You are currently viewing Exploring the Land Down Under | Part 02

Exploring the Land Down Under | Part 02

My experience in Australia was coming to an end and I decided to make another final road trip on the East Coast before saying goodbye to the Land Down Under.

Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, Australia

I started my trip in Canberra, the capital of Australia. It is a very remote and small town, with little to do for tourists, but I wanted to have a look as it was part of the culture as well. It is a very organised and clean town. My next stop was Sydney, the famous and bustling city of Australia. I liked the mixture of the busy streets and the modern downtown with the river and surfing beaches next to it. To me it was a bit like a maze and it was sometimes confusing getting around as it is so big, but there are some great tourist attractions too! You can go hiking in the Blue Mountains nearby as well as surfing in Bondi Beach.

Byron Bay beach

After leaving the big city, I was off to smaller and quieter towns. First up was Coffs Harbour, a nice relaxing place to walk around and discover the surroundings and the wildlife. Then I arrived to a more lively place, very popular for backpackers and young people who want to party; Byron Bay. I did a surf lesson there and was very surprised to see myself standing on the board and surfing small waves in less than 2 hours! It was very fun and impressive to ‘fly’ over the water. The vibe is really chillax there. Of course I had to stop by the popular alternative town of Nimbin before leaving.

A Park in Brisbane

Next up was Surfers Paradise with its skyscrapers along the coastline, I found the atmosphere more fancy there and was off to Brisbane the next day. Life was tranquil in Brisbane, I liked the open spaces, modern architecture, the parks and the river. I took a boat ride, the CityHopper, which is free, and lets you hop on and hop off around the city, the best way to take in the Brisbane River and city sights.

A woman in the ocean on Fraser Island

I continued North to Hervey Bay and from there I did a tour to Fraser Island, a beautiful island made only of sand. It was impressive the amount of sand there was, we had to go with a 4×4 truck to be able to drive on the sand roads, a few times I was scared we would get stuck. The freshwater Lake Mckenzie was a highlight, with its clear waters and soft sand that leaves your skin and hair surprisingly soft. I was also amazed by the kilometres of white sand beaches that you could not see the end of. 

Two woman smiling in the Whitsundays

My trip was coming to an end and one of my last stops was Airlie Beach with an exciting day trip to the Whitsundays. I had never seen such turquoise waters and soft white sand, it was incredible, like a true paradise. The snorkelling was amazing too! My last stop was Cairns and an awesome diving trip to the Great Barrier Reef. The colours in the water were wonderful according to the depth of the sea floor. I got to see many bright coloured fish, sea rays, corals… experiencing the marine life is just magic, you are in another world.

And that was the end of my East Coast trip and my experience in the Land Down Under. I flew back with great memories that would last a lifetime!


Have you missed the first part of this travel story?
Check it out here:
Exploring the Land Down Under | Part 01