I lived in Australia for approx. eights months between September 2006 and May 2007. I traveled there with my cousin on a backpacking trip. We both had holiday-maker visa that allowed us to work and make some money. We took this trip in the middle of our university years so there wasn’t a lot of money that came with us. We needed these visas so that we could work and fund our trip.
During our time in Australia, we spent some time in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth & Brisbane, with the majority of our time spent in Perth, Western Australia. We had a very easy time finding work in Perth which resulted in us staying there so long. There just wasn’t enough time to see more of the country given our limited funds and the requirement to work. I have not even scratched the surface of all there is to see and do in Australia.
These are a list of my favorite things that I was able to do in my time there.
Rottnest Island – Western Australia
Rottnest Island/Wadjemup is an island that lies 19km from Fremantle Port and 33km from Perth. This island is not very large but has 63 of the most stunning beaches! In addition, there is a ton of sea life and is a great place to snorkel. The water is crystal clear and has the most gorgeous aqua color to it.
In addition, you get to see an animal species that only resides in Rottnest Island – the Quokka! The Quokka is a marsupial and its in the same family as a kangaroo and wallaby. They are super friendly and are fairly used to tourists so you should easily be able to get a photo of them on the island.
This island is definitely worth a day trip!
Penguin Parade – Phillip Island Nature Park – Victoria
We took a day trip out of Melbourne to see the penguin parade. The full day tour included a couple of stops along the way. The best part though was the penguin parade!
Phillip Island is home to the largest Little Penguin colony in the world. From here, you can watch the penguins waddle back from the ocean to their burrows for the night. They have viewing platforms and boardwalks for you to be able to watch comfortably and not get in their way.
At the time that we went, we were not able to take any photographs. This is because flash photography will scare the penguins and cause them to regurgitate their food and they have babies they need to feed. They were very strict about this and were taking cameras away from people. All of the photos here were purchased in their gift shop or downloaded from their website.
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary – Queensland
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is an 18-hectare koala sanctuary in the Brisbane suburb of Fig Tree Pocket in Queensland. It is the oldest and largest koala sanctuary of its kind in the world. The park houses approximately 80 species of Australia animals.
While we were there, we got to see a ton of animals but most importantly, we got to see a lot of koala bears, including babies. We also were able to get an opportunity to hold a koala bear and get our picture taken. This was definitely a highlight for me!
Important Note: This sanctuary is accredited with the Zoo & Aquarium Association (ZAA), which means that they had to ensure a high standard of care for the animal’s welfare.
Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse – Augusta, Western Australia
This is the tallest lighthouse on mainland Australia and is located at the most south-westerly point of Australia, at the tip of the peninsula – where the Southern and Indian Oceans meet.
I enjoyed all our time spent along the coast of Australia but this one was a particular favorite given the location.
Torndirrup National Park – The Gap and Natural Bridge
The lookouts at both sites provide amazing views of the Southern Ocean and the coast from Bald Head to West Cape Howe.
I enjoyed both of these sites given that they are along the cost and had amazing views, as well as neat natural formations in the rock.
There are other national parks in the area that are also worth a stop (Porongurup National Park, Walpole-Nonalup National Park and the Mount Frankland National Park).
Cave Exploring – Western Australia
We took one long weekend while living in Perth, to drive south along the cost towards Margaret River and then onwards to Albany. We made multiple stops along the way, including these three caves to do a little cave exploring.
Ngilgi Cave – Yallingup, Western Australia
Jewel Cave – Deepdene, Western Australia
Lake Cave – Forest Grove, Western Australia
This was the first time I have gone cave exploring and I found it fascinating to see the different rock formations in them. Each cave had its own unique formations, and all varied in size. Definitely worth a stop if you are in the area.
New Year’s Eve Fireworks – Sydney, New South Wales
The firework show is set to go off near the Sydney Opera House & the Harbour Bridge every New Year’s Eve. The year that we were backpacking in Australia, we were able to attend this event and it was spectacular. I unfortunately don’t have any great photos given that digital cameras weren’t that great back then. Here is at least one of my photos of the Harbour Bridge & the Opera House, as well as a picture I copied from online.
Springbrook National Park – Brisbane, Queensland
I have mixed feelings about this particular place. While the views of this place were absolutely spectacular, this will land a spot on one of my many misadventures and travel fails! We were invited to go on a hike in the rainforest with a guy we met in our hostel. Looking back, maybe not our smartest move? We were not avid hikers at this point in our lives, we were not prepared for Australian wildlife (poisonous snakes/spiders), nor did we have any communication devices in an area with no cell service. Also, our friend neglected to tell us the hike was 17km long. I also was not adequately dressed for this hike. I wore hiking sandals since its hot in Australia. It was unknown to me at the time that there are leeches at the bottom of the rain forest. Lesson learned.
Assuming you are properly prepared for a 17km hike in the rainforest, this one is absolutely stunning! There are a number of waterfalls along the route, gorgeous lush rainforest to walk through and a stunning view over the mountain that overlooks the Gold Coast city at the end. I would recommend wearing tall hiking boots/socks to avoid being completely covered in leeches.
Beaches – All over Australia
There are so many beaches all over Australia that are unbelievably stunning! I had to include this as one of my favorite things. I have never lived near the ocean before so spending as much time on the beach was an absolute must for me!
