My last two weeks in Australia

Hello, here it is, my last post about my Asutralian adventure! :)
Mum left and I had two weeks, to be exact 17 days, left in Australia.

Two more days in Sydney, three days on the Indian Pacific and finally 

twelve days back in Perth with my lovely first hostfamily. 

The last two days in Sydney weren't special at all, I was sad because mum left,
I couldn't wait 'til my time back in Perth and to be honest, the last thing I wanted
 is to sit three days on the Indian Pacific.
But I had booked my ticket and so I needed to go and actually I wanted it the whole time.
I motivated myself, went to my favourite spot in Sydney (port macquarie's chair)
and actually I had two nice days in Sydney.

On wednesday the 25th of June my adventure on the Indian Pacific started. 

I travelled 65 hours on the Indian Pacific, from the eastcoast to the westcoast, 

4352km through the country.

I had a single seat, which wasn't cheap at all, but I have heard from the Indian Pacific

 and decided: no matter how much it will cost, I want to do this!

My seat, bed and launch for the next three days :D

The route of the Indian Pacific

Beeing on the Indian Pacific is an adventure! It is much more expensive than a flight, and it takes you a lot longer than it would take you on the plane but it was worth the experience.

You travel with some people through the country and don't just sit next to them like on the plane and have a little bit of smalltalk. You get to know those people and you share your experiences with them.

I didn't think, that that many people decide to travel by train through Australia. 

I thought only backpackers, tourists and some Asutralian from the rural area travel that way, but I got taught better. Heaps of Australians travel that way, a few backpackers and just a handful tourists.

If you are on the Indian Pacific in the red section, you need a good book, some food and drinks and some good music and you can enjoy the trip!
I really liked sitting in my chair and watching the change of the vegetation!
You go to sleep and everything is green and looks like in europe and the next morning you wake up and it looks like you are in the desert. Neither trees nor bushes..just red sand.
And this change came the whole way through to Perth. Sometime just flat, sometimes trees and sometimes nothing but bushes..I could even spot some animals. :)
 

Across the Nullabor

Red Section

We had three stops, where we had the oppotunity to go into town.
The first one in Broken Hill, the second one in Adelaide and the third one in Kalgoorlie. 

 After three days on the Indian Pacific I definetly had enough, but it was an experience I don't want ot miss. I wouldn't do it again, but I am happy that I've done it!

Broken Hill 6:30am

My travel mates ;)

Finally in Perth! I was so excited to see Chris, Ciel and the girls again! 

Chris, Bella and Grace came to pick me up from the train station. I staretd to cry in the moment I have seen them and I just hugged all of them! Chris said: 'Welcome home' to me, which felt so good! 

Grace was a bit shy at the beginning but still she couldn't let go of my hand! 

And Bella, she was as always, she started talking and told me pretty much everthing what happened in the last 5 month. I have missed that and I was so happy to have them back!

So we drove home and it felt like I have never been away! 

Ciel and Evie waited at home and welcomed me too and I needed to cry again. 

It just felt so good to be back 'home'.

It took me just a few hours to be back in routine and I felt welcome and home straight away. 

We spent my last 12 days in Australia together and it has been a wonderful time and a great final for my Australian experience, to start and finish my time with an amazing family.

Time had come to say 'See you soon Australia'.
We had a last dinner together and then I needed to say goodbye to Chris and the grils.
Lots of tears..and I couldn't believe that I really had to go!
 Ciel brought me to the airport and there it was..my plane back home.
One year was already over, the time ran by so fast, but, I hade an awesome year!
I got to know so many lovely people, learned a lot and don't regret anything I have made.


Thank you to all those people who have made my stay to something really special. I had the time of my life and I'll be back soon!
 A special Thank you to my two amazing hostfamilies. My experience wouldn't have been anywhere near as good without all your help and support!

Cheers Australia for an incredible year!

Mum Down Under

Me again ;) 

After 333 days being separated from my mum the day finally came where we would see each other again! But first of all I needed to catch my flight from Cairns to Sydney. 

Big excitement I can tell you. My flight went at 5:45am, I set my alarm clock for 4:00am and woke up at 5:03am. So I just rushed down to the reception ordered a taxi, ran back up threw all my stuff in my backpack, took the taxi from the Hostel at 5:10am and arrived at the airport at 5:18am. 

And I just made it in time. The lady at the check in said to me, she was about to close the gate. 

I MADE IT!!

5 minutes later I sat on my seat on the plane, very relieved!!

Two hours later I arrived in Sydney, took the bus to the international Airport and then finally, 

mum and me, we had each other again!! We both broke out in tears and I couldn't believe it!

I had my mum back! On the other side of the world, in Australia! 

Since it was early in the morning we decided to bring our luggage to our

 Hotel and then mum wanted me to show her Sydney. 

We walked all the way from the Central Station down to the Opera House, had some lunch, 

did a guided tour through the Opera House and just enjoyed having each other back! 

