An Update: My Australia Travel Plans

Well hello December. It’s been a while. How you going? And why does it just keep getting hotter?

And I know, it has been a while since I’ve done a real update. I’ve actually been working almost flat out recently – I’m not even sure if I mentioned on here that I landed myself a job!? I’m working in a little supermarket. It’s less of a supermarket and more just a market that is super, with produce, a butcher, a deli and a bakery.

I work predominantly behind the bakery counter, where I sell people pies and cakes, plus package up bread and do a lot – a lot! – of cleaning. I also work on the checkouts when I’m needed (usually when people call in sick, which turns out to be quite often) and now as of last week I’m also working in the kitchen facility! So I essentially have three jobs at the same company, and I’m loving it! The people are great, the job’s fairly interesting (who doesn’t love a bakery?), and I’m learning new things all the time. Last week at my new job I made gelato from scratch! Plus I get free bread and pies. What’s not to love?

We have also moved hostels, and I adore our new place! It’s not one of the main hostels in Brisbane – it’s like a big share house and everyone is like family. Right now, I’m sitting on a sofa in a little hut outside, with wool patterns on the ceiling and a table that people use to play beer pong most nights. Indoors, our living room has a big TV and a PS3! And best of all, we get FREE WIFI. A rare commodity in Australian hostels! We’re also a ten minute walk from all the bars, twenty minutes from the CBD, and most importantly, a fifteen minute walk from my work.

I’m saving up as much as possible to start some new travel adventures in Australia too, but in the mean time we have plenty of plans coming up!

A day off at Wet N Wild on the Gold Coast

We’ll spend Christmas on the Sunshine Coast with two amazing friends who we left behind in Mildura (that sounds meaner than it was – they chose to stay!). Sam’s parents are coming out to visit, and they’ll be renting a lovely place in Noosa, and have told him to invite any special people he’s met on his travels. Apart from his girlfriend, we were thrilled to be the first people he asked! 😉

After that we have the much-anticipated New Years – it’s the backpacker dream to spend it in Sydney, but it wasn’t looking too likely for us. It’s now December and we’re still not absolutely sure what we’re doing – but I’ve managed to get a few days off work, so Sydney is now BACK IN THE PIPELINE! Our friends are going too so we’ll road trip with them if we can go. Exciting!

In February, Ash’s favourite band of all time have announced a farewell tour. Being from the UK, he was absolutely devastated that he wouldn’t get to see them. But hold on! What’s that? They’ve announced dates in Australia! This will bring another little trip to Sydney (Sydney is going to be the New York of my Australia travels – I’ll visit like four times but won’t spend much time there!) with a friend who lives here who is also a huge fan. (meanwhile, MY favourite band of all time have announced an unexpected UK reunion tour for May. I was almost tempted to fly back. Not impressed, boys!)

(picture credit: F1Fanatic)

And then in March, I have booked tickets for one of the main sporting events we want to see – the Australian F1 Grand Prix in Melbourne!!!! I’m not a sports fan, I’m really not. But I’ve ALWAYS loved F1 and tennis, and it’s been a dream since I was a kid to go to a Grand Prix and a Grand Slam. While it doesn’t look likely that we’d get to go to the Aussie Open, one out of two isn’t bad, right?!

Our visas expire at the end of May, so it’s looking like we will probably travel the east coast around April, taking in Fraser Island, 1770, the Whitsundays and Cairns (we’ll visit Byron Bay and do other short trips from here before then). I’d like to stay at my job for as long as possible – after all, it’s a really good job – and save up as much as I can for our travels after Oz.

Plus say what you like about Brisbane. It’s definitely one of the most liveable cities in Australia and I’m loving it here. I mean, we get to see storms like this. (watch the last minute especially!)