There's No Place Like Oz

Winter Whale Watching with the Spirit of Hervey Bay

Watch a show at the Opera House. Feed a kangaroo or hold a koala at a wildlife park. Snorkel or dive at the Great Barrier Reef. Some activities make the “things to do in Australia” list with little thought! Whale watching, however, did not spring to mind when friends and family asked what I hoped […]

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Australia road trip: How to eat your way through Queensland

Upon returning to Cairns from our adventures at the Great Barrier Reef, I realized I had worked up quite an appetite. Thankfully days 6-9 of the epic road trip took care of all of my cravings and then some. After several days of frequent noshing on granola bars, fruit, and nuts, Brooke and I were […]

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6 ways to explore the Great Barrier Reef

When people think of Australia, I assume the Great Barrier Reef makes the list of places to visit for most people! It certainly made mine. In the attempt to be more flexible, I didn’t arrive in Oz with any pre-arranged plans to visit the reef. And fortunate, blessed lil me not only got to visit […]

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Australia East Coast Road Trip: Port Douglas to Cape Tribulation

After bidding farewell to Willie and Judy in Cooktown, Brooke and I hopped in our Traveller’s Autobarn station wagon and headed south to Port Douglas. Camping at the Big4 caravan park just outside of Port Douglas From Port Douglas, a handful of tour companies offer day trips including sights around Port Douglas, Mossman Gorge, and […]

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Australia road trip: Visit with Willie Gordon of Guurrbi Tours

Even as a little girl, I was a thinker. I have always pondered, analyzed, and most of all, reflected. When I was 7 I started my first diary in a small, pink, hard cover book — complete with a tiny lock and key! Little me, thinking about something in between acts at the circus Over […]

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Australia East Coast Road Trip: Cairns to Cooktown

I’m sitting in a Maccas (McDonalds) on George Street in Sydney, using their free wifi to upload photos from the EPIC east coast trip! Less than 24 hours ago Brooke and I returned on day 17 and concluded the trip with a meal at the Indian restaurant next to my hostel. The week ahead promises […]

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Guest Appearances Around the World

While I’m road tripping in Queensland, I’m having too much fun to blog 🙂 Until I return to Sydney and begin writing again, enjoy photos and updates on Brooke’s WhyGoAustralia Facebook page. After checking that out, take a few moments to catch up on some other reading you may have missed — my guest appearances […]

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Epic East Coast Australian Road Trip

Tomorrow morning I leave a chilly but relaxing Ballarat for warmer weather and new adventures! Following a 3-something-AM wake up call, I fly from Melbourne to Cairns, meet up with my travel partner, and kick off a 16-day Cairns to Sydney road trip. It hasn’t even begun and we’re already calling it EPIC! Before arriving […]

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Do One Thing

Several days ago, I didn’t know where I would be today. After two interviews in Sydney with an organization that excites me, I never received an invitation for the third and final round. I wasn’t quite ready to mount a full-on job search, settling down and temporarily leaving travel behind. But I wasn’t sure where […]

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Living in the Moment, Reflecting on the Past

Everyone encouraged me to go with the flow on this journey, and believe me, I’ve been trying. Whether by choice or lack thereof, I’ve tried to shed some of the planner in me and adopt a more easy-going attitude and mindset. It’s a challenge to operate outside of our natural preferences, especially on a daily […]

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