At that time the Vivid Festival in Sydney was on, so we decided to stay at the Opera House and watch its change of colour before we go and have a nice dinner.

.

Mums first day in Australia

Vivid Festival

The next morning we needed to get back to the airport to get our flight to Alice Springs. 

We woke up in time and everything went well. ;)

In Alice Springs we had a full day before our Uluru Tour started. 

We explored the little town and walked up the Anzac Hill where you had a pretty good view.

Mum in Australia

View from up the top

 Early in the morning of the next day, we got picked up for our Uluru Tour. 

Before we got to our first stop Kata Tjuta we had a fair bit to drive. To break up the long time we made a stop at a camel farm where we had the opportunity to ride a camel but mum and me

weren't so excited to ride a camel early in the morning. ;)

A few hours later we finally arrived at the Uluru- Kata Tjuta Nationalpark. 

We drove straight away to the Olgas so that we'll be back in time for the sunset at Uluru. 

So we did our first walk up to the 'Valley of the winds' and as the name already says

 it was really windy up there. ;)

Our bus

Mum and me at Valley of the winds

 After that we walked into the Walpa Gorge.

Mum is enjoying the vastness in the sun

 Olgas or Kata Tjuta

After being at the Olgas it was time for the sunset at Uluru.

Our tour guide Ash prepared a little snack and some champagne 

while we took our first pictures of Uluru changing its colour.

My favourite picture of all! Love you mum!!

Cheers!

Colour change of Uluru while a sunset

As the sun set we drove back in our camp where we had some Aussie barbecue. 

We had camel burger, camel sausages and kangaroo. Yummy!

The next morning Ash promised us a sleep in! We could sleep until 6am. Wohoo..!

The plan for the day was to walk around Uluru and watch the colour change of Uluru 

during a sunrise while walking around it. 

It was freezing cold that morning. During night we had minus degrees and 

in the morning it was only three degree!

But it was definitely worth walking around it!! 

Amazing colour!!

Coooooold!!

:)

The wave rock of Uluru! ;)

A spring at Uluru

We had the opportunity to walk up the Uluru but because Ash told us a lot about Aborigines and their culture and that is why no one had the need to go up there. He lived together with some of them for a certain time and that is why he knew so much about them and was able to tell us about their culture. Aborigines really don't like it and don't appreciate it if people climb Uluru. Ash explained it pretty good to us. I can't really remember his exact wording but he compared it to our wardrobe. We don't like it if people come into our house and just have a look in our wardrobe but sometimes you can't forbid it and it is the same with Uluru. We come into their territory and wander around and climb Uluru and they can't forbid it because of some parts in history. It is just a sign of respect. 

The same day we made our way to Kings Canyon and just arrived there before sunset. 

We bought ourselves Cider and Beer to enjoy the colour change of the 'George Gill Range'.

Yummy Cider!

The next day was our last day of the tour and before we drove back to Alice Springs,

 we made a walk though the Kings Canyon.

 

And our way back to Alice Springs was on a red street! 

A street how you expect them in Australia, nothing but a red street.

:*

Our group with tour guide Ash :)

The next day our flight went back to the coast, where it was a little bit warmer and more civilized. 

We arrived in my favourite city Brisbane, not! Luckily we only had there one night and 

we didn't do much. I showed mum a few spots but we were both tired from the early wake ups 

and all the walking of the last few days.

After one day in Brisbane we picked up our camper and headed north to our next destination
Hervey Bay. From there we had our next tour. Two days and one night on Fraser Island.

The island is considered to be the largest sand island in the world.
We were a group of 10 people plus our tour guide Butch.
We had a big four wheel drive bus in which Butch drove us across the island.

On our first day on the Island the first stop was Lake McKenzie,

 where we had our first opportunity to go for a swim.

Fraser Island

Lake McKenzie

It was a bit cold..;)

 Afterwards we went a bit further through rainforest and did a walk through parts of it.
Then we finally got to the beach, where you're not allowed to go swimming because of all the sharks and the streams. The beach is also the Highway of the Island.
From there you get everywhere on the island. You can even make a scenic flight
 over Fraser Island which takes off and lands on the beach.
Our next stop was the Hammerstone Sandblow and Lake Wabby.

Dingoes

Mum and me, we made a loveheart in the Hammerstone Sandblow

Lake Wabby

I went into Lake Wabby and because I made the start, three others of our group joined me.
Now I can say, I swam in Lake Wabby, the deepest Lake on the Island. ;)
But still it was freezing cold and there was no sun.
Luckily we went back to the Hotel afterwards and I had a hot shower.
 The next morning started early again because we had a lot do to that day.
On our way to the Maheno wreck we drove past the Cesna in which you could do the scenic flight.
The pilot came into our bus, told us about it and asked who wants to go for a scenic flight.
Mum asked me and of course I didn't say no!

Taking off and landing on the beach

It was amazing and so cool to see everything from above! Great experience!
We landed right at the Maheno shipwreck were our group waited for us.

