The first thing I’d like to say is a massive thank you to my brother David, who had both the skills and the kindness to set up this website for me.
I also want to thank the friendly staff at STA Travel in Exeter, who spent literally hours helping me to sort out my flights, insurance and some of my accommodation.
My plan is to spend six weeks in New Zealand, backpacking around the north island and then the south island, followed by nine weeks in Australia, travelling along the east coast. I’ve got a couple of days in Singapore on the way out and a couple in Bangkok, Thailand, on the way home.
My flight from London Heathrow to Singapore is tomorrow morning, and I’m so excited, I don’t think I’ll get much sleep tonight. I’ll probably get some more during the journey, which will take nearly 13 hours. I’m particularly looking forward to the water activities including surfing and diving, adrenalin activities including skydiving and bungee jumping, and seeing wildlife from kangaroos and koalas to dolphins and penguins.
Mum has said (several times) that she doesn’t understand why I (or any other 28-year-old for that matter) would want to do this trip. She can’t even lift up my backpack, which together with my hand luggage weighs nearly half as much as I do. But I’m optimistic that this adventure will turn being made redundant from the worst thing that happened to me last year to the best thing.
Cazza Boom!
Looking forward to following your travels on your blog, I hope you have some amazing adventures. Can’t wait to see your Nevis video!
Happy travels
Foldsy xx
Hey Carrie! Have a great time down under!
If you want any tips 3 months camping in NZ has left me with a wealth of ideas/cautions/food and drink must haves(have a Calci-Yum drink for me – they’re for kids but I got addicted!)!! We did East coast Aus too but another 3 months there gave us time to explore the West Coast too and a bit of the Northern Territory – just the middle bit with the big rock – so my East coast knowledge is less than my NZ!
Hopefully will still be nice and warm esp in North Island but beware of the chilly nights.
Depending on where you go and how you do it don’t expect to see millions of koalas and kangaroos roaming around – we saw almost all our kangaroos on the West coast – where there really is a tonne of wildlife jumping out of every bush! East coast is much much more built-up and populated. Plenty of koalas on East coast but only in certain places. Lots to see in the sea though! How far up East coast are you going?
So excited for you! You will have a fantastic time – and yes I think this is a fantastic thing to do and to make a huge positive out of the job situation. You might never have done it otherwise!
Love Mel xxx
I had a chocolate Calci-Yum for breakfast this morning. It was good!
In answer to your question, Sydney to Cairns (see the itinerary page).
Hope you’re okay xx