Australia is approximately the size of the continental United States. Surprised? Take a look at a globe or map — it’s true!
Despite their similarity in size, the two could not be more different when it comes to the number of states in each. Not including territories outside of the mainland, Australia has six states and two territories. I haven’t come close to visiting all 50 US states, but it was my goal to visit the 8 in Oz before my journey came to an end.
Yesterday two big things happened for me. First, I arrived in Canberra, the last piece of the eight-piece puzzle to complete. Then, by day’s end, I had booked a flight home.
To recognize reaching my goal of visiting New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Queensland, Canberra (the Australian Capital Territory), and Tasmania, I figured I’d give proof in photos that I actually set foot in each. And ya know, it wasn’t the easiest thing to do, because I spend more time behind the lens than in front of it. And approximately half of my photos from the last year are of food, not Aussie landmarks or landscape.
NEW SOUTH WALES
By the Harbour with my dad when my parents came to visit
VICTORIA
Great Ocean Road tour in my first month in Australia
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
My shadow — at the opal fields of Coober Pedy
Wine tasting in the Barossa Valley
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Hanging out with Nicole at Perth City Beach
NORTHERN TERRITORY
Uluru/Ayers Rock at sunset
QUEENSLAND
At the Great Barrier reef, just before my first diving experience
On the field with the Brisbane Lions mascot after a match
Canberra
In front of the Parliament House
TASMANIA
Cradle Mountain
Now that I’ve been to Australia’s states and territories, I have an itch for a mega USA road trip. Anyone keen to sign up?!
Twitter Updates
A post on No Place Like Oz without food photos? What a shock! Only joking I loved this post – feels like we got to know you a little more. Sounds like you have had a wonderful time and I think a US road trip is a great idea 🙂
I know right — guess there is a first time for everything! It’ll be all food in the next one O:-)
That’s pretty awesome. Congratulations! Well done. 🙂
Great post! Awesome job visiting all the states, not everyone can say that they’ve done that (even a lot of Aussies)! It made me a little sad to read that you’ve already booked your flight home. If you make it to Atlanta on your US road trip – I’d definitely love to meet up! 😉
Heading to San Fran from here and then home! If I find myself down your way, you know we will meet up!
Was there a twinkle in Paul Heinz’s headlights when he heard – ROAD TRIP – USA!Gotta admit he brings a lot of drama to the roadtrips. Waiting to see if Adam the Adventurer jumps on board – and oh, I can just hear Nicole now – wanting to rent her house for another year!
Safe travels home…
I’ll make sure she comes home before I potentially whisk her away on a US roadtrip 🙂
Got that right! 😉 It’s interesting – now that I’m seeing so much of Australia I feel like I’ve neglected my own country. Sign me up, Heather! 😉
Oops – meant for that last comment to be posted as a reply to my mom, but I guess I hit the wrong button!
Anyway, I’m so proud of you for accomplishing your goal, Heather – I loved looking through all the photos of you in this post & thinking of all the good times you’ve had throughout the trip. You will be missed here in Oz, but I know there are more amazing things for you ahead.
LOVE YOU! <3
I wish I could travel with you longer but this is your journey now to own. Passing the torch on!
That’ so cool that you went to all 8 territories/states! I want to do that too!!
I’m sad that you actually booked your ticket home (okay, I’m glad you’ll get to see your friends and family) but I secretly hoped you would stay behind so that you’d be there when I got there later this year!
Who knows…maybe I will win a ticket back or something?! Can dream can’t I…
So very cool 🙂 It’s hard to imagine that it’s that large and they only separate it into 8 states. Happy that you made it to all of them 🙂 Which one was your favorite? And which one surprised you the most?
Who knows where I will be come Oct with the work situation, but if infind myself free, I am there!
Adam asked if I had a fave the other day and I’ve been askin myself the same. Queensland captured my heart a long time ago. After this trip, I adore South Australia and Westen Australia. Beautiful sights at every turn.
ps- If you want to drive back with me from the west coast in October…. I need a road trip buddy 😉
This post has made me So. Incredibly. Jealous.
You have been everywhere in Australia and I want to go there. Everywhere, that is!!!
Hopefully I’ll be meeting you somewhere in a few weeks!
Great post Heather! Love the pics and I agree that Australia is an amazingly huge and beautiful island. Looks like I might run into you in the States as we are going to travel around the USA starting in September. My flight from Oz is on May 1st so maybe we will meet up for coffee in New York, Seattle or wherever 🙂
Fantastic!! Hope the trip brings you close enough to Virginia for a meet up if we don’t have a chance to connect in Sydney first 🙂
Tasmania looks like an awesome time. I want to just because of the name. I need to make it to the “land down under” sooner than later.
Thanks for popping by, Rob. Looks like you’ve been to loads of places and like talking about food too.
1) I cant believe you booked your ticket home. I bet that was a bitter sweet feeling.
2) I am so jealou you have visited all sates in Australia. I am gonna have to do that when I am down there.
3) I love your adventures down there & am going to miss them, but I know you will have more to share.
I’ve been a hot mess for the last 2 weeks 🙁 All over the place, much like how I felt just before coming out here!
More adventures to come for sure…just figuring out what’s next will take a couple of months, but by then it’s time for me to head to Europe for a month or so! I’ll eventually make money again…
It’s posts like this that put me to shame – having lived here most of my life and not seen much of the country! Looks like you’ve had a great time.
There’s so much of it to see!! I haven’t see enough of the US, but that’s when happens…you tend to see less of your own country. Hope you have some fun travel plans in the not too distant future.
How’d you like Canberra? I spent a few days there, and that was enough 🙂
We were only there for a day! We drove around and saw a few monuments and had lunch with a friend of Adam’s. Very short trip but good.