Then we drove further up the Highway of the island, which is also called Seventy Five Mile Beach, to 'Indian Head' and afterwards to 'Champagne Pools'.
Indian Head is a coastal headland and the most easterly point of the island.
From up there you have got a good view either to the left, the right or straight ahead.
We were pretty lucky and to that time all the whales came up the coast so
 we've seen a lot of humpback whales jumping out of the water and showing off. ;)
If you go right to the edge of the headland you can look straight down into the water and here we were also pretty lucky. We have seen sharks, dolphins turtles and sting rays!! :))

Indian Head

View south from headland and mum :)

Champagne Pools provide a very popular swimming hole with the ocean
 crashing over the rocks into shallow sandy pools. The foaming water is where the name
Champagne Pools comes from.

Bathing in Champagne ;)

 Bathing in Champagne was a great final for our Fraser Island experience and we had to say Goodbye to the Island. So we drove back to Kingfisher Bay were the Ferry took us back to the mainland.
But on the way to the Ferry we came along Eli Creek. It is the largest creek on the eastern beaches and it produces up to 80 million litres of water per day.
The special thing about it was, you could lay in it and then float down the creek.
Even though the water was freezing cold I wanted to float in it.

Floating in Eli Creek

Me in our bus with our tourguide Butch

After Eli Creek our Fraser Island experience was finally over.
Butch brought us back to the mainland and to our camper.
Thank you Fraser Island for such an amazing time!
The next day mum and me went back down south. Our destination was Noosa.
I was so excited to go back there and to show mum this lovely place.
We spent some hours at the beach, wandered through the shopping street and I told her about the super good ice cream, so we bought ourselves some :)

She liked it too ;)

 After a relaxing day in Noosa we already had to say Goodbye again.
But mums wish before we would leave; breakfast at the Esplanade in the sun. ;)
And of course I wanted to accomplish her dream, because I am a nice daughter.:P

Girlie camper? :D

 Off we go to our next destination. For the day it was Australia Zoo and
afterwards we wanted to get to Surfers Paradise.

She brought one down

...and I got eaten by one..:D

Mums first Koala :))

The first one I held! :))

 After spending half the day in Australia Zoo, learning a lot about crocodiles, birds and Koalas,
we made our way to Surfers Paradise and just got there before sunset.
We had a look for a campsite and walked down the Esplanade to have dinner
at the Hard Rock Cafe.

Mum in Surfers Paradise

For next day we planned to drive to Byron Bay and made a quiet day where
we don't have to drive too many kilometres. 
And we were lucky, the weather the next day was good so we spent some time at the beach
and made our quiet day.

Byron Bay :))

Most easterly point of the asutralian mainland

400km we needed to drive the next day. We wanted to get to Port Macquarie and this part was the hardest. So tiring because there were so many roadwork's!!
Anyway. We decided to make a stop in Coffs Harbour to have Fish and Chips for lunch which was a really good idea! First we had some nice lunch at the harbour and then we did a nice little walk up a hill where we had the perfect view for whale watching! We only stayed there for 15min but I guess we have seen at least 10 humpback whales! Unfortunately we couldn't do any whale watching as a tour because they said it would be too windy. But still we have seen some :) 

Coffs Harbour

In the evening we finally made it to Port Macquarie. I was so tired and so happy to finally be there.
A little wander around, a nice Spanish dinner and I just wanted to go to bed!
Newcastle was our last stop before we get to Sydney.
There we have got some Australian friends we wanted to visit. 

Newcastle

Mum made me collect some shells for her..:D

Our hosts for the night! :) Michael and Ann!

From Newcastle it wasn't far to Sydney and I can tell you, I had enough of the camper!
1600km in 7 days doesn't sound too much, but it is! ;)
I was so happy when we returned it and got rid of it! :D
I mean I really like camping but at some point it is just exhausting!
I was looking forward to a proper bed in a room with a shower!!
And in Sydney there was a really nice Hotel waiting for us.
5 min walkway to the Harbour Bridge and 5 min walk to get down to the Harbour.
We had 2 days left together in Australia so we made the best out of it. ;)
Since mum has seen the Opera House already we walked across the Harbour Bridge,
went to a Market and in the evening had a really really nice dinner at the Waterfront from where we could see the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge.

Our Hotel

Harbour Bridge and mum at night

Opera House and mummy at night :)

And mee :)

The last day in Australia for mum had begun. The weather was really nice
and we had planned to take a ferry to get to Manly. After a nice little breakfast in a little cafe in a small little alley we made our way to the ferry to explore Manly.

Selfieee

Opera House

Opera House and Harbour Bridge

Sydney Skyline

Ocean Pool in Manly

Manly Beach

Last Cider with mum :(

For mums last evening I had a special surprise. I had booked tickets for The Lion King for us.
Mum hasn't seen it til that day and so I thought it would be a good final! :)

And it was a big final! It was amazing and we both had tears!!
My mum visited me in Australia and made my year abroad a bit more special!
Thank you, it was amazing!

Love you <3