Aussie Aussie Aussie!

My first time down under! Australia has been generous to me, as have my friends. This is how the first 2 weeks went, in New South Wales.

Sydney + Blue Mountains

June 12th was lost to me as I flew over the International Date Line, and arrived in Sydney the afternoon of the 13th. After struggling with eSim issues and spotty wifi, I managed to coordinate pickup from my friend Brianna, who I met in South America last year.

We spent the first night out exploring Sydney Harbor and light displays for the “Vivid” event. Even though I had just come from the unreal views of Hawaii, it felt impossible that I was actually here. Australia seemed like the opposite side of the world, and it shouldn’t have been so easy to get here.

Brianna took me on a whirlwind tour of the city and harbors – street food, light shows, and free concerts. I wish I had more time to explore the city, but Sydney left a good first impression, even at night.

The next day I got a real-life “G’day” from a park ranger in the Blue Mountains as we hiked through the bush and cliffs to incredible views. The nearby mountain towns we stopped in reminded me of childhood trips to Big Bear. It was a nice and full day of adventure, ending with the best stargazing I’ve been able to do in a long time.

One last hike along the coast, from Spit to Manly, included cockatoos and a wallaby sighting, then I spent a much-needed restful night at a hotel I booked for the night to treat myself (and be nearer the train the next day).

PORT MACQUARIE

I stopped here to break up the train rides up north, and heard it was small enough to see in a day. I ended up ‘following’ another traveler off the train and to my hostel, a German gal named Karina, and we explored the small city together that evening. After catching one of the most beautiful sunsets of my life, I was reminded of another reason I chose to stop here, as hundreds of bats flew over the bay to return home 🦇🌇

Ballina

I took my final Australian train the next afternoon, finally reaching my next stay in Ballina, with my friend Mike, who I met on my Mexico/Guatemala/Belize trip. The next week was chock-full of vegan home-cooking, outdoor adventures, and explorations of nearby towns. I was set up in one of Mike’s caravans in his backyard, a cozy camper that gave me the wonderful gift of birdsong alarm clocks…at 5am 🙃(jk it was actually a very nice experience)

Mike showed me the nearby towns before heading to work the next morning, and I made a spontaneous decision to have him leave me at our last stop ~15km to the north. I spent the entire day slowly making my way back to Ballina along the beaches and coastal trail, stopping for the views, whale watching, and seashell collecting.

It was one of the more relaxing days I’ve had in a long time – I had a concrete goal, but seemingly infinite time to complete it. I could just enjoy, and spend as much time with everything as I wanted. My walk concluded at the end of the North Breakwall in Ballina, where I climbed out to the edge of the massive concrete jacks and just watched the waves crash into the rocks below.

In Mexico, Mike had showed me videos of his “paddling club”, which took 6-person outrigger boats into the ocean to catch waves. Of course, it was the first thing I asked him to show me, and got my chance with a 6AM start the next day.

I had a wonderful time, not just learning a new kind of vehicle, but also seeing a part of Mike’s community. The other paddlers were friendly and welcoming, and I always love hearing what other people think about my friends.

Byron Bay

The next day, Mike took us up to Byron Bay, a popular tourist town known for its beautiful beach and boutique shops. The whales were making their way up north, and we got to watch a few breach as we hiked up and down to the lighthouse.

Nimbin & Lismore

Mike told me about a nearby town he thought I’d like – real “alternative” kind of place – called Nimbin. This was a hippie town that surpassed Yellow Springs, Ohio in both anarchism and substances. I was offered edibles (unprompted) by two shopkeepers, and mushrooms by a third. Most of the buildings in town were community-owned, the shops sold local products, with environmental and activist flyers around.

After a brief stop at the old candle factory, we went to our next destination of Lismore. One of Mike’s paddling buddies told me their annual Lantern Parade would be today, so he dropped me off so I could see it.

Lismore was an interesting small town – a small ‘downtown’ (Central Business District, or CBD, as they call it here), with cute shops and small restaurants. Beyond that, many dilapidated and boarded-up buildings, as Lismore suffered from severe floods in the last few years.

I saw glimpses of the community behind this tragedy, their struggles and successes, and the ways they came together in support for each other. I felt humbled to be able to witness such a heartfelt celebration.

Ballina Adventures Pt. 2

Mike definitely followed through with providing adventure during my stay! Our last full day together had us doing another paddling outing, plus a 18km bike ride along part of the coastal path I walked my second day there.

Reunion at Lennox Head

Remember Karina, the German gal I met back in Port Macquarie? Well she was making her way up north as well, and we were able to meet up again in Lennox Head for my last day in NSW. We braved the rain for lake- and beachside walks, a gelato stop, and a little more whale watching before we parted ways.

Being able to meet and spend time with new people continues to be one of the unexpected joys of traveling. It has allowed me to learn more about myself, other ways of travel and living, and different perspectives on the world, all of which I’m really grateful for, and hope to continue experiencing. And of course, that includes the friends I’ve made where I live as well. Thanks everyone! 🙏💜

NEW SOUTH WALES – IMPRESSIONS

• Trying to keep these quick, still lots to write about the second half of my Australia trip in Queensland.
• The sun barely rose from the horizon and set sideways; the moon looked upside-down; and apparently the hole in the ozone layer never fully closed
• Sydney was colder than I expected (<10C), and the furthest south of the equator I’ve ever been!
• Beachside towns with their boutique shops, campgrounds, and outdoorsy/recreation vibe reminded me a lot of California.
• The wildlife, even in urban areas, felt more exotic and abundant: cockatoos, lorikeets, ibises, and turkeys found in suburbs and nature trails alike.
• I eventually changed the sequence of my road-crossing-looks, but still never got past trying to enter the driver’s seat of my friends’ cars.

I was originally going to stay in NSW longer, but a last-minute decision took me on a life-changing detour. Here’s a hint: it involved another snorkel trip. See you in the next post!