 Star - Mercure Nadi
We started our trip off here and we were in a great location (Queens Road) where you'll find an abundance of restaurants and Fiji's best nightlife. The hotel features pools, hammocks and its own on site restaurant. I thought the piña colada toiletries in the bedrooms were a nice touch. What I wasn't a fan of was that the restaurant/bar didn't have a happy hour!!
Luxury - First Landing
I say luxury, but this resort was actually quite affordable. Our driver took us here for a quick look before we carried on with our tour as it's the location where the first man stood on the land. The resort has its own private beach, and a happy hour!!
What to Do
Garden of the Sleeping Giant
So we actually skipped this because plants bore me we planned to go on Sunday and the gardens actually close at 12pm then and we woke up too late. If you are a flora and fauna fan, then this garden features over 2000 types of orchids and plants. It gets its name because if you look at the area from far away, it looks like you guessed it, a sleeping giant.
Mud Pools
Next to the gardens you will find two mud pool areas you can visit. Sabeto being the newest establishment, and Tifajek being the original. Our driver took us to Tifajek as he told us it was slightly cheaper, and better in his opinion. You cover yourself with mud from head to toe, then move from pool to pool (hot to less hot) washing away the clay and then come out feeling like a goddess.
Have a boogie
We didn't plan on having a night out, but once our driver hyped us up about Ed's Bar we thought, yolo it's my birthday weekend. This place is popular with locals and tourists alike, although the place didn't start getting busy until 12pm, so you should go have a few drinks at The Bounty Bar first.
Visit a Fijian Village (and go chasing waterfalls)
This was probably my favourite part of the trip. We booked a tour through Viator with Discover Fiji Tours that included a visit to a Fijian village, swimming in a waterfall and river rafting. We were picked up in a small coach at 6am and it took 3 hours to reach our destination (don't worry you get a toilet break!). We first took a boat ride to the waterfalls where some of the more adventurous members of the group jumped about (I wasn't feeling as brave as when I was canyoneering in the Philippines). We then head back through a raft and our guide explained to us this is how their ancestors used to travel along the river.
After we head to the village and our guide was incredible - him and the people from the village made us feel so welcome, and he was really funny. We were treated to a kava ceremony, danced with them, had the children of the village sing a few songs for us and best of all, had an amazing typical Fijian buffet lunch prepared for us. My vegan friend was very excited that the vegetarian dishes weren't just salad.
Where to Eat
Masala Twist
We head here on our first night as it was just opposite our hotel. The restaurant serves a variety of indian and thai dishes. I opted for two side dishes - tandoori chicken and palak paneer. We also shared nan bread with a variety of dips (although we didn't rate any of the dips sadly).
Tu's Place
This was definitely one of those cases where my eyes were bigger than my appetite. This place serves traditional Fijian dishes at affordable prices. It looked popular and there was only around 10 tables, so make sure you get there early! I tried the creamy moca soup (local spinach soup flavoured with paprika) and the kokoda starter (marinated fish in light coconut milk, similar to ceviche). I couldn't finish this, probably because we had a snack of cassava chips two hours earlier at our hotel. The starter kokoda size was also plenty!
Bounty Bar
Bounty serves a variety of seafood, grill and pasta. Prices are slightly higher than normal for Fiji but it's what you would expect to pay for steaks etc. in western countries. Of course, I went for the bounty pineapple boat (chicken cubes with capsicums, mushrooms and pineapple in a white wine and cream sauce served in a pineapple).
Bulaccino Cafe
My google maps was acting up this morning, so what we thought was a 10 minute walk to the cafe ended up being a 25 minute walk in 30 degree heat. The viti bowls were worth it though. The cafe has plenty of vegan options and their cake selection looked delicious. I opted for a Votualevu bowl (Organic soursop, jackfruit, starfruit and bu).
MAMANUCA ISLANDS
In this group of islands, you will find the island where the movie Castaways was filmed. So it is appropiately called Castaway Island. A short 30 minute ferry ride from the Denarau port (20 minutes from Nadi town) you will find the tiny island of South Sea Island. A further 15 minutes takes you to the popular backpacker island Beachcomber, which is where I spent my birthday! Since that's the only island we got to visit, I'll go into a bit more detail about it here.
Where to Stay
Beachcomber Island Resort
Unless you plan on spending your night sleeping on a hammock, the only place you can stay on the island is in Beachcomber Island Resort, and I wasn't complaining! We had our own private 'bure' (bungalow) amongst the trees and our rooms had air conditioning which was a great plus. They also offer dormitory type rooms, with 26 beds! There are several happy hour offers during the day too.
What to Do
Seeing as you are technically stuck on an island, there isn't a plethora of things you can do. If lying on the sand reading a book with a cocktail is your thing then go ahead and skip to the next section, you're sorted. If not, there are a variety of activities the resort offers.
Kayaking
We paid $10 each for a 30 minute kayak session, and half way through a massive wave came and we capsized on the shore lol, at least looking back they make for funny stories right?
Snorkling
You can either bring your own snorkeling gear or rent some for $10. It's free to go out on the boat and snorkel, or if you're like me and Nicole and you assumed they'd give you stuff on the boat, you'll get to feed the fish bread.
