No visit to the Northern Territory is complete without a visit to Darwin. As a seaside town known for its summer weather year round, you would think Darwin would have heaps of stuff to do. Unfortunately, I found the city rather boring. You can’t swim at the beach because you’ll either get eaten by a crocodile or a shark. And there’s …
Holding Baby Kangaroos at the Kangaroo Sanctuary in Alice Springs
The sun glowed a deep orange as it started to set over the red Outback dirt. The air was cool, and the sweet scent of rain still lingered in the breeze from the previous day. We all circled with anticipation as he strolled over to the fence. He stood tall at nearly 6’7″ under his dusty hat that has seen …
Traveling from Alice Springs to Darwin with Mulgas Adventure Tours
My alarm was set to go off at 4:30 am, but my roommates were up before me finishing their last minute packing. It was time for the second leg of my Alice Springs to The Rock to Darwin Tour with Mulgas Adventure Tours. If there was one consist factor amongst this tour, it was the early mornings. I didn’t mind …
Photo Essay: The Many Colors of Uluru
My Australian bucket list has grown immensely over the past few months since I started living here. From diving the Great Barrier Reef to driving the Great Ocean Road, my list now includes things like cage diving with Great White Sharks in South Australia, trekking the Tasmania Overland Trek, and holding a baby kangaroo. I’d add kidnapping a baby kangaroo …
Visiting Uluru and Kings Canyon with Mulgas Adventures
Next to the Sydney Opera House, Uluru is Australia’s most iconic landmark. Formerly known as Ayer’s Rock, Uluru is the world’s largest monolith standing at 348 meters tall. Uluru became a national park in 1950 where adventurous tourists would come to see and climb the rock. In 1985, Ayer’s Rock was handed back to the original owners, the Anangu, and …
Everything You Need to Know About Getting a Working Holiday Visa to Australia
Have you ever dreamed of working abroad? Many countries offer special work visas for young people across the globe. Depending on your nationality and age, you may qualify of one of these work visas that could change your life forever. One of the most popular countries in the world to work and play is Australia. I mean, who doesn’t want …
Day in the Life: Working on a Horse Farm in Australia
Every little girl dreams of having a pony. For years, every time my parents asked me what I wanted for Christmas or my birthday, I would tell them a pony. Finally, my parents surprised me with a horse. I didn’t believe them until we picked him up the next day. The rest was history. And, in case you’re wondering, I …
Scuba Diving with Seals in Jervis Bay, Australia
Ever since I got certified in February in Honduras, I have been itching to get back in the water. While many of my new friends I met with Ultimate Oz headed up the East Coast to Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef, I decided to work on an Olympic Eventing stable and then a Warmblood breeding farm outside of Sydney. …
Great Escape Monthly Review: May 2016
May was a tough month for me physically, mentally, and emotionally. In April I accepted a groom/stablehand position at an Olympic eventing stable about an hour outside of Sydney. I was excited to be working with horses again. Heck, I was just excited to be employed again! I consider myself to be a tough cookie and hard worker. This job …
Dating Abroad: Tales from Sydney
It was late. The bar was closing, and it was time to head back. The others went ahead as we casually strolled under the stars with our arms around each other’s waist. Perhaps it was because we each drank a little too much wine with dinner. Or maybe it was a little chemistry. He was a handsome stranger with gorgeous …
Great Escape Monthly Review: April 2016
Welcome to the Land Down Under! After months of waiting, I finally landed in Sydney, Australia on April 3rd. After a whirlwind week of exploring Sydney with Ultimate Oz, I spent about a week and half in Sydney looking for a job and catching up on writing, which I’m still horribly behind on. During my first month in Australia I …
Photo Essay: Vivid Sydney 2016
The anticipation killed me. I often get worked up over the littlest things. Vivid Sydney 2016 was one of those things that sent my heart racing and anxiety creeping in slowly. I really hate crowds. But, to see the world’s largest light show outweighed the fact that I hate feeling like a sardine in a can without air holes. I …