Beach Volleyball
I think I spent most of my time here playing beach volleyball with some of the staff members - I have the bruises on my wrists to prove it!
Dance in the sand
Beachcomber Island has become the 'party island' and even though there were only 10 of us young folk in the evening, the staff members still made sure we had a great time. They made us all participate in a beer drinking competition, and for someone who doesn't drink beer my competitive side still pulled through.
Where to Eat
There was a compulsory meal plan with your booking which came to 99FJD per person per day. This included breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner. The food was ok - we still went up for seconds because when you're paying for it, you want to get your moneys worth hey? The vegetarian options were mainly limited to pumpkin and veggies and there'd usually be 3 type of meat dishes.
Cloud 9
Cloud 9 is Fiji's floating bar? restaurant? boat? It's a great place for groups as there's music playing, people jumping off the boat and they also sell oven baked pizzas if you fancy a change from the island food!
YASAWA ISLANDS
We didn't actually have time to visit the yasawa islands, but I did do some research prior to my trip when we were deciding where to go! I also didn't really fancy sitting on a ferry for 4 hours to reach the Blue Lagoon, even if it is meant to have one of the best beaches in the world. Here is a rough guide to what islands to visit if you are island hopping!
Nacula
The third largest island in the yasawa group. It's one of the most remote islands and has a pristine beach called Navola Bay.Waya
Octopus Beach is one of the best islands for snorkeling in the region!
Barefoot Manta
Complete with its own resort, as the name suggests here is the best place to go swimming with manta rays! Don't worry, they won't sting ya.
Blue Lagoon
If you've got the time, and want to find the bluest water and the whitest sand then head to Blue Lagoon. Make sure to bring plenty of swimsuits to get all your #goals Instagram photos!
SOME PRACTICAL TIPS FOR FIJI
- Fijian Dollar is the official currency of the country.
- Try and exchange your money in your home country, as we found most ATMs charged $10 for a withdrawal, and when you paid with card there was usually a surcharge too.
- Bula is how fijians say hello, be prepared to here this very often!
- Vinaka means thank you.
- It's easy to find a driver in Fiji who will take you to all the sites or specific places you want to see, wait for you and then bring you back. Usually for cheaper than the tours you see online! If you are interested drop me a message and I can give you my contact Ali we met whilst we were out there who was great.
- Denarau port is your access point to most of the other islands and where you will find more of the bigger resorts.
- Make sure you try some kava! It's a 'mildly narcotic drink' made from the powdered root of the pepper plant. It leaves a numbing feeling around your mouth/tongue and is meant to make you feel all relaxed and zen.
- As with any group of islands, there are hundreds of possible itineraries for your trip! This is just what we got up to in 5 days, but make sure to do your own research too.
What's the best island you've ever visited?
5 RESTAURANTS AND CAFES TO VISIT IN MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA.
Tuesday, 14 May 2019
When I think of food in Australia - I think healthy, colourful and creative. When you're travelling with a Vegan and Celiac, your restaurant choices tend to be a bit more niche and the menus usually tend to be a bit more creative. Whether you're looking for something instagrammable, or want to eat out without consuming all of your daily calorie intake in one meal, here are some options for every craving.
Queen Victoria Market
Ok so this isn't technically a restaurant, but if you're not really sure what you fancy eating then head here where you can choose from more than 10 different cuisines from across the globe. I shared halloumi fries, pavlova and paella with my friend, and I may have had a bubble tea too. There's usually live music too and a bunch of stalls and fresh produce for you to look at.
Pablo Escoburgers
My friend came across this place on Instagram after someone posted about their 'controversial' burgers in ode to Pablo Escobar. One of which comes with a dollar bill and a 'line of cocaine'. This was a pretty funky place, and the bartender creates a signature cocktail for you based on your preferences. We ended up spending around $45 each at this place, so it's not the cheapest of restaurants, but at least your burger will look good on the gram.
Ground Yourself Cafe
We stumbled accross this place on our way to get our nails done, and it was a delight. They have a large breakfast selection, smoothie and acai bowls and a selection of buddha bowls. I got the Superfood Salad lunch special for $10 which came with quinoa, cauliflower, goji, beetroot, kale, pickled grapes, toasted seeds and almond hummus. It was delicious.
Banff
If it's Italian you're after, then head to Banff in St Kinda for an inexpensive plate of pizza or pasta. They usually have offers on, such as $7 pizzas on Monday and Tuesday. They have an interesting concept called 'paper bag pasta' where your pasta is served...in a bag. I didn't get to experience it first hand, as I went for the Chicken & Pesto Risotto and it was molto delizioso.
Sister of Soul
This was probably my favourite and most delicious out of all of them. Even though we had initially planned to go for lunch, the breakfast menu looked so good that all 5 of us picked something from there. I had the French Toast which was no ordinary french toast, it came with vegan 'honeycomb', gelato, fruit and of course maple syrup (and some flowers that I assumed were edible). The Snickers Smoothie Bowl that my friend chose looked heavenly too.
Have you been to any of these? What are some of your favourite spots in Melbourne?
